Vanilla, Aviv is growing like a weed! It is fun to see his mind develop with him being so curious.

Sachiko, your hospital corridors are very familiar, look just like ours! I'm so glad you are back with us and feeling so much better

Bubble, Aviv is certainly not a baby, not a toddler anymore! He looks very self-confident!

Bubble. Now do those fires burn during the Day.  it looks very close to the cars. Looks like it would be better on a Cold day but then could not picnic.  He sure looks well prepared. Getting so big. Are schools now closed for the summer break.  Where were you when this was happening?

The bonfires are usually at night and for the whole night.  This one was outside the kindergarten, for those younger kids and thus not so late.  Once the fire is les fierce, they throw foil wrapped potatoes and onions in it and have a feast once they are done.  Of course their faces are all blackened after that!

Schools close on June 30 until Sept 1st.

I did not go out that night: smell of smoke is overwhelming all over town.  The firemen are driving around all the time, watching...

I remember Guy Fawkes day in UK Growing up. We also would keep the bonfires going all night. Always on the lot next to my Grandmothers house. She would make the treacle and Black beans.  We never wrapped our potatoes and onions. Just threwNo them in the fire. (Doubt there was foil paper back then) . At least not on cheap rolls like now.
Like everything else I believe that now there are laws about having big bonfires in UK.  Have to get a special License as building are not so close together. Cars parked on the streets.

We used to have bonfires going in the summer during Golden Days, the 4th and the Solstice but since the drought beginning in 2004, even trash burning has been outlawed with hefty fines and jail sentences.

You cannot even go up a river and have a campfire burning on a sandbar without finding a permit. We live amidst a huge arboreal forest in the Interior and earlier fires have been devastating. Six million acres in 2015 and "The latest acreage estimate for the Medfra Fire as of late Wednesday night was 10,488 acres. The fire is burning approximately 50 miles northeast of McGrath and is actually two fires that have merged into one. The Medfra and Berry Creek fires, both of which started a few miles apart on Sunday as a result of holdover fires from 2015, merged sometime Tuesday night."

We have sixty holdover fires burning fom 1015.

One good foil wrapped supper has always been placing potatoes, carrots and squash slices and placing them on the edges of that campfire, while cooking the fish or meat on that fire.

Our school year has always been Labor Day through Memorial Day, but I think the University graduates get out earlier.

angelface, thanks a lot for your comment. I'm very happy I can post my photo here.

These are hydrangeas in my garden.

Sachiko the Hydrangeas are beautiful.  Hope you are able to spend more time in that beautiful garden of yours.

Beautiful flowers, Sachiko!  I've heard what you put in the soil to make them blue but what do you use to get the lavender color?  Maybe now they are hybrid .... I answered my question with a Google search. I have never grown them but will think about it for next year.  Your photos are so sharp & pretty color, I am always curious which camera, phone or pad each uses.  I still only think camera when I want to take a photo. 

I had to go back a page to see that darling grandson, Bubble.  He is growing so fast, same with my gr-grandson the same age (I think). Is he good with the various phones & pads & computers... mine uses one like an old timer, I just sit & watch in awe.   

Interesting holiday....  I think one of the things my oldest son enjoys most is the evening bonfire when out camping.  When the boys were 12 & 14 and I took them out to the mountains they would chop wood all day for the fire.  Back then (40+ years ago) dead trees in the campground would be marked with an orange tag that could be cut down.  They learned the safe way & still love to sit by a fire but now we buy the logs from the camp hosts... they don't want carried in wood because of bugs (at least that is the excuse). 

Jack, Shirley, thank you very much for your comments.
It is Smartphone of Docomo that I use recently. But I have Canon EOS, Canon G7X, too.

Sachiko, those hydrangeas are so pretty.  So glad you are posting again.  You were missed very much.  Larry and I never had much luck with hydrangeas in the past, but the two we inherited here at our new home are very healthy and good colors.

This link shows my "backyard." I live just to the upper right of this small park right at the edge of town. You can see a bit of the foothills that surround the town and help keep out the bad weather and moisture.
They rarely turn the fountain on anymore except for holidays and special events.

http://fairbanksalaska.com/goldenheart

Sachiko, I agree with all comments on your pictures of hydrangeas.

angelface, what a beautiful park you live by!!  I like your "backyard".

Good morning!

Jean, Sato, thank you very much for your comments. I am very happy I can post my photo here.
I took a lot of photo of the cherry blossoms in the hospital during my hospitalization. And I took the photos of the flowers in my garden in various ways after having left the hospital. Therefore I can make those videos. I’ll make those videos soon. 

Patricia, great view, would love to have it outside my window.

Ah, Patricia, that is a gorgeous view.  One of my brothers spent time in Fairbanks, he was working on the ecology changes caused by the pipeline.  My other brother was stationed at the base in Anchorage.  A cousin owned a trucking fleet from CA to Fairbanks.  As you know, Alaska is the main place I've wanted to travel to, before my husband died he suggested I take our daughter & go on a tour.  But that is not what I've dreamed of, I want to live it & drive the whole way.  Sadly, probably won't happen but will not give up that dream.  Bought the 2nd new RV in hopes but too many problems between here & there.  I met a lady online that spent about 2 & 1/2 months traveling from their home in eastern lower states to Alaska, that's what I would consider "ideal".  Love your view & love seeing what you see.  Thanks!

I didn't get much sleep last night... maybe 2 hours... so am ready to try to do better tonight.  Got lots of jobs done & just remember one I forgot.... to turn off the pool pump!  Better run before it gets too dark~

That is a beautiful view.

Shirley, I spent nine days in Alaska in 2006 and loved it.  It wasn't as nice as traveling around on my own but it was the only way we could see the state.  We started at Anchorage, drove to Denali, then to Fairbanks, down to Valdez and back to Anchorage.  We stayed more than one night in most places.  It rained daily but that didn't stop us.  We were not able to see Denali, but we were in the area.  Jim did take a helicopter ride up there, but it was not visible from that location.  I think tours allow you to see some places that individuals might not have access to.  Anyway, I loved it.

Mary Ann

Good afternoon, it has been raining, but now the sun is trying to come out. Still a little cool, in the 60's

Sachiko, good to see you looking so well. When I lived in southampont, NY   we had wistaria growing acroos the front porch. I now live in a mobile home, but at 92 I cannot get out and garden like I use too.  My hydrangea bush did not do well through the winter, it looks kind of sad.  Maybe I should just cut it back.

Jack, Jessie is a beutiful dog. My son use to have one that looked like your Jessie,

Shirley, my husband gave me and azalea for Mother's Day 32 years ago.  It came in a small pot, now it is beautiful and it is taller then me.  that is not saying much as I am 4.10 

Patricia the view you have is just beautiful, and I love the clouds formation.

Bubble, Avivi is growing into such a young man.

Lindancer, thank you very much for your kind comment. The care of the flower becomes great when we get old. I take the photo of flowers and become able to post it here, and I think happily.

　While I spent time for heart failure in my bed, the rose in my garden, the Princess Marguerite has grown so much.

Sachiko, a beautiful rose.  It is so nice to have you back with us.

Sachiko, such a pretty rose.  Does it have much scent?

Mary Ann

A beautiful rose.  Are they the roses used for your Rose jam?

Sachiko, happy to see you are back and I hope you feel better and better each day.....trish

Jack, Mary Ann, Jean, SnowWitch, thank you very muh for your comments.

Jean, It is Crimson Gglory of the red rose that I cook jam.
But a flower does not bloom as I plant it in my garden in Fukuyama from Yokohama this year.

SnowWitch, thank you very much! I was not able to post my photo here as three months, but I can post it now and I am very happy.

Sachiko, I remember those photos, so beautiful! And I remember because we both have the same china pattern.

angelface, thank you very much for your comment. Is that so? This is tea set made of Royal Albert in England. I have some tea sets, but use this set when I give rose jam.