@whatever2013, I hope your friend Lynne feels a little better, soon. I assume she is still with us? I am a little confused about that. Kidney issues are hard. I know I have to be vigilant about mine, which are somewhat damaged.

@BethRags, I sure wish there was an easier way for those fires to be put out. I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but there have also been severe forest fires in southern Europe. It's horrible and also related to the extreme heat they've been experiencing there (see Italy may have registered Europe'''s hottest temperature on record - BBC News). Yes, global warming is no joke, as I know you agree. I hope your kitty feels a little better.

@Nammu, birch trees are my husband's absolute favorite trees. He has talked about them so often over the years. They were also my mother-in-law's favorite tree and are common in Czech Republic. In fact, his parents' ashes were planted by the favorite one on his sister's property (their long-time summer home). I think that will also be where my husband (and some of myself) eventually rests. In Czech, birch trees are called "břízky". We even refer to our eventual demise as "When we go to the břízky."