August: Solar Eclipse and other adventures

Wherein we drove to SC to watch the solar eclipse, and flew a ginormous octopus kite on the beach. We went to TWO owl releases at sunset, flew a kite on a mountaintop, and enjoyed an increase in hummingbird visitors.  The man cub got a new haircut for a new school. We had a lot of laughs watching the first annual Cardboard Regatta! And we had a back to school bonfire.

 

Barbara Avery 1950 - 2017

"My heart has joined the Thousand, 
for my friend stopped running today" - Richard Adams 

I met Barbara when I was a child and she forever changed my life. Like most children I dreamed of having a pony and that dream came true one fateful summer day when I met Barbara. It wasn't a pony of my own that I received, but rather a whole world of wild graciously shared with me by a very kind, patient and impish woman. It wasn't long after that I began inviting myself over and whiled away the summer playing on her land. Climbing the apple tree. Sneaking a vertical climb into the cupola for a view so spectacular that to this day, I'm compelled to climb summits. She graced me with freedom and trust to roam the wonderland that was her property, to love and care for and ride her beloved horse Sundance. There were magical parties, dips in the pool and drives to Setauket with The Rolling Stones blasting out the opened windows. Lying in the hay bales watching the dust particles dance in the sunbeams, and the scent of sweet feed and saddles are forever etched in my mind. It was a time of laughter, exhilaration, enchantment, wonder, and adventure where I learned a new language, one of whinnies, not words. As an adult Sunny (I still have a lock of his mane) started visiting me in my dreams and in every dream he would take me flying to see the view from the top of the barn. I wrote her to tell her about it. I promised to visit and when I did I brought my little boy. It was a joy to spend the day with her and watching her wield her magic upon my son, I relived those moments she blessed me with. I will never forget her. I will forever be grateful to her. I will forever miss her.

Copy of letter in journal & a lock of Sunny's mane