Happy 60th, Brother Tom

Slavko Writes: Back in Milna

How damn good it feels to be back in Milna, a month has passed in Solin usually working whole day, and scorching on the hottest few weeks out of whole year. What a luck! We rented a place not far from us, an on the outside it looks like Norman Bates motel, each time we go in and out we checked if anybody's passing the street (from embarrassment)! Now we have a bedroom and running water. Here are a few photos of it. Didn't have time to finish Ulysses, nor I've seen Internet, so enjoying myself last few days. Nice salmon on the grill, and will try to get hold on the museum guide. If you haven't been in archaeological museum in Split it's about time to visit it, I've seen stellas on the outside, and should be seen what is going on inside. Ha-ha, haunted by the figs, see you subconscious on work, looking good!

P.S. Let name some of the photos:
- Look for me on www
- O I wish I had...
 - My darling in rosemaryes
- I have a hill, too...
- Moonrise at home
- Looking through my window, watching!
- Fall resemblance

Stay well John, hope to see you soon
Many regards from Nada and me,

Slavko 

Our Rose of Sharon

. . .did very well this year in spite of the nitrogen-robbing raw wood shavings I ignorantly piled around it this spring.  Remember when?

Olivia's 75th Birthday at Our House

The Magician delighted children, teens, adults . . .

Sadie's painting: tulips, sunflower, pine and hearts . . .

The Bonfire

Long time friends:  Leona, Olivia, Judy Baker

Chaz Sez: Picasso

At times we meet 

Those who find themselves 

Horrified by the personal lives of 

Artists & writers I personally am neutral 

On this subject 

I personally Say yes they are such twits 

But man look at this ART 

I don't care about these themes 

When I think about Picasso 

I just would like to spend a 

Few days with him and his boys 

Working on art 

Talking about  Painting & 

Geometry & and Girls 

Having crazy famous and brave 

People dropping by in the mornings 

Afternoons spent our on the 

Veranda with Dora & Lee & Nusch

Sunning ourselves and comparing 

Stories about the 

Minotaur and walking around the studio filled with canvases 

And being shown the magic pieces     

Meanwhile, back East . . .

More flooding from a second tropical storm to the west and a hurricane to the east, a foot of rain the past day or so.
Just a bit of water backing up in a basement drain and water in the garage, hopefully that will be it.
Looks like we will top what Agnes did in 1972 and have the wettest year on record, this after no rain in June and July.

Tim took the photo of the Delaware River on his way to a meeting at Columbia Law School in New York today, we shall see if he gets back to Baltimore tonight for a flight to Boston tomorrow morning to meet with New England Journal of Medicine again I think.


Lynne

In Work

Riches 2 (My Fabulous Figs 2)

(p.s. I just can't resist painting heart-shaped fig leaves for some reason.)

What I Heard at 4 AM Outside My Bedroom Window

THIS went on for over 30 minutes.

Playing the 'Big Uke" in Winthrop

Just a Photo from Last Week Inside Chaz's Studio

Lori Sez: Look who it is!!!

Not sure what happened. Vets are scratching their heads too.  Maybe the weekly adequan shots from last June to Jan.  Who knows but I am going with it!  A couple months ago he was able to eat hay again, very exciting!  Then my father in law, Harv, grew tons of carrots for the horses this year and about a month ago he tells me how much THAT horse likes carrots.  I said no he cant eat the stuff.  Harv said I was nuts, that guy loved 'em.  So I took a handful and sure enough he gobbled them down! Last summer, fall and winter he couldn't eat much of anything but a mash.  I had only exercised him on the ground since last summer and fall he was not safe to ride since he would fall if his head turned left.  Now I had to get on him!  He is doing great!  THere of course is still a "glitch"  in his range of motion in his head, neck, but he doesn't seem to be in any pain like he was last summer and he sure seems like he is having fun the couple races I took him to!  Could hardly keep him out of the arena!  I am taking it a day at a time, but praying the future holds many more runs for him!  If not I am thankful I at least got a chance to get back on him.  Fingers crossed and not giving up on him again until he tells me he is done!  Thanks Harv!  Lori

M and J and Horse

Melanie and Julia and unidentified Arabian horse in front of the farm a little while ago.  (Just look at the pale yellow house and see how small the rhododendron bushes are in front of the living room window.)

The Dock Workers at the Lake

Chaz and John bring it up to spec for another year.

Lori Writes: Papa's tractor saves the day!

So on with our venture into making hay.  It has been great, we have made the best hay I have ever fed.  Harv knocked down the whole field then I got on the tedder to spread it out.  All was going well and then WHAM it felt like the whole front end broke, I about peed my pants!  I mashed the brakes as I watched the tire roll out in front. That is where the tire landed too about 15 feet in front!  So we pulled the tedder off and brought out Papa's International to save the day!  Now we just have to fix John's before we need the baler! 

Chaz Dreams: LAST NIGHT

I dreamt last night that I was

alone with Walt Whitman on an

old wooden schooner out in the

long island sound Walt was

reciting out loud Oh Captain My Captain

and the boat was strangely becalmed in

the waters and I was 

staring intently at Whitman staring into

his eyes as he so plaintively made

the spirit of Abraham Lincoln come alive

to me and I cried as Lincoln's body appeared

before Walt and I appeared so I could really

understand the creases and lines on his

face caused by doing all that he could to

hold this country together in a time of chaos

The boat rocked in the waves and the ropes flapped

for lack of wind Life had gone out of the sails just

as the spirit of America had lost it's wind

when Lincoln was assassinated

As the heat of the day began to bear down 

upon us Whitman leaned over and whispered

"You know the Civil War never ended.  The

War was only suppressed until now."

Charles

From Eason, July 31st

I Shout "Thalassa! Thalassa!"

. . . after driving for 5 long hours, then stumbling around the corner of the little house to this stunning view of the sea . . .

Big man, but the BIGGEST cedar!

At old homestead in Quinault rainforest

Worker guy lighting his barbeque

Fabulous breeze and Eliot gets his kite to do some acrobatics into the sunset.

A few days vacation with Eliot, Kyra, Eason and July at the Pacific Ocean.  Splashing in waves, kite flying, hiking in the rain forest, uke playing . . .

For more photos go here . . .

Just a Great Photo

Julia took this of Slavko (or at least his head)  and Nada at home in Milna.

Hallelujah! Finally Fabulous Figs . . .

For years I have brooded over my little fig tree that Pavle planted at Brizak's End.  I would watch it carefully, water it well, tie it up securely and hopefully.  Each year it was the same:  no figs.  Last year, after feeling a rush of joy at what I thought to be a lone fig but turned out to be a leaf curled in the shadow, I abandoned hope.    It was, as Ivo once said, maybe just a decorative variety.  What a bitter joke!

But then, this year, Julia sends me unexpected tidings.  I own a fertile fig tree!!!!!  No more swiping the neighbors figs when I think they are not looking!  (Just kidding?)   I have my own! I am a rich man!!!

Blake, Tate, Tim

Before heading home, Tim makes it to the Tate Gallery to see some Blake originals.

Tim writes:  Beneath the small painting (bottom) 
Blake wrote in easy to decipher script  
"everything is an attempt to be human"   

Unkie Calls Home

Tim  was out quite late, they had martinis at the Duke's, where James Bond drank them in the movies, Tim didn't but everyone else did, then they went to the Ritz in Mayfair but decided it was a bit too posh and settled on dinner at the Dorchester, waited on by 5 waiters, he had Chateaubriand. He got back to his room around 1 am, he is going to try to get up and go to the Tate tomorrow before he flies back. He is happily enjoying this trip which seems to be a bit of reward for all his hard work.

that is the latest.

Lynne

Photos (from top):

Old Oxford main street
Oxford University (Harry Potter?)
Fish n chips in pub at same location since 1484

Unkie in UK!

Uncle Tim is in the United Kingdom for a few days for some business with Oxford University.

Despite having thrown his back out at work the day before he left and being "sick to his stomach today from the pain meds" Lynne says, he was determined to do a couple of hours sightseeing.

Here's his photo of Westminster Abbey, looking suitably Gothic under lowering skies,  and to prove he was really there, a photo of himself before the doors leading to the famous Poet's Corner.

ALmir Weighs In

I saw on your blog the pictures Amir sent you about fire at Brac. It was very dangerous, but (I hear it's now) under control which is good anyway.

I also heard that situatuon is bad now on the road to Bol, and that regions.  I was thinking about Ivo's house there.

 
On Friday we had a wonderful party at Cheers Pub, that's why I sending you this picture, with a friend who
lives in USA in Minneapolis, Minnesota, myself, and Irvin. 
 
p.s. take attention on shirt I have:)
 
 
friend Almir
 
 
 
 
      

Amir in Milna

We just arrived home from Milna last night. We rested and played with Mak, stayed away from strong sun most of the days.

You've probably heard about fires in Brac. It was pretty bad, they were still extinguishing yesterday and probably today. Milna area was hit two nights ago, as you can see from the photos. It was surrounded by fire, and there was a lot of smoke and ashes (mostly pine trees were burning). We stayed in harbour until midnight or so, until it was stopped a little. Bobovisca area was hit pretty strong (the olive and pine trees etc). And yesterday Sutivan region was burning. It all started form Nerezisca, pustinja Blaca, two days ago, but it was windy and it spread. As far as I heard nobody was hurt and no houses burned, which is a good thing.

Other than this last impressions and events, we had a quiet nice time off, and we enjoyed it once more.

Best,

Amir & family

Fire on Brac

Slavko says:

It was prosperous morning that turned up bad.
Some people were grilling on Blaca Desert,and fire spread all the way
to Milna,and last night we had a fire like never before.

Nada got her belongings and waited on riva for evacuation (she forgot
my documents and so...)

Erma says:

I don't know if you already heard, but there is a huge fire on the Brac island. The fire fighters are doing their best to put it out, and they are putting extra efforts to prevent it from spreading to the currently most vulnerable locations - Bobovisca, Lozisca and Milna.

News says:
Some 200 tourists vacationing in Lucica village and 30 inhabitants of nearby Bobovisca were evacuated to other towns on the island at their own request, the rescue services said in a statement.
Rescuers using fire-fighting planes and helicopters were still trying to put down the blaze that had broken out on Thursday in a bay on island's southwestern side.
The fire has so far ravaged more than 2,500 hectares (6,175 acres) of pine forest and plants.

Julia Is In Greece

I'm here in Greece. I was pooped after traveling all night so have been lazy today. Wanted to go into the nearby town (village on the sea), but didn't make it.

There's wi-fi in the room...! At least sometimes. And for sure in the lobby.

I am feeling much better now - Indonesia and Jakarta are something else. In fact I'm feeling pretty good. I may even go for a swim in the pool.

It's amazing how much this is like Croatia here - cement houses and buildings, lots of stone and concrete, the same plants, cicadas, heat  etc. I guess I said that. And it hot, but the room is air-conditioned - and it's on low so it's not too bad. Normally I don't like AC. There's a small market and fantastic bakery nearby and since I’m on the one-meal-a-day-plan, I can buy cheese and fruit, etc - and those fabulous tomatoes - to eat. (but stuff is expensive – and it seems the taxi ride I’ll need to the airport when I leave will be around $120 . . .

Happy Birthday Nikola

Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia on July 10, 1856

The 20-minute Catholic

In my family we went to church on Sunday morning.  We were a family of split religious arrangements, because my Mother was a Presbyterian and my father was Catholic. 

 

The Presbyterians were for the most part down to business.  One service at 11 and the doors were shut at noon unless you stayed for an extra hour in the basement for socializing.  Holy, holy, holy God in three persons and raise that head up and go home and accomplish something.

 

The Presbyterians were honest, self-motivated and well connected in Omak.  The social clubs were very active and the church was a hub of activity but not too many spiritual experiences were had therein.

 

Going to church at the Presbyterian church was a huge commitment of time and energy for me as a twelve-year-old kid.  Especially since my mother, loved to tell people what was on her mind.  We always stayed for the social gathering after church and I would stand around waiting to go home and be with my friends and my stuff.

 

I have failed to mention that I was mostly mortified after the church service because during the singing of the hymns, my mother, who had a singing voice worse than even my own embarrassing attempt to sing, belted out the hymns really loud.  And all the while I was shaking with trepidation that this awkward moment was going to somehow reflect badly upon me in a social way.

 

I was always anxious and fidgeting on the way home from the Presbyterian Church as I was always taken to the social limit of my ability to endure respectively.

 

My father never went to the Presbyterian Church.  Being the Presbyterian was my mother's responsibility and for the most part we kids went along with it.  It was about the only thing we did with Mother other than eat and sleep.

 

My father added diversity in our family by being the Catholic.  Dad was darker and swarthier (as swarthy as a mostly Scottish man can be) and my mother's parents always were suspicious of my father for being Catholic.

 

Unlike the Presbyterians Catholics like to have church going all the time.  There are masses on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evenings and then an expansive schedule for Sunday.  You could never say, "Oh I am so sorry we missed church,"  because a service was always about to start.

 

Going to the Catholic Church on Sundays was the home run of going to Church.  My Dad was a restless man but he always found a way to go to service on Sunday.  In fact he sometimes went a few times over the weekend.  But my father had a secret.  He didn't stay long at church.

The days we went to church with my Father was a big hurray for me because I knew we would be in and out of the service before you barely got uncomfortable sitting on the pew.  We would blow into church ten minutes early and my father would take a seat in the back.  He never explained the holy water at door into the sanctuary but my brother and I would look at each other and then slap the water on our foreheads like we knew what we were doing. 

 

 

As opposed to the Presbyterian Church the Catholic sanctuary was mysterious with people speaking Latin and incense and prayer beads and the fourth holy of holies Mary mother of Christ.  Mary's a big deal to Catholics.  "Hail Mary, mother of god" is an important litany and the presence of Mary can be felt very heavily even in Omak. 

 

I always felt a spiritual yearning while in the Catholic Church that I never felt at the Presbyterian Church.  I developed a sense of other worldly experiences at that little wood framed church.  A majority of the people at the Catholic Church were the salt of the earth, and while this was much different from my social milieu in Omak, this also appealed to my youthful personal beliefs.  However, because I was at church with my father these ideas remained fragments of beliefs until I was older because there was no time to expand my thoughts.  We just never stayed long enough at church for my little brain to develop these Ideas.

 

About ten minutes into the service it was time for a collection to be taken up and my dad always felt if money was to be gathered he was the man for the job.  Dad would grab the collection basket, which was connected to a broom handle, and shove it down the aisles of patrons and do his best to elicit donations.  In fact, he would keep the basket nearer to those who he knew should give more. 

 

My father was in the credit bureau business, and he knew more about the finances of people in Okanogan County than anyone, so he knew who could give and who could not.  After my father had collected the tithing successfully he began to become restless.  We would fiddle with the prayer beads and listen to some Latin verses about Christ and the holy Mother Mary and then look up at the statue of Mary.

 

And then the next thing we knew my Father would say it was time to go.  Yes, my brother and I were sprung from Church by our Parent no less.  We could go home and change our clothes and get on our bikes and it wasn't even 11:30 yet.  How good could life be.

 

We never stayed long enough for communion or went to confession so I am not really sure what to do or say about that.  I have always felt more like a Catholic because of the dark mysteries of the church's spirituality appealed to me more than the Presbyterian alternative,  but I only know what happens at mass during the first twenty minutes.  And no matter how many times we went with Dad to a service we always left after about twenty minutes.

 

From the earliest of my consciousness I always felt that going to church was an odd way to try and grasp our inherent spirituality but I applaud my parents for marching us off to Church and have us make an attempt at some sort of social commitment.

 

My own children went to Catholic middle schools and high schools and the few times I went to mass at their school chapels I felt comfortable and peaceful staying through the entire service and knowing that my Dad would be happy, with me staying for the entire show, if only he had the sensibility for it.

 

And oh yes, Dad, thanks for the extra time to be a kid and have fun.  I needed it.

CHARLES

 

 

 

 

Happy International Kissing Day

xxxxx

Ants in Borneo

Julia writes:  I’m still alive and well...but I have to say, I miss home! Some of the adventure to traveling is just not there like it was. I’m in Kalimantan (or Borneo) staying in a Subud community – it’s a pioneering community, having the only Western standards in Central Kalimantan, with a school that subsidizes local Dyak students (called ‘National Plus’ – the highest recognized standards) along with ‘Western’ students. Plus there are several social projects around and then there are the mining ventures – still in the exploratory phases and several other things. . .  I was able to go for a four hour ride . . .

On Friday I’ll return to Jakarta for a few more nights before I leave for Greece – another Subud meeting for Central and Eastern Europe for a week. Then I go to Milna. But the way things are working out, it could be John will not come over this year and I may return home early. Just spend enough time in Milna to check up on things, see our friend Almir, from Bosnia, and close up the place for another year ...)

It’s hot and humid and it’s very quiet here, not much going on. . . The internet is spotty and there’s not really a phone except at the reception or people’s ‘hand phones’ as they call them (cell phones). . .Tomorrow we are hiring a driver to take us into Palangkaraya – the nearest big town and the capital of Central Kalimantan.

Slavko Taught Me Everything I Know***

Just decided to add a little interest to the entry.

(*** Except carpet to tile transition, that is!)