August's Letter 2026

Hollyhocks, a place to sit, an iced summer drink

Sunday - When the plane from Hawaii that’s bringing your son finally lands, you wrap that kid up in home cooked meals. You peek at him while he sleeps. You show him the Montana that he’s heard about never seen before. And you let the sound of his voice settle into your soul.

Monday - I saw them in a gravel alley in the next town over, a mass of hollyhocks in full bloom lining a rickety wood fence, and I decided then and there that one day I’ll toss a good handful of hollyhock seed willy-nilly on the soil somewhere in my life, because this cannot be gone without.

Tuesday - The oven-hot wind drove me to it. Forget the dreamy clothesline ideas (and the time not available to make them happen), take the cotton line and string it tightly between the two power poles by the pond. Hang the canvas pin bag from it, bring out the freshly washed sheets, and hang them to dry. The fresh scent of them will fill the bedroom later that evening.

Wednesday - A squirrel moved into the grove at the end of the pond. Maggie Mae is highly alarmed! She spends hours in rapt attention at the base of whatever tree, keeping a sharp, glaring eye on the rascal.

Thursday - Round bales dot the landscape. The scent of freshly cut hay lingers in the air. Grasshoppers leap ahead of us as we stroll the two track across the field.

Friday - We step into the water, the flow of the creek pushing against our legs. We find our footing among the round river stones. We unhook our lures, throw the bail on our reels, and cast into the shadows downstream. We begin to reel, and feel a jolt of excitement when a trout slams our hook. Fish for dinner.

---

Moments Lately

collecting grasses

creek flowers

laundery line

a young one

feed the boy: four pancakes, three eggs, bacon, ham, multiple mugs of milk

---

Reading Lately

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - I do not have a particular interest in giraffes. Perhaps that’s why this book sat in my Kindle for three years. But one day last month, as I was waiting in the teller line at the local bank, I noticed a grandma lady sitting in a waiting area nearby, reading it. I could see that she was near the end of the book, so I stepped out of line, interrupted her reading, and asked if she liked it. Her eyes said just as much as her words. Oh yes! It’s so very good, she said. And she proceeded to give me a small overview of the story, clearly urging me to read it.

The book is based on true events: 1938, a catastrophic hurricane, two giraffes in crates on the deck of a ship limping into harbor near Boston, an orphan boy who’d narrowly escaped the hellish Dust Bowl in the midwest, an older man whose mission it was to get these giraffes to the San Diego Zoo, a young girl with curly red hair and a camera. The writing catches you from the first page. It’s a story about tragedy, care, healing, pain, coming of age, and love. Don’t wait to read this one.

---

Eating Lately

Creamy Iced Spearmint Tea

Sometimes it’s as simple as this. On an oven-hot summer day, pour this tea over ice in a glass, sit in front of the fan, and take a minute.

Brew a tall glass half full of strong spearmint tea. Add a drizzle of honey to your taste. Add a good glug of cream, half & half, or oat milk (my favorite, the flavor really compliments), then top the glass off with a handful of ice. Stir or shake with a lid on to chill down the drink. Enjoy!

---

Favorites Lately

For learning my feathered friends (and keeping a library of them)

For sitting down (we recently added two more)

For keeping the pins within reach (simplicity, again)

For listening (and feeling yourself relax into calm)

For right-size house lovers (forever applause for the human-size house)

---

Welcome! Thank you for reading here. Come, settle in. Your reposts and shares help others find their way here. Your paid subscriptions keep these words flowing. Because of you, my writing is available to all. Enjoy! Note: Some links affiliate.