Ten days in we finally made it to the spring, mosquitoes [not shown] notwithstanding.

Friday on the Middle Road to Gardner, the relief of a little rain,

a second Saturday’s shopping at Leon’s

and then on the twelfth day we got all the way

to our log up the creek…though the second time, Monday

with an additional three dogs, wasn’t exactly relaxing.

Tuesday that project was put on hold for an overly warm morn of errands in the ‘burg and a farewell lunch at Val and Mark’s, who are leaving their faithful goats to a dubious caretaker

and their farm fallow while they travel the world extravagantly for free.  Me I can’t imagine a much worse torture than spending months on end as a tourist on airplanes but to each their very own.   Lunch was deliciously dystopian, assaultively salted and so abundant that L. eschewed food until Wednesday morning while I cut back to salad and bardolino for dinner.

My only exploration to date having been that ten minute detour to Indian Rock last month I decided to merely contemplate the four new canvases until after our upcoming trip to New Mexico.  Meanwhile a book arrived, wherein Rudy raised the picture-taking bar considerably.

Chastened but undeterred I persisted

while the blonde redhead continued to dog our daily walks and

sunshine brought flowers.

Saturday saw more mosquitoes up the creek, a run into town for the USPO and El Depot, first cuttings and The Navigation

of our resident loonie’s Chokepoint Polluto going and coming

but no Leon, as the Bear’d gotten into the greenhouse, decimating carrots, romaine and more.

So, on…

on to a last day wherein we made it to the LoPine, first time for me in about a year.

Happily the season formerly known as “rainy” continues;

Nex’, New Mex’.

M