After a month of holidays, we got back to work. But we first had excellent visits by some blog readers – Eldon and Tina, very good friends of some 30 years from Ottawa, and John, a friend from university days, and France.  Coop and I then worked on the garden shed (which will also serve to store 2 motorbikes in the winter).  All framed and raftered – awaiting the steel roof panels I ordered; the installation of the rest of the siding that Mizuho has been staining (doing an excellent job on a great many feet of tongue and groove fir); the double door I need to build; and two windows and an entrance door that will be installed after the roof is on.  At some later stage soffits and trim will be added and interior shelving.

Fruit season is upon us, with cherries and berries (straw, blue, rasp) in abundance, to be followed soon by apricots and peaches.  We pick most of our fruit from our neighbor’s orchard – good people and fruit, minimal spraying, and the best prices in town.

Had several furry visitors the past few days – two bucks and two fawns on the lawn – and a great horned owl that is huge and hanging around in the lower part of the property, and eagles soaring around most of the day.  With all our flowers, we have also been attracting hordes of happy honeybees and a couple of hummingbirds each day.

Most of the end/corner supports for the fence are now up although I need to install another 4 supports.  Will be ordering the fencing material tomorrow.

Also working on the gates as I want them in place before I close off the yard with the fence – don’t want to trap a deer inside.  This one is a combination of cedar 2×4 and black painted grill and pipe.  The next one (beside the shop) will likely be welded steel mesh (2″x4″).  We will then decide which we like better for the final one at the front of the house.  In the foreground are wildflowers that have self seeded.

Forecast for the week ahead is for highs between 30 and 36 so work outside will proceed slowly.  Hope to finish the fence post supports, build/install another gate and a firewood shelter, and roof and side the shed in the next few weeks.  Neighborhood dinners, golf games and swimming in friends’ pools may slow things down a bit.

Did not get anything done on the house in June as we spent most of the month in Greece – 1/3 on islands and 2/3 visiting archeological ruins.  This is a bar near our Airbnb in Plaka Athens.

Amazed and educated from touring the ruins of a 2000 year old civilization.  We saw Verdi’s Nabucco opera at a 2,000 year old stone amphitheater that seats 5,000 people just below the Parthenon with a cast of 100+ and full symphony.  Magical.  Mizuho sang a famous song from this opera called Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves with a choir in Seoul in front of 3,000 people a few years ago.

We visited several monasteries perched on cliff tops at Meteora.  Built in the 1400s when the monks sought protection from marauding Turks.  Originally, access was by rope and pulley with the ropes apparently replaced only when they broke.  Steps were carved into the rocks about 100 years ago. 

Oia Santorini.  White buildings high above the sea with great views.  Lots of tourists, including many Chinese couples having photo shoots – I guess it is a thing.  Worth a visit, but Naxos was more relaxing.

The ancient site of Mycenae.  Built 3,500 years ago with a peak population of 30,000. Linked to Homers poems, the Iliad and Helen of Troy.  Amazing feat of engineering (amazing what you can do with a few thousand slaves and decades of construction)

The Corinth canal.  Nero started two thousand slaves digging this 2,000 years ago but failed.  Finally completed 100 years ago.

Messene – An large site with stadium, theatre, and temples, many restored. Spent several hours here as it is not well known and there were very few tourists. Our red Seat rental car was great.  Smaller engine than my motorbike, 5 speed manual that you needed to downshift to go up a hill.  But got good mileage, under 6l per 100kms. This is the fallen lintel of one of the gates of the 9km wall surrounding the settlement. And built without a bobcat or excavator.

And this is our new car, our 3rd in 30 years.  Decided to sell the 11 year old Beemer (which travelled to 4 continents and 12 countries) as they wanted $9,000 to replace the two turbos, which was about what the car is worth.  Sad to say goodbye to it, but enjoying the new one.

And had another letter to the editor published, prompted by an article in Cycle Canada about some provinces recently permitting Sikhs to not wear a motorcycle helmet, and some climate change doubters.

Back home now and shall be providing some updates in mid-July on expected progress on the garden shed, gates and the fence.  Good to be back.