Once school was out, the days long and warm feeling definitely like summer, Aspen and ‘the boys’ came up for a visit. Instead of flying she decided to drive their ID 4 (all electric - I think she’s so brave!). Julian asked his friend, Cash, to come along as Elliot felt like staying behind in Fort Bragg and hanging out with his dad. So, Aspen, Julian, Cash and Rigby drove up and stayed with us for 10 days. What a fantastic adventure!  The weather was perfect for outdoor activities and surprisingly we seemed to find enough of the right foods to keep us all happy and satisfied…!

Aspen and the boys come for a visit! 

June 9th was the day we were all anticipating - graduation day for Elliot! It was a joyful celebration, quite emotional, but Elliot truly rose to the occasion of being the centre of all our attention! 

Jim and I left home a week prior. This gave us a chance to visit with my cousins Janet and Russ in Murphys overnight, the next day hike up to Harry’s plaque in Calistoga, then the next day have breakfast with our long time friends, John and Paula in Ukiah before heading further north and west to Fort Bragg. We spent the next few days helping Aspen and Jeremy get ready for more company arriving - Jeremy’s mom Nancy, his sister Megan, niece Chloe (from Kansas City) and Aspen’s aunt and uncle, Jenny and Mike (from Seattle). On Friday, the excitement of the graduation ceremony peaked! It was a moving ceremony, well done with lots of opportunity for several students to speak and share thoughts, reflections and possibilities for their futures. The ceremony was outside, with the air calm and the sky blue. Elliot was happy (as were all of us!) to have reached this pivotal point having accomplished what he did. 


A few days after we got back to Victoria we were honoured to attend our friend, Felipe’s convocation confirming his achievement in receiving his PHD designation in Geography. What an amazing achievement (plus being a dad, husband and working as a consultant all the while)! 


June is a busy month in our garden. Things are gradually growing, but since it’s been cool and windy not quite as far along as we’d hoped by this time. We still have months ahead of us - no worries!

June - Graduation month! 

This event was organized by my niece Cicilie primarily to introduce her new husband to her west coat Gildersleeve relations. She and Andy were married in Hawaii last December and live in Australia. Planning this trip to California and this get together took some coordinating. It was a wonderful reunion for all of us, and such a joy to meet Andy. Darcy and Nate generously hosted the party at their place in Benicia. There were about twenty three of us. We missed Larkie,  Anna, Bill, Miles (and his wife Christina), who all live in Boston. Cicilie and Andy travelled there the next day, for more celebrating! 


Where the path takes us!

‘Gildersleeve’ get together in Benicia, California

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Aspen and the boys come for a visit!

June - Graduation month!