Hay! It's July!

Here's my latest basket, it is made of cedar, ash, and copper wire.  I took a class from world-renowned basket maker Polly Sutton http://pollyclasses.blogspot.com/  And yes, it is supposed to be asymmetric.

Also since my last posting we've had several visitors including my in-laws for a week and then my father for ten days.  While my dad was here we visited Lopez Island to see "Native Plants, Textiles, Baskets:  Inspired by Traditions of the Salish Sea" at Chimera Gallery.  Here is a photo of a cedar bark doll made from a Tulalip weaver.  You will see my father talking with George Simpson in the background.

Of course, my dad was up visiting to help celebrate Independence Day.  The highlight of that day was the parade, this year the theme was all about local farmers--like this one. My sister Rosalie and her husband also marched.  Here is Rosalie celebrating the 150th birthday of her church along with fellow Presbyterians.

But now my father is back home and Roger is in Montana at a family reunion in Anaconda.  He drove his parents' r.v. for them and should be gone about a week.  So that leaves me and Suzie to hold down the farm.  This includes mowing, feed and care of chickens, watering plants in greenhouse and garden.

As I was mowing the nut orchard today, I had time to contemplate the large amount of work it takes to maintain 15 acres.  And even though we reduced our mowing to the areas around the driveway, garden, orchard, courtyard, and paths connecting all these areas, that still comes down to a lot of mowing.  And I'm using gasoline power for this chore.  What about my carbon footprint?

One thing I've realized from this exercise is that after a long afternoon of mowing, nothing feels as good as a long shower and a cold beer.