A Good Day

Some days are decidedly better than others. Today is one of the best. Visitors improve my outlook. Michael, my firstborn, dropped by unexpectedly to get a first hand look at the McNary Education Center, recently built by US Fish and Wildlife as part of the Mid-Columbia River Refuge Complex. Granddaughter, Naomi came through last week on her regular route of special deliveries and wanted him to see the wonderful facility. He was equipped with his camera on a tripod. I had the Nikkon to get a shot of the baby kestrel in the nest box by the weeping willow tree at stumphenge for nwrmcnary.org. After much patience and tired arms, I succeeded as well as getting good white egret photos at the bird blind and catching black-capped terns in flight. Fish were jumping frantically in many areas of the water but I was not successful in capturing one with the head above the water.
Weather forecasts expected record temperatures and because it was already 69 F degrees at five am when I left my house, I knew that was no idle prediction. By noon while I hung out some underwear to dry, my fairly accurate thermometer registered 92. The heat does not deter starlings from cavorting in the neighbor’s dried lawn, nor the crows from cleaning up the remains of a squashed squirrel on the street.
The outdoor temperature heated up the house and I opened the windows to get a bit of a cross breeze. Very helpful. However the sun beat against the computer room window so I tacked up the window shade I removed from the kitchen some time past. I can roll it up if desired but it does cut off the direct sun from the window glass. I do not plan to use the A/C until after I return from Danny’s to prevent air exchange through the machine heating the room while I am gone. Therefore the insulating cover is still in place.
Michael recognized the problem I had with the last section of cedar fence. It was shrinking and slipping down from the brackets. A couple of blocks were nailed in place and that was fixed while recalling memories of Dad saying “When I nod my head, you hit it.”
Then I was back in the cool house and my easy chair to read more about Thomas Jefferson and his work to make our country a republic, his word for democracy.
Back to visitors. Last week a friend came by. Admiration of my ink drawings reminded me of the insect indigenous to Madagascar which I intend to draw for a childrens book. The cockroach pushes air through its trachea giving it a superiority (or so it insists as the story goes) over insects that rub legs together or flutter membranes. A good subject to catch the interest of young kids. Or the grandparents on the lookout for a cute book.
Whether it sells or not, making a story and planning its publication makes this a very good day.
Naomi Sherer