Stomach This

As the end of summer vacation approached last week, Aidan's various attempts to draw amusement out of boredom reached its zenith when he taped his iPad to his body behind a hole in an outgrown shirt through which you could see a progression of bodily interiors on the screen; including, a beating heart, engine cams and sprockets, snakes, and worms. All demo-ed with a zombie-like attitude.

Aidan liked the worms the best. I could stand to look at the cams and sprockets.

By the time Monday came and the first "official" school day began (Friday was orientation) it was satisfying to see him smiling at breakfast and climb aboard his school bus.

This year the bus stops for him at our driveway.

And awa-a-a-a-y he went.

There was one member of the household that last year had to be left behind some of you may remember. Bird The Bird, Wendy's ancient cockatiel that we feared would not live through the journey across the US. It was delightful to get a picture of him from Meredith, who volunteered to be his guardian back in Tucson. He is definitely living the good life with some buddies to keep him company and almost daily strolls around Meredith's home where he has even taken flight a few times. Not bad for our feathered friend who was an egg in 1988. It was good to hear from Meredith, too, who filled us in on happenings there. Wendy, Keoni, Aidan and I were all glad to hear about Bird The Bird.

Bird The Bird

Friends. 

The new fella on the block: Meredith's recently rescued bird; now feathered out after her patient care.

The season is changing again. Fancy takes in the sun on the picnic table with Wendy's kitchen herbs; so, it is mild weather and a few days of sunshine are happening. 

School Just Began

Aidan's soccer games grow more interesting each time as he and the team mates' and the opponents' skills are rapidly improving. The games are intense, but it seems, for the most part, to be the kids' own intensity more than the parental contingent; or, for that matter, the coaches. The kids are playing for all they are worth letting out all the stops to get some scores made. Parents and coaches alike are often appreciative of good moves on the field regardless of team affiliation.

The soccer action photos, so far, haven't turned out well; actually, have been pretty much useless, but one evening as the sun was slipping toward the horizon it lit up the rain to the east while the players had a water break...

Aidan is Number 12. The rainbow didn't help the score though.

This is literally the first rainbow I've witnessed since leaving Tucson where they are such a part of summer monsoon season.

An aside: I think it would have been so much cooler to call the Southwestern desert summer rainy season storms Chubascos instead of Monsoons. There was a debate about which to call them for awhile in the Arizona Daily Star some decades ago, but Monsoon won. I can't think why since the desert rains so little resemble Southeast Asian rainy seasons.

In preparation for the winter Wendy and John have had the upper end of the driveway expanded to accommodate our three vehicles. It also offers a bit of room for various delivery vehicle to turn around while John is at work. It was fascinating to watch the process over the two days Ross worked.

Dirty Work won the bid from Wendy and John. 

Ross unloading the backhoe/blade machine.

Bird's eye view from one of my bedroom windows.

In a sort of now or never mood, I changed my bedroom around....again. This time using the idea I had in the first place for the desk that somehow I couldn't get to happen. Well it has worked out this time. I believe Aidan thinks there is something wrong with me that I have changed it around so much. Then, maybe it is just fun trying to get it to work better.

Shoutout to Jeanenne: You sent the room arrangement pictures for small spaces and that got the ball rolling. The room is still 88 sq. ft., but comfortable again even if it is a challenge making the bed where it sits longways against the wall.

Nathan has been a frequent and welcome guest the last of his summer before he went to Philadelphia and moved into his dorm at U Penn today. Every one of us here have loved having him attend soccer games and do things with us, or just hang out as the boys do. He started learning some piano chords, too, though trumpet is his game at the PYO.

Keoni is busy filling out his higher education applications, and both he and Aidan attended their respective schools' orientation half day today. Keoni, as a Senior, was part of Link which is sort of a mentoring and helping the Freshman class activity. Interesting that the ones Keoni was helping today are the ones who will be Seniors helping Aidan at the beginning of his Freshman year when that time comes.

Aidan and I took Keoni along on one of our walks when he got back from Meadowmount. This is what lives not far away from us...

We followed some pathways through the woods on an adjoining property; sort of, I think. There are a couple of cows in another pen. What was outstanding with the pigs was the lack of sour, manure smell that only pigs generate. Despite our frequent wet and humid climate their home was well-drained, and though thoroughly rooted, was pleasant and shady. Quite a difference from some of the terrible conditions their brethren are subjected to in other parts.

Green Black Walnuts nearly ready to support the squirrel population.

 You've met the family here in PA, and know a little about Dimetrios over in Utah. Today I had a couple of favorite pictures printed of the family still in Utah.

Elijah three years ago prepping for his T-Ball game.

Dimetrios with his mom Sonja at Thanksgiving time about two  years ago.

A lot of life takes us where we didn't know we were going. Yet, the more years that go by, the more I hold precious the moments when all's right with the world.

Near The City of Brotherly Love

Brotherly love, at least for a little while...

Aidan strung a banner across the front entrance of the house to greet his brother coming home after his summer's stay at Meadowmount. After about a day and a half the Philadelphia theme wore off. Positions were taken and held, trenches were dug and more human interaction immersion learning began.

It is good to hear the violin practice taking place again. So "Welcome Home, Keoni!" I sure did miss you.

I'm missing the cello music because Aidan popped an A-string while his mom and dad were away. Replacements are on the way.

Great having Nathan join Aidan and I for some of the time before Keoni and his parents returned. He taught Aidan gin rummy. Yea! Now I have a gin rummy partner.

And great doing something with the three young men during this week's heavy rains. We were the only picnickers in the park. Our canoe date at Audubon had collapsed with the thunderstorms in the area. The alternative plan was Bowman's Tower at Washington Crossing, but that, too, seemed not to be a good choice with the heavy rains and lightening. So, we went to the bowling alley after the park lunch.

Not too old yet to pass up the playground merry-go-round during a lull in the rain.

The butterfly bush is blooming like crazy and the butterflies are so beautiful that gather there. Aidan and I took a break after the banner went up to watch them. Aidan, also, is interested in some large bee-type flying thing.

Look! it has a stinger.

The radon abatement was installed this week. We are keeping our windows all closed to see if the system is working properly when the radon test happens Friday. In the meantime, Ugh! Thank goodness for electric fans.

Alas, I saw this evening that the butterfly bush was considerably mangled as the abatement guy had to get behind it to drill a big hole through the foundation. The bush grows like crazy though so it will recover. Still.

I'm getting in some walks around the place. An early one was especially nice this week.

From the farthest corner of the property at sun-up.

The Queen Anne's Lace is making seeds for next year's display.

Everywhere I drive now I am conscious of changes in the green landscape. The differences of the green shades are more pronounced. There are slight hints of browns and yellows, maybe a smidgen of red changing how the green looks. The Queen Anne's Lace could maybe be called the Peak of Summer.

It was good to see my buddies today and we ate a lunch together while catching up on our lives.

A shoutout to my Tucson buddies, relatives and my friends that I reach. I think of you often and am grateful for our cyber connections and occasional phone conversations. I love that you are there.

Austin and the six goats in their pasture one evening. View from north doorway of the barn.

Toadstools in the yard.

Skunked!

Almost midnight, and a thick odor wafted in my open window and woke me. Skunk! I thought the poor thing had probably been squashed outside on the road. I slept on. Arising early, I headed out on the back porch with my laptop and fresh-brewed coffee to read the e-news. As I opened the back door the true story revealed itself. All three dogs were there before me in their wire crates. Normally, they spend the night in the living room. They all reeked. I let them out and they exited the porch. Phew!

Later, I learned from Wendy, John and Aidan who'd all stayed up late, that the skunk smell I'd woken to in my front-facing window was from the dogs' encounter that I didn't hear going on at the back of the house. They all got it in their faces and mouths. Wendy did a little first aid and John penned them up on the porch. Maybe they won't go near black with white stripe creatures again.

Back on the porch for a nap. Toby doesn't mind the smell at all.

Since mankind is in the dark ages of electronically transmitting odor, you don't have to smell Frezz to look at his picture.

Following the scent, the dank basement gave rise to the source of its moldy smell after the heavy rain of a few days ago. There in my art nook stood my drafting table and chrome shelves in a huge mud puddle (among several more throughout the entire basement). No wonder it had been so hard to sweep the concrete floor free of its dirt layer!

An art move to the barn was greatly improved with Aidan's help.

Aidan demonstrates how to move a chrome shelf unit without taking it apart though I would not fit this solution.

By late afternoon all the stuff was put away and I got a little actual work done.

John's tool/work room is behind the wall. 

Wendy's winter hay storage is on the opposite side of the barn.

Aidan is doing all the animal work while I feed him and take him to soccer games. Parents are having a small holiday. Keoni will return with them. Meanwhile, we invited Nathan over to come with us to tonight's soccer game. He is staying for supper. This morning I put together a pot of stew and the makings which are now complete and keeping warm in a low oven. Aidan went to work in the kitchen, too, making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies.

First sheet is finished!

While the second sheet is baking might as well climb up the doorway.

Look, Grandma, no hands!

The goats and Austin are happy feeding on the varieties of pasture grasses. They have the run-in shed for occasional shelter.

While I lounged in the shade of the big tree by the barn, Toby joined me carrying a mouse which he "played" with until it ran away. I guess he doesn't know yet that it's OK eat them. But, then, maybe that is what a cat does when he has dog pack membership.

Where'd it go?!

Sort of a reverse Tiger Lilly. But maybe it is something else.

Here is its buddy.

Time to gather stuff, get into the car and go to the soccer fields.

Amazing Grace

A week ago I didn't know that I'd be sitting here writing to you that I have sung a solo. If you've already done that, you may know some of what that might have felt like. Never had I done that before. It all started Sunday when after my church's service I caught the attention of one of our congregation and choir who'd announced he was leading a Yoga Voice intensive week that was to take place in the sanctuary Monday through Friday of this week just past. Something about finding your authentic voice. Art was mentioned.

I'm not going to overthink this...Sunday, the thought of an immersive week of yoga beckoned. Especially since I could do parts of it as chair yoga (you know...the bionic knees are fantastic, but don't really kneel). It wasn't too late to jump in and Mark promised a yoga mat if I needed it.

By midday Monday, following a very satisfying morning intro to yoga, I was petrified when Mark said bring the music you are working on to the afternoon session. I felt a scream rising that I managed to stuff. What music? I wasn't working on anything, just there to find...what? Well, you might say this was a "Duh" moment. Still, didn't I enter this willing to find something out about my own art? maybe singing? Write singing in tiny letters, please. I had a fear of singing--out loud, in front of people--as deep as the fear I long ago had to speak.

Speaking fear vanished a couple decades ago, but that is a story for some other time. What was this about singing?! Was it the same story? Would it transfer to my own visual art?

A pianist arrived for the afternoon session. One-by-one, young opera aspirants and seasoned singers got up and sang their arias and advanced pieces. The "What am I doing here?" question dangled before my eyes. There was no possibility of us getting through all 18 people before 4:30 p.m. I sat quietly to the end watching with some fascination as Mark worked with each singer, replicating yoga stances that released individual energies, opening air flow to form vocal sounds that became ever more free and rich and and honest...and, well, authentic.

Mark working with one of the group

Still, I remained seriously intimidated when 4:30 arrived. Sue Ellen, our church's choir director and Mark's wife, appeared. I fled to her in the shuffle of people leaving. She assured me that a good number of the people yet to sing were yoga instructors who were not opera singers; there to learn how to apply voice to their own varied (healing, rehabilitation, vocal injuries) practices. Sue Ellen said talk to Mark and he'll pick out a piece with you. And, he did. A hymn everybody knows, even me. I went home, but was not encouraged by how I sounded at my piano in the music room.

A troubled sleep that night and many doubts commanded my thoughts through Tuesday morning's yoga. The focus on "chakras" (sections of anatomy starting at base of pelvic regions to the top of one's head), and applying the basic ideas, vocalizations and postures of yoga began making sense.

The pianist returned for the afternoon. Mark assured all that no one had to get up and sing; yet, encouragement to try was apparent. It wasn't a pretty rendition of Amazing Grace that came out of my mouth; yet, it was a first and I got through two verses. Whew! Mark took me through some stances and some yoga vocalizations to help free my air flow forming the vowel e (ee) rounding my throat to sound like "Julia Child", he says.

It wasn't until Wednesday afternoon during a chanting session that it came to me how painfully constricted my throat becomes; how tight my jaw. (Monday...stuffing screams?!)

Wednesday evening was a calming couple of hours with stunningly wonderful music and rhythm. I can still feel the vibration of a didgeridoo aimed directly at my chest. The improvisational musicians were fascinating as they wove their way among the mats and people gathered; playing flutes and all manner of percussive objects and instruments in great varieties of rhythms.

The morning yoga continued throughout the week. Thursday afternoon, the pianist arrived; this time, a different person whom I was so surprised to see was Seth. I know him from driving Grandson Keoni to his home to accompany Keoni's violin audition preparations.

Seth at work.

This accomplished young man provided piano for us Thursday and Friday as we wove our way through repeats of Monday and Tuesday afternoons; learning more and more about individual ways to improve our sounds. Seth lowered the key for me a little; Mark had me sing from a couple of yoga stances and I dared to feel some progress was taking place. All the while the group members smiled their encouragement.

Friday evening, a few run-throughs at home to try to keep that "ee" open, dress, eat and go back.

About ten of us sang Friday evening's concert. As I sat watching and listening an indefinable sense of alert calm came to me; a lightness.

My two verses ended with "...the hour I first believed".   Amazing Grace, indeed.

*

I don't yet know where all this leads me, but I will keep on breathing and find out.

*

There was plenty else that was going on during the week. Wendy had the last hay delivery to put away one morning.

Aidan kicked field goals to victory for his soccer team. He "bent" one and surprised everybody including Coach. Watch out, Messi!

Aidan balancing soccer ball on the back of his neck.

Captain Aidan and team warming up for the game.

Queen Anne's Lace continues to grace our landscape.

Shout Out to Cousin Jackie: This one's for you!