The Hillhouse

Now that it’s late summer and Elihu’s home, we’ve fully immersed ourselves in the culture of doing nothing much. But that in of itself is very important stuff here at the Hillhouse. Big items are on the docket for the little remaining summer vacation; the county fair, our tiny pond, unscheduled sunny afternoons and neighbors’ swimming pools. The things that make a summer. If the phone rings when we’re at the creek with a net, we won’t rush to answer. And if we’re in the coop just sitting with our flock, or feeding the goldfish in our pond, let em leave a message. Everything else can wait – but summer can’t.

Our new pond, complete with five goldfish and an ever-changing number of frogs.

Lil man has spent hours and hours here. So glad he likes it. !!

His fish even come up to him when he wiggles his finger.

Frogs and fish co-habitating nicely.

Catch-and-release all day long.

Lil man and his mama.

Elihu’s pic. Magazine-worthy! Not bad for a legally blind kid. !

A closer look through Elihu’s eyes…

One of the many creatures that visits our prolific butterfly bush all day long.

The apple tree and a seat with a view. Note our flourishing corn in the middle (it’s down the hill).

Taking a close look at a walking stick we found.

Here she is…

And here she is too.

Early in the evening we cap off our day with a concert by local favorites The Zucchini Brothers. Drummer Sam is a friend of ours. Although we note Elihu is several years beyond the audience demographic, he wasn’t embarrassed to be there (phew) and we both really enjoyed the band. They’re good musicians and funny guys.

Snuck a pic in – he didn’t have time to stick his tongue out.

On the way home we saw the same tiny black helicopter we’d visited at the local airport in the hangar (see June Interim post). This heli passes over Saratoga nearly every evening. Think I might pen a note and leave it on the craft… never know if the pilot might want company some time… This is a good time of year for serendipitous little adventures, after all.

Life as usual can wait a bit longer while we go fishin…