Busy month socially with golf games, ten dinners, a visit by sister and hubby, and two concerts. Enjoyed two pick-up parties for members at two wineries – one had jazz and ceviche in a ice cream cone, while the other had sliders and bocce. Went to a fabulous exhibit at the Art Gallery (part of a personal collection by a local resident) of Warhol, Banksy, Koons, Murakami and Lichtenstein – sort of a mini MOMA. Also hired a student part time to do some research for me for a paper on democracy.

Busy month round the house as well. After replacing the corroded electrical connector for the trailer (only available from MB) and a wheel bearing, I was able to swap a friend some firewood for some surplus miscellaneous paving stones. B in Law helped drop a tree, cut up two and used his chainsaw guide to mill a 4×6 from the tree. Firewood all cut and split and stacked for next year with some newer logs cut and drying for a year. Gutters cleaned, driveway verge mowed, and branches piled up for later mulching.

Trenched from shop to hot tub site and the pavilion site to run the tech cable; changed some of the irrigation; and reran one of the downspouts to a new rain barrel. Tub arrived as promised and was wheeled in, placed, hooked and filled up in no time. Very pleased with it. Should have gotten one years ago. Still need to do some hard scaping around it, build some stairs and mini-deck and put up some towel hooks. Not sure what I will do with the tub site prepared last fall but will likely become a deck.

Weather finally turned nice and the garden exploded. These poppies self-seed and are amazing. Enjoyed dinners under the umbrella until a big wind broke it (I hope to fix it in the days ahead). It will likely be replaced with a 12 x 14 gazebo with removable screens.

Taisho had a big month. First, he shed his undercoat (a pillow case full). He discovered a marmot inside the fence in the poppies. He cornered it, attacked and within a minute was tossing it in the air. It was over very quickly for the marmot.