High temperatures and humidity kept us in most of the month, except for Kay’s playing pickleball and golf, and family time, especially with the grandkids. I did manage to get out in our “yard” a few times for photographs.

The month kicked off on Saturday, July 1 with the annual Hot Springs Village Independence Day fireworks show in the evening. Kay and Pam witnessed the brilliant display of  “low explosive pyrotechnic devices.” Here’s her report the following day, “Beautiful fireworks at Lake Balboa in HSV last night.  Cool breeze too.  Very comfortable.  Happy 4th, everyone!”

A few dragonflies were feeding on Sunday, July 2, but I have been so “out of it” that I didn’t post process the photos until the writing of this blog; go figure! Here are a few of the results.

And then to our immense pleasure the Maumelle grandkids and parents came to visit that afternoon, and spent a couple of days with us. They had a ball at the beach and pickleball courts.

On Tuesday, July 4, we hosted an old friends cookout with hotdogs, etc. It is almost unbelievable that we’ve been in Hot Springs Village for 8 years. Perhaps that’s why we all look a bit older.

Kay, Pam, and a couple other ladies they knew flew to the Gulf coast for some fun and games at Beau Rivage on Wednesday, July 5, staying until Saturday, July 8. Kay needed and deserved a break after the intense month of June, but she may have left Beau Rivage empty-handed! 

On Tuesday July 11, a dragonfly, a butterfly, a female Northern Cardinal, a House Finch, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird were photographed. And, after only 8 years both the Frigidaire refrigerator and Frigidaire microwave oven have gone kaput. A new refrigerator was installed late in the afternoon. The microwave oven was installed on Friday, but the display is faulty and the microwave oven replaced again.

We drove to Memphis on Sunday, July 16, to visit Jenny and the grandkids. It’s the first time we’ve seen them in person since the Christmas holidays, and the grandkids have grown a bunch. I sure wish they were closer and circumstances more favorable to see them more often. They are growing up too fast and we’re getting old too fast!

Tuesday was sanother “yard” photography day. The same butterflies and dragonflies were photographed once again. At least I’m practicing a bit.

And also on Tuesday, I had a 6-weeks follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon. She seem pleased with the healing progress, and especially the gain in range-of-motion; she approved of my walking/hiking, sleeping in a bed, pitching a golf ball less than 100 yards and putting, and a few other physically light items. Most importantly, the sling was no longer required, and that was a big deal! Kay’s hand sewn Turkish rug was delivered on Friday.  It was even more beautiful than she remembered. She picked it from a sample rug at the Turkish rug factory near Ephesus when we were on our “Journeys of Paul”Mediterranean cruise.

More dragonfly photographs were made in the yard on Saturday, and the Maumelle bunch (kids and grandkids) came to visit over weekend.

It was beach day at Lake Balboa, then Granada Grill for dinner.  Sunday morning the kiddos played pickleball at Diamante for an hour plus; Ridge and Karyn are natural athletes and Aker was working hard to keep up despite her young age.

The last week of July was relatively quiet. Harper’s eleventh birthday was on Sunday, July 30—she’s growing up way too fast. 

My shoulder is healing well. As of Tuesday, July 25, I was 7 weeks out from surgery, with an estimated heal of 35%. Physical therapy at Village Golf and Physical Therapy—three times a week—is really good, and range of motion and strength are gradually returning. There has been little to no soreness (just a bit after PT). Except for not being able to return to normal activities outside, I’m doing well, occupying time by producing YouTube videos on our YouTube channel, DunnGone Travels.