4/18-21/23 I went up to Camp Serendipity for four days: Tuesday through Friday.

I arrived at 11:50. The weather was cool and dry. I brought my gear up in two trips using the trusty Trapper Nelson for the second one. I hoisted the flag, then had my lunch and a nap.

Next, I hung up the beautiful painting Marilyn painted. I hung it in several places in the cabin to see which looked best. After consulting with Ellen, I hung it in the corner in the place of the landscape I had painted.

I spent most of the afternoon practicing the piano and was dismayed that I had lost so much. Some of it had come back but half of it was still missing.

On Wednesday the temperature outside when I got up was 20 degrees and the sky was sunny. I walked to the school-bus turn around so that I could send the pictures of the painting options and get Ellen's concurrence. When I returned, I practiced the piano until the phone rang. It was Robert and we had a fairly long conversation. Then I went back to the piano and continued relearning the repertoire.

Next, I went outside and checked the irrigation, and it was running and dripping fine. Paul, Runty, Dan, and Brian, we're all getting water. Then I splinted the break in Ellen, after straightening the stem as best I could, using a stick and two pieces of string. Then I went in for my lunch and a nap.

I spent the rest of the afternoon working at the piano.

On Thursday morning it was 20 degrees outside. It was also my birthday. I got a call from Dave first thing, and we had a great conversation. Then I practiced the piano.

I had told Ellen about my splinting of the tree, and she had advised me that I should not have used string but strips of cotton cloth instead. So, I made some strips of cotton cloth and went outside and re-splinted the broken tree. Then I measured and recorded the height and bushiness of all 11 Sequoia trees as I do each year on or near my birthday. Then I went in the cabin and had my lunch and a nap.

Just as I woke up, Bill called to wish me a happy birthday and we had a great conversation. Then just for exercise I walked to Eunice Henry's grave and back. On the way I met Barb who was driving home, and we had a nice chat. I also saw a large flock of Robins that were busy digging in the ditch on one side of the road and flying back and forth to a pond of water on the other side of the road. I suppose they were finding something to eat. Then as I got back to the cabin, I saw two big Raptors flying overhead and as I watched I saw that there were at least five of them. I got my cell phone out and was confused on when the video was running and not, so I didn't get the videos I wanted. All told there must have been 10 of the birds circling from near the ground to very high. I think they might be red tailed hawks or eagles, but I can't be sure.

Paula called me in the evening to wish me a happy birthday and we had a long conversation, mostly about health problems.

On Friday morning the temperature outside was 30 degrees and there was about 1 inch of new snow on the ground. I practiced the piano and was encouraged that the pieces are coming back-- not all of them, but I can sort of play about half of them. I listened to the radio for a while and then packed up and left for home at 12:40. My recovery, especially my memory, is a little slower than I would like but at least things are getting better. It was a fun week.