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