July 9, 2018

The window of the backdoor has a perfect bear nose print about 4 feet off the ground. I suppose he got up on the porch and looked in, pressing his nose against the glass like a kid in a store.

Steve and Justin the electricians came today and completed some work, gave estimates on other work. I asked Justin if he like being an electrician, and he said he did, especially since it gave him the chance to work with his brother-in-law. He met Steve’s sister when she was on a date with somebody else. Both men were the salt of the earth. They looked happy.

The pool motor guy of course did not come. I hate depending on idiots.

Mad weeding and gardening today. I ate a banana and felt 50% stronger than I did yesterday. Was all that potassium deficiency? It is at once too complicated and too simple.

Progress on Tub.

The Orange Outrage announces his pick for the Supreme Court tonight. Cannot even bear to turn the TV on.

July 8, 2018

News from sources at Ellet of the life and death of Samuella Lowe (Leptor), who was one of my friends from high school with whom we had completely lost contact. We were actually quite good friends. Her life was richer than I had feared. She died in 2016 in Kentucky.

July 7, 2018

Sweet Saturday morning rain, one of my favorite things.

Welts across my arms and wrists from where I rolled and moved the big living room carpet. Hope I remember to wear long sleeves the next time. Just moving the carpet (a big one, to be sure) has about ended my physical activity for the morning.

A bear took out DJ’s sheltering fence and damaged the elderberries I planted across the street. My elderberries are still green BBs. This is the same bear who tore out my basement windows, a bold male.

The Falls of the Wyona in the mail to Red Hen. Almost unbelievable progress on Tub. I sit and the images come. The images arrive riding on the words that make them.

July 5, 2018

Called to get the pond motor finally fixed. It keeps blowing the breakers on that side of the house. Called to get new plugs installed around the floor. Funny how empowered and at ease one feels accomplishing a few simple tasks. I sent Wyona to Tom, assuring myself it was finished. No sooner had I done so than I began another revision, at least as radical as the last. Took out 200 + words, found three or four outright mistakes, added a few lines of clarification, took out weak stuff I had somehow treasured. One consideration is that the manuscript won a prize, and the judge read something she liked.  I don’t suppose a revision should travel very far from that. What if she wouldn’t like the revisions? I suppose however many times I go through I’ll find something. The task is just to stop.

July 4, 2018

I believe I’ve finished the editing and revision of Wyona. insofar as It is in my power to do so.  Mostly finding substitutes for the word “was,” and removing coordinating conjunctions.  Also editing out former names of characters. Picnic at J and L’s. Festive. We sit and talk. Sitting and talking has always baffled me a little.

July 3, 2018


Looked up to see an animal shape on my front porch. It was my rabbit, exploring right up against the windows. Late at night I heard the strangest sound, like a musical dog barking, and then a human whistling to it, very clear and beautiful, in the dark beyond the pond. By the time I got up to look, the music was over. I saw one raccoon loping down the driveway toward the street.

July 2, 2018

The great blood-red tree lilies toppled in the storm.

Giving The Falls of the Wyona a final go-over before publication. It really is well-written, if I say so myself.