When we are at home, and the weather isn't too hot for him, Abner loves to lie on the balcony and gaze at the world below through the slots in the parapet. Below is a shot of Ken Etterman and me resting with the dogs at the halfway point of a hike along the Laurel River Gorge.

These butterflies come back every year and are very prolific around here. I still don't know what kind they are, but they are more cooperative than most when it comes to sitting for a portrait. The Canada geese have all had babies now and you can see the pairs swimming or walking around with the surviving goslings. Families with up to 5 goslings are everywhere at Biltmore this month. The young ones are still pretty awkward on land, but are pretty graceful once they are in the water. The more mature goslings are starting to look like they have feathers to replace their fuzz.