The first half of August was without fanfare, as we stuck to our normal routine. Church on Sunday for the both of us, physical therapy on Monday for me, pickleball on Tuesday for Kay, golf on Wednesday for Kay and physical therapy for me, pickleball on Thursday for Kay, physical therapy on Friday for me, and pickleball on Saturday for Kay.

Also, we had duplicate bridge tutoring sessions with the Seitz’s every other Thursday evening. Sue, Kay’s longtime friend, came for a vision on August 13 and 14, and they enjoyed a trip down memory lane with a visit to their hometown, Morrilton, on Monday, August 14.  I made it out in the “field” to make photos on August 1, 10, 12, 13, and 15.

On Tuesday, August 1, the butterfly garden at the Woodlands in Hot Springs Village provided the outdoor studio for photographing a few butterflies. Three species presented themselves: Hoary Edge and two species of skippers.

I walked the Beaver Dam Trail in Hot Springs Village on Thursday, August 10, the first walk since surgery on June 7. Photography subjects were few and far between—mostly dragonflies, but some butterflies and flowers.

Saturday, August 12, proved to be pretty special. Good friend Dan took me to a place I haven’t visited in three years, and it was full of blooming Thistle, the bane of cattlemen and women, but a good pollinating plant. A couple days earlier, he visited the area and discovered a plethora of White-lined Sphinx moths. It didn’t take long to make some decent photographs. And some butterflies got into the action as well. It was a spectacular day, and I’m very grateful to Dan for his friendship.

He took me out again on Tuesday, August 15, for a “shoot” at Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area. Again, he guided me to one of his favorite places to shoot our target species, the American Rubyspot damselfly. They were in abundance, and other damselfly species were there as well. In addition, we photographed a few butterflies and dragonflies. That trip proved to be the last photography for the month of August.

While the last month of August was pretty routine, there were a few items of consequence. We were blessed to host a couple of grandkids on Saturday and Sunday. We had a really good time with Ridge and Aker. They especially liked the pickleball early Sunday morning.

And Sunday, August 27, was also my 74th birthday. We did not celebrate due to other activities, but we’ll get around to it soon. The biggest item was the 12-week post-op visit with the ortho folks. I was given permission to do most anything I wanted to do except to lift heavy items above my shoulder. I was released from intense physical therapy and I do not have to return to the ortho folks for a follow-up visit. The PA said to consider myself released after another 6 weeks, and I could do basically anything I wanted. And then on Thursday, August 31, Kay, Pam and I attended a great play at Murray’s Dinner Playhouse.