A Blog for 2025

June 30, 2025 Would have been Mike's 81st birthday, I still am not used to thinking of my siblings as elders. Just doesn't seem possible. Tried to use the Canon tonight, but a fully charged battery was only powering the shutter, it would not focus or let me see what it was set on.  So I took my program setting and hoped for the best and manually focused.    I was at the rookery at 8 tonight, it was 79 degrees and pretty clear.   But I really had no control over what I was shooting.   The show is down, all but 1 person has their art back.   Thanks, gang, that was fun.  I'll try and hold the gallery for next year.     Pool felt good this morning.  I woke up in pain and just needed to be in there.  I am going to set my swimming lessons up this week.  First, I'll reschedule my eye surgery.  I don't seem to be very creative this week.  I need to chose what I'm reading on Sunday.   I need to or...

  June 27, 28, and 29 I worked three days in a row after not working for over a week.  Did not get a ride in until this evening.  Ash having to play more than one role in an evening hides in a corner near an outlet while plays are happening.  I'm sorry my phone could not capture her encased in monitor light with indigenous women's faces staring down upon here.   Ash is one of my new heroes. I am so shocked at how fast this month went.  I wanted to enjoy this show for longer.  It was such a nice gallery.  But it is coming down now and our new interactive show goes up Thursday with an opening on Saturday.  It's going to be really good.   Fast ride tonight.  The rookery is mud and drift wood.  There were no birds today except the good old red winged blackbirds.  I wonder if we lost nests and babies, like the wood ducks, do you think they made it to safe ground? Lots of new flowers blooming today.  The day lilie...

  June 26, 2025 Today is my father's 107th b'day.  He has now been gone as long as he was on earth.  Just too young, Daddy.   I want to photograph smell. The show is coming down on Monday.  I can't believe how fast that went.  People loved it.   Went back to work today.  Had a good day.  Clara officially joined the staff.  Things are definitely looking up at LAVA.   Took a ride this evening and ate my salad late.  Drove down to the Bridge and the railroad tracks.  I haven't done that in a while.  The Deerfield was rushing and its very lush, unlike the rookery. It was 67 at the rookery, that's 30 degrees less than it was Tuesday.  Humidity was high and it was silent, although Merlin told me there was a Barred Owl near me.   Couldn't find it.    I need to get my camera up and running.  I think this stage of the process is worth capturing.  I got out of the car today and ...

  June 25, 2025 It was an awful day weatherwise, but not so in general.  Do they say it is good luck to have a wolf spider trapped in your bathtub? Could be.  I need to acquire just a little more courage and catch him and put him outside,   I'd post his picture, but it might creep too many people out, New information about the rookery from neighbor, Jen.  Apparently, several years  ago a human went in and destroyed one of the beaver dams which forced all of the water in the pond to rush down the stream and flooded Jen's property.  This time there was not an immediate flood, instead over 2 days their yard got wetter and wetter .  It is a normal part of the beaver eco-environment for the dams to let go, slowly, not in a horrible rush.  So Jen believes that is what happened.  It will take almost 20 years for it to fully expand again.   It's so amazing that I have 5 years of its development on film.  The air quality was n...

June 24. 2025 Oh, too hot today.  Really, too hot today. Seriously folks, look at these photos, the rookery has been drained.  Don't know what is going on, but there is only a very thin line of water in it. Momma skunk had her two babies out tonight in this part of the pasture so full of dark soil.  The grubs must be great here.   I saw this clump of white fur and didn't know what it was so I backed up.  She didn't know quite what to do, but I didn't stay long.  They are so cute.   I don't think I ever realized that milkweed smelled so good, but the entire front of my so called garage smells beautifully with these gorgeous plants.  There are so many berries.  Flooded, and they'll be ripe tomorrow. These are my two great-niece, Anna, and Zoe.  They are two of the painters I've talked about.  They are in Utah for Anna's birthday and Zoe sent me this photo.  They are beautiful, smart and funny women.  I haven't seen...

  June 23, 2025 Happy Birthday Arianna Cole.  I think you are 24 today.   It was 100 when I got into my car after the chiropractor.   It was 90 when I got in the car this evening to drive to the rookery and check it out.   It was 82 at the rookery.  The humidity was unbearable, sweat just falls down your face and even felt like the mosquitoes weren't braving it tonight. When I got there I immediately realized that the water level was way too low and I was looking at way too much mud.  The far edges of the pond were bare mud and fallen trees and patches of mud could be seen throughout the pond.   Trunks of trees that have been underwater for sometime were visible.  One neighbor thought  that it was down 2 feet.  The only conclusion we could come up with was that someone/thing had taken down an old beaver dam in the back 40.   It was a little scary.  There were song birds around, but not others....

June 22,2024 Another day of no photos, no writing, however, much healing, I'm in much better shape than I've been in in a couple weeks.  Surgery was canceled for tomorrow.  I will be able to return to my normal routine.  Thanks for being patient  I'm almost back.  Meanwhile,, listening to an old Spotify playlist and lo and behold my Mother's flute plays.  Always warms my heart.  She had an amazing sound.  https://open.spotify.com/track/4KcJ6qQlg9wBDM8UBFHEYs?si=650a3b755e1c489d Jean Whiton   flutist

June 21, 2025 Oh Summer , Geoff built this table for us to do barbecues on and T. had cleaned it off and made it a gardener space.  But I'm afraid it is now bird heaven.  Grapes, raspberries.  lots of weeds, ahh    I swear to you this lushness happened while I've been in bed for almost 3 days.  The sunset is gorgeous tonight and I am sorry I am not on the grounds of the Green River Festival.  It must be electric at the moment. But my own yard, in all of its untendedness, is gorgeous.   My little house is being wrapped in vines of all types and I have enough raspberries growing to feed a camp.    Here stands the famous swing.  The grapes have claimed her, she is hidden in brilliant green.   2 things; 1) My infection is still burning.  It is doing a little better, but not perfect. 2) I ordered the wrong size batteries for my camera so it looks like I am dependent on my phone for another week.  I'll try to make...

June 18, 2025 A gift from the gods, or from David.  Today was a self care day, but oh God, too much.  I can't really walk, I have an infection on my neck and my allergies are going berserk. Thank God I'll get my new batteries tomorrow, I can  take pictures and focus on creative pursuits.  Did the circle at 7:30 tonight.  It was lovely, but super mosquitoey Alright,  I promise I'll get back on top of my game soon.  Meanwhile, camera photos and skimpy narrative. Sleep well.