The Day Before the Pole Canyon Fire Went Nuts...

So there you are- see that tiny puff right of the big mountain (Mt. Nebo) toward the top center of the photo? That's just about the time on Monday the 10th when the Forest Service was saying, "Yeah; we think it's a great idea to let that thing go. 83 degrees at altitude in the middle of September and it's supposed to be around 64? Relative humidity at 7%? Wind gusting at around twenty-five mph? We had a lightning-strike like this earlier in the season with similar circumstances and it went batshit crazy, costing millions and millions of dollars? Hells yeah! Let's monitor it and let it burn!"

Foresters with masters degrees in blather sitting behind desks ignoring institutional and local memory toying with people's lives probably ought to be sent to jobs serving the public and interpreting historical sites. Or something. 

Sure was a pretty, albeit very hot day, nevertheless.

Plen Aire Schtuff

I thought I'd head out and play some games with the tourists and 'visiting artists' on Friday. I was going to sit in front of some of the larger, less lived-in houses of Wasatch front illuminati and paint gaudy dollar signs on watercolor paper.
But then I started sketching the Das Cafe/Freedom Hall building down on Main Street just for giggles and warm up.
Then I began thinking I was being mean-spirited and kinda nasty about the whole thing, and gradually calmed down a bit, thinking I might ought to keep at this while I strategized my protest some.
Then I stayed all afternoon and came back to this sketch.
And I am still working on it...

Anniversary 27

Very glad that Diedre has stuck by me for more than 27 years. I'm not just saying that- no one reads this anyway and it's pretty much a multi-purpose album, screed, and family history thing, so there's nothing to be gained-  so there...
She is the best. She is the strongest. She is the prettiest. She is the kindest. She is herself.

We had a grand drive up to Woodruff, Utah and back over the course of about eleven hours. Good hours spent, and beautiful country seen.

Aged Summer Dreams

Summer lasts forever in some dreamer's hearts, and other find ways to keep it going forever in reality.
This old stick is one of my reminders of hope when endless midsummer turns to winter and long twilight.

Long Roads and Short Summers

A short trip to Costco turned into a long, exasperating adventure.

The season is winding down; as the fifteenth of August comes around, one knows in the bones that Summertime is getting long in the tooth and dusty. Temparatures, though still too darned hot much of the time, start to trend downward and the evenings get cool enough for a sweatshirt betimes.
Plus, the asters come out in the field and on the lawn...

Grills, Messy and Partially Abandoned Herb Gardens, Aging Picnic Tables, and Tricycles

Some of the very best things about the summer season.

Fires and the BCS Ranch

Jesse and Tor are out doing fire duties, one for the forest service and the other with the city on the same fire. Smoke is in the air and the sun keeps trying to shine hard; it's hot and more hot and hotter still. Eight to fifteen degrees hotter than normal during most of the summer...


We went out to the ranch to get the Anwyn, enjoying the company of many interesting, outgoing folks. I very much enjoy seeing my girls work well together and garner the support and admiration of good people.

More Water and That Girl

Why not? The captive water flows and the girl gets away from the garden every so often, so it's good to commune with the both of them.

Back and Forth, Between Sanctuary and Society

The four big boys spend the past couple of days helping Tennessee with the Bluegrass Fest and/or the firefighters raise money with their concessions. Hard workers- some might even call them workaholics, especially that Oldest Boy.

I go between the paths less travelled and making sure all are well and tended to; balance isn't an easy order for me at any time, moreso this summer than any other time I remember.

Glad I have good company, no matter where I choose to be at any one time.

Over the other side of the Skyline

Up to the  mountains with the Syme's we went yesterday, hiking along ridges and over soil baked and dusty with a summer that brings fire from the heavens and fuels its increase with old stock and a will to burn.
But Our outing was splendid, with sights and sounds and tastes that brought balm to my parched old soul.

July Headed Out...

The kids are going in thirty directions at one time, and we only have nine of them. Even though they're still all at least close by, it strikes me how much they are out doing their thing and helping out with others' projects.

I do enjoy when they stick around and enjoy some summer food and the company of friends, though it doesn't happen as much as I'd like.

Looking Forward

July is wrapping up fast, as all months and years do.
It's been a wild ride with rain and heat, but we've survived gratefully and I'm hopeful for August.
For now...

Gifts From Way Far Away...

An offering of fine poetry and pleasing imagery from a a good friend and brother far off on the other side of the earth. He's a man for which our family is happy as punch to have as an inspiration and creative influence non-parleil...




Namaste, Uncle Weed, as ever!

Hot a dry again, these days. Hot and dry.