Refraction

The following was written on June 21st but sat in my inbox waiting for me to collect pictures and get around to publishing it. Since that time some things have changed and so I have made the updates in red and inserted them throughout.

The sun is shining bright and dazzling here in the Green Mountains this Summer Solstice morning. It's 63 degrees out, as I write this, but it is anticipated to reach 80 degrees with 77% humidity by this afternoon. I'm going to be ready for a swim after work! Last night was the first night that I really got to use the pool. I love treading water. While we did get it functioning a few weeks ago, there was the final clean to do and the weather has only recently begun to cooperate enough to warrant submersion. The weather has continued to be a bit finicky and I have continued to dive in whenever possible. I have also started up the Spa once again. Might as well enjoy the amenities!

The raised garden beds are fantastic. Both in how well the food is growing but also because they are so easy to weed and manage. I want to add more next year. The other gardens have unfortunately started to become overgrown with the recent wave of thunderstorms. I love a good thunderstorm but yikes all the water leads to weed growth. We have since had some groundhogs move under the shed and have babies. They are aggressive garden eaters and the law recommends we don't move them until the babies are weened at the end of summer. So we are doing what we can to deter them. This means adding some fencing as well as getting a couple of dogs. We pick up Jack and Jill tomorrow. More on them later.

The broccoli has been knawed on.

The blackberry bushes are looking great and the blueberry plant is really producing.

Other than the Grass this Garden is doing well. We will have lots of tiny tomatoes!

The medicinal garden is going strong.

Greg has only managed to get out kayaking a couple of times. He had taken last Friday off but was occupied with taking Willow down to Dartmouth College for some medical testing. The Drs there were Cardiologists and they referred her back to neurology. She is working very diligently to try and understand the What and Why of her physical pain. Slowly she is ticking off what it isn't. Her and Max's apartment is coming along very nicely as they get settled in. Max and Willow are now off on an adventure to California to show each other their old stomping grounds.

We are in the middle of a couple large home projects. One is removing the old fixture and putting in new lighting (and by default new ceiling) in the kitchen. Connor has been a great little assistant and a nice Father's Day was spent helping Dad. We are also rebuilding one of the decks. Projects, projects, always projects.

Work is going well. I got my next level parts training last week. Is it bad that I sort of nodded off during the afternoon of the first day? No one noticed, thankfully. There was no drool either, so It was very recoverable with only a slight jolt. I've taken a few calls so far and I've got it comfortably down (at least I think so). Anyway, looking forward to make it through the training queues.

In other news my coworker's plants are doing well in my garden. She has not been around due to weather and activities but she does plan on stopping by this weekend to get in some weeding. She is especially excited about her mug wart. Speaking of coworkers, last weekend we had Mike W. over to watch Rubin and Ed. It had been years since I had watched it. It drags a little at the end but it is entertaining. It was a nice way to waste some time in pleasant company. Boo did make it over to weed and we had a very hot dirty job to do. Unfortunately with the continuing rain.. I know how Im spending most of my 4th of July. When Im not in the Pool or in the hot tub, anyway.