Finally got logged into my blog! If I didn’t already have so much written here I would start a new one!

It has been a busy, productive summer. My gardens all flourish and the tomatoes are starting to ripen. I’ve enjoyed summer squash, zucchini, green beans, kale, lettuce, onions, and finally tomatoes.

In late April , I put in a stone patio outside the backdoor. I love it because it is the most protected and private area of my backyard. I sit out there almost every morning and either write in my journal or sketch my roses and flowers.

In May I built an arbor around the garden bench and used a Japanese wood burning technique to finish it, called shou sugi ban. I then sanded and applied linseed oil. It is supposed to last for many, many years.

I painted the tiny barn, cleaned the inside, painted and added more trim and put in a flagstone area in front, so now the path goes all the way from the house to the barn.

I also have a POND, with Diana the frog and Wilma the fantail goldfish. I’m still waiting for the water lily to bloom . . .

Annie has also grown, learned, and traveled! She flew to California for the first time and did really well, never complained. She really is a very calm Yorkie/Havanese puppy dog! She also had 12 days with Murphy, my youngest son’s labradoodle. They really had a great time playing, chasing, even playing hide-n-seek!

Before they went to Alaska my sister and I took the grandkids to the Pacific ocean for lunch and an afternoon on the beach.

Yes! They are now both taller than me and going into 10th and 8th grade. Time flies.

My sister and I were in California to puppy sit while my son, the kids, my daughter-in-law, and her family went to Alaska to celebrate her father’s 70th. It really was a wonderful place to stay, with the outdoor living area, fire pit, and a hot tub.

We had perfect weather, of course it was California!

We walked the puppies every day, either around the block, to Starbucks or to a park.

In the afternoon we explored downtown Willow Glen, Campbell, toured the Winchester Mystery house, and saw Rina Banerjee art exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Art.

We flew home July 16th. and again Annie did really well.

Back home, I tended to the gardens, mowed the lawn, and just enjoyed my deck and patio before our camping trip to Weko Beach, Bridegman, MI, the first week in August.

This year my youngest sister & husband and my Traverse City cousin joined us. We watched the sunset every night over Lake Michigan. We kayaked, enjoyed campfires, great food, Cards of Humanity, and a lot of laughter!

Now, the summer is coming to a close. I’m back at work rewriting syllabus, projects, and assignments; and all too soon I will be teaching and consulting again at EMU.

All in all it has been a wonderful summer.