No, I don't have some fascinating wildlife photos to show you. Yesterday I bought game cameras at Sam's Club. They sell them in two-packs for some reason. I hope to get a picture of the bear(s) visiting our house next door, but need to work out where to put the cameras. This summer's visits were via the front porch over there, so that'll be the primary focus. I wish I had Mr. Troutbend here to help figure it out. He's probably glad he's not here to do that - one more project.

Oh, that poor man, he worked like a dog this summer, and some of it was repairing screens after bear break-ins and attempted break-ins. Things kept breaking: the support bar on the futon in the guest cabin snapped off, and he had to build a new one using a 2 by 4 that he stained nicely to match the wooden frame. He did a good job, and we were lucky we didn't have company coming in the meantime. Another project was to make a privacy fence thing because he trimmed the branches off a cedar tree that was getting too near the house. And lots of gutter cleaning and raking up pine needles. Bless his heart.

I made a comment about how I wish I had new linoleum in that kitchen because the bear made some deep scratches in what's in there when he last raided that kitchen, and he said 'oh! no problem! I can install some new flooring next spring.' See? You all thought I had to nag and nag to get him started. I think he decided resistance is futile.

Now, he's back in Las Vegas doing what he wants to instead of being dictated to by projects around here.

Here's our riverbank by the dining room.



This is the first summer the columbines have re-bloomed.



Overall, it has been a good summer for wild flowers.