Water feature back up and running

Photo is at an odd angle but the water feature is back up and running for the season.

A lot more work this year to get it going. The basin needed to be re-balanced. Getting it out was the easy part. The patio stones around the edge needed to be reset. That was the difficult part.

There is uneven settling of the stones and some of them are splitting. I'm not surprised as I didn't have the ability to set the stones in a layer of sand when I installed the patio some years ago.

Still need to grout the stones and clean up the river rock that cover the basin lid.

Hopefully the birds

Apple blossoms

Decided the apple trim needed trimming if for no other reason that I couldn't walk by it to the rest of the garden. Lots of blossoms this year.

This is the first time I've brought branches in. I might have to do this every year.

Currants

Last fall I pruned the currant bush back to seven branches like it is supposed to be done. The bush is full of little blossoms. Looks like a good crop coming on this year.

Duck couple update

For the past several years a pair of mallard ducks have visited my neighborhood. I do not know how long mallards live but I contend that this is the same couple every year. I refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. Duck.

I saw Mr. and Mrs. Duck Sunday as I was riding my bike. I noticed that Mr. Duck had a fishing line with weights trailing behind him. I was able to step on the line and it came free. I do not know if the hook is still in him but he was able to quack away so I hope he is okay.

2016 siting
2014 siting

My National Endowment for the Arts story

I thought I would make this whole NEA thing personal.

When I graduated from college in 1981, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was under attack by the new president, Ronald Reagan, an actor. It was saved from the cutting block because friends of the president convinced the administration that the NEA actually provided "benefits". Click Wikipedia link.

I majored in Economics in college and did a lot of theatre both on- and behind- stage. After graduation, I wanted to work as an administrator in a regional or major theater. Because of the threats to the NEA. no theater in the country was hiring. I still have the stack of rejection letters.

The economy was in desperate conditions in 1981. The mortgage interest rate was in double digits. Finding any job was difficult. I did eventually get hired as a Washington, DC congressional and legislative liaison for a Midwest manufacturing company.

Less than five years into my "career" as a congressional/legislative liaison I started working part-time at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. I worked both for manufacturer and Arena Stage jobs for a period of time until Arena was willing and able to hire me for full time.

That was the start of my career in theater. By then the NEA was back on solid footing and theaters were expanding and hiring once again. Because of funding from the NEA and associated state and city arts organization, I had a very successful career as a theatrical stage manager. Theaters were creating companies of actors and designers.

Guthrie Theater 1987

I eventually made it to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where I still live and OWN A HOME that I purchased while working at the Guthrie. Because the NEA is funded, many artists I know are making a living, buying homes and raising families.

The NEA that lead to my success was not elitist...was not wasteful.

A slight modification and an hour in the sun

A slight modification to the trashcan hang out. Turn over and just stick one's head in.

Gorgeous sunshine. Uno loves the sun. Back porch sunshine time.

Oh, Mr. Man

This started yesterday as far as I can tell. Though the flipped over trashcan may now have an explanation.

I did take him out but he just jumped right back in.

In this photo you can actually tell what is in the trash. When he is asleep, he is so curled up you don't know where his head or tail or whatever is.

And yes, there is trash in the trash can.