Keoni carried home from school his beloved violin, a groaning, seam-popping, check-in bag and a melodica. That is, a musical instrument made all the more ridiculous by its other Wikipedia names--pianica, blow-organ, key harmonica, free-reed aerophone. His first evening home in his new capacity as a McDuffie Center for Strings Sophomore he demonstrated the 1950s invention's capabilities...

He, no doubt, has all this lung power from a week of campus Zombie vs Humans games as he prevailed that last week of campus life by outrunning the Zombies.

Aidan has one more month to go in seventh grade. I see a letter on the refrigerator that he has distinguished himself by appearing on the Honor Roll. To add to his increasingly busy agenda, he successfully auditioned for the Heifitz summer camp. Wendy shared the two videos he did with Seth accompanying that won him the spot...

Last Friday, I returned to Philadelphia with Yvonne, the friend who gave Aidan and I the tickets to the Friday concert a short while back, whose husband couldn't attend and we enjoyed a rainy day train trip into the city, a beautiful lunch, followed by beautiful music. Returning, we capped off the evening at a church potluck.

City Hall and umbrellas.

Low cloud ceiling.

Yvonne and umbrella.

Shoutout to Yvonne and Kirk: Thanks, for the tickets and good times!

Back home this week, the local arborist who rescued Toby from the tree the first time our first PA winter, won Wendy's tree-trimming job. These two trees in this land of trees were deeply in need of attention. Actually, since longer ago than the family's presence here. The big maple by the house lost a large center before we came and the mulberry by the barn showed signs of disease by its spotted leaves during our first summer here. I am sad about that. They are friends.

Sunday morning saw John busy on assignment. The old tree stump in the yard removal was up to him and his feathered helpers...

Lots of grubs to add to their diet.

John and the boys went after some bricks and made a fire-pit of the site.

Fire pit.

Happiness was a walk again with both of the boys.

The rain has prevented mowing so the dandelions have had bumper crops everywhere this spring including Rhapsody Ridge...

Dandelion seed heads are as pretty as the yellow blossoms...

...it's after the seeds are scattered that they look like foundered ship masts.

Everywhere there are shades of green that haven't yet been named. Blossoms and red leafed trees shout for attention against the backdrop.

In other animal interest stories, a truce has been struck between Patches and Toby. He no longer tries to chase her away and she pretty much ignores him. There is peace in the barn and on the Gaza Strip. He still won't tolerate her on the porch. But, hey, that's okay.

Toby and Patches. Never thought I'd have them in the same picture.