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Job Update
24 May 2020 12:15Good news on the job front -- I'll be starting a new gig soon! So now I'll be spending the foreseeable future replenishing my savings! Sadly, this may have been the last time I could take time off to travel -- it's just an age thing, and I suspect that the next time I take time off will be to actually retire!
As usual for one of my "Sabbaticals", I'll do a summary to compare what it was like compared to previous times.
***
Walking at the park yesterday, I saw this (presumably) newly emerged dragonfly sitting on the side of a tree. At first, I didn't even realize it was a dragonfly because the wings were folded in, and he was arching his tail sharply. As I watched, he exercised his wings, and started crawling all over the tree. Here is a pic of a brief test flight. He's out of focus, but you can see his legs dangling.
Damselfly silhouette --
***
I've been reading a book called Roman Homosexuality. It's pretty dry, but I have an interest in things Roman, in Latin, and in LGBT subjects. I like to puzzle through the Latin on my own - realizing that I have forgotten most of my declensions and conjugations, and realizing that I have to look up a lot of the words.
You can see the author's translation in the picture below:
And here is my attempt. I was generally happy that my translation approximated the author's.
As usual for one of my "Sabbaticals", I'll do a summary to compare what it was like compared to previous times.
***
Walking at the park yesterday, I saw this (presumably) newly emerged dragonfly sitting on the side of a tree. At first, I didn't even realize it was a dragonfly because the wings were folded in, and he was arching his tail sharply. As I watched, he exercised his wings, and started crawling all over the tree. Here is a pic of a brief test flight. He's out of focus, but you can see his legs dangling.
Damselfly silhouette --
***
I've been reading a book called Roman Homosexuality. It's pretty dry, but I have an interest in things Roman, in Latin, and in LGBT subjects. I like to puzzle through the Latin on my own - realizing that I have forgotten most of my declensions and conjugations, and realizing that I have to look up a lot of the words.
You can see the author's translation in the picture below:
And here is my attempt. I was generally happy that my translation approximated the author's.
In the still of night, when a fair skinned boy was warmly hidden away, lying at my bosom,
My genitals were quiet, nor did my lazy old penis raise his head in a manly way.
Halloween Anticipation
13 Oct 2019 12:48I don't really do much for Halloween, except put out decorations and usually have a friend over for wine. I typically put on my "Maleficent" horns in the rare case that I get a trick-or-treater. But I do think it is a fun holiday -- candy for kids, spooky decorations, watching horror flicks. And that it seems to irritate the far right Christianists is an added bonus!
Although most of the larger butterflies are well away from here now -- too chilly outside too early, and also an ongoing drought -- the asters are still performing their duty of feeding a few butterflies and bees. This is a Painted Lady yesterday --
When I saw this bee struggling to land and then just plopping down exhausted, I wondered if there was anything I could do to help. But I decided that bees die at the end of their lifespans. I was happy that I don't use pesticides and that my lemon tree provided a nice ultimate (or penultimate or ante-penultimate) resting spot.
The recent house guest left Friday, and although I'm glad to have the house to myself again, it often seems a little quiet after a house guest leaves!
Although most of the larger butterflies are well away from here now -- too chilly outside too early, and also an ongoing drought -- the asters are still performing their duty of feeding a few butterflies and bees. This is a Painted Lady yesterday --
When I saw this bee struggling to land and then just plopping down exhausted, I wondered if there was anything I could do to help. But I decided that bees die at the end of their lifespans. I was happy that I don't use pesticides and that my lemon tree provided a nice ultimate (or penultimate or ante-penultimate) resting spot.
The recent house guest left Friday, and although I'm glad to have the house to myself again, it often seems a little quiet after a house guest leaves!
I've been keeping busy lately trying to knock out some long-procrastinated house chores! A couple years ago, I stained my deck and it rained pretty quickly afterwards -- like 5 hours later. At the time, it didn't seem to impact the stain...except within a year, parts of the deck had shed back to bare wood! I had never seen it do that, so I'm assuming it was from the rain.
So I stained the deck again yesterday. It's not going to get a full 48 hours before rain -- but it's looking like it will get at least 24 hours. It's a lot of work to stain the deck, so I'm hoping it cures properly this time!
***
A friend had a pool party for Labor Day, so I made a blueberry cobbler to take with. I made this with blueberries that my sister picked and my mom washed, and I had put into the freezer. The taste of the berries was very good!
Went out last night with a friend for beer and burgers -- well in our case, vegan burgers! The one we had tasted great -- it's one of the top supermarket vegan burgers -- but it has seemed to cause noticeable and long lasting indigestion for me the last couple of times I ate it. We had dinner and beers around 7ish, and I still had indigestion at 3AM. And when I used the bathroom this morning, my system did a flush. And here it is Noon the next day, and I'm still burping. I am not sure that I will be eating it again, although I might test it once more.
***
Fall is definitely in the air! The Cyclamen are blooming, and lots of other signs.
I was really disappointed that I got no veggies from my garden this year! The cold, wet weather at the beginning made it hard to get seeds started, and the tomatoes that I started inside just never took off after I transplanted. Then, it got brutally hot early. I hope next year is better -- I miss my cherry tomatoes!
***
I have located another chrysalis out back -- this one from a Monarch. I actually saw the caterpillar form into a chrysalis! It's been a week, and I'm checking several times daily for any transparency, because I would love to get some photos as the butterfly emerges -- similar to the Eastern Black Swallowtail a few weeks ago.
So I stained the deck again yesterday. It's not going to get a full 48 hours before rain -- but it's looking like it will get at least 24 hours. It's a lot of work to stain the deck, so I'm hoping it cures properly this time!
***
A friend had a pool party for Labor Day, so I made a blueberry cobbler to take with. I made this with blueberries that my sister picked and my mom washed, and I had put into the freezer. The taste of the berries was very good!
Went out last night with a friend for beer and burgers -- well in our case, vegan burgers! The one we had tasted great -- it's one of the top supermarket vegan burgers -- but it has seemed to cause noticeable and long lasting indigestion for me the last couple of times I ate it. We had dinner and beers around 7ish, and I still had indigestion at 3AM. And when I used the bathroom this morning, my system did a flush. And here it is Noon the next day, and I'm still burping. I am not sure that I will be eating it again, although I might test it once more.
***
Fall is definitely in the air! The Cyclamen are blooming, and lots of other signs.
I was really disappointed that I got no veggies from my garden this year! The cold, wet weather at the beginning made it hard to get seeds started, and the tomatoes that I started inside just never took off after I transplanted. Then, it got brutally hot early. I hope next year is better -- I miss my cherry tomatoes!
***
I have located another chrysalis out back -- this one from a Monarch. I actually saw the caterpillar form into a chrysalis! It's been a week, and I'm checking several times daily for any transparency, because I would love to get some photos as the butterfly emerges -- similar to the Eastern Black Swallowtail a few weeks ago.
Pawpaws, etc.
23 Aug 2019 01:38This Black Swallowtail was on the Zinnias today -- presumably, this is the same butterfly that emerged yesterday!
i went back down to the river today to check on the pawpaws, and found several ripe -- or close enough that they should ripen in the next few days. The yellower ones pretty much have to be eaten quickly, while the greener ones will last a bit --
Of course you have to spit out the pits. This time, I tried squeezing some lime juice onto them, and that was pretty great! The tartness of the lime cuts the sweetness of the pawpaws!
Pawpaws are kind of an acquired taste -- very sweet, mushy texture, and they have an aftertaste! The lime helped with all that!
i went back down to the river today to check on the pawpaws, and found several ripe -- or close enough that they should ripen in the next few days. The yellower ones pretty much have to be eaten quickly, while the greener ones will last a bit --
Of course you have to spit out the pits. This time, I tried squeezing some lime juice onto them, and that was pretty great! The tartness of the lime cuts the sweetness of the pawpaws!
Pawpaws are kind of an acquired taste -- very sweet, mushy texture, and they have an aftertaste! The lime helped with all that!
The butterfly finally emerged today! Because I didn't know exactly when the emergence would happen, I had been checking on the chrysalis every day, sometimes several times a day.
From Google, I knew that an Eastern Black Swallowtail typically takes between 1 - 2 weeks to transform, but I didn't know how long the chrysalis had been there before I found it. As for time of day, I didn't know that either, but I assumed it would be near the heat of the day. Turns out, it happened in the morning. I also knew that the chrysilis would darken -- actually, I think it technically becomes transparent, showing the color of the butterfly. When that occurred, I knew the show was on!
This morning around 7AM, I went out to check on it, and I noticed the edges had darkened. After breakfast and an errand, I checked again...around 8:45AM -- it was definitely changing!
Compare the green from a week or so ago --
To this morning around 8:45AM --
So I set up the camera and intervalometer onto the tripod. My plan was to get enough pictures for a time-lapse video, but sadly that was not to be! I had figured it would maybe take several hours for the transformation to occur, so I set the intervalometer on the camera to take a photo every 2 minutes.
I checked on it frequently. I went out after being inside for a few minutes, and
Wings still wet and wrinkled and clinging for dear life while climbing up the stalk --
After it had been out for a while -- wings not wrinkled, but hanging straight down.
Drying its wings -- it was on the stalk for at least an hour. Eventually I looked out and it was gone!
***
From Google, I knew that an Eastern Black Swallowtail typically takes between 1 - 2 weeks to transform, but I didn't know how long the chrysalis had been there before I found it. As for time of day, I didn't know that either, but I assumed it would be near the heat of the day. Turns out, it happened in the morning. I also knew that the chrysilis would darken -- actually, I think it technically becomes transparent, showing the color of the butterfly. When that occurred, I knew the show was on!
This morning around 7AM, I went out to check on it, and I noticed the edges had darkened. After breakfast and an errand, I checked again...around 8:45AM -- it was definitely changing!
Compare the green from a week or so ago --
To this morning around 8:45AM --
So I set up the camera and intervalometer onto the tripod. My plan was to get enough pictures for a time-lapse video, but sadly that was not to be! I had figured it would maybe take several hours for the transformation to occur, so I set the intervalometer on the camera to take a photo every 2 minutes.
I checked on it frequently. I went out after being inside for a few minutes, and
BAM!
The butterfly was out. Based on the 10 or so shots that I got, the exit from the chrysalis must have only taken about 20 minutes! So I wasn't taking shots often enough to get a time-lapse out of it!Wings still wet and wrinkled and clinging for dear life while climbing up the stalk --
After it had been out for a while -- wings not wrinkled, but hanging straight down.
Drying its wings -- it was on the stalk for at least an hour. Eventually I looked out and it was gone!
***
I've been planning maybe 2 day drive to go see a site that has been on my bucket list for a while. In the meantime, I've been concentrating on social activities, working around the house, and this week I'm doing this very boring 3 day training class via Webex. So boring! But it gives me 24 continuing education credits towards 1 of my certifications, and it was FREE, so I grabbed it!
I also was pleasantly surprised to find some several Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars, and a chrysalis on the Fennel out back!
Here's the chrysalis -- I will keep watch on it, and if I'm lucky I'll get some pics during the emergence --
The Fennel is stripped of all its leaves today -- and all the caterpillars are gone, presumably to other plants to eat!
I also was pleasantly surprised to find some several Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars, and a chrysalis on the Fennel out back!
Here's the chrysalis -- I will keep watch on it, and if I'm lucky I'll get some pics during the emergence --
The Fennel is stripped of all its leaves today -- and all the caterpillars are gone, presumably to other plants to eat!
Fly on Zinnia
2 Aug 2019 23:44I was generally pleased with this shot of a fly on a Zinnia --
I had a hard time getting the shot -- I was using a heavy zoom lens, so it was difficult to hold in position, and the fly was just very small! The Zinnias seem to attract small insects -- including small butterflies, but I hardly see a larger butterfly on them. The Phlox seem to be what the larger butterflies go after.
I also have been seeing multiple Hummingbird Moths lately -- the Crepe Myrtles and Phlox both seem to be the draw!
I had a hard time getting the shot -- I was using a heavy zoom lens, so it was difficult to hold in position, and the fly was just very small! The Zinnias seem to attract small insects -- including small butterflies, but I hardly see a larger butterfly on them. The Phlox seem to be what the larger butterflies go after.
I also have been seeing multiple Hummingbird Moths lately -- the Crepe Myrtles and Phlox both seem to be the draw!
I have spent the last week recovering from my trip -- this trip took it out of me more than some! I have been very tired, and have had periods where I don't remember anything about what I did. It has been very odd!
I'm happy to see that I have been having at least 1 hummingbird moth feeding on the phlox this week. I look for them every year because I'm fascinated by a moth that comes out during the day, that hovers like a hummingbird, and that is as almost as small as (and colored like) a bee!
They are small (about the size of a over-large bumble bee) and skittish -- if you get too close, they move away. Here is a pic from an iPhone -- zoomed in to 4.3x -- the one from today is circled in orange, so you can see how small they are!
The pics today were taken with my 400mm lens, and then I cropped the pics to zoom in.
I'm happy to see that I have been having at least 1 hummingbird moth feeding on the phlox this week. I look for them every year because I'm fascinated by a moth that comes out during the day, that hovers like a hummingbird, and that is as almost as small as (and colored like) a bee!
They are small (about the size of a over-large bumble bee) and skittish -- if you get too close, they move away. Here is a pic from an iPhone -- zoomed in to 4.3x -- the one from today is circled in orange, so you can see how small they are!
The pics today were taken with my 400mm lens, and then I cropped the pics to zoom in.
Week In Review
23 Jun 2019 10:23Got another small bike ride in this morning! It was easier today, so I'm getting stronger. It's amazing how much strength I have lost in the past few years of sloth!
***
Also been working around the house -- I got a guy to re-hang a window on the stair landing -- it's a really nice big window that I have been unable to open for years and years because both cords are broken. It was on my list to fix when I first bought the house -- I remember that I even looked up the process for taking the window out and opening up the space where the weights are in order to re-hang the sash -- but I never got around to actually fixing it. So I paid someone to fix both the window and a tread on the stair. #oldhouse
It's really nice to lift that window now! Since he left, I've been touching up trim around the window. I also decided the stain he used on the tread was too light, so I have re-stained slightly darker, and added polyurethane this morning.
***
I've been sleeping much better since I gave my notice at work!
***
Had a less than satisfactory dinner with a friend the other night. He's really grumpy because his job is stressing him out so much. And I totally get it! His job stress is impacting his relationships, and I wonder if he knows that.
Had a friend over for wine a couple nights ago, which was pleasant as usual.
And I'll be doing the same thing with another guy Monday...I say 'guy' instead of 'friend' because I don't really know his status with me. He's someone I use to fuck around with, and that didn't work out well. But somehow we have kept in touch for intermittent wine and whiskey nights now and again.
***
Had an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in the garden out front yesterday -- she was there for several hours feeding on the cone flowers! I say "she" because females are the only ones who have a strip of iridescent blue at the end of their hind wings.
***
I heard the first cicadas buzzing today -- a very 'summer' here and a sound I look forward to!
***
Totally applying the 'brunch rule' today -- having wine on the porch very early, lol! I wonder if my neighbors think I'm a lush, lol. Not that I would care about them, nor would I necessarily really disagree!
***
All in all, it was a pleasant week and weekend!
***
Also been working around the house -- I got a guy to re-hang a window on the stair landing -- it's a really nice big window that I have been unable to open for years and years because both cords are broken. It was on my list to fix when I first bought the house -- I remember that I even looked up the process for taking the window out and opening up the space where the weights are in order to re-hang the sash -- but I never got around to actually fixing it. So I paid someone to fix both the window and a tread on the stair. #oldhouse
It's really nice to lift that window now! Since he left, I've been touching up trim around the window. I also decided the stain he used on the tread was too light, so I have re-stained slightly darker, and added polyurethane this morning.
***
I've been sleeping much better since I gave my notice at work!
***
Had a less than satisfactory dinner with a friend the other night. He's really grumpy because his job is stressing him out so much. And I totally get it! His job stress is impacting his relationships, and I wonder if he knows that.
Had a friend over for wine a couple nights ago, which was pleasant as usual.
And I'll be doing the same thing with another guy Monday...I say 'guy' instead of 'friend' because I don't really know his status with me. He's someone I use to fuck around with, and that didn't work out well. But somehow we have kept in touch for intermittent wine and whiskey nights now and again.
***
Had an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in the garden out front yesterday -- she was there for several hours feeding on the cone flowers! I say "she" because females are the only ones who have a strip of iridescent blue at the end of their hind wings.
***
I heard the first cicadas buzzing today -- a very 'summer' here and a sound I look forward to!
***
Totally applying the 'brunch rule' today -- having wine on the porch very early, lol! I wonder if my neighbors think I'm a lush, lol. Not that I would care about them, nor would I necessarily really disagree!
***
All in all, it was a pleasant week and weekend!
Déjà Vu All Over Again
2 Jun 2019 13:02I went down to the Texas Beach trail today, and it reminded me of a previous visit.
Back in 2015, I went to this same trail, and as I was hopping from rock to rock, I slipped and tore a ligament in my knee. This was the day before I left on vacation to Brazil -- so my Brazil visit was with a walking stick and and a brace!
A few months after that, I purposely went back to the trail to test out the knee and to visit the spot where I slipped. Really, it was just to prove that my knee was better and that I'd be able to hike again.
Now we can fast forward to recently a few weeks ago when I busted up my knee coming down the stairs at home, which is starting to make me feel a bit clumsy! The damage is to the same knee as 2015, and while it is still pretty sore, it's much better! So when I was on the Texas Beach trail today, it was like déjà vu of 2015!
It's the time of year for dragonfly/damselfly pics!
Back in 2015, I went to this same trail, and as I was hopping from rock to rock, I slipped and tore a ligament in my knee. This was the day before I left on vacation to Brazil -- so my Brazil visit was with a walking stick and and a brace!
A few months after that, I purposely went back to the trail to test out the knee and to visit the spot where I slipped. Really, it was just to prove that my knee was better and that I'd be able to hike again.
Now we can fast forward to recently a few weeks ago when I busted up my knee coming down the stairs at home, which is starting to make me feel a bit clumsy! The damage is to the same knee as 2015, and while it is still pretty sore, it's much better! So when I was on the Texas Beach trail today, it was like déjà vu of 2015!
It's the time of year for dragonfly/damselfly pics!
Hosted book club the other night -- I think it was successful. The apple pie seems to have been appreciated!
Unfortunately that night after the folks had left and after I had cleaned up, I was going downstairs in my stocking feet for 1 last thing...when I missed the bottom step and took a slip & fall! I jammed my leg HARD -- HARD -- to the point where I was a bit shocked at what happened as I sat where I landed on the steps, and I was really worried that I had messed up the knee again! I got up very gently realizing this was an injury that would take some time to heal. I took off sick the next day to keep the leg elevated and iced.
The knee is slowly coming back around. I'm stretching the tendons to get them used to going back to the way they were -- mostly by kneeling several times a day and for 10 repetitions of gently sitting back on my haunches as far as the pain will allow. Taking Advil as needed -- although it's really just stiff and sore, not really painful.
***
This spring has been unseasonably cool! The flowers are continuing to bloom, and these are the blooms on the privet hedge. I like the smell, and because it is such a bee magnet (and a few butterflies), I always wait until after it blooms before I trim the hedges in the spring.
Presumably the squirrels are the culprits trimming my Marigolds! I can't imagine rabbits climbing stairs and onto the porch...
This is not a bad photo using a phone of a Granddaddy Long Legs on a Hollyhock leaf --
Unfortunately that night after the folks had left and after I had cleaned up, I was going downstairs in my stocking feet for 1 last thing...when I missed the bottom step and took a slip & fall! I jammed my leg HARD -- HARD -- to the point where I was a bit shocked at what happened as I sat where I landed on the steps, and I was really worried that I had messed up the knee again! I got up very gently realizing this was an injury that would take some time to heal. I took off sick the next day to keep the leg elevated and iced.
The knee is slowly coming back around. I'm stretching the tendons to get them used to going back to the way they were -- mostly by kneeling several times a day and for 10 repetitions of gently sitting back on my haunches as far as the pain will allow. Taking Advil as needed -- although it's really just stiff and sore, not really painful.
***
This spring has been unseasonably cool! The flowers are continuing to bloom, and these are the blooms on the privet hedge. I like the smell, and because it is such a bee magnet (and a few butterflies), I always wait until after it blooms before I trim the hedges in the spring.
Presumably the squirrels are the culprits trimming my Marigolds! I can't imagine rabbits climbing stairs and onto the porch...
This is not a bad photo using a phone of a Granddaddy Long Legs on a Hollyhock leaf --
It's fricken cold on the porch in the shade! But pleasant day today -- did a couple 'to do' items, then walked around Belle Isle, then finished reading the next book for book club next month.
The book was called 'Peter Darling'. I suggested it to book club because it was the story of Peter Pan, but told as Peter being transgender, and it seems that Peter Pan is always played by a woman! So it was interesting to me....now, I don't have any history with Peter Pan -- don't know the story, except the Disney cartoon version....but this was pretty good...it had a happy ending. It got a little (ok...a lot) Harlequin Romance there for a bit, but I'm still glad I read it.
I saw a Skipper on the Asters that I had never seen --
I think it's a Long Tailed Skipper...definitely seemed to be a Skipper, although the long tails made it seem bigger, and confused me because I, at first, thought about a Swallowtail.
But I find the green 'fur' gorgeous, and also the iridescent tails!
The book was called 'Peter Darling'. I suggested it to book club because it was the story of Peter Pan, but told as Peter being transgender, and it seems that Peter Pan is always played by a woman! So it was interesting to me....now, I don't have any history with Peter Pan -- don't know the story, except the Disney cartoon version....but this was pretty good...it had a happy ending. It got a little (ok...a lot) Harlequin Romance there for a bit, but I'm still glad I read it.
I saw a Skipper on the Asters that I had never seen --
I think it's a Long Tailed Skipper...definitely seemed to be a Skipper, although the long tails made it seem bigger, and confused me because I, at first, thought about a Swallowtail.
But I find the green 'fur' gorgeous, and also the iridescent tails!
Metamorphosis
8 Sep 2018 17:09This is what I picture when I read Kafka's Metamorphosis! It's a cicada....the insects that make so much noise around here during summer! The cicada noticed me stalking it with my camera, and peeped around the dead stalk of garden Phlox...
And really, the cicada doesn't look all that different from Kafka himself!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Kafka1906_cropped.jpg
And really, the cicada doesn't look all that different from Kafka himself!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Kafka1906_cropped.jpg
Photo-rama
1 Aug 2018 19:33Very pleased to catch a Hummingbird Moth in the front yard this past weekend --
Goldfinch chowing down on end of season coneflower seeds --
Robber fly -- omg, so ugly. So interesting!
I believe this is a Red Spotted Purple --
Alan the Raptor in the Fan --
I like poppies in general, and didn't realize they were associated with World War I because of the poem, In Flanders Fields. Local museum has steps that match their exhibit --
Goldfinch chowing down on end of season coneflower seeds --
Robber fly -- omg, so ugly. So interesting!
I believe this is a Red Spotted Purple --
Alan the Raptor in the Fan --
I like poppies in general, and didn't realize they were associated with World War I because of the poem, In Flanders Fields. Local museum has steps that match their exhibit --
Sloth-like
14 Jul 2018 22:11I was moving slow this morning, partly from the cocktails last night, and partly because I have some stiffness when I wake up...possibly lingering from the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but it's difficult to tell. So, I decided to give myself today to totally hang out, relax and feel the world go by :)
I have a couch surfer arriving tomorrow for a night's stay. Usually interesting to have couch surfing guests...
Cabbage White --
I love the waxing crescent after New Moon --
I have a couch surfer arriving tomorrow for a night's stay. Usually interesting to have couch surfing guests...
Cabbage White --
I love the waxing crescent after New Moon --
Dragonflies
8 Jul 2018 16:52The bokeh in the background reminded me of the halos in religious iconography, so I called this 'Our Lady of Perpetual Vigilance'...
This one looked like stained glass --
And some Dragonfly love --
I have to go to work tomorrow after 5 days off! But until I retire, that's how it is! I didn't do the things I had originally considered doing while I was off, but it was still a nice few days off.
Last night, some friends took me out to dinner for my birthday -- it's a bigger one this year -- a definite (minor) milestone! Nice dinner and nice company!
This one looked like stained glass --
And some Dragonfly love --
I have to go to work tomorrow after 5 days off! But until I retire, that's how it is! I didn't do the things I had originally considered doing while I was off, but it was still a nice few days off.
Last night, some friends took me out to dinner for my birthday -- it's a bigger one this year -- a definite (minor) milestone! Nice dinner and nice company!
After I cut hedges on Saturday, I needed a more fun day, so I went to the Napoleon exhibit at the museum yesterday --
And then took the camera down to Byrd Park to hunt for some damselflies. I think this one may be an Ebony Jewelwing? The bugs were eating me alive (a phrase I taught my Brazilian friend yesterday, lol)...so I could not stay in one place long enough to get more pics...
And then a meal w/ my Brazilian friends and their church friends...to celebrate the upcoming baby!
And then took the camera down to Byrd Park to hunt for some damselflies. I think this one may be an Ebony Jewelwing? The bugs were eating me alive (a phrase I taught my Brazilian friend yesterday, lol)...so I could not stay in one place long enough to get more pics...
And then a meal w/ my Brazilian friends and their church friends...to celebrate the upcoming baby!
Saturdays at Home
16 Jun 2018 13:48A day of mowing the lawn, watering new plants, etc...but I started off by taking some bee pictures in the front yard. #Priorities
I titled this one 'Bee-rise' because it looked like a sun or moonrise, except it was a bee coming up over the cone :)
I always like to get bees in flight. This one was shortly after taking off...not a perfect photo, but nice enough.
I titled this one 'Bee-rise' because it looked like a sun or moonrise, except it was a bee coming up over the cone :)
I always like to get bees in flight. This one was shortly after taking off...not a perfect photo, but nice enough.
Visit
Visited Deege at their beach house yesterday. Here are a couple of animated gifs of a carnival in the town --
And here are some beach scenes --
Hollyhock
The only hollyhock I've been able to get to live in our humid climate is blooming this year. They are biennial, so any one plant would only bloom every other year. And since I can't seem to get any other started, this is my every other year treat!
Charlotte VI
Introducing Charlotte VI....the latest Orchard Orbweaver that I have found in the yard!
Lunch with Nh today to hear about his new apartment...and w(h)ine with J made for an enjoyable weekend!