How long before mutiny starts on the deployed US ships? Shall we remind them that the mutiny on the Battelship Potemkin in 1905 eventually took down the Russian tzar in the Russian Revolution?

Dear friends, I have great news! For Better or For Worse, the sequel of my memoir Mail-Order Family, is finally out. It's been a long time coming but like fine wine it only got better with time. If you are my fan, it's now available both on paper and Kindle on Amazon www.amazon.com/Better.../dp...?

4. Then of course, dogs and alpacas will catch my attention every time.

3. These two dandy gentlemen Corey and Vincent are from Snohomish, WA. They were just walking around like that at Kla Ha Ya Days. What were the chances to see two of them dressed like that on a random day? So, naturally, I had to take a photo with them.

2. This is Danielle from Arlington, WA who won me over with her "One Day at a Time" T-shirt. She wears it because her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer to remind her that one day at a time is what will get her through it.

July highlights: 1. This is Siobhan from West Seattle. She worked for USAID until Trump admin shut it down. She cried when that happened, it was so devastating. We cried again when I told her that USAID &her by extension, saved my life bc I was the beneficiary of USAID food assistance in Moldova.

2. But also other Kingston Market attractions like these dogs, and cherries, and out of this world croissant with hazel nuts from Olive Tree Bakery. Yum-yum.

1. My favorite photo from a weekend in Kingston. This is Brian, an IT specialist for World Central Kitchen. This NGO was one of the firsts to set up a kitchen at the beginning of the war in Ukraine to feed the fleeing refugees. They're still working there till this day and now in Gaza, as well.

Here is my backyard mama hen with one of her chicks. If you look closely, you can see a bunch of other little feet sticking underneath her in the back. She's got 7 of them, and they figured out yesterday that they can jump on mama, so if she lays down to rest, they are all over her. Cute, isn't it?

2. But by far my favorite person at the event was dancing grandma Elly. She's 96, though you can't tell by her moves. She went for a promenade with her daughter to buy books and other stuff at the market. May every day at our events be like this: fun and carefree.

1. It was the start of the season on Mother's Day at #KingstonMarkert, WA where good sons bought flowers and good daughters bought books for their mothers. The spring is finally here, folks.

There are wonderful cherry blossoms in my neighborhood (not Seattle) just in my neighbors' yards or nearby apartments. I enjoyed them every year.

3. But also what a treasure to discover that the Iranian music is also beautiful and soulful. Seriously, folks, get out of your bubbles and explore other cultures. You will be pleasantly surprised.

2. I also enjoyed the art of the wonderful Ukrainian artists and the beautiful Ukrainian music. Daisies, dahlias and lilac in these paintings reminded me of home but Easter Bunnies stole my heart.

1. Last weekend I went to two different events in one day. The Ukrainian celebration of Spring- Vesnyanka and Nowruz- the Persian New Year, organized by the Iranian community who is worried about the war in Iran. Check out the photo on the right with me and my UDS cossacks.

Unissued Diploma is a display of young Ukrainians who never got their diplomas because they were killed by the war.

These are people from 4 different countries (Poland, Iran, Lithuania, Canada) who came to support Ukraine too.

This is Anjelle (I hope I spelled her name right). She has no connection to Ukraine, no relatives or Ukrainian friends but she drove 2 hours to come to the march because Ukraine's fight for freedom is very important to her.

The war in Ukraine isn't over, so we gathered at its 4th yr anniversary in Seattle once again. It was pouring rain when we were setting up but then the skies miraculously cleared before the march. We thought in this weather only the diehards will show up, but we met a lot of new wonderful people.

And here are a few pets coming to the rally too. Democracy pets are the most beautiful animals.

This is Doug. He saw me with my sign and asked to take a photo with me because he's a cancer survivor, and as his doctors call him "a walking miracle" because they thought he'd never walk again. Yet, here he is still kicking 6 years after his diagnosis, coming out for a good cause.

This is Pat, a man of very few words, who was standing quietly in the crowd with an American flag wrapped around his shoulders. I asked him to take a photo with me because I thought it was very symbolic, and he agreed.

Last weekend at Seattle protest in memory of Renee Good killed by ICE I met the newly elected mayor of Seattle Katie Wilson. Now more than ever we need our elected officials to fight with us for our rights. I asked her to make us all proud, and she said she would try.

Marty Reisman was a real person. He wrote a memoir about his escapades in the 70s, that was now converted into a screen play. I met with his grandson Roger Reisman in June, y'all, who's also a writer. Photographic evidence: this is Roger, Martin Reisman's grandson who lives in Marysville, WA.

8. Followed by the Kitsap A Cappella choir (men group) serenading us.

7. And the grand finale - the Kitsap A Cappella choir (women group) serenading us.

6. Next are the cutest dogs called Coconut and Biscuit. Followed by visiting Santa.

5. These people just made me smile because they wore art, made by them or others, on themselves. The lady with the brown and orange cardigan crocheted it herself. As a knitter, I can attest, that's a masterfully done piece.

4. This is Pat Daly from @TheWoolyBird. Pat stumbled upon her talent to make birds from whool 8 years ago. She later expanded to making other animals too. Aren't they adorable?

3. Yet, there is light. This is Denise Johnson from Painted Petals Design Studio. She's a florist from Paulsbo, WA, turned painter 4 years ago. She's also a small farmer, and many animals in her paintings are animals from her farm. Just amazing talent. Follow her on Instagram @denise.johnson.79069!