I missed Sunday’s full Buck Moon, but this morning, there was a lovely orb in the sky, just starting to wane.
We had a pleasant preamble to riding on the ring. The operative part of the word being amble, through the woods…
Vlad came to the studio with an armature, so he and Harry assembled it. Masks were worn to be safe. Someday we will look back on these days and laugh, I hope.
Harry and I ventured into St. Louis county, across the wide Missouri, to see the dermatologist, Dr. Donnelly. We had back to back appointments (so to speak). I had “a wart” on my nose, but the doctor said it was merely a keratosis, which he promptly froze off, along with many others. Sun exposure has caught up with us. Poor Harry had to have a biopsy done for a possible basal cell carcinoma on his head, along with many freezings. But for the most part, we were cleared for another year. We did various errands while we were out and about. A productive trip, though tiring.
I know I said I wouldn’t write about the heat, but I cannot help but think this illustrates how hot and miserable it is. Poor Squirrel Nutkin!
The catbird is a bird I was not familiar with until this year, and it has become one of my favorites. Sometimes, I get quite close to it outside, and I see it every day. The “catbird seat” references the bird’s penchant for sitting high in a tree, but it’s quite active and all over the place as well.
I had to trim grass when we got home, instead of finishing Mistletoe’s trimming. Maybe tomorrow…
Feeling peppy! 
Always on the lookout for Jack…
In the studio, the sculptor contemplates his work…
A bit of bad news to report. I lost the plums to Brown Fungus, and now I am losing the peach crop to varmints (raccoons, almost definitely). It’s so frustrating. I think I will have to build an electric fence for next year, or institute a trap and relocate program, which is a lot of work. I want to live in peace and harmony, but they are so greedy!!
A few peaches left, not ripe yet, but ripening 
Broken branches 
Evidence of a feast on peaches that will never ripen
At least we have some day lilies, unlike poor Jane, whose day lilies have been devoured by deer.
And finally, thanks to Linda, who identified the pond plant as Saururus cernuus or Swamp Lily, also called Dragon’s Tail. Dragon’s Tail it shall be from now on…
Stay safe, stay well, stay in the shade.
I came across the email of your blog and wanted to say “hello” to you and Harry! Glad you are both doing well and great to see Harry standing with no aids and getting back to living his life!! Much love, Carmen (the OT)
Oh, Carmen, so nice to hear from you! We still have the “Spring” card from your daughter on our fridge, even though it’s summer now. It makes us smile and remember how kind you were. I hope you are well. Difficult times, for your profession especially.
It is great to have Harry back in action for sure, and much credit to you, our problem solver! Harry often credits the AW team for all you guys did to help him recover. Thank you!
We lost all our bean plants to the deer, in spite of the bunny fence and then a five foot hog panel in front of the garden. We had one dinner serving before the devastation. Dang!
Oh, no!! Sounds like I will need to think hard about what to do. Glad you did get one dinner. My father, at 80, built a completely enclosed garden. Sort of a square building made of chicken wire. Squirrels were his nemeses. He called his new garden “Gitmo”, and it was impervious to his varmints, which also included deer. The peach tree, though is problematic. I talked to an orchard owner. He uses noise to deter raccoons. Talk radio does not work – they get used to that. He plays Rock radio (KSHE) all night. Of course, his orchard is far from the house. I would rather give all the peaches to raccoons than listen to hard rock music!
Same with my roses. Gone to the bulbs entirely. And I so loved a new morning with a new rose just bursting from vase shape to full face. I am thinking of having a fall harvest gathering with the deer being the harvest.
Deer are more and more a problem here as they get acclimated to us and there is less harvesting, with the population of humans so congested. An outdoor dog might help… but we can’t bear to leave them outside! Poor Jane has really had bad luck with deer munching this year.