It's almost officially "Summer" and days move slowly. Things are opening around us but we're staying still. This is a time of reflection and learning and understanding. A time of gratitude and happiness and sadness and disbelief.
We've taken down our bird feeder. The hummingbird feeder stays, they are polite visitors. Grackles, squirrels and chipmunks took possession of the seed feeder and chased every one else away. The chipmunks peppered the driveway with holes, the squirrels and grackles ate us out of house and home and those same grackles practiced one of their more annoying habits so enthusiastically that we had to wear shoes when walking on the dock. They nest communally, lots of them in a small area, and the adults keep themselves busy by carrying their babies poop out of the nest (in their beaks) and dropping it into the lake. That is to say if all goes well, it lands in the lake, but our grackles seem to be more intent on hitting the dock. It's a mess. No more food from us, ungrateful birds!
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poop line |
We have kept busy planning (with our familial architects) and laying out and building our downstairs project. We're supporting our local lumber company and turning the Jeep into a delivery vehicle.
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Dave cut bathroom fixtures out of cardboard so I could better "see" the placements |
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up goes the first wall |
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Fabulous Fred helps Dave maneuver the bathtub down the deck stairs |
Dave has also kept up with his list of jobs in Beluga. So far, he's replaced the toilet, and finished the leveling jack repairs. On our way home this spring, Dave noticed that the fresh water tank was leaking badly. We used bottled water until we could get home and investigate. It turns out that the tank had become loose in it's compartment and as Beluga bumped along down the road (probably that d amn I-70 in Indiana again), the movement broke the pvc drain pipe, allowing the water to pour out. All fixed now!
I'm still cooking and baking and being domestic. Rhubarb season is pretty much finished so I've turned my attentions to cookies. I've managed to replicate one of our favorite Safeway cookies (Hope's Royales) and yesterday I made a batch of an old Polish cookie recipe that we'd forgotten about!
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Polish orange/coconut cookies |
Niece Lisa stopped by the other day and brought us some goodies.....wine and flowers AND a huge box of Oliver's candies. Oh my, they're good. and, they're almost gone (don't judge - a friend says that covid 19 sometimes stands for the extra weight gained while staying at home).
Lewis has been enjoying his time, just being Lewis.
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this shot was taken on a 90 degree, humid day. He stayed in front of the air conditioning vent! |
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when we work in the lower level, Lewis scoots around in the grass just outside the window |
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he swims |
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he "loses" his ball in a patch of mint on the beach (he smells divine afterward), then has to find it |
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he enjoys his short summer haircut |
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curly when wet! |
That's about all I have to say for now. I do this blog to show you (and remind me) what we're seeing - so these are June's views.......
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back and forth, ringing his bell at dinner time |
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my "doing dishes" view |
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burgers and rose' anyone? |
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pretty reflected eastern Sunset |
Dave has some great talents, the basement project looks totally awesome! I used to tell the kids the Ice Cream truck only played music when they ran out. It worked a couple times ...
ReplyDeleteSome time ago I took down the seed feeder for the same reasons, it attracted the wrong critters, But I still enjoy the hummingbirds at their feeder.
Bet Dave has a power washer to clean up that deck in his tool box.
Great Ice Cream Truck idea, wish I'd thought of that! Dave's dock power washer is a broom!
DeleteGood you are baking up a storm to keep your carpenter/handy man fueled. He is like the Energizer Bunny who won't quit. Great rpogress with the lower level. That's too bad that the wrong creatures had to ruin the bird feeder. Darn! Love all the Lew photos. Good to see him enjoying his big playground when it isn't too hot and humid. Glad you were able to reproduce your favorite cookies! Yum!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty spot to spend the summer. Now that we're at our summer 'home', we too need to tackle some RV projects. Darn those roads and knocking things loose. Enjoy your summer!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a time of a roller coaster of emotions. We're just trying to stay present, to be with what is, to enjoy the moment...just as you are doing. Love seeing sweet Lew, and the inspiring progress Dave is making on the downstairs addition, and your wonderful photos of the daily beauty that surrounds you. Those mergansers and babies are adorable!
ReplyDeleteMMMM, cookies! Those merganzer's are adorable.
ReplyDeleteEpic says to tell Lewis he is so lucky to have a lake right there! I think the biggest winners of the pandemic are the home improvement stores - I am doing same! Hugs!
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