More heat

 

The sun is just coming up in a hazy, yellow sky.  Another heat wave on the way, although shorter than the one in June. They're still trying to figure out how many people died in the northwest during that awful week.

A bit of good news, if you can call it that-- the high-level smoke from California might keep the temperature down so Seattle will "only" be in the 90's. By Monday, back in the 70's. All I can say is, what a roller coaster of a summer.  

Our resident kitchen window spider. She's having a fat happy summer, trapping the dumber honey bees from the hive across the street.

I tried to water early this morning with the sprinkler, but it just pools up on top of the parched ground. Only a good, slow, steady rain will make a difference. Flower season is pretty much over, although we still have dahlias and the wonderful Autumn Sedum coming into its own. Also a big pot of Roma tomatoes some beautiful Anaheim peppers, earmarked for homemade chili rellenos. A once-a-year labor of love. It wouldn't be worth it, if they weren't so delicious.

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

 

The Peace of Wild Things

 

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

 

The Peace of Wild Things
By Wendell Berry

Lazy Day

 

Ten of the Uke members showed up yesterday to practice and serenade the neighborhood. Our neighbor rushed over to say how nice it was to "hear music" which was rather generous of her.

We had fun but it's always challenging playing together outside. There's background noise, and frankly our hearing isn't what it used to be. It's not unusual to have two melodies going at the same time. Oh, dear. 

But I think we did better than last time. One of our stronger players/singers came and we could follow his lead.

Our old group leader hasn't shown much enthusiasm for picking up the baton again. There isn't anyone willing or able to take his place at this point. 

On top of the pandemic, other changes, such as the difficulty getting to West Seattle and the elimination of free parking at the Senior Center guarantee the old group will never be the same. Everything is harder now. The pandemic has taken away so much. For folks our age, precious time.

August 10th is "Lazy Day." Just what the doctor ordered around here. 

Today is also Nova's birthday. They have a big day planned with friends at the water park, which sounds like the opposite of lazy. 

Exactly 12 years ago at this early hour, I got in my car and headed across the mountains to meet our granddaughter for the first time.  How fast the years pass.

What a week

 

The week went by in such a blur. Let's see. Last Monday, we drove over to Twisp planning to bring the girls back to Seattle with us on Tuesday. Instead we stayed another night and worked all day at the house. 

We got a lot accomplished despite the awful smoke. Then we came back to Seattle on Wednesday and had the kids here for two non-stop busy days. Amanda and Tom arrived late Friday night and everyone left Sunday. You can't pack more into one week.

But other good things have also been happening. This is dad with with my brother and sister in Utah, celebrating our nephew's return from his two-year church mission. Marji and dad drove from Las Vegas, and Dave down from Washington making a big loop through Colorado to check on dad's house.

A lovely picture of Dad and my niece Julie. 

We're going to rest up and enjoy our quiet life here for a few days. We had a bit of rain over the weekend and cool temperatures, but it's supposed to get hot once again in Seattle. This will surely go down as one of the hottest, driest summers on record.

This afternoon I'm hosting a group of The Ukes again for backyard practice. I'm embarrassed to say I haven't picked up my ukulele for over a week. But everyone is rusty after the long pandemic. John will probably head for the hills until it's over and I don't blame him.

Busy

 

I haven't even had time to use my computer much less write the blog. The last two days have been so jam-packed.  We brought the girls back to Seattle with us on Wednesday. They are experienced car travelers and we hardly knew they were in the backseat for the 5 hour drive.

A bit homesick for mom and dad the first night, but things soon settled down. 

Yesterday included shopping for new shoes, fish and chips at Alki. Lots of fairy garden play in the yard.  But the big highlight was learning ride "Scootie." They were naturals. 

Here's a few pictures.