G'ma

Slavko is Finally Back in Milna

Hey John, finally got to the Ozzibozzo, as one English guy would
pronounce it, fresh morning, only a few people there! . . .
Milna at heat, some people died in meantime, some get born,
again,cycle of life at full spindle. Heat wave coming our way soon.

Eddy, Our New Grandson!

Sally and Spencer write:

"He is finally here! Redding Robert Conifer Holiday Hurd

arrived on Saturday July 2nd, 10:32 a.m..

We call him Eddy for short, not that his name is long or anything.

He came into this world at 8 pounds and 11 ounces and 20.5 inches."

Hay Time

Lori and John are taking their first cutting off hay off their fields in this sunny weather.  This has attracted some visitors, helping to keep the field mice under control.

Lori says, "Yep they are doing a great job. Funny the young ones would try to take it away from adults and the adults would kick their butts! There were 5 of them."

Ah! Lovely, lovely . . .

Melanie shares a photo of Charles's magical paintings hanging in their condo in Michigan as they prepare to sell the place and move back to Seattle.
Charles adds later:

"I am getting a bit nervous about getting my paintings back to Seattle/Alger.  Prospective buyers come into our townhouse and go gaga over the paintings and go on about how beautiful they are. I'm a little uncomfortable with this new exposure of the paintings to people I don't know.  I just want to sneak out of Ann Arbor with the paintings and then show them off to the world from Seattle.   Aren't the prospective buyers supposed to be going on about the townhouse?  Anyway, one of my major goals on moving is to get all of the painting work together and see where that goes." 

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

My early Cosmos pot!

Friday in Anacortes

Eason and I interrupt our bike ride on the Tommy Thompson Trail for a game of chess on the waterfront.  Then, after hiking around Heart Lake, we climb and view on Mt. Erie.

More Solstice: Eliot

Eliot started his new career as a building inspector last Monday, the Summer Solstice.    He is working for the City of Seattle in a one year temp position.  The work there is hectic, he says, with as many as 20 inspections per day per inspector.  Each morning, he reports to his desk on the 22nd floor in downtown Seattle to plan the days inspections.  Then it's out on the road until days end back at the office to enter the days data to the city's computer system.  Eliot hopes this may give him an advantage towards gaining similar employment up here in the Valley!   Best luck!

Weeding My Garden On the Solstice

Sleepy in the afternoon,
But these bedstraw vines
Are everywhere.

Pigeon

The behavior of the pigeon
is beyond reproach,
but the mountain cuckoo? 

Translated by Robert Hass

by Yosa Buson

(Ed: In memory of the persistent cuckoo of Milna.)

Summer Solstice

I embrace the light.  Do Thou likewise?!  Happy Solstice!

First Summer Solstice full moon since 1948!

Lynne's Lovely Quilt for Little Dee

Sunday Outing to Craft Island

Hard to believe that Julia and I have been here 45 years and didn't know
about Craft Island! A short mile walk through mucky tidal wetlands near
Conway and a truly marvelous sandy beach and rocky knoll.

My Annual Brush Burning

Just ahead of the rain . . .

Catching up after Spring Absence

Got my studio cleaned and ready for action; spaded up my vegetable garden and removed about 75 lbs. of hemlock roots!

Hot Sun and Flowers are Bursting Out

Milna Sunset

Pennsylvania Jungle-Land

The PAhurd's send some photos of their yard.  Isn't Spring wonderful?!

First Canoe Ride

Charlotte has her first canoe ride.  On Cain's Lake, with Eason, Julian Grimes, and Eliot.

I am Papa! I am Papa!

We visit Eliot, Kyra, Eason and Charlotte on my first day back.  Part way through our visit, Eason disappears for a few minutes.  When he re appears, he has on long blue jeans, a casual button shirt with a ballpoint pen in the pocket, a halibut type cap.  He puts on Julia's eyeglasses then runs through the house proclaiming, "I am Papa!  I am Papa!'