Jasdip, I live way out in the country, on a dirt road. I used to say I had no visible neighbors, but then someone bought the property across from me and took down all the trees (there were many) between us. Then he lit the place up like a prison yard at night. They're not even in residence most of the time, but the lights are. You have my sympathy. Thanks to the never-ending work on my roof and the ever-growing piles of old shingles, I have no access to my irises. Many are visible--and beautiful--but I can't get close enough to deadhead them or even smell them. (Scented irises are a favorite of mine.) So here's a few from last year. Screenplay (left) and Odyssey: Let's Dance: Perfect Pitch: High Point: Blushing Rose:

I guess those sloping sides of my birdbath are helping the bees have somewhere to land and then easily rest to do their drinking. I like the thought of busy bees having a local oasis, and I’ve even carried out rescues of those that get stranded in the middle, albeit I’m not prepared to carry out all day vigils, so there have been a few floating casualties to empty out over the last few weeks😢😉 I’ll definitely try your kind suggestions and see how things pan out. I adore watching birds have a bath, and as the weather warms up I’ll feel bad if their usual pampering pool isn’t available to them. I’ve even seen them line up along the fence top waiting impatiently to hop in when it’s been at maximum capacity from other bathers before. It’s an amusing and lovely sight. Michele, Luna is one of the most beautiful cats I’ve ever seen. I‘ve loved seeing your photo updates.

Years ago, when my eldest was still little and my youngest not yet born, I was in Sydney on business when I saw this in a shop window as I was walking back to my hotel from a dinner. I ran in between meetings the next day to buy him and have him shipped home. Sometime after I left the shop, someone tied a handwritten manila tag on his leg. It didn't say "sold" or "Mtnrdredux" or anything you might expect. It said "this horse is going to New York" ... as if he were going on a trip! I loved the tag and kept it on him, until one day a helpful cleaning person snipped it off and threw it out. 😞 The whole family loves him. My SS has twins now, and we look forward to them using it when they visit!

A pop-up concert in Burnaby BC yesterday. There were two hours of lovely free music with wonderful singers and their excellent accompanying musicians. Today's concert will also be interesting with violinists and tuba players. Looking forward to it. I am really enjoying these events that are all over Tri-Cities and Metro Vancouver. For that reason I will be sad to see summer end.