Bee balm and the bee

I was working on the deck, which is glorious when the weather is nice, before it gets nasty hot and humid and the mosquitos find you. The birds were so comfortable that they came to the deck even with me there. This year, for the first time, a catbird comes to the deck. A catbird is a distinguished grey and black and it makes a sound like a cat in trouble. Finally it was so ridiculously lovely that I brought my camera out with me. 

I worked on the business and I resigned from the board of the Women’s Caucus for Art. I felt guilty and disappointed because I said I would do it and I wanted to do it, but I have demonstrated to myself that I am at my emotional and cognitive limit with hunting for jobs that aren’t there and starting a business. It isn’t a lack of time because you change priorities (who needs exercise or fun?) and you have time, it was that there wasn’t sufficient emotional and cognitive reserve to throw myself into the WCA. She was so incredibly gracious and I resigned in time, before I was leaving her in a lurch. When I happily agreed we thought I had secure employment. 

I have so much appreciation for my business partner. SO MUCH. I absolutely could not do this without him and he is, bless him, as driven as I am. 

Ukrainian drones hit a military logistics hub on a railway line. They destroyed at least three railway fuel tankers. 

Russia and Ukraine had another prisoner swap. Each side exchanged 303 soldiers today, following the release of 306 combatants and civilians yesterday and 390 on Friday. 

Ukraine tried to kill Putin in his helicopter with drones as it flew over Kursk last week. Ukraine may have known about the clandestine trip, which suggests good intel. Putin did not engage with Russians angry at losing their homes due to the war. 

There was a Russian couple who were outspoken in their opposition to Russia invading Ukraine in 2014 and they were told if they didn’t like it they could leave. They did. They moved to Ukraine and set up a farm. Then Russia attacked Kyiv. They decided to become informants for Ukraine. The husband got caught. After weeks in captivity he confessed. Russia released him two days later. They have no idea why. Their best guess is that they were under surveillance. They sold their livestock and found homes for their dogs and left. They made it to Lithuanian. The Ukraine army sent them a letter of thanks to help support their request for asylum.