Life in the Holler

The house martins left. Two weeks ago today, they all took off as is their habit. I don't know how they decide who will return the next year. Maybe it's the same mating pair and the kids all have to find their own spot with a mate. But they get real chatty for the few days just before they leave as if they are all talking about the trip ahead. Since they live just outside our bedroom window, it's pleasant to hear them twitting in the evening.

The rabbits are still here, making their morning and evening visits to the grass and clover. On Friday evening, we had a visit by one of the young coyotes. He ran around the yard excitedly nosing into the usual rabbit haunts before he disappeared into the woods. Just this afternoon, I saw a pair of bald eagles overhead, on their way over the woods. Lots of action here down here in the brown dog holler. As for the humans, we have had a lovely weekend. Actually we have had a month of sunny, temperate weather. I have even had a few days when I didn't wear even my windbreaker to work as it's been cool, but not chilly, in the morning. Walking to the ferry in the evening has been on the warm side.

John picked me up from an earlier park and ride on Friday and I was able to leave work early, catching the 3:45 ferry. So, we went to dinner at Sogno di Vino in Poulsbo and thus began the weekend! Yesterday, we managed to get in a trip to the nursery in the afternoon to pick up a few more annuals to fill out the flower boxes on the deck. John has cut down an amazing lot of nettles along the road side of the yard. And he picked just about the last of the raspberries for this year. Just in time as the blackberries will come in very soon. He's taken some cuttings of the lavender and is putting them in some magic potion to propagate as I write.

It's hard to believe it's the last weekend in July. We are anticipating our vacation in September now. All the plans have been made and it's only the packing to be done. Italy here we come! In the meantime, the month should pass quickly as we both have much work to do. John was able to return to his regular schedule of visiting California twice monthly. And I have lots happening at my work to keep me busy. So, to August I say "Bring it on"!

Good Time

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you...
(c) Jim Croce, 1970

My birthday was this past week. I celebrated my 60 year mark. And many people took the time to send me their good wishes. I've really come to appreciate the gift of time. I am very grateful to those who shared some of theirs when they sent a thought, a card, an email, made a phone call, picked out a gift, ordered flowers, or spent some of their hours or days with me. Time is probably the best gift of all. So, I just want to say thank you to those who shared some of their time with me. I love to celebrate my years and I look forward to many, many more.  

My sister Karen and brother-in-law Gary traveled out to visit. They arrived on the Wednesday and returned to Tennessee this past Monday. My sister doesn't enjoy flying, so it was a big deal for her to do just that in order to spend time with me. We had a great time. It's so beautiful here at this time of year and I was glad they got to see the Puget Sound at its finest. We visited Port Townsend, took in some local wine tasting (I was the DD - designated driver), and even went whale watching. And we saw whales! Finally!

It was fascinating to just watch them as they hunted for fish. And they can move fast! That's a picture of one of the orca whales from one of our resident pods. We also saw minke whales (stinky minke as they are known) as well as an eagle and some harbor seals.The trip started in Anacortes and went in and out of the San Juan Islands. A lovely day.

On Saturday night, we invited some friends to go with us to Edmonds for dinner. So, we met up at the ferry and walked on for the 25 minute ride. Then we walked about 5 minutes from the ferry to Cafe de Paris where we all enjoyed good food and good conversation. Afterward, we walked back to the ferry for the return trip.

Our visitors weren't here very long when Gary spied a yellow jacket nest under the eaves. It was in a place that we usually watch as there are house martins that nest under/inside the eave of the chimney facade (we have a gas fireplace so there isn't a real chimney on the house). And I'm always looking for nests since we have seen them build some tiny ones in the past. So, they must have worked fast to get this one done and what a structure it was. It appeared to be about the size of a rugby football. The exterminator came out on Monday about 7pm. He told us a nest of that size holds about 2,000 yellow jackets. He assured us he got the queen. Nasty work. I'm glad someone does it.

This weekend we're recovering from al the fun of the last weekend, catching up on chores. Gary mowed the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing for us last weekend so at least we can see the rabbits as they munch the clover. One of the little fellows even found his way up onto the front porch this week. That was very upsetting to Roosevelt who clearly regards them as rodents in need of a whooping. Today John harvested the potatoes. The crop is at least double this year. We'll be sharing them with friends The weekend before last, I took all of the saved blackberries form last year out of the freezer and made 21 pints of jam. Looks like tomorrow I will do the same with the raspberries John is bringing in every day.

The days are starting to get shorter as the sun sets now about 9pm. But the weather is warm and sunny and the colors are brilliant. If only I could bottle it....