Summer – July 15

Almost halfway through July, and there isn’t much excitement here, about which I am not complaining. Excitement can make for interesting stories, of course, but tranquility is welcome at present. Harry’s heart is keeping to its steady rhythm, we have been riding early, while it’s cool, and all creatures are well. Our friend, Thrus, sent magnificent photos of an osprey in South Carolina. It makes me desire a new lens, and perhaps a new camera, but for now, I am lucky that my abused Nikon soldiers on, alongside my iPhone camera.

Here in Missouri, many of my pictures are taken from the kitchen table. I did watch a dove cooling off in the bird bath yesterday morning. I’m dismayed that it looks so filthy (the birdbath, that is)! Soon after, I cleaned and refilled it, but I had never seen this behavior before, so here is a series.

Rebecca was here to help with the project of clearing along the stream, partly to identify a possible leak. It looks quite different, and it is nice to see more of the water. As an added bonus, we have seen birds drinking from the stream, now that it’s out in the open and not overgrown.

I took a picture of Rebecca with Harry, and then she took a picture of me with Harry.

Somehow, Jane has dodged the camera lately. I caught Marianne yesterday evening.

The horses have access to both pastures now, as the grass has stopped growing, with heat and very little rain.

We love having a variety of creatures around, but the varmints (raccoons, I suspect) have eaten ALL of our tomatoes. They smashed down the chicken wire fence and gorged themselves, just as I was getting the hornworms under control. I don’t doubt that they will strip the peach tree tonight.

The deer varmints missed a few lilies. This one is protected by lilacs. Our little bur oak is producing acorns, which is very exciting.

Harry likes to relax on the porch by the kitchen door on summer evenings. He has been busy learning lines for his upcoming play. Rehearsals start next week.

A few more birds…

It has been too dry for chanterelles, alas. This fungus is looking pretty desperate, but beautiful in its own way. We are hoping for rain this weekend. As Susie says, we are “never more than two weeks from a drought”.

And so it goes here.

Be safe, be well, stay cool. Slava Ukraini! Peace.