Mandala

Looking back over the last five weeks since my last post, it feels impossible to bring my readers up to date on all that has gone on.  Perhaps if I just make a chronological list.

July 10- Roger leaves to take his parents to Montana.  He drives their r.v. for them 12 hours from Auburn to Anaconda, Mt.  stays three days and drives back 12 hours on Thursday, July 15.  Meanwhile, I take care of the plants, the chickens, and Suzie.

July 16- Roger meets me in Seattle for a dinner with friends from work to celebrate the life of our co-worker who died (see last month's entry).  We stay in Seattle until Sunday to attend the baptism of our third granddaughter Audrey.  This is one of those end of life/beginning of life mandala weekends.

July 20- Two days after our return, Roger's mother dies suddenly of a heart attack.  He is shocked but grateful that he was able to spend her last week with her.  Family focus turns to Roger's dad Al and his ability to adjust.  An open house is scheduled for Sunday, July 25th, which happens to be Al & Rose's 62nd wedding anniversary. 

Meanwhile, my friends Larry and Nancy come up to the island and our friend Mark starts work on kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

July 26- Al comes back to the island to stay with his two sons, Roger and Eric, while arrangements are made back in Auburn for some in-home care.  He stays with us for two weeks until Roger brings him back home on Aug 8th.  I begin dog sitting "Friday" the 12 year old lab for a week while her owners vacation at Mt. Hood.  Dog sitting involves feeding three times a day, administering love and medicine, and a little walk while negotiating the asphalt-laying taking place on their road that week.

July 30- My friend Mary arrives and agrees to follow me around to all my errands.  The highlight of her visit is attending a performance of "Henry V" in the outdoor theater at Roche Harbor.

Aug 5- Jay brings his two Turkish Visitors, Semih and Gulat.  These kind people have hosted our friend twice while he has visited their country.  They are academics in horticulture and fruit production.  We bring them to gardens, farms, the Lavender Farm.  We even saw some whales!

Meanwhile, we enjoy visits from our Seattle friend Nan and her daughter, my cousin Rose and her whole family who haven't been here since Benjamin was a baby and I'm not sure if Mariah was ever here and now she's practically grown.  Also, Nieces April and Bina and Bina's baby Ovid stay with my sister and me for two nights.  Ovid is 16 months old and he and Suzie form a strong bond.

During all this period Roger and I are still trying to do our "usual" things.  Like keeping up the landscaping business, the garden, the mowing, you get the idea.  And fun things, like another hike on Henry Island, walks on the beach at low, low tide, and evenings with good friends.  This weekend we regroup and get ready for the San Juan County Fair, more visitors, and whatever else life can throw at us.  Right now, I think I can talk Roger into taking a break from the garden for a dunk in the pond.  Later.

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.