The Hummingbird Summer

For the first time that I remember at Montgomery Ave, we've had hummingbirds in our yard over this summer - since early July, after hanging a simple feeder outside the kitchen window.  By late August, we were up to 3 different tiny birds (I don't know what species).  It's fascinating to watch them, and our neighbor Crystal was inspired to get a feeder as well.  As a bonus, we spent a day at Lake Skaneateles and saw many swooping around the Warner cottage where there are 3 feeders.  Unlike the past few summers which were stormy, we had a dry summer with a few heat waves.  Voluntary water restrictions are now in place.  Around the country & world, extreme weather patterns and full-scale disasters like flooding are a serious problem - so far, we've had no dramatic changes here in the northeast, but it's getting steadily warmer.  Here are three pictures Steve took at home through the kitchen window.

I like to believe it's still summer though mid-September, but there are signs of wind-down....   😒 Haven't seen a hummingbird for a few days, so maybe they are moving south.  WA football games have begun - we can hear the loud-speaker from our house.  Labor Day is on Monday, we'll probably go to the Italian Festival at courthouse square in Scranton tomorrow.  I am making seasonal foods while I still can - tonight it's shish kabob on the grill and Aunt Ginny's blueberry pie.  (I made an extra pie, and brought some to Daisy Court & Davenport Street this afternoon.  Delicious!)  

Here's an update on what happened in July & August.  

• Azec - Alex, you seem to generally like your job at the Azec Company, though aren't sure if you will stay in Human Resources long-term.  You have already taken on additional responsibilities and recently been promoted.  Yay!
• Sabatini's - Rob, you started as a busser and are now also a salad-maker.  You haven't complained in spite of the hard work, sometimes get to walk pizzas across the parking lot to the beer store/bar next door and are doing fairly well with tips.  Keeping your maroon red Sabatini's shirt stain-free is an uphill battle, but we do our best using lots of Shout.
• Maine vacation - On NCFE, Steve wrote a series of posts while we stayed in Cushing ME, near St. George where the Rivers family settled starting in the 1690's (including wonderful pictures, especially of sunsets over the bay).  Alex, you had recently begun your job at Azec and unfortunately couldn't join us.  Rob, it was great having you there.  You stayed in the bunk room with your cousins, which was fun although poorly ventilated.  One of my favorite memories is you calling bingo, very professionally & graciously.  You seemed to enjoy time with Noel, Larson, Luke and Grace - who read tarot cards for you.  Very interesting!  We also played croquet, some volleyball on Larson's olympics-themed 11th birthday and had evening campfires.  Many family chats - Grammie, Grandad, Aunt Julie & Mark, Aunt Di & Uncle Lawrence and Uncle John & Aunt Fran were there.  Also - lest we forget - there was Baby Bea who turned 1 in Maine.  Her "pterodactyl" screaming lived up to its reputation.  One special thing - we spent a day driving over to Benton, Maine where you had lunch and spent the afternoon with your friend Reece.  On the day of his 21st birthday!  wow!  Steve and I drove south on I-95 to Augusta during your Reece visit; it is quite simple for a state capital, likely we will not return.  Here you are with Aunt Julie's dog Blue.

• Santana Concert - Alex, you went to a Santana concert with Aunt Pam and her friend Dawn.  Carlos Santa certainly loves to perform, he and his band have had an amazing run since 1966 i.e., essentially all of my life.

• Rob's 20th Birthday - Rob, you quietly turned 20 this year.  We had a traditional Grace Rivers chocolate cake.  Your favorite gift seemed to be an Action Park t-shirt from Steve (you have learned much about this now defunct, but well-known amusement park in northern Jersey - and shared many interesting stories about its owner's philosophy, safety issues, lawsuits etc.).  In addition, while driving to/from and intra-Maine, you educated us on Henry Kissinger - an interesting figure who you do not admire.

• Lake Skaneateles - The three of us plus Taylor spent a Saturday visiting cousins Ellen, Dave & George at their cottage.  We had perfect weather.  Alex, I think you and Taylor enjoyed it most - fishing, swimming and jet skiing.  Plus we had a lovely boat ride up to the northern end of the lake.  Ellen is a great hostess, very generous in many ways.  I spent quite a while attempting to take hummingbird pictures with my phone, which is a challenge. 

• Kitty News - Aunt Pam got an adorable, tiny Siamese kitten Freddy (named for Frederic Chopin).  He is now getting along ok with Wolfie.  Alex, you and Taylor rescued sister & brother kittens - named Octavia & Raven.  You have 4 cats now, with Macie and Azula (!)  And Rob, you found a tailless, collarless gray kitty that came right up to you around midnight as you left work at Sabatini's last Friday.  You brought it home & the next day we went door-to-door in the neighborhood trying to find an owner.  We took him to the SPCA to get checked on Sunday morning (male - no chip), then shortly after Steve posted on the Luzerne County Lost Dogs & Cats Facebook page that we had a "found" cat, a lady from Exeter posted that she had a "lost" cat fitting the right description.  So 13-year old Momo - who we were told likes to lie on the sidewalk at nights - was re-united to his family.

• Sony's Playstation 5 -  This high-end game system came out in 2020 just after COVID-19 hit us all like a frying pan in the face.  Everybody wanted it, only the few and the very lucky could get it.  It costs more than $500 to start with, and for quite a while was selling for well over $1,000 on eBay.  This was supposed to be your 2020 Christmas gift, Rob.  Well just a couple weeks ago, Alex you discovered that Walmart has an on-line lottery which you can enter to be selected to be the fortunate buyer of a Playstation 5.  You won almost immediately, and told Rob about this great.  Rob, you then were able to find and order it shortly afterwards.  So, 2020 Christmas gifting is complete!!  The main difference you noticed so far is much quicker loading time; we have yet to get a Playstation 5 game to find out what the full-upgrade player experience will be.

• Yard Improvements - You know how Steve likes to keep busy.  He did a lot of landscaping work creating a border around the front porch using edging stones and decorative rocks.  And built a beautiful flagstone walk-way from the deck steps over to the driveway, using lots of colorful materials.  Very hot, sweaty work - and it looks fantastic!  As always, we have lovely flowers in front and in the back yard thanks to his effort and consistent watering.  And thanks to you, Alex, for keeping things watered during the Maine vacation.

• Swing State Politics - With the mid-term 2022 election coming up, it's amazing to me that Pennsylvania is getting "national" type attention yet again.  Last week, President Biden came to Wilkes University and gave a major speech (after which, Steve got stuck in traffic and it took 1.5 hours to get home from Wilkes-Barre).  Today, former President Trump had a rally at Mohegan Sun casino.  There are significant governor (Shapiro vs. Mastriano) and senate (Fetterman vs. Oz) races.  Lots of enthusiastic supporters are out on both Democrat & Republican sides.  This tent was set up in Forty Fort today.