I am fortunate to be able to spend my summers at our “camp”—which we bought as a “fixer upper” for a bargain-basement price back in 1998 and spent the first several summers working on. Fully fixed up and paid off, it is now our retreat for the warm months of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The hummingbirds visit my nectar-filled feeder—one that the bees can’t raid. Wild turkeys tromp across the lot on occasion. Pairs of geese visit with their fuzzy yellow goslings (who grow up way to fast and will be flying by the end of July). Two pairs of sandhill cranes are nesting in the marsh. I asked St. Francis to tell them I meant no harm as I paddled slowly by in my kayak, snapping a few photos. Early in the morning, mama deer will bring their fawns to drink at the shore. When I walk the logging/ORV trails through the woods, I’ll probably see the tracks of, cayotes, bear, and maybe even a wolf, so I make plenty of noise when I’m out there. They don’t want to see anything but my tracks any more than I want to see more than their tracks. Hopefully, the resident bald eagles will fledge another young one this summer. Last year it was quite a sight to watch them teaching their fledgling how to hunt. Fortunately for the baby geese, unfortunately for the eagles, the adult geese were able to protect their families. The eagles gave up and went back to fishing.

A good many years ago, our dog tried to make friends with a porcupine—it didn’t work out well. We were always glad he never encountered a skunk, thought there are some of those around, too, as well as rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks, and many species of songbirds. I never lack for character material or drama in the summer. All is right with my world, especially if I avoid watching the news on TV or the internet. Satellite dishes for internet and TV are wonderful, but sometimes it’s better to turn them off.

Have a wonderful summer.