Susan's Postcard to Mike Johnson

 

Astilbe in Glory (plus Mountain Laurel)

 

Shiloh with his Younger Daughter (who turns 16 today!)

 

Decision Time

 

Four Coneflowers (Echinacea) and Blue Butterfly Delphinium

 

Beam Me Up, Scotty...

 Thanks to Susan for this meme!

Daddy Biologist with Baby Ecologist

 

PhD Wildlife Biologist Shiloh with Eldest*Grand
(who is now 18, in college, majoring in Wildlife Ecology)

Fascism

 

“Elevenses”

Today (Sunday) we are taking 15 year old Maine*Grand to the new cafe in Maine that is Hobbit themed! She turns 16 this week.

The places in Tolkien’s hometown that inspired the Shire

The Cost of Doing Business...

 

Root*Center*Son's View from the plane

 

47 Kicks, from Susan!

 

Butterfly Weed

 

The First Purple Coneflower of 2025

 

Shiloh at age 10 months

I've been going through the childhood photos.
Fresh out of college, and poor as churchmice, we camped from May to the end of September
all through Shiloh's first Summer.  He LOVED it.  But when we moved indoors
a week before his first birthday he would bang on the window and yell to go back out! 
We had no idea it would be quite so "formative"
and he would spend the rest of his life more outdoors than indoors.

 

That's about the Size of It

Making Good Trouble

On July Seventeenth, Free Speech for People will be holding a nationwide, peaceful day of action. Click this link to find an action near you.

You Tell 'Em, Rep. Swalwell!

Wild Strawberries

 

Grace Rose

 

On Lake Champlain

A meme from Susan!

On Saturday, Susan wrote: 
"I swiped this meme from Facebook

because it's just too perfect for MAGA Mike Johnson."

She still can't comment here on HEP. 😩

 

This boat reminds us of dear blogger Thankful!

 

Elevenses! A new Hobbit themed cafe & bakery in Brunswick, Maine

 

 

 

The Declaration of Independence

Constitution Facts:
 https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/read-the-declaration/

On the Eve of Independence

"Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people." - Thomas Jefferson

"Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people." - John Adams

"Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance."  - Woodrow Wilson

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."  - Martin Luther King Jr.

Shiloh in his Alaska suit, with the Brooks Range in the distance

 

As we understand it, all his gear survived the crash, including his cell phone, despite it having no cover.  But, yes, that camera, his laptop, the rifle and more, all unscathed. Still waiting to hear if the binoculars outlived him, but it seems likely. 
The helicopter must simply have landed too hard.  Not sure why.  Still waiting on the preliminary report. Note that Shiloh never used a gun of any sort, except when he was required to carry one while working in Alaska and, before being allowed to go there, had to show that he could shoot off three rounds swiftly, in case he were ever being charged by a bear.  He'd scared off a bear or two over the years by shooting upward. Never had to shoot a bear in 28 years of working in the Arctic wilderness. 

Hot AIr Balloon over the Bay / Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

 

Last of June

We went out on the boat today for the first time since Shiloh's death. 

It was so good to be together with Eldest and Root*Center*Son

Beer Can Island from Loch Nest

View at Beer Can Island

I wish....

 

Anniversary Photo

Last year (in August, actually) we took this whole-family photo.  It was the only thing Wil and I requested in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We are so very grateful that we got this photo...the last time our entire family would ever be together. 
We thought, at the time, what would get in the way after that would be the grands starting college and slowly dispersing.  We never expected Shiloh's death. (In this photo, Shiloh is 3rd from left. He was also the photographer, who set the camera on delay then jumped into place.)         Today marks our 51st Anniversary. 
 

First Rose of the Season

Mizzen's Nap Time

 

Aragorn quote from J.R.R. Tolkien

 I was reminded of this quote recently by Shiloh's younger daughter
(age 15), who is well-read, wise and compassionate.

Cedar Waxwing in the Shad

 

Black & White Warbler

This bird showed up in our front yard and is a Life Bird for me. 

Wishing I could have told Shiloh.   ~ listener

The Robin Chicks Fledging

 

Shiloh (PhD*Son) with a Whimbrel

 

Shiloh (PhD*Son) with a newly tagged American Oystercatcher

 

Shiloh (PhD*Son) with (I think) a Semi-palmated Sandpiper

 

Guarda Flowers and Milkweed

 

Oystercatcher / What Would Shiloh Do? (Bought this hat via Etsy!)