Josh, while valiantly trying to find key documents, pay bills and handle finances, found this photo of Bruce and suggested I post it for you.

Dark hair! thought I when I first saw it. I do believe I took this in front of my place the very first time Bruce visited for Christmas. Liz Kohan can post the year they came -- when was that?

Pensive Norwegian.

Every day since Bruce went to the hospital and then hospice, I watch the changes. This week he has changed from eating chewable foods to soft foods to fasting and today, just taking a bit of liquids. 'From working hard to talk, to listening, to turning his attention inward.

Bruce has had just over one full year since his cancer diagnosis -- treatment, preparing, travel, visits, connecting with friends. He would say he's right on schedule -- the weather and landscape turned to autumn. The moon waxes toward full. ~CDorschner

Bruce'sSuperMoM

I hate to put a new post in front of Josh's most excellent "vanity fare." (But I just spoke to him, and I do know he's got another good news post yet to come.)

However, yesterday, Bruce's brother, Arden, sent photos that beg to be shared with friends of Bruce.

One week ago today, the same day that Bruce moved into hospice care here in Williston, Bruce and Arden's mom, Joan Parfitt, moved into an "assisted living" residence near Arden and his family. Bruce and Arden made it possible for their mom to move there. Joan, who is 89, is undergoing chemotherapy as Bruce did for much of the past year.

You can see by these photos that Joan's new place is cozy and filled with stuff that makes her happy -- including photos of Bruce's land (on the wall) and the last photo I took of Bruce as he received the extraordinary wool quilt made by Joan and finished with the help of her good friends in Oshkosh.

Even those of you who don't know this incredible, strong and upbeat woman can't help but see the sparkle in her eyes and will recognize Bruce in her face.

Tonight when my spouse Steve Mease and I visited Bruce, the nurse said that she and Arden were going to try to arrange for Joan to talk to Bruce again this eve.

While Bruce may no longer be seeing this blog-gathering-place of his friends or reading your messages himself (I now read them to him). I know that Joan Parfitt would be mightily uplifted by your cards and letters saying you are a friend of Bruce.

Drop her a line, a favorite memory of Bruce or a wish for her, Arden, his wife Katie and their family:

Joan Parfitt

206 North Main Street

DeForest, Wisconsin 53532

~CDorschner

Finally completed...and...a tradition

Today, after two days of planning and thinking about how best to install a vanity in Bruce's basement bathroom...it's complete! It was a tricky installation, cutting around pipes (you might be able to see some in the photo) and designing a new drain that would fit to the vintage 1950s design that couldn't be entirely removed. Although imperfect because it's a very old bathroom with slanted floors and extremely hard cement walls it would please Bruce, I'm sure; and NO leaks!
The vanity had been sitting askew, partially assembled since my last visit to Vermont back during my spring break in March. Bruce was unable to finish it because of lack of strength and pain while moving his shoulder. However, I was happy to finish it during my short stay in Vermont (I looked forward to working on projects like these; the tile in this photo was something Bruce and I completed during Christmas break 2008 and the nearby kitchen with Sommer Schons during summer 2008).

Tonight, as a celebration I'm going to continue a tradition Bruce and I had when I visited: Moose 'hunting' near Eden, VT. Although he and I have only seen two moose all these times I've visited "Mooseberry Camp" (about 14 times total now) we kept trying and I'll cross my fingers that a bull moose will grace me with his presence tonight.

"I'LL NEVER FORGET"

'Just had one of those quirky "signs and wonders" experiences that will likely increase in the coming weeks. Years ago, Bruce became a fan of the music of my long-time folk- and shape-note-singing friends, the nationally known Vermont singer/songwriters MaryAlice & Peter Amidon. So for the past hour, I've been playing some of his favorites from "I'll Never Forget" on itunes here at Vermont Respite House hospice in Williston. I was about to give you all the link to their site, and in doing so, I see they've just published a book and in 2006 a CD called "Angels Hovering Round: Songs for Hospice and Healing." Just the thing for here and now. Perhaps some of their and their sons' music will speak to you too.

Josh Springer and I visited earlier today (a slightly livelier time of day), but I came back to see whether I could help Bruce have an 8 p.m. snack of chicken noodle soup, fruit, jello and juice. Progress. The great night nurse, Dan and I wrangled a pill into submission. I suppose that's more info. than y'all want to know -- fact is, the medical team is getting a little more creative with medications, switching as many as possible to liquid and tomorrow will talk about making some med. changes to keep Bruce comfortable.

We were all glad to see a cardinal with full plumage at the feeder today along with chickadees and ugly sparrows. The arrival of a squirrel to the feeder, certainly got a rise out of Bruce, as we discussed the possibilty of, er, shooting him from this side of the window. We were kidding! But, oh, oh, right after that, wafting our way was the strong smell of skunk!

Today Bruce heard emails and phone messages from Russy Rankin, Joan Korb, Kelly "Fox" Baran, Elizabeth Lee, Amanda Pullman and Mary Jansen. Appreciation.

YOUR EMAILS ETCETERA

Check out the photos sent yesterday from John Anderson of Arizona. I've attached them to the blog post of 9 August titled, Bruce Parfitt's Research is Still Informing Taxononomy

This week we also read and listened to messages from: Linda Reeves, Chuck Wade the Senior, Jean Denver, John Bellows, Denise Lange, Deb, Amanda Pullman, Art Gilman and Helen Jeude.

Thanks all.

Bruce had a good day today. He was hungry. And I read the August selection from Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac," which nicely paralleled Bruce's love of the "painting" done by the Lamoille River at his Mooseberry Camp. ~CDorschner

FEELS LIKE FALL

Hedges of goldenrod line the roadsides and skirt the woods -- they're huge this year. A convention of starlings rose in the cool blue sky, then settled on a long wire leading to this Respite House. The air turned chilly last night. It felt like the first day of autumn here in northern Vermont.

Bruce's windows are open most of the day bringing in the scent of some tall mint. Its white flowers reach right up to the two feeders. We can't believe our eyes when a bald male cardinal arrives at dusk (too embarrassed to feed in broad daylight). I say he's a cross between cardinal and vulture. I've parked Bruce's red Honda CRV within sight of this window. A rabbit sat at the edge of the garden below his window while I filled one of the feeders with fresh thistle seed.

Today we have the 1970 edition of "The Notebook" from Oshkosh High School. When Bruce wakes up I promise to tease him about how geeky he looks in his senior photo. Yesterday I found a little polaroid of him -- maybe pre-teen. His black plastic glasses and a plaid shirt are a little too much against the faux mortared stone wall!

Things have been quiet the past two days. More sleeping. Less eating. More oxy-drugs. When Josh and I were here last night, though, he polished off a decent supper of homemade quiche, fruit salad, jello -- there's always room or that -- and drinks. Folks here are such good care givers -- they even brought him a blanket patterned with log cabins, spruce, moose and cardinals (only these appear to have a crest and full feathers!) ~CDorschner

CHANGE OF PLACE, CHANGE OF VASE...

...of garden flowers (This week it's 'Limelight' hydrangea and pendulous fuchsia).

What a difference a day makes! Actually, the difference is Bruce's long awaited move, this morning from the hospital to the extraordinary atmosphere and caring kindness of Vermont Respite House in Williston, Vermont. (And it doesn't hurt a bit that Bruce set eyes on Josh Springer for the first time since spring.)

Before his arrival early this morning, I decorated his home-away-from-Mooseberry-Camp with fresh flowers, his favorite Eliot Porter poster, family photos, a crayon drawing Bruce did in 1963, an Algonquin Park moose crossing sign, the famous "Danger Bruce's Room" placard and photos of Leopold's Cabin, Horicon Marsh and Leopold's woods. Josh brought two original Parfitt paintings.

'Looks like home.

Is.

The Spruce man perked up at the action outside his window -- a bald cardinal(!), American goldfinches and various sparrows. There was a tussle and Josh scared a Cooper's hawk from under the feeder. ('Evidently looking for a snack!).

There was plenty of snacking on the room-side of the window too. Bruce tested the home cooking -- quiche, deviled egg, fruit salad for lunch -- somehow that beat out the Ensure. We talked, told stories on each other and laughed.

When Steve Mease stopped in to see Bruce in his new digs at about 6 p.m. He was sound asleep. We had wore him out, surely.

Bruce received a card and letter from Lisette Boss of California.

Tomorrow, he'll see this photo sent by Glen Susmilch of Vail, Colorado. I know, I know, all of you who did not know Bruce in 1974, when this photo was taken on New Year's Eve -- I hear you whistling (whit wheeoo!) Same mustache? He was a "looker." And check out the PLAID sport jacket. This was a dress-up event at 210 Jackson in Oshkosh b'gosh. Thanks Glen! ~CDorschner