Keep To The Shade

Thermometer topping 90, and humid.

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Venerable walnut, marching down the ages.

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Lots of windfall, from recent storms, most of it birch.

Workout, errands, a little weeding, and a walk around the block. Otherwise, cowering in the AC.

Quinoa salad, pickled beets and cottage cheese, broccoli pistachio pesto pasta—pretty over the top, but basically tasty.

Storm a Day

So many that it’s hard to give each the attention it deserves. The beets are loving it, however.

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Catalpa flower.  Who could the pollinator be?

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Stump of ash recently removed from park. Well over 100 years, but careful counting will need the assistance of grandkids. (It’s right by the playground, so this should not be a problem.)

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Finally, baked oatmeal. Maybe, maybe not, part of the Mediterranean diet we are now emphasizing, but nonetheless, something to look forward to come morning.

Thor’s Hammer…

…pounding the neighborhood not long after sunrise, and sending Pax to the basement.

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Following that, time at the gym, a visit by Sally and Glenn, then out to lunch with them, then a bit of a watch of the France vs. US soccer match, then a walk around the big block in heavy, still air—all adding up to what might be called a rather busy day.

And both Sally and Glenn, and neighbor Vi, gifted us today just-picked ripe strawberries. Here, from the aboriginal Greeting and Thanks to the Natural World:

When we look about us, we see that the berries are still here, providing us with delicious foods. The leader of the berries is the strawberry, the first to ripen in the spring. Can we agree that we are grateful that the berries are with us in the world and send our thanksgiving, love, and respect to the berries? Now our minds are one.

Kentucky Coffee Trees

Planted from seed gathered from the mother tree in the park across the road. I think these two are a least 3 years old, and thriving.

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Kentucky Coffee trees are like honey locusts and avocados, among other flora, that need human people to survive, now that their natural partners, the mega fauna, are extinct. Despite the names, Coffee trees and Honey locusts don’t reciprocate with human food, but they do provide an abundance of shade and beauty.

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On a different note—plumbing— I received the following account from John. (Note: plumbing stories are almost always horror stories.)

“Well, I called O Bond plumbing yesterday after spending many hours sitting on a green 5 gal bucket in our tiny indoor shower stall trying to get a threaded collar to grab the threads and tighten. Of course he said he could not possibly arrive before Friday.

Today I spent another several hours trying to put it together—same story. We decided to go to Gore Bay for some supplies. While there, the plumber called and said he was in Kagawong on another job and finished early. He waited for us. I showed him the wayward shower, supplied all the parts and tools and he put the valve in and it screwed right in! He was in the cottage no more than 10 minutes. All fixed! I asked him how he did it—-his reply-“I’m licensed.”

The bill will arrive in the mail.

This Is Summer...

 ...in southeast Wisconsin. 

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Grass was getting almost knee high in the week since Manuel was last here.

Grass was getting almost knee high in the week since Manuel was last here.

Thunderstorms last night, with heavy downpours. Bright, clear sky this morning—then cumulus rising into cumulonimbus, then the anvil top, then bam, once again, heavy downpours and shaking thunder.

It’s hard to imagine anything more pleasant than sitting under an overhang, back against the wall, with a thunder storm raging around you. Unless you are Pax.

Garden Victory...

 ... galinsoga  vanquished, or so it would seem.

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The green manure cover crop, planted as soon as frost was out of the ground, had grown thickly to almost waist hight when it was laboriously mowed and the resulting mat trod into the soil. While it was growing (peas, oats, vetch), nothing could compete, was over grown and shaded out. After mowing, the heavy mulch acted as a landscape fabric.

At planting time I scratched shallow grooves through the mat to accept the seeds of beet and squash. Now, both crops are prospering. (The green stuff along the edges in the photo is creeping charlie, creeping in—but it will be easy to discourage.) Pickled beets could be on the horizon this fall.

On another note, a report from Pinebox indicates there has been an outbreak of the “friendly fly,” a fly that looks like a house fly, but much bigger. It’s friendly for two reasons—it doesn’t bite humans and it controls the obnoxious forest tent caterpillar, which denuded the forest last year. “In early summer it emerges from the ground and seeks out forest tent caterpillar cocoons, where it deposits live larvae which bore into the cocoons and feed on the pupating insects.” (Evolution in action) Last year’s caterpillars, followed by this year’s flies—and eventually the wild outbursts will subside, for about a decade.

Pax Is Back

A little confused perhaps, at first, but ultimately glad to be home.

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Longest separation ever, a full two weeks. Life has been good for him I do believe—varied travels, good company, lots of attention. Knowing him, I suspect that he has made an effort as well to contribute to the overall quality of life around him. He has a positive outlook and boundless enthusiasm.

In the days and hours prior to his return I felt increasing nervousness about our reunion, almost the kind of thing you might feel when going out on a first date. One worry has been that he will be disappointed in the rather tame and slow-moving agenda presently in effect here on the home front, no long walks, no fast bike runs, no swimming. But Pax also likes routine, and taking charge of his own territory.

Glad he’s back, and chi migwetch to everyone who befriended him the past two weeks.

Thank you Rhubarb

and (honeybees too) for giving of yourself in the creation of a tasty and nutritious rhubarb compote. Rhubarb, you and I seem to have been working together successfully for many years now.

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I seem to be taking the teachings of Braiding Sweetgrass, including the Original Instructions, to heart. It might have been the timing of my reading the book that makes it seem so relevant and powerful, or maybe is is really relevant and powerful. I’ve long been interested in Indigenous Wisdom, but now I think I somewhat understand it. I’ll be referencing it often, and putting copies of the book in circulation, as part of an attempt at reciprocity.

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No Dinghy Needed

For years, as we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge, my Dad would reassure us that if the bridge collapsed we’d be fine; after all we had Heliotrope’s red rubber dinghy strapped to the roof of our mini van.

Happy to report that today, as the Brian and Morgan contingency made their way home to Wisconsin, no dinghy was needed.

Straits of Mackinaw photo by Brian.

Straits of Mackinaw photo by Brian.

And here in Lac Du Flambeau, Pax enjoyed a day of sprints to the point followed by swims in To To Tom Lake.

Photo and guest blog by Abby.

Photo and guest blog by Abby.

Ready, Set…

Guest photos today, and a guest blogger tomorrow. Fine day here—ever changing sky, wind boxing the compass then fading with the sun.

Pax led Ab on several long walks (and swims) along the Petoskey waterfront. And now Morgan is here too to join the vacation fun.

Pax led Ab on several long walks (and swims) along the Petoskey waterfront. And now Morgan is here too to join the vacation fun.

Photo by Mary Ellen of first anemone up north

Photo by Mary Ellen of first anemone up north

Record Smashed

Fifty laps within one crew shift, or two and a quarter miles. Pax had a good day too

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Long walks and even a swim.

While I made no crochet progress I did get to almost understand the basics of cribbage.

Work in progress— —by Abby

Work in progress— —by Abby

Twenty-three Laps…

…around the CVU compound equals one mile, and the record number of laps completed in one day, so far, is 56.

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And crochet lessons have begun. While I’m not the most apt student, it’s fun seeing the room become a gathering place for all the many folks interested in this fiber art.

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