Yes, it's that time of year again... we are heeding the call of the great outdoors! You can leave us messages in the comments below (although we probably won't read them until we get back), or, even better...

If you're reading this between July 7th and July 16th, here's your big chance to make our day at camp!

Call the North of Highland Camping Area office and ask the very nice folks there to leave us a note on the camp message board, which is also a big thrill. That number (good from July 7th through the 16th or so) is 508/ 487-1191, and office hours are pretty much all day with the exception of meal breaks from noon-1pm and again from 6-7pm. Folks who leave us messages go DIRECTLY to the top of my postcard-writing list. #JustSayin

(The message board at camp on a good day)

Even if you don't have a chance to send a message our way, we know we can count on you to send warm and sunny thoughts... right? And a special thanks to the excellent neighbors who are keeping watch on our little house until we get back.

(I'll still be writing at least one haiku each day,

but won't be able to post them while we're gone.

Watch this space for "haiku-palooza" 

once we return!)

late night watering —

vinca and moonshadow

drinking it in

independence day —

building a chosen family

when the first one fails

red-winged blackbird —

knowing our song sounds broken

and singing anyway

Photo: CountryMouse13, Flickr

new summer haircuts —

the girl I met at Pride

invites me home

finding the ocean

in a field of tall grass

on a windy day

leftover sunshine

still warming the back of my neck —

last day of June