Beating the heat involves a long afternoon nap in many parts of the world. After six months of resisting daytime sleep, the 34oC weather this week is helping Lady Kitty to find her siesta groove.

From virtually no naps, or maybe a 15 minute nap at most, to 2 hours napping… what a change. I’ll take it! But I had to peek in to check her breathing!

More tracks on the sand this tranquil morning. We’re sharing the beach and the surrounding forests and fields with a few small groups of long tailed deer. When they’re startled their white fluffy tails spring straight up as they bound off to camouflage in the understory. Lake scampered like a wild animal unfettered by clothes for a bit this morning, knowing it was going to get very hot and very sunny later. He happily played on the beach and in the water humming Doe a Deer to himself before the lake woke up.

Then we ended up visiting the rest of the day. It’s such a lovely feature of this lake community. People are so nice and all our great-grandparents knew each other, and on down through the generations. It’s easy to visit all day by simply walking along the beach in our bay. Visiting and playing through the eyes of my son reminded me of when I was a child. As a child I craved the midsummer weekends when all the folks and kids would be out to play with. Quiet felt lonely. Now quiet feels peaceful. Now I long for the coming of the quiet mid-week days and the fall season after sport boaters have forgotten us. But today I was basking in the camaraderie of the Friendly Folksy festival atmosphere of a mid-August heat wave. A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with the bay!

Steve and Lisa Pointer own this tidy u-pick blueberry farm in Kootenai County, Idaho. They are extremely nice and have a minimum-spray practice (copper, boron, organic insecticide if needed, and never on the berries themselves). We’ve been a couple of times so far this summer, and we always come away happy, with full buckets and stomachs; promising to get an earlier start next time to beat the heat. Today was no exception despite our best efforts.

Nana is a motivated picker. She was training Lake to be her expert picking aid while I tended Lady Kitty and periodically contributed handfuls.

Check out their farm’s website Red Canoe Farms to plan your own excursion. They’ll be open through the end of August and they keep their website updated with picking hours.

Kids say the darnedest things. Lake likes to say: I’m a doctor of that. I’m a doctor of dying is his latest and most frequent proclamation. Whatever it is that ails you, he’s a doctor of that. I’m a doctor of hurt wrists. I’m a doctor of broken toes. I’m a doctor of corona virus. He acknowledges that it’s hard work and he’s paid handsomely for it. When I told him his doctor, Dr. Abby Grant, is getting married, he was astonished.

Tonight he was saying: Doctor Tiger belongs in the forest. Doctor Animal belongs in the zoo. Doctor Snake belongs in the wild things. He was unstoppable. Then, it was “Let’s go on a night espedition!” Then it was types of fish charades. Spoiler alert: he’s quite good!

He still says “breastfest” for breakfast. I guess it’s not too far off if the origins lie in his milkies days. He’s so darn entertaining!

These photos of the kids wearing Marimekko stripes were taken in Seattle on June 11th. Some things haven’t changed. Lake is still saying “breastfast” and “I’m a doctor of that”. Lady Kitty is two months older already and that’s half-again-her-age older. She’s growing up so fast and standing strong on her own two feet. She’s still got her winning smile.

Perfect days, I’m so grateful to be spending them with you!

“Days here are always good,” Lake said to me over lunch. He was recounting an exchange he’s had with the neighbor Mr. Galvan who had looked Lake directly in the eyes and said:

“Lake, I gotta tell you something. There’s never a bad day at the lake.”

Lake experienced something new over at the construction site on his morning adventure with Nana: “sand beans.” Nana confirmed it was pea gravel!

I love the unique way Lake recalls things and phrases and events; it is a glimpse into his mind.

He’s having such a good day that time appears to expand in order to accommodate all the goodness. After his nap Nana took Lake out in her kayak “The Flame” and they paddled for two hours. Upon returning for a late dinner, Lake enthused: “I spent the whole day on the row! I didn’t even have a nap!”

Then at bedtime, and peppered throughout the day, he sings to us, “I love you all my love yous!”

We love you too, Lake! Your endearing nature makes the four-year-old mood swings bearable. Continued thanks to Nana for making a warm-hearted home, and all the lovely neighbors out here for building such a historic community. All good days out here at the lake to be sure; this one was no exception.

A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you!

I was devastated by the news of the June 22, 2020 executive proclamation suspending visas for aliens who may pose a threat to our economic recovery. In theory I support the sentiment of reducing America’s elevated unemployment rate. I had just lamenting how Switzerland could motivate its nation with a nice “get Switzerland working again; have-a-Swiss-holiday” message, while America wasn’t generating anything so positive and effective.

In practice this restriction doesn’t simultaneously substitute Americans for the jobs of J1 visa holders among others. Our au pair agency is not offering domestic American au pairs the opportunity to connect with American host families (from a different region of the country, say) for an au pair year. I did inquire. Alas, middle class American double-income-dependent working families are simply being stretched thin, asked to do more.

The Economist’s 1 August 2020 publication of “Tearing up the welcome mat” (pp 47-49) captured our alarm of the situation:

“In June [Mr Trump] issued a ‘Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the US Labour Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak’. It froze four types of visas for the rest of the year: H-1BS (for highly skilled workers); H-2BS (fo less-skilled workers); J visas, for au pairs, temporary summer workers and some academics; and L visas, for professionals who are moved within the same company.

“These new rules, combined with the near-total shutdown of visa offices, will destroy American jobs, not create them…

“Banning au pairs won’t create jobs for Americans, either. On the contrary: by providing cheap child care, au pairs mak it it easier for American parents to go out to work. Families that couldn’t afford a nanny can often afford an au pair because part of the au pair’s compensation is a place to stay and a chance to learn English.

“Jason Patwell, a defense conractor, is a single father of three boys, one of whom has special needs. He was aghast when he realizes that an au pair would not be coming. ‘I would love to say I have a back-up plan, but I don’t. I can throw money at the problem, and go into debt. I’ll survive until the end of the summer,’ he says.”

Then in mid-July came our potential break. The national interest exceptions, for which we ought to qualify as medical workers essential to the treatment of COVID patients and research toward new COVID therapies. If granted, at the discretion of the US Consulate in the home country, the au pair must travel to our family within 30 days.

The German au pair we matched with, Madeline Jung, would be so sad to lose her opportunity to arrive in September. We are hopeful that during her upcoming US Consular appointment on 8 September she’ll be granted a J-1 visa under the national interest exception. Then we will all be thrilled to be united together as one strong multinational family! It is truly a matter of national, and personal, importance!

Ich drucke dir die Daumen, I’ll press my thumbs for you! as the German saying goes, roughly translated to: cross your fingers for us!!

Nana, our Queen Mother, is taking exquisite care of all of us here at her Summer Estate of Point Petite. She grew up here, and now decades later, her grand children are following in her footsteps, as bare feet find their way over well worn rock paths. Each day is an adventure here. Meals, activities (making robots, boating, hiking), and lessons (swimming, reading, manners, and life) are all steeped in her tender loving care. It’s a full immersion act of devotion and we appreciate her so.

All perfect days… we’re glad we’re spending them here with you. Thank you for everything! We love you, Nana!

Lake said his hair isn’t red, it’s orange. I sympathized with his dismay and counseled him on the convention that we have “red” hair. He conceded that, well, his hair is orange and red. It’s true; our hair is comprised of many colors including copper, gold, orange, red, strawberry blonde, and in my case grey. Nana vehemently disagreed. “You don’t have any grey,” she said. “That’s because I pulled all the grey hair out,” I said. Lake said, “Lady Kitty pulled all your grey hair out!”

Too funny and astute, that Lake! Lake is well aware Lady Kitty is on the habit of grabbing on and pulling my hair out… a habit I’m none too fond of. Lady Kitty even grabs hold and pulls Lake’s short hair with her tiny vice grips… so he speaks from experience.

If only it were true and she could discern to preferentially pull the grey hair, I might not mind as much! Like many, my idealism has given way to pragmatism with time. Glad to have hair! Happy if it’s “red” and not grey! Even though Lake’s observation is apt. In my estimation, Lady Kitty, Lake and I all have tresses spun of gold, rose gold.

Lady Kitty exuberantly and indiscriminately gathers life towards her; tasting each for character and consuming its essence. Approaching six months, she shows great interest in eating. This is generally regarded as a positive development. We follow the guidance of Baby Lead Weaning. In essence, after six months of exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding is supplemented by child feeding themselves healthy finger foods as soon as they’re ready, able and willing. Lady Kitty has got her two bottom teeth installed and she’s ready to dig in!

Her blueberry eyes have keenly observed that we routinely gather together at the table, with relish. She has concluded that we’re up to something good… too good to pass up. This morning we could hardly keep the farm stand apricots out of her grasping reach. Her tenticle arms extend, scoop, grab, and return, checking for bounty. We seek to vigilantly push back the near plates of food.

At the beach it’s another story. She’s as quick as a lightning bug. At any chance she sucussfully scoops sand into her mouth: her first solids! I perform the finger sweep and removed it, but not until she had had her first taste of gourmand living. “I detect flinty notes,” she reflects.

Lake and I went for a hike today; with Lady Kitty getting a free ride. Before we set out we studied the map and planned our route. Lake said he wanted to make the longest hike possible of the various trails and loops in the nature conservation near us: to go ninety and hundred miles. I interpreted his intent literally, if not his words. We hiked for more than two hours. Later he denied ever stating he’d like to go on the long version when the 3.5 miles loomed endlessly.

It sprinkled rain on and off throughout our adventure. We were not fazed. The cool damp air was a welcome reprieve from the recent string of hot sunny days. We encountered no one and nothing on the trail: just damp forest smelling freshly of pine, reminding me of my days cruising timber in the Arapaho National Forest of Colorado.

We hiked, sang (The Bear Goes Over the Mountain), and planned for the hot chocolate we’d make when we arrived home. When we got thirsty we licked droplets of water off the snowberry leaves.

Lake said he wanted me to help him do a walking handstand across the living room floor when we got home; after we got home and before the hot chocolate. Sounded like a solid plan and I said as much. Indeed, we managed it later (the specificity helped). Meanwhile, when we paused to take in the peek-a-boo view of the lake I said: “See the lake in the distance? It’s the grey between the tops of the trees.”

Lake said, “ all I see is wite. Wite. Wite. Wite!”

Light? He became more emphatic as I continued to search for his meaning.

“The tolor wite,” he said.

“Aha! The color white. Thank you for explaining that, Lake. I appreciate it so much when you are able to elaborate on the meaning of a word while you’re learning to enunciate. It helps us both to not get frustrated.”

Back at home we read Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping and laughed at her silly communication gaffs. Clear communication feels like such an improbably elusive art sometimes. Today, our rainy day tested our skills and then rewarded us with a magical moment.

A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you, big hiker!