Remembering James GreigFebruary 13, 1938 a" June 15, 2011"That's how we do it here down on thefarm." This was a frequent comment ofJames when we were all outside. James wasa creature of habit and order, and shared hisawareness of nature around us. We couldcount on him for the overnight rain gaugereport. Our paper would be at the doorfollowing his morning dog walk. The vegetablegarden was laid out exactly the sameevery year, with plenty of pumpkins for thechildren of friends. One memorable annualevent was the fall harvesting of corn stalksafter all the corn had been picked. Thehorses and goats would line up at the fenceline, waiting for James' white truck loadedwith cornstalks. a John & Janet, dear friends and neighborsWe've been friends since 2nd grade even though we went our separate ways for afew years. He loved the outdoors. He taught me about nature and told me the nameof every tree when we went hiking. I loved to sit at the top of the meadow with himin the late afternoon sun with the dogs or down at the pond. I know his presencewill be on his property for a very long time. a Gary, childhood friend"Oh, if you could have seen him strut his stuff on the beach in his Speedo! Hehad quite the body." a Sandy at the Burton StoreChickens, gardens, dogs, his kids and grandkids and his pond. These are the loveshe shared with me. He was a generous host for weddings of friends and strangerswho were not strangers for long. The neighborhood is different now. He grew greatcorn! a Karen, friend and neighborJim had a vision of how to arrange things a" plants, rocks, wood. He would try tofind things around the farm that could be reused or recycled before buying newmaterials. He created his own little paradise and shared it with everyone whodropped by the farm. a Terry, son-in-lawIt is hard to put in a few words everything James has meant to me over all theseyears. We knew each other in our high points and our low points and our friendshipnever faltered. He was good to all his friends and he gave everyone a chance.a Tom, best friendMy dad's farm was a great meeting place. My kids knew that when we went there,they would not only see their grandfather, but most likely cousins, aunts, uncles,other relatives and great friends and neighbors. My pancakes are always critiqued asnot as good as grandpa's a" his breakfast was obviously legendary. For fun, we wouldtalk politics, but never for long as my love of Fox News was different than dad's.Westerns we could agree upon. I would often discuss sports with him while sittingin San Diego traffic. The rides are much longer now. a Mike, sonMy dad found his place on Vashon Island. He was connected with the island'snatural beauty, slow pace, simple pleasures, and gracious residents. My family andI also came to love Vashon during our annual summer visits. Dad was a wonderfulhost and each visit he introduced us to new people and places around the island.He and I would walk around the farm looking at his latest additions and plantings,making plans for future improvements.For my children, summer means a trip to grandpa's farm. As they grew up, theirgrandpa taught them how to feed the chickens and collect the eggs, pick the fruitsand veggies in the garden, and build the nightly fire. Everyone looked forward tograndpa's power breakfasts - lots of bacon, farm fresh eggs, and the best pancakesever.Whenever I arrived at the farm I would find a freshly cut rose in the vase at thecabin, a special welcome from my dad. Our visits always seemed to be over too soon.Too soon is how I feel now. a Kathie, daughterPlease join family and friends by the pond on Sunday, July 17, anytimebetween 1:00 and 5:00, to share your memories and stories of James.