Poetry

 

A couple of pages from Nova's illustrated poetry book, one of her final projects in 6th grade.  A pretty poem about birds, and another about the pleasure and pain of being an actor. On to middle school adventures in the fall. 

A long drive yesterday, about 6 hours in the car.  It took a full hour just to get through the detour from our house to the freeway, then the usual stuff through downtown Seattle until we finally hit open road headed north.  But then we also stopped for a picnic lunch and some gluten free goodies at 5b's Bakery in Concrete.  

Hot here yesterday, but cooling down to the 80's today.  Amanda gives vaccinations in Omak this afternoon, so we're looking forward to spending it in town with the girls.

English major in the making?

Mountaineers

 

That's Maya, Nova and Amanda this weekend up on Driveway Butte Trail in the North Cascades.

Flashback about 8 years and here's little Nova scaling a "mountain."  Those kids have a great backyard, huh?

Speaking of the Methow Valley, we're making a quick trip over this week.  Well, no such a thing as a quick trip, because it's a heck of a drive no matter how you slice it. But worth it, once we're there.

Seattle weather has been spectacular, which often happens when the rest of the country is crummy. Yesterday in the mid-80's and not a cloud in the sky, which of course is too hot for most people. My only complaint is keeping everything watered in this incredibly intense June light. It was already getting light and the birds were chirping at 4 am this morning.

The big jam

 

Setting up in the shade...

Cecil sings the blues.

Carol looks ready!

Freddie and Chic getting caught up. 

A beautiful, sunny breezy day.

Here's to happier times ahead for The Ukes!

Calm before the ukulele storm

 

 

 

For months now, I've done a weekly Zoom session with some players from our old group called The Ukes.  5-10 smiling faces usually show up in the little boxes after I launch the meeting. It feels like inviting people to your party, then sitting back and waiting to see if anyone comes.

Unfortunately, Zoom wasn't designed for group music. If we all play at the same time, it just sounds garbled. So we take turns doing solos, which was scary at first, but turned into a confidence building experience for some of us. Being a "good singer" is totally optional in the world of ukulele playing-- just watch some ukulele YouTube videos. Ha ha.

Anyway, now we're vaccinated and the weather has warmed up, so I invited everyone over to the backyard this afternoon for our first in-person sing-a-long in since February 2020.  At least six people are coming, and possibly more will show up.  I'm really excited. After listening to other people's noise, I figure it's our turn to make some in the neighborhood. Maybe I can persuade John to take a few pictures before he goes into hiding for the afternoon!

National Hamburger Day

 

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend. I picked up a small package of good hamburger and a bag of whole wheat buns yesterday at Metropolitan Market yesterday. Gee, I could have bought a steak! But there's no substitution for a burger cooked outside, topped with grilled sweet onions on a toasted bun. If that doesn't say summer, nothing does. 

Looks like another grey and chilly morning here (the furnace is running again) but weather should brighten up by Sunday. It won't be as warm as we hoped, but we'll take it.  Hope you have some fun weekend plans in the works.

Out with the old

 

This is where we sit outside in the afternoon sun with a glass of wine before dinner.  The front of the house is completely private, and you can listen to the world go by on the other side of the hedge. It's fairly peaceful, at least until the school addition construction across the street starts up. Noise is just a part of life on a busy corner smack in the urban village.

Anyway, John ordered that beautiful new teak bench online, and it showed up on the sidewalk yesterday in a humongous box.

Been sitting on this splintery, wobbly thing for years-- way overdue for an upgrade.

So this morning, new bench gets the first of many Seattle drenchings. Eventually the teak turns silver grey, but it sure looks pretty right now in the rain.

This rain is a real gift, and when the sun comes out this weekend the flowers will go crazy. Roses, at last!