July 3 - john and joyce just received a new email from Basso in Benin, West Africa. As usual, they would like to share his email with you:

"Hi John, Joyce, and the Tuckmeister

It is commonly said worldwide that flooding and heating on the earth is due to global warming. It is sure lack of water in electricity dams,or flooding in Benin are some consequences of that warming. Extremes in weather are reigning in Europe also: countries under floos in the northern part (Romania, Poland,…) and forests burning under the sun in the southern one (Italy, Greece…) I cannot yet believe we are going toward the end of the earth. There is still so much to do.
Concerning the floods, I did not loose any item. My habitation is in the suburbs of Cotonou. I am fairly on height and safe from floods. In 1991, it rained heavy and water came until my compound front, but did not enter in it. It lasted about 2 weeks and flew away.
About Moslem terrorists, I don’t understand why one can be so stupid. You are told that if you blast yourself you can go to heaven. And the man who said that to you stay in life on the earth Why does not he want to go to heaven and want to sending you over there? There is stupidity under blasting oneself. We heard and saw on the TV that they almost bombed off some discotechs and other restaurant in London. They did not succeed. God was there.
I watched some picture of zenpond ; wonderful, an actual fairyland. I also watched the man fishing with a foggy atmosphere: amazing. I copy the information on zenpond in Kansas newspaper. I will read them soon.
Take care and Bye.
Basso"

July 5 - Here is a composite photo of last night's fireworks:

July 5 PM - Yesterday morning a photostylist and a photographer spent 3 hours photographing zenpond for several magazines.

Tonight john and joyce went to the New Theatre Restaurant to see a preformance of "Oklahoma". john thought it would be the same old tired show, and he wasn't looking that much to attending. Was he wrong! The rendition at the New Theatre ended with a standing ovation. It is a fabulous show. If you live in Kansas City, try not to miss it. It will probably be a sold out show, so try now to get tickets!

john and joyce are still receiving compliments about the article in the Kansas City Star FYI section on June 23rd (see last month's journal entries) . Here is one they just received today:

Hi John and Joyce,

Pat

July 8 -

John and Joyce,

How proud I am of you! Thank you for the article and the news that a national mag is coming to cover your project. I've always thought it deserved broader recognition than just the neighbors, a couple visiting bikers, and the local theater population. I love the pun on the article's title - Om Sweet Ommm!.

Congratulations! You guys are my landscaping heroes. I would try to equal your efforts and successes but I don't need a double hernia at this stage You both are awesome!!! Which national publication are you involved with (if you are allowed to share) so I can monitor. ["Water Gardens" magazine, "BEHR" Paint's general library, and some possible magazine covers. When is unknown, but they will be posted on this website, of course.]

Gary [San Antonio]

July 10 -

Joyce and John,

What a great article! You should be very proud of all of your hard work. We've been in Colorado so we've just now had a chance to see the article. We were both excited! It's so nice when hard work and beauty are honored. We think of you often and miss seeing you. Take care.

Suzanne & Gary [Grain Valley, Missouri]

Time is running fast and we have been busy sending Sofie to Sydney, AUS where she will study the next semester. She has arrived, rented an apartment, found the university and is now waiting for her Danish friends to arrive and to begin the introduction program.

Mads is busy with his job, and Lise began her summer vacation last week.

Thank you so much for the letter with the article from the newspaper. Impressing what you have achieved in your backyard.

We are just about to go to Jutland for a few days to celebrate my birthday (63) together with my father (97). We will be back on Tuesday next week.

Yours

Lise and Ulf [Copenhagen, Denmark]

summer '07

john/joyce:

wow! ....we cannot get over the time and effort you have put into your accomplishment....and what results!...the new's photos have given a look-see into what you have done....but no doubt they cannot adequately give a true panoramic view unless on is there in person

you ain't nuts!....nor did you create a monster....all one has to do is to realize that people all over do various endeavors for the sheer love and joy of doing....no matter what the toil/sweat/money

don't know if you sent article to my bother chris....if not....will send this one (to be returned!)

we showed the article to several of our condo neighbors....and on said: "let's bring him down here and have him do our grounds"....your fame has spread!

thanks for the article....just great!....hope this finds you both well and happy

love

sam and kay [Naples Florida]

Dear Joyce and John,

Spectacular! The Zenpond is a beautiful work of art. I admire your imagination and hard work. Mary and I are so pleased that you thought of us to send that page. We are sharing it with our neighbors. We think we have done a great job just to get grass to grow. If we were still living in St. Louis, we would barge in on you and take a look first hand --- a long look. Again, thanks for thinking of us. We hope in your travels you will head out this way. We would so much love to see you.

Sincerely, Chris [Columbia, South Carolina]

P.S. Let us know about the magazine so we can pick up a copy.

July 27 - john and joyce have turned the house upside down looking for the nice note from Frank and April about the article on zenpond. They have concluded that, somehow, the note went out with the trash last week. So instead of printing the note, john has decided to say a little about Frank and April themselves.

john and Frank were in Anchorage together in 1964 at Elmendoff Air Force Base. They lived in the same BOQ along with Gary (mentioned several times in this journal), another John, and Tom. There were others, but these five guys would travel around Alaska in Tom's new Ford Mustang convertible together. Then, the road to the main ski area was called the Seward Highway (now that road is called "The Old Seward Highway".) They drove Alaska Highway Number 1 the most because it was one of the few to travel on.

Frank was very tall, thin, and wore glasses. He worked in a very classified area, and sometimes was very nervous. It was the height of the cold war.

April, whom he met years after Alaska, is a very talented writer. john and joyce love to read anything she has written. She is a very interesting person!

Frank and April live in Tijeras, New Mexico. john and joyce had dinner with Frank and April in Albuquerque's Old Town a long while back before they moved to Tijeras. john and joyce would love to visit them sometime in their "new" home in the mountains.

Recently, Frank lost an eye when a piece of metal flew into it while he was working in his garage. He would be the first to tell you the importance of wearing safety glasses.