Nothing But Perfection

Every day more perfect than the last—sunny and warm, with nary a cloud in the sky.  

Growth is rampant—among things irrigated. Enough oregano to supply North America; enough cilantro to supply every Mexican restaurant in Canada (I assume there are some in spite of there being none on Manitoulin); and tomatoes like I've never seen before...some almost ripe.

Out to breakfast,  to Mum's, with the Pinebox contingent. Then not too much else of interest until a late afternoon trip to the dump, which was humming as a result of having been closed on Canada Day.

Lovely if You Love Dry

Cooler and less humid. Dry front last night swinging the wind from south to west. As usual, the storms coming across Wisconsin and Michigan dissipated as they reached Manitoulin. 

Internet finally back—good going Vianet, you bunch of amateur hosers. Though, I must say, that having limited access to news proved to be a good thing, and made me remember how the first Gulf war, now long ago, remained unknown until summer was over and we were back in the States.

I've been getting depressed by the news lately. It is, when you thing about it, by and large, depressing. And it makes me wonder WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BAD PEOPLE?  Is evil baked into the human genome?

Why are there:
Internet scammers
Swindlers
Dishonest business people
Private equity manipulators
Inside traders
Money launderers
Sex traffickers
Slavers
Domestic abusers
Murderers
Mass murderers
Wilfull polluters
Welfare abusers
Bribers and bribe takers
Corrupt government officials
Bullies
Psychopaths
Racists
Militarists
Arms dealers
War profiteers
Child molesters
Pornographers
Mobsters
Embezzlers
Liars
Psychopaths
Toadies
Sadists
Snake oil salesmen
Mercenaries
Dictators
Torturers
Scum bags
Extortionists
Traitors
Cheats
Horse thiefs
Shysters
Rip-off-artists
Pirates
Poltroons
Thugs
Goons
Arsonists
Scabs
Cheats
Republicans, and...
Trump suporters

Gale From the South

Still very warm, but the big wind eases the pain. 

WIFI internet continues to be out,  now for more than 24 hours. TG for LTE. 

Sailed The Windrider in the gale (reefed), and went for a swim (complete dunk). While the air is hot, the water is cold.  

How Humid Is It?

Enough moisture in the air to float the Lucitania. 

Nice crop of radishes. 

Pier work and other chores, and just as we were finishing up, the Pine Box contingent pulled in. Fashionably late dinner as a result.  

Happy birthday to Abby! 

Monarchs Like Coreopsis...

...and, happy to say, quite a few monarchs have stopped by.  

There is nothing quite like being awakened by the drumming of rain on the roof; and this morning, that was the case. Brief rain, maybe 15 minutes, but substantial, and, as it was unexpected but really needed, greatly appreciated.

First kayak paddle this morning, oddly enough (after the rain). Absolutely no wind, so the boat had to scribe a line through plate glass. Blowing hard from the south now. The day has been hot.

For all intents and purposes the bunkie (except for minor decor) is completed.

‘‘Tis The Season...

 ...for daisies, buttercups, and anemones.  

Perfect evening for reading on the porch. 

Reading She Has Her Mother’s Laugh. 

Time For Some Sailing

Over 5 miles on board the Windrider from the marina to Gray Point and back, in a variable but decent breeze. This sailing adventure part of our new policy of no chores after noon.

In rigging the boat we discovered that the water, at least on days when the wind is blowing in, is swimmable.

With the big weekend coming, Serendipity Lane is filling in.

Very dry on Manitoulin, but everything still green, including the herb garden (although to be honest, it gets watered). Front row, left to right, cilantro, rosemary, and basil. Farther back, the world's largest crop of oregano, along with thyme, sage, summer savory, chives, and garlic.

All Quiet on the Northern Front

No sound this evening but "the tintintabulation of the"...no that's wrong. What I meant to say was ...the susurration of the waves as they caress the shoreline rocks.

Okay, enough of this.

Lovely light

Sunny, summery, and, even with grocery shopping, a few chores were removed from the list.

A robin has nested on one of the entry porch pillars. She, for one, is not glad that we are back, but I do believe an arrangement is being worked out that will satisfy everyone.

Plucked and Plopped

Plucked out of one world and plopped into another. Always a bit disorienting. And the drive always long enough to raise the question, "why am I dong this?" But within minutes of arrival, the drive is forgotten, and the answer is clear.

Cool, calm, and dry. Pax handled the drive well, and the forced inactivity was probably good for him. He seems much improved over yesterday.

Late to the Party

Not home from the vet until after noon, when the party was in full swing. Everyone helped set up, and Bri took over grill duties.

Lots of good fun and good food.

Delicacies, imported from Italy, and incredibly delicious.

Happy birthday to Ab.

Pax is recovering from puncture wounds, crushed muscles, and a torn paw (several stitches). Drugged up as he is, he is confused, whining to go out and then just standing like a statue. A few minutes ago he finally fell asleep, and we are now moving about quietly.

The long ride tomorrow will probably be good for him.

Thanks to Sue for the photos.

Flat Out Summer

and just as I was writing this, sitting on the back patio watching Pax chew his evening treat, a big, foul-smelling mis-breed of a dog came tearing through he bushes from the house kitty corner behind us, smashed Pax off his feet, and began ripping at him. With a log and a lot of screaming we broke the fight. Pax is hurting, but not bleeding, and nothing is broken. 

Turns out it was a pet-sitter, but we are now contacting the owners. This dog should not be in this neighborhood.

At Your Service...

 ...berry. 

This shrub has become something like the neighborhood Starbucks, for wildlife. The berries are ripe, and the birds and squirrels have got the word.

Dog sitting for me today as Sue, Abby, Kate, and Will went down for a family get together and pool party at the Morrison's.

Riders on the Flood

Lunch in Whitefish Bay, then wet park and wet ride in Whitewater. 

Yard Reclamation

Work ‘till you drip has been the approach. Then, when soaked, head inside and sit for a bit in front of a fan.

Squishy, and somewhat buggy ride to the prairie, but Pax wanted a good stretch after all the yard work.

Swamped

Thunderstorms from 3p.m. until the wee hours, then heavy rain this morning. 

Geared up and off to camp. 

Wipers on high driving to Oconomowoc, but slow clearing once there. Morning with Bec, Mads and El (including some exciting rounds of Uno), and then it was time to take the older girls off  to catch the bus to camp.

Whitewater Creek flooded, and Milwaukee needing to release who knows how much more than a hundred million gallons of untreated into the big lake.

The band of weather moved from west to east, stretching from about Green Bay on the north side to Rockford, Il, on the south side. No moisture on Manitoulin.

Holed Up...

awaiting decent weather.  Although the yard is a jungle in need of a sharp machete, all we were capable of, given the heat and humidity, was a trip out for breakfast with our "dinner and Sequence neighbors" to Blue Gilles in Newville.

The rain finally came about 3 p.m., and although the heat has lessened a bit, the humidity has not.

As evidenced in the photo above, the alpine currant bushes on the south side of the hourse seem to thrive in a tropical climate.

In the Heat of the Night...

...and the day, too. 

The young berry patch seems to be doing well.

The cornfields are a deep blue-green. And, with wet fields and extreme heat and humidity (not to mention elevated levels of CO2), I have little doubt an inch or two of growth was added today.

On the way past a recently cut hayfield we saw several younger guys bailing hay, the old way, with square bales that needed to be heaved up onto a hay-wagon. Empathy and commiseration.

Lucky us, we got to take Ellie, Maddie, and Becca out for breakfast this morning, and then a bit later spend time with Ben and James.

Road Toads

But not a bad trip. 12.5 hours, with, as usual, the last half hour being the hardest. Yard, as usual, overgrown. Hot and humid—not acclimated.

Team Carter Bay...

...so called anyway.  

Forced to shoot a selfie. 

Bob, Narasim, and on the right, barely, Therese. Also in attendance but not pictured Dr. Roy.

Although we hosted, Narasim brought lunch, a delicious chicken curry.  

Long and interesting discussion about the future of the Carter Bay property and the possibility of making it a center of environmental ed. and stewardship training and practice.

Now packing for tomorrow’s travel.  

Perfection Is Impossible...

 ...but it’s an interesting goal. And so today we took advantage of perfect weather to go after little annoyances, and items well down on the to-do list. Lots of variety, which is fun, plus the weather was perfect.

These beauties didn't flower last year.

To start things off, Pax got his third bath in 24 hours, this time after a rubdown with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap.