My Whirlwind Trip South with Ian

On Thursday, June 27th, two days after Johnny returned from Connecticut, Grandson Ian and I left for points south, with Ian driving more than halfway coming and going... including all the city driving which he is used to and I hate.

This was Ian's first view of Mt. Shasta.

We arrived in Jacksonville to visit friends Judy and Don... and go to plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Ian usually goes with me to OSF in September, but he will be in his first year of college this September, so I wrangled this trip with him instead.

Judy and Don kindly let us bunk at their house whenever we go to plays in Ashland, even though we often come in very late at night, or early in the morning, causing their dog to bark and wake everyone up. Rusty is a most wonderful dog and knows us but also knows no one should be opening a door into the house at midnight.

That Thursday afternoon, Ian and I went to Ashland for a talk before the play, supper, then Macbeth in the wonderful Elizabethan outdoor theater. Ian took a photo for me with his magic phone of the raising of the flag to announce the show is about to begin. I love that ceremony.

 No photos are allowed during the play, but I figured intermission was safe so Ian took this one of the theater all lit up...

 The next morning, (after coming in late and waking the dog, Judy and Don), we left for San Carlos. The traffic going into and out of San Francisco on a Friday afternoon was terrible, but Ian handled it well... in spite of my hysteria. 

In San Carlos at last, we toured Munazza's beautiful garden but I did not get many photos. I think I was too interested in photos of grandkids.

Cedrus will practice his gymnastic moves anywhere...
 

These peaches on the tree in their front yard were delicious!

And we played on the trampoline. Well, Ian, Kestrel and Cedrus played on the trampoline. I tried Johnny's technique of being "bounced" and did not like it one bit.

Ian has forgotten none of his gymnastics skills from earlier years. He even did a perfect front flip, landing on his feet. Kestrel and Cedrus were impressed, I think. I sure was.

The next morning, Saturday, we had an informal living room concert with Cedrus on drums and keyboard, Kestrel on guitar, plus vocals with Kestrel and Munazza... a talented family.

 That afternoon was the annual dance recital, the reason we had come all this way south. Cedrus was in six numbers, Kestrel in two. Cedrus had decided he wanted green hair... so Munazza obliged.

 

Cedrus on the way with all his costumes... and green hair...
 

Since all the numbers the boys were in were in the first half, we opted to head north again at intermission. We had a long drive back to Jacksonville. I had scheduled more plays for Sunday!

Steve, Cedrus, Munazza

Ian, Kestrel, Cedrus, Steve

 After photos, we were off.

 We stopped to admire beautiful Mt. Shasta.

I tried for a photo of Ian with Shasta in the background but my camera would not focus on both. Trust me, Shasta is back there.
  

I wanted to show Ian Castle Crags but it is difficult to see from the highway so we went into the park and took these photos.

Then it was on to Jacksonville, arriving at Judy and Don and Rusty's house (and waking everyone). On Sunday we spent the whole day in Ashland. First at a talk in Lithia Park, then, joined by Judy and Don, an afternoon play. Although a brilliant play brilliantly written, we all found Cambodian Rock Band depressing. Between meals and plays, we walked in Lithia Park and I took photos of scenes that struck my fancy. 

Ian took a break...

We were glad for the very fun musical Hairspray in the evening to end our Oregon Shakespeare Festival visit. We again woke the household upon returning to Jacksonville after the performance. 

Amazingly, Judy and Don invited us to come back again any time. They are truly wonderful friends. They love talking to Ian and asking him all the questions that we oldsters know nothing about. Ian is a walking encyclopedia of all things technical. 

Judy, Don and Rusty

Back to the farm Monday afternoon, July 1st, Ian left by train on Tuesday. He is a great travel companion. I hope we get to trek together again... but with not quite so much packed into such a short time.

Johnny's Trip to Connecticut

On June 15, we finished putting hay in the barns. On June 19, Johnny left by air for Connecticut and his brother Bruce's 80th birthday bash and family reunion.

I was most impressed with Johnny's photo of the room he slept in... the tower room at the top of the tall round tower on artist Bruce's house. Johnny says the tower room is the 7th level of Bruce's home built house.

Johnny was most impressed, I suspect, with the catapult that his nephew Charles built. He would have to explain the convoluted way it works but this is my blog so you will have to ask him.
 

Charles (Bruce's son) is a master rock layer. This is in his back yard.
 

So is this. Charles makes all sorts of weird sculptures. His wife has more interests like mine... animals and flowers... note one of her horses in the background.
 

Here is much of the family at the back of Bruce's yard.
 

 Johnny wanted a demonstration of this awesome log splitter. Charles and Bruce each have one.

Bruce's back yard fire pit is unique, like everything else Bruce and his artistic family make.
 

The party was supposed to be a combination art fest and birthday bash but not much of the art part happened.  Johnny helped set up a paper making station. Bruce demonstrated making paper, but after most people had left.

Friends and family decorated Bruce's home built wood stove for him. That stove heats the whole seven story house... including under-floor tanks of hot water.
 

What Johnny loved was that crazy catapult. The guy who owns the castle across the lake is a friend of Bruce's and was present while they catapulted stuff nearly all the way across the water. Bigger boys, bigger toys.
 

On June 25, Johnny flew home. Two days later, I left with grandson Ian for points south. (One of us has to stay home to milk goats.) Busy times...

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

Once again, haying came earlier than it used to. It is a dry, hot June... perfect hay making weather. Johnny spent weeks repairing equipment, then mowing and raking the fields.

 Neighbor Paul then baled (while I was in Washington at grandson Ian's graduation). When I came home, the hay was ready to be moved into the barn. And so Johnny and I plus a local hired hand did that.

The baby goats approve of the new hay.

A full barn and a full moon... before summer has officially begun.

 

Ian's High School Graduation

Johnny did chores while I drove to Traumhof for Ian's high school graduation. Too bad I forgot to take my camera to the ceremony. Thankfully his parents sent me the ones they took so I could add them to this post. Otherwise this post would mostly be photos I took of the new chicken palace at Traumhof. I'm told it isn't quite finished... the windows will still get shutters...

 During the day, the chickens happily occupy the old garden spot.

  
Jessica's favorite chicken, Betty, has a sore foot so they soak it daily. Jessica is feeding her grain and petting her while Nina, Ian's other grandma who has also come for his graduation, watches.

 All of Traumhof  is bedecked in flowers... including around the raised bed garden.

 ...and front porch...

Since graduation was not until 7 in the evening, Jessica fixed a wonderful mid day meal for us. It was as delicious as it looks.

The only photo I got of Ian was when I first arrived and he was taking a bucket with two tiny mice in it out to give them a new home in the woods... rather than in the feed room of the barn.

Fortunately, Jessica has sent photos she took after graduation. Here is Ian with his mom and dad, who were responsible for finding (and paying for) the private school that allowed him to advance at his own speed (fast).

 Here he is with his consulting teacher, Erica, who managed to turn the ultimate procrastinator into a get-it-turned-in-on-time kid who spent his senior year taking very tough courses and getting all As in them... and being accepted into the Univ. of Washington.

 And, to prove I was there, here I am. All I contributed to his education was to drag him out of school every fall to go with me to Ashland and watch plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

 Ian graduated in the top 10% of all high school graduates in Washington. Congrats, Ian! (photo by Kevin)

Bird Surveys and Flowers

Although the May Black Oystercatcher survey is over, I have two nests to continue monitoring, so I am still going to the coast at least once a week and hiking. I love it. Above is the area with the two nest rocks. Below is the rock with a nest where I can see it, facing land instead of the ocean.

Here is a BLOY on her nest.

 And trading off incubation duties with her mate.

 Not all my sites are so easy to access. I got lost trying to get to one of them. But found some lovely ocean views... wherever I was...

 Meanwhile, back on the farm, the baby Barn Owls are growing up. Here they peek out of the loft one evening...

In the house, two orchids are still blooming...

 

 In the jungle room, four Amaryllis are blooming, one red and three this color...

Johnny helped with many of the May BLOY surveys, until haying preparation with its equipment fixing took over. When the fields dry from today's rain and the weather looks clear for long enough, he will start cutting hay. Never a dull moment on the farm.