Day 538: Summer Solstice

Fabulous first day of summer!  Twelve hours outside, pool was 78, swam 100 lengths, more planting and mulching, finished up with ice cream at the pier and a Die Hard movie!

Masts on the rippling lake at the Dunkirk Pier

Sum and substance

Day 537: Sidesteps

So Steve painted the wood preservative on the side steps and while he was at it, he did half the logs on the west side.   They were worn and graying so we knew we had to do it sometime this summer, but now it's done.  I painted the foundation and the small steps the color of peanut shells.   One or two days of serious gardening and then on to decorating.

Tonight we got an email from a woman in Forestville asking how she can get her three eighth graders into Quest.  We have often thought it would be good to include another small school, but there would be so many complications!  And so much more work!  Somehow we must train new leaders.

Pink Snapdragons

Side steps

Toady

Day 536: Retirement Party

Four old friends are retiring this June.

Jim has been counting the days for the last two years and has just two left.  For twenty-four years, according to Andy, he's been cleaning up puke, pee and poop.  But beyond that, he's been teaching kids how to be good school citizens.  Wipe your shoes when you enter the building, pick up after yourselves, throw trash in the correct bins, help out whenever you can.  I love the way Andy always focuses on the positive contributions each staff member offers, no matter what their role.  He said, and I agree, that there are no menial jobs when it comes to serving the needs of children.  

For forty years, Judy has taught typing and resume preparation, collected and interpreted data, made up schedules, recorded grades and verified them.  What a treasure she has been!  She always watched out for the most vulnerable kids, the kids on the verge of dropping out, the transients, foster kids.  Calm, steady and focused, Judy kept track of a million details.  I remember when Evan was searching for colleges.  The guidance counselor recommended some top universities, but we knew we couldn't afford the Ivy League.  It was Judy who told me that they often offered generous scholarships so that the cost would be comparable to a state college.

Marsha has been a first grade teacher for thirty years.  Caring, loving, silly, passionate, dedicated and gentle, Marsha did everything she could for her little ones.  All of her children were my students years ago and they were wonderful also.  She's really excited because she got a job at the college teaching literacy.  Those prospective teachers are really fortunate.

Nearly thirty years ago, I was on the hiring committee to select a new guidance counselor and we picked Mike.  He's low key, but a fierce advocate for kids.  He didn't take any crap from anyone.  I had all four of his kids and loved them all.

The party was a great way to cap off a busy day of working like crazy!  The back deck is fully preserved and the crescent garden is completely finished!

Before

All finished!

Crescent garden

Day 535: Delphinium delights

Delphinium

Pink daisies

No deep thoughts today.  It was all about making progress in the yard.  With only ten days left till the garden show, I think we'll make it.  The final fifty feet of the border garden was raked, weeded, tilled and planted.  I transplanted shrubs, lilies and iris and then added a dozen new perennials.  Then we moved on to the birdbath garden and completely finished it!  Only two gardens and fifteen pots left to do.  

When I was spraying the liquid fence, I discovered that the deer are eating the tops of the stella d'oro lilies, the rose bush and the liatris.  Why?  With all the luscious greenery around the area, why come up close to the house to eat a few flowers?  

Tomorrow, Steve is going to finish putting preservative on the back deck and I'm going to paint the foundation.  The annual retirement party is at Merritt Winery and we will honor a few esteemed colleagues.  We have had two losses this year and it will be good to reconnect with friends we haven't seen in a year.      

Day 534: Footprints Award

Our dear friend Ellen nominated us to receive the George Weaver Footprints Award from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation for community service.   It was particularly meaningful because George Weaver was a classmate and close friend of Steve's mom, Betty.  We were honored today with a lovely reception attended by many of our beloved friends. They had made a beautiful video that included photos, videos and tributes from Ellen, Margaret, Kurt, Kathy, Colin and Evan.  It was beautiful!  We are so very grateful to all who contributed their time and effort to the project and those who support our work with kids.

I wish our sons could have attended, but some of our "adopted" children filled in for them.  Unfortunately, we did not get a photo of Ellen!

Vince, Alycia, me, Steve and Annie

Me and my brother Steve

Kathy

Annie and Amy

Iris in the Stockton Village Park

Blue Iris

Day 533: Flat tire

Kathy's flat tire created a huge complication for our overnight hike since we had no cell phone service.  Mike and Susan had to drive her to a neighboring house to use their phone to get AAA.  It took 90 minutes for the service to show up and replace the tire.  The whole crew had tried to change the tire late last night when she discovered it, but the lug nuts were stripped.  

It was a relaxing trip, though, with lots of quiet visiting and laughter.  

Day 532: Minister Creek

Mike and Kathy exploring a cavern

Ferns

Climbing rock stairs

I need help identifying this bird!