"I like the Haiku that Paula made* on her sky and Catalina Mountains watercolor," Toby said when I was at the farm. 

I agreed with him. But that was a few days ago. Today, I couldn't find him; then, I ran across my little sketchbook lying open on the porch and found his paw print with a Haiku...

Hmmm. Maybe not what the tradition had in mind, but then, what do I know of cat Haiku traditions?

I didn't find him that day. He must have been over in the woods decreasing the farm's mole population.

*See Monday, July 4, 2022, blog posting for Paula's lovely watercolor and Haiku.

     ________

The Haiku Paula made stuck in my mind and one drought-stricken, early morning in a fit of sadness from missing the geese' daybreak flyovers, the words came...

The Earth is burning

Geese fly elsewhere for water

Tears roll down my cheeks

I miss the geese flying over at the break of day and long into the evenings. To cheer myself up, I went back to look at a photo from the morning after heavy rain had broken the dry spell...

A pathway leads me

The path is mysterious

Shall I follow it?

***

It's time to have a look at The Arts Desk.

In Tucson, Paula has continued journaling in her backyard...

The variety of life at Paula and Carl's home is astonishing. In today's terms, they have "re-wilded" their environment from a plot that had been mistakenly scraped nearly bare by the former owner. Many weekends they rescued cacti and other plant life uprooted by construction, re-locating them in their yard. Gradually it has become a haven for all manner of local animals, birds, insects, and plants. I'd add humans, too.

This abundance has contributed to Paula's keen observations which she is now combining into beautiful, monthly journals...

_________

In Missouri, Jeanenne tried some beautiful new sewing techniques...

***

We go now to the Sports Desk:

Also in Missouri, Niece Paula documented her grandkids taking part in some summer sports. Shared by the kids' great-grandmother Sandy...

Hunter (blue pants) on the soccer field...

Paisley (in pink shirt) on another soccer field...

And, Lilly (pink shorts) on the balance beam...

***

It's time now for the Farm Report:

Wendy said goodbye to Aidan in Cincinnati and began her drive home while Keoni was recovering from a red-eye return home from Colorado. By the time she drove into her driveway at the farm in Pennsylvania he was fully awake and we'd just finished a nice walk. It was so good to see them both. I'll miss Aidan a lot, but have Keoni to see a bit before Wednesday when he flies away to Houston to take up residence and his new job there. Wendy took a picture of us...

We ran across a groundhog on our walk...

Wendy has shared some animal portraits for me to love...

Handsome Frezz has some grey hair these days.

Sebastian and Toby doing what they're really good at.

Miss Florence the friendly chicken.

________

Over in Utah, Elijah started his Senior year watching Monday's sunrise with his friends. They plan to watch the sunset together when they graduate. He is driving back and forth to school. Kingston began second grade Tuesday...

So, everybody is in school or about to start a job. Empty nesters Wendy and John are indulging in some extra-curricular activities; Wendy salsa dancing with her horse stable friends, John at a poker table with friends.

***

From the Green Goddess Desk:

*"From audio recordings played by...trash cans in Malmö, Sweden, when waste is deposited." Appeared in Harper's Magazine, September 2022 edition, p.16, Dirty Talk.
Illustration by JM 😁

***

There was a recent Random Act of Kindness to report:

After an early morning lab appointment, yours truly went across the lobby of the regional hospital to the 24/7 cafe to get a Danish to go with the mug of coffee waiting outside in my parked car. Only a couple of customers were around besides the short order cook. I picked out my pastry and went to the empty cash register island, found the exact change for my purchase, and looked around for someone to pay. Just then one of the other customers approached the island and said here I'll take care of that, swiped his credit card for his purchases and mine, then refused my cash. "Have a good day," he smiled and walked away to wherever he was headed. 

Yes, I had a good day.

Make Do

All ended well in Las Vegas. Elijah and his dad Duane got over the Covid okay, then, returned to Duane's home in Wisconsin where Elijah spent a couple of weeks more with his dad and his family. Valerie and Tim returned to Albuquerque after their LV visit with the rest of the family non-Covid sufferers. Kingston had a great time while his brother Elijah and his dad nursed their virus. 

And Elijah continues to attract some good words that Jeff shared with us...

I cannot believe that Elijah is going into his Senior year!

________

On his last day at home this summer before he left for a Tucson visit to be followed by his return to Cincinnatti, Aidan made up a wonderful batch of pancakes for the brunch he served us...

Besides his cookery this summer and teaching his students, Aidan took time out for walks at the farm with me. How I'll miss that and all those lockdown era times I walked with him or Keoni. I think Keoni will be back soon for a couple of days before he becomes a permanent Houston resident. At the brunch table I asked Wendy where Keoni currently is. She looked at her phone and said his phone is in Colorado.

_________

It's very dry for this part of the world but a welcome, heavy rain came and provided some relief...

The woods path here at Dock.

The drought resumed and a few light rains did little to relieve the dry conditions, high temps, and muggy atmosphere. Yet, there has been activity...

Wendy's butterfly bush is doing its job.

From Aidan.

***

"Hey, Toby, my get up and go got up and went."

"Me, too," he replied, "It must be August."

"Boy, you hit the nail on the head!"

"It's too hot. I don't even want to hunt very much."

"Is that why you're looking skinny?"

"Maybe, but back in June, it was because the chickens were getting into my food and eating it every time I turned my back."

"Oh-oh."

"Don't worry, Wendy put a stop to it," he assured me.

"Glad to hear it."

"I'm sure that big white rooster put those hens up to it!"

"I guess that's why you weighed a pound less than last year when I took you to the vet's."

"Let's not talk about the vet."

"OK." I dropped the subject.

The hot breeze puffed his fur a bit, and he rolled over onto his back and fell asleep. I nodded off, too.

***

Has August brought you summer doldrums? Is "blah" your response to the day? 

You are not alone. Here to help you when you don't want to shop,  takeout, order, or dirty up the kitchen is a satisfying, minimalist lunch...

Make Do Recipe Corner:

Lunch:

On a cutting board lay:

      10 whole wheat cracker squares (you know, the old saltine type)

On each cracker lay:

     10 equal-sized cheese slices (use up the old cheese in the fridge)

Serve on cutting board.

Add:

     15 oz jar/can applesauce

in a bowl. Stir in:

     4 oz cranberry sauce

Serve with the crackers and cheese and a good book.

Substitutions: Use peanut butter instead of cheese.