Summer is Swinging

Summer is in full swing, with the lettuce ready to cut and the first tomatoes primed for the picking.  The lavender is reaching towards the sky and the neighboring black-eyed susans are awakening.

I’m reading This Side of Paradise, a F Scott Fitzgerald coming of age novel on 1922 or so.  It’s a brief, concise work of literature, one I’ve read many times over the years.  I’m not nearly as enthralled as I used to be.   Lake Geneva, Princeton U and NYC are the main locales.

Juxtaposed is Thomas Wolfe’s 800 page opus, a coming of age story written about the same time as the above-mentioned.  Taking place in Asheville NC when the city was just getting started.  The Biltmore, that Vanderbilt mansion, was built in 1890’s.

Lucas, my son, has edged out a few others for the QB-in-waiting position, as a sophomore. It's his job to lose at this point, primed to general the varsity team for his 11th and 12th grade seasons.

I’m sure I’m not the only one with an ex-wife that experiences ebbs and flows with the relationship, which become more complicated as the child ages and issues become adult-ish, instead of child-ish.  I mention it because once again I receive the benefit of legal advice that counsels inaction, instead of action.  A well-explained examination of gain v loss, of goal attainment v bomb-throwing feel-good water treading is the best counsel.

It’s been hot - like mid-90’s, for most of a month now.  I’m not sure if the periodic rain has been enough to keep farmers, reservoirists and canoers happy, but my grass and assorted plantings seem to be doing fine.  I installed some under the ground irrigation the other year, and that definitely helped, after I got over the fact that the irrigation that was installed called for way more water than my well could produce - that seemed like a simple checklist item the installer should have considered.  Nothing like running your well dry repeatedly!   Or maybe just the nature of the beast.

We closed on Ranch 69 last week, and it turned out swimmingly. Pics here.

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Next we close on an American Four Square and a Ranch up in Olivebridge NY.   That should happen prior to Labor Day, God Willing.

‍Here’s the link to the Mini-Barn I brokered the other day.

Everyone is dying their hair blond in my son's friend group.

Hit the Delaware River for a swim after our Monday mountain bike ride.

Finally getting out on my respective bikes like I've always aspired to. 2x a week - 25-40 miles. Been a good summer. Weather-wise too - though I guess it's been hot.