The monsoon is a time for courtship, mating and laying eggs among the invertebrates that make their homes in southeastern Arizona. Bud & I drove to Animas the other day and noticed a lot of millipedes crossing the road.  These many-legged critters are rarely seen because the are nocturnal and spend most of their lives underground.   During the monsoons, they are often washed up to the surface and onto the roadways.  I imagine it is their time to find mates too so they are on the move.  Tarantulas, Tarantula Hawks, Palo Verde Beetles and Blister Beetles are some of the other invertebrates we encounter this time of year.  And ANTS, we can't forget the ants.  If you never seen an ant hatch, you're missing quite and event as hundreds of winged, mostly male ants emerge from a small hole in the ground, fly up in a cloud of ants where they attempt to mate with a flying queen, before dropping back to the earth, where the males generally die rather quickly.  The mated females (queens) will attempt to establish a new colony.   In addition, we see  an occasional Vinegaroon.  Quite scary looking, but relatively harmless.  They simply spray a vinegary liquid to deter their predators.  Very secretive, they don't come out in the open often.
The creek is running quite nicely now and the restoration that was done in the creaked behind our neighbors house seems to be keeping the creek where it should be.  Hopefully we won't get another onslaught like we did last September from Hurricane Odile.

We had a beautiful Celebration of Mother's life on July 3rd at Bethel Hill United Methodist Church in Lansdale Pennsylvania.  Tom Hallam and George Alt, two of our former pastors officiated and family & friends reflected on Jean's life and how she brought a ray of sunshine into the lives of those who knew her.  Shared memories left us smiling and crying at the same time.  Our cousin Deb Hogshead played the organ and did a beautiful medley of Love Walked In & Oh Promise Me.   Mom's ashes were buried with Daddy in the cemetery across from the church.  We placed flowers at the graves of Nano & Grandpa Perry too.

On July 4th 2015 the descendants of Miles, Wayne & Clarence Perry celebrated family together in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania at the home of Skip & Nona Alderfer.  There were 98 family members in attendance from across the country, from as far away as Alaska and as close as Pottstown.  Tom Perry Sr. was the oldest, at 92 and Sophie Alderfer the youngest, at 7 months.  The weather wasn't too cooperative, but with the tent we were able to stay dry and catch up with each other.  Some of us had never met, some had not seen each other for 50 years!  Thanks to Briana Bill, we created an art project of a family tree and each family branch got to paint a canvas to represent their branch.  It was a great project and when assembled the tree reflected the creativity and closeness of our family.  Each canvas was then sent home with the artist who created it. 
The Alderfer branch of Miles Perry's family was the largest of the families represented with my 4 siblings, their children and grand-children, totaling 52 people!  All 4 Hogshead cousins were there.  All 5 Shakeshaft cousins with their spouses & some grandkids.  All of the Nesters, 2 Bittings, & both of John Perrys daughters were there.  Uncle Bob & Aunt Joy from Illinois could not make it, Aunt Kathe and Aunt Becky could not make it.
Diane & Fred Martin represented the Clarence Perrys.  Maryellen & Bud Stuart, Linda Mather, Carol & Woody Woodcock, Tom & Sally Perry and Tom Perry Sr. represented the Wayne Perrys.
Re-uniting with family is a wonderful refresher and keeps us connected when we go about our daily lives.  We are so blessed to have a wonderful family.