Summer update: June & July (part of August?)

Oh well, I uploaded them and they are all out of order chronologically... that's OK :)

 Memorial Day picnic- we finally enjoy the yard we have laboured to upkeep for three years!

Strawberry harvest!

 Surprise!

 Strawberry- Rhubarb Crisp from the garden (the fruit at least is from the garden!)

 Waiting in line at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal to go to Orcas Island

 On the ferry

 Leo bathing in the kitchen sink - why not?!

Garden door project is officially done- painted to match the exterior trim of the house and finally that door is out of the garage :) Cut a small window in it for funsies (turns out to be perfectly placed for latch access). Also, I think that the winter winds will come whipping through and the window will give better airflow so as not to stress the latch too much.

Shelf installed in the laundry room. Now we will not collect junk on top of the machines! It is a small feature that makes the room feel more cozy instead of bleak.

Michelle prepared Shabbat dinner on a night when I was really pining for it. I came home to this and the love and sweetness brought me to tears.

Load up for a ride, Leo!

 Butterflies have been frequenting the secret garden

 M braids out garlic harvest. Turns out we had 53 heads!

 Up on the wall as both decor and so we can access garlic in the kitchen easily!

Cute little boy :)

 Frequent visitor to our yard. He is the ringleader of two other young bucks. That was a hot day and he bedded down for a siesta just outside the office window

 Greg shares valuable secrets with Leo

 And then we meet Aeofa ("ee-fuh") Greg's 10-week old lab puppy :)

 Serge reminds Leo that hiking is just something we do

Upside down picture: Sockeye salmon caught by our neighbor Archie. She turned out to be about 4.5 pounds.

 Leo considers the fate of seahorses in general and the resident orcas (who feed exclusively on sockeye salmon)

 Josie (Greg and Becky's daughter) has a good hold on young Leo!

 Grandpa G introducing Leo to the new dogwood tree, planted to honour his father and Leo's great grandfather.

 Grandma C and Grandpa G with a tree-happy baby

 "This is my new toy?"

 Gato love. Otto is probably cozy.... Fiona, not so much.

Cousin Surabhi and Aunt Barbara with Leo at his first food ceremony

 We tried to feed him carrots... he almost took to them :)

 Gorgeous boy

 Aunt Katie and Uncle Kevin explain the intricacies of BBQ on the 4th of July

Grandpa T and Nonna take us out to brunch for M's birthday.

from 4/22- Earth Day!

I meant to write this last week, then over the weekend and now it is already TUESDAY of the following week. Such is life. :)

Last Monday Michelle kidnapped me for an afternoon picnic. Her plan was to go to Boulevard Park, but when I realized what was going on, I insisted we drive a little further south along the coast. Instead of the city park, we found a county one and ended up in Teddy Bear Cove. Coincidentally, I had taken a group of 9 year old boys there the day before during a glorious afternoon. Monday’s excursion proved to be just as brilliant.

We had sandwiches and hummus and strawberries and white wine too J It was such a nice afternoon on the water as the day got later and later… and even at 7pm the sun was still tanning our faces. A slight spring chill came through and then we decided to leave.

It’s worth documenting the Coal Train too (at the bottom). It goes RIGHT along this pristine beach and coastline with uncovered cars, spewing coal dust along our bay, the Puget Sound, and the coast… you don’t have to live here to support and encourage more responsible behavior from business owners and private enterprise.

My air and water quality are not free… those businesses should pay for destroying the quality of life or simply find an alternative way. My preference would be that this type of business is recognized for its immorality and abuse of our earth. I have to voice my opinion and document what I see. This behavior is not responsible if we think about the generations who will (hopefully) come after us. I don’t have an answer, but I think we should work together to find one BEFORE this continues like it is.

From Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, as the Brown Bar-ba-loots march off because they have no food, “I, the Once-ler felt sad as I watched them all go. BUT… business is business! And business must grow regardless of crummies in tummies, you know.” What if entire communities of human beings get sick and can't eat the food they grow because our businesses must grow and pollute our ecosystems and gardens in doing so?

The contrast of the beauty of a couple in love during an the happy afternoon picnic in paradise with the disgusting behavioral pattern of a sick society in need of desperate healing and insight is too stark to ignore. I am thankful for that entire sunny afternoon. We should not only celebrate and enjoy our world but recognize when we do it wrong. Happy Earth Day, Earth!