Cloudy, cooler, less humid. Actually nice to be outside. Day-long baseball tournament in the park, to the north; continuing Fourth festivities, in the park, to the south. Here, in between, just summer background noise—though more fireworks are scheduled for tonight. Pax is still disoriented from all the racket the past few days.
Asclepias.
And look at that: an open window.
Nope. Wrong. Close the windows. Drum and Bugle Corps competition at the University. Loud and louder.
…and another muggy one. Frequent rumbles of thunder, occasional light showers.
River grass, anchored to the bottom, but going with the flow
Pax has not fully recovered from last night, and the off-and-on thunder has not helped him settle down.
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Why I’m Down On Fireworks
1) They are, in essence, a re-enactment of war—bombs bursting in air, and all that. Since war is bad, there is really no need to have pretend battles or to glorify the worst of humanity’s accomplishments.
2) Shooting off fireworks demonstrates a lack of consideration. The effects of pyrotechnics spread far beyond the point of ignition, and while you, the igniter, might like big bangs, many other people within range may not. Think of them, perhaps?
3) Fireworks terrorize both wild and domestic animals, disrupting natural systems and causing unnecessary trauma.
4)The thrill of fireworks is superficial and ephemeral. Whereas observing a work of art (painting, dance, film, etc.) has a residual cognitive effect, fireworks are an intellectual sugar cookie.
5) Fireworks pollute—the air as well as the land and water below any aerial display.
The one example of what I would call “appropriate” fireworks occurred many (many) years ago (pre-teen times if I remember right) in a neighbor kid’s basement. A large utility sink was filled with water, and then a lighted cherry bomb was dropped in. The result was: 1) more flood-like than war-like, 2) virtually unnoticed outside the person’s house, 3) scared no animal, 4) was memorable, clearly demonstrated the laws of physics, and had lasting consequences, and 5) actually led to the cleaning of a messy basement.
Over 90, with a brief afternoon thunderstorm to add to the juiciness.
Whitewater takes the Fourth seriously. Big parade, and now big fireworks. Pax, having taken a CBD biscuit is hiding in the basement. Mimi, kind soul that she is, is keeping him company.
Neighbors over earlier for shish kabob.
…but that would be impossible. The grass could not be greener. However, I am envious of one neighbor’s tiger lilies…
…and another neighbor’s blueberries.
Last evening, right about suppertime, we were treated to a genuine duck-drownder of a downpour, an inch of water in 20 minutes. Where is our lawn guy when we need him?
Over 90 again, with humidity thick as sorghum.
Locally grown, fresh-picked strawberries are getting scarce, but sweetcorn is starting to appear.
Thermometer topping 90, and humid.
Venerable walnut, marching down the ages.
Lots of windfall, from recent storms, most of it birch.
Workout, errands, a little weeding, and a walk around the block. Otherwise, cowering in the AC.
Quinoa salad, pickled beets and cottage cheese, broccoli pistachio pesto pasta—pretty over the top, but basically tasty.
So many that it’s hard to give each the attention it deserves. The beets are loving it, however.
Catalpa flower. Who could the pollinator be?
Stump of ash recently removed from park. Well over 100 years, but careful counting will need the assistance of grandkids. (It’s right by the playground, so this should not be a problem.)
Finally, baked oatmeal. Maybe, maybe not, part of the Mediterranean diet we are now emphasizing, but nonetheless, something to look forward to come morning.
Especially if you’re a bullfrog. Too hot. Lovely weather for swimming in the Nies backyard.
…pounding the neighborhood not long after sunrise, and sending Pax to the basement.
Following that, time at the gym, a visit by Sally and Glenn, then out to lunch with them, then a bit of a watch of the France vs. US soccer match, then a walk around the big block in heavy, still air—all adding up to what might be called a rather busy day.
And both Sally and Glenn, and neighbor Vi, gifted us today just-picked ripe strawberries. Here, from the aboriginal Greeting and Thanks to the Natural World:
When we look about us, we see that the berries are still here, providing us with delicious foods. The leader of the berries is the strawberry, the first to ripen in the spring. Can we agree that we are grateful that the berries are with us in the world and send our thanksgiving, love, and respect to the berries? Now our minds are one.
Sunny, hot, and humid until well after noon.
Then another thunderstorm. Crops are reveling in it. Looking forward to second debate tonight.
Planted from seed gathered from the mother tree in the park across the road. I think these two are a least 3 years old, and thriving.
Kentucky Coffee trees are like honey locusts and avocados, among other flora, that need human people to survive, now that their natural partners, the mega fauna, are extinct. Despite the names, Coffee trees and Honey locusts don’t reciprocate with human food, but they do provide an abundance of shade and beauty.
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On a different note—plumbing— I received the following account from John. (Note: plumbing stories are almost always horror stories.)
“Well, I called O Bond plumbing yesterday after spending many hours sitting on a green 5 gal bucket in our tiny indoor shower stall trying to get a threaded collar to grab the threads and tighten. Of course he said he could not possibly arrive before Friday.
Today I spent another several hours trying to put it together—same story. We decided to go to Gore Bay for some supplies. While there, the plumber called and said he was in Kagawong on another job and finished early. He waited for us. I showed him the wayward shower, supplied all the parts and tools and he put the valve in and it screwed right in! He was in the cottage no more than 10 minutes. All fixed! I asked him how he did it—-his reply-“I’m licensed.”
The bill will arrive in the mail.
...in southeast Wisconsin.
Grass was getting almost knee high in the week since Manuel was last here.
Thunderstorms last night, with heavy downpours. Bright, clear sky this morning—then cumulus rising into cumulonimbus, then the anvil top, then bam, once again, heavy downpours and shaking thunder.
It’s hard to imagine anything more pleasant than sitting under an overhang, back against the wall, with a thunder storm raging around you. Unless you are Pax.
... galinsoga vanquished, or so it would seem.
The green manure cover crop, planted as soon as frost was out of the ground, had grown thickly to almost waist hight when it was laboriously mowed and the resulting mat trod into the soil. While it was growing (peas, oats, vetch), nothing could compete, was over grown and shaded out. After mowing, the heavy mulch acted as a landscape fabric.
At planting time I scratched shallow grooves through the mat to accept the seeds of beet and squash. Now, both crops are prospering. (The green stuff along the edges in the photo is creeping charlie, creeping in—but it will be easy to discourage.) Pickled beets could be on the horizon this fall.
On another note, a report from Pinebox indicates there has been an outbreak of the “friendly fly,” a fly that looks like a house fly, but much bigger. It’s friendly for two reasons—it doesn’t bite humans and it controls the obnoxious forest tent caterpillar, which denuded the forest last year. “In early summer it emerges from the ground and seeks out forest tent caterpillar cocoons, where it deposits live larvae which bore into the cocoons and feed on the pupating insects.” (Evolution in action) Last year’s caterpillars, followed by this year’s flies—and eventually the wild outbursts will subside, for about a decade.
A little confused perhaps, at first, but ultimately glad to be home.
Longest separation ever, a full two weeks. Life has been good for him I do believe—varied travels, good company, lots of attention. Knowing him, I suspect that he has made an effort as well to contribute to the overall quality of life around him. He has a positive outlook and boundless enthusiasm.
In the days and hours prior to his return I felt increasing nervousness about our reunion, almost the kind of thing you might feel when going out on a first date. One worry has been that he will be disappointed in the rather tame and slow-moving agenda presently in effect here on the home front, no long walks, no fast bike runs, no swimming. But Pax also likes routine, and taking charge of his own territory.
Glad he’s back, and chi migwetch to everyone who befriended him the past two weeks.
and (honeybees too) for giving of yourself in the creation of a tasty and nutritious rhubarb compote. Rhubarb, you and I seem to have been working together successfully for many years now.
I seem to be taking the teachings of Braiding Sweetgrass, including the Original Instructions, to heart. It might have been the timing of my reading the book that makes it seem so relevant and powerful, or maybe is is really relevant and powerful. I’ve long been interested in Indigenous Wisdom, but now I think I somewhat understand it. I’ll be referencing it often, and putting copies of the book in circulation, as part of an attempt at reciprocity.
Back in Whitewater after stops in Cut River, Rapid River, Menominee, and Rosendale. Great driving by Sue.
Task now is to make worthy use of a month of recuperation time with no driving, biking or heavy lifting, and limited use of limited tools.
On the longest day of the year. Moving on tomorrow.
For years, as we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge, my Dad would reassure us that if the bridge collapsed we’d be fine; after all we had Heliotrope’s red rubber dinghy strapped to the roof of our mini van.
Happy to report that today, as the Brian and Morgan contingency made their way home to Wisconsin, no dinghy was needed.
Straits of Mackinaw photo by Brian.
And here in Lac Du Flambeau, Pax enjoyed a day of sprints to the point followed by swims in To To Tom Lake.
Photo and guest blog by Abby.
…and the end of the Nies Family vacation in Petoskey is in sight.
Photo by Sue.
The Pax & Abby contingency arrived back in Wisconsin today.
Guest blog by Abby.
And that’s good.
Guest photo and blog by Abby & Brian.