great day for working

Wow, what a day!  Glorious mid-September weather, but too hot to work hard building garage storage shelves--in the shady garage--without working up a big sweat.  Physical labor is good, though.  Helps clear the brain, if you're smart enough to sit down when you get tired.

exotic bird identification

Can anybody identify this bird that showed up at my house in north central Wisconsin this evening? We think it's a flyaway pet that probably should have had its wings clipped long ago. Flies very well, sings loud and clear, hung around until dark and then probably went to sleep nearby.

new start

Last May, my oldest son graduated from college. Today, the next one started. It's another of those rituals that doesn't change much--on a warm (or hot!) autumn day, hefting various boxes, bags and small appliances up to the third floor, through aging hallways, without benefit of an elevator. At least this son took a moon chair instead of a full-frame futon! Other things don't change much, either--the shower stalls could use a little re-grouting (or a lot!) and have rusty pipes replaced; the wooden doors have lost their finish and developed character from decades of posters and notes taped to them; parents smile knowing and slightly nervous smiles. At the end, when it is past time for parents to leave, there are last hugs, a few tears, and then the new student turns around and steps into a new world with barely a look back. Way to go, kid--you'll do great!