I have to say, having written this blog for well over 12 years, my decision to do a day count of lockdown/social distancing as the post title has been a welcome break from having to come up with something new every day. I want this virus to be gone, of course, but I’ll miss the ease of my current post titles.
Do you remember the other day when I predicted we wouldn’t get the rain that was forecast for that day? I was right. Nothing. Today, however, we supposedly have 100% chance of rain and thunderstorms, with a few inches of rain expected. I hope that is so because our rivers are the lowest I’ve ever seen. We really need rain. It’s very humid and cloudy out there, so fingers crossed!
I just finished Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. Excellent. Excellent. It’s non-fiction that reads like a novel and by that I don’t mean like historical fiction which involves a lot of guessing and supposition (I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a fan and I know that many of you are, so we’ll agree to disagree!) No, I mean the ease with which Casey Cep writes, the way in which she weaves the various elements of this true story together. Far from dry, it’s completely compelling. The case is fascinating, the people involved fascinating, and as someone who has read everything there is to read about Harper Lee, I learned so much more about her. I recommend it highly.
Yesterday, I went outside to walk around the big garden bed and I noticed a hummingbird moth. Then I noticed another. And another. Turns out there were four hummingbird moths buzzing around my phlox. I’ve never seen more than one at a time. I had my phone with me, thank goodness, and I just kept snapping away. Here are some photos:
I did my best to capture two of them at the same time. It was hard, because they move around so quickly.
Hummingbird Moths have a long curled proboscis that they extend to dine on a flower. You can see it curled up in this photo.
Uncurled and extended.
And here is a close up. Their wings move so fast – like a hummingbird’s – that clear photos are a wee bit tricky.
I saw one later in the day, as well.
Timing is everything, isn’t it?
I’m off to figure out what I’m reading next, to wash the bedding, to keep my eyes peeled for rain. Please, Mother Nature?
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
glad you had that experience with all those butterflies! more wonderful photos again, of course (i do see that tiny little curled-up proboscis!).
hope you get lots of rain soon. we need a lot here, too, being at almost-drought level.
going to have an easier day today, also much needed. growing up, sundays were always quiet days to be home after church, relax and be together. i’ve always followed that example set by my parents and it serves me well. :)
i haven’t read in a long time because my attention span is about as long as that butterfly’s proboscis, but i want to get reading back in my days so i’ve been thinking about it. obviously, there’s a lot of bad stuff going on in the world that distracts, a job to do plus depression and grief that get in the way of reading. “a gentleman in moscow” (that i know you love) is very detailed and i don’t want to miss that by reading too fast just to try to get into the story; also, it’s rather like the surreal world we now live in, so that book will wait some more. i have other books from which to choose, but decided that maybe a shorter book and an obvious mystery would pull me in more quickly (here’s hoping) … so thanks again for telling about the mysterious bookshop. my order is to ship tomorrow!
hope don is all better, that you both stay safe and have a nice day.
kathy in iowa
oops … not butterflies. hummingbird moths …
kathy in iowa
xo
They’re moths, Kathy! But they’re pretty big moths.
Thanks so much for ordering something from the bookshop, Kathy. You are all so wonderful! Several readers have ordered from them.
Bless you.
Stay safe.
Having the same problem about reading, kathy. I keep trying though from time to time. Right now All the Light We Cannot See is helping me – short chapters & I have a little more recall to keep on.
Best to you
hej, martha …
reading can be so enjoyable and a nice diversion, especially at a time like this … so glad if that book’s shorter chapters and writing are working for you!
i will hope the book i ordered (an agatha christie) has shorter chapters and starts with some detail that captures my attention.
hope all’s well for you and your family.
kathy in iowa
I loved that book!
Well Claudia you answered a mystery for me! Last year one evening in a large night blooming jasmine by our garage I noticed what looked like dozens of small hummingbirds going crazy in the bush that was in full bloom. Now I believe they must of been these moths. I had never heard of such a thing until you shared theses pictures. How amazing and I’m so happy to know what they really were. This is one of the many things I love about your blog. It’s not only a way to feel connected but it’s very educational as well. 😊 Thanks for all you share.
The way they hover and dart around is very much like a hummingbird. The very first time I saw one was several years ago and I had to do soe research before I discovered what they were.
Thank you, Janet. Stay safe!
Amazing photographs Claudia! I never even knew about those moths after 15 years in the Berkshires. There’s so much to learn about our beautiful world. Here in Florida, our hurricane turned into scattered showers with occasional gusts of wind. I am always concerned that exaggerated forecasts of calamity will lead to ho hum responses to genuine serious threats. I think you are going to get some of the rain that we might have had. It’s made for nice gardening weather, cloud cover and sprinkles of rain.
I’m glad you’re okay, Leslie and that the hurricane won’t inflict damage. Stay safe!
Fantastic pictures! I’ve never heard of a hummingbird moth but we do have lots of hummingbirds here in our part of California.
We have hummingbirds as well, but I don’t see them very often!
Stay safe, Cathy.
Thanks Claudia. We’re doing all that we can to stay safe. You and Don stay safe, too!
xo
Thankful relief to all awful events in CA right now. As always, love your sharing of nature and whatever crosses your mind, too. TG those moths are vegetarians!
Today my County has been lumped with all the other misbehaving ones. We always thought of ourselves as being the best one! Noooo, we have just as many ‘misbehavers’ as the rest, it seems.
Oh boy. Is there a lockdown in CA now, Martha?
Stay safe.
Yes, back to square one almost. I looked at the details today & was shocked that it really started ramping back up at the end of June – in San Mateo County anyway, can’t vouch for LA, which has been pretty high all along. Kind of wish they had shut it down 2 weeks ago, but all those economic considerations come in to play.
At least our weather has become tolerable again though very dry – hence fire danger as usual. East of LA has a bad one going on right now.
Doing my rain dance for you ;-))
Thank you, Martha. Stay safe.
the most beautiful pictures of the hummingbird moths! thank you! xoxo
You are most welcome! Stay safe, Tammy!
I have never seen or heard of hummingbird moths. Now I have. Thanks for teaching me something new. Yours truly- Elaine
You’re very welcome, Elaine. Stay safe!
I’ve never seen a hummingbird moth and your photos are just fantastic. Especially the caught in flight. Wow.
That book sounds terrific — I’m adding it to my list.
I’m reading Ann Patchett’s “Commonwealth.” Usually I love her stuff but I’m having trouble with this one. And just finished the remarkable “The Wild Remedy” by Emma Mitchell. I need to do a book post soon. Highly recommended!
I’ll write that title down, Jeanie. Stay safe!
What spectacular pictures of a hummingbird moth. We do have them around here…but I’ve only seen a couple.
Hope you do get some rain. We appear to have a surplus…our creek is overflowing a bit, but yet, our rain comes in deluges…rather than a gentle rain, and not on a regular basis. So, I still have to water. I’m not whining…just explaining.
Hope you find a good read! ;)
We got a big old downpour late this morning but we need more. Hopefully some storms will come through in the early evening.
Stay safe, Donna!
I, too, have never heard of hummingbird moths. Thank you for the lovely, detailed photos of them!
You’re very welcome, Janice. Stay safe!
It has clouded up a bit here and they said about a 40% chance of some rain…but only a tenth to a quarter of an inch. BUT, tomorrow it is only supposed to reach 69*! And then 71* on Tuesday. A reprieve!! We have so many green tomatoes right now, but nothing is turning red! Someone said the high temps are affecting things such as that. Maybe this week that will happen. So looking forward to it!
I am looking forward to a quiet day to read today. Some nice showers would be lovely. We are just so happy to have a weekend that it isn’t in the 90’s with heat indexes into the 100’s. I suppose in January I will kick myself for those words!! It is always something! (Claudia, maybe it is just on mine, but the little box w the option for the “let me know if there are follow-up comments” is missing this morning…..)
That plug-in had an update today and somehow when it updated, it deactivated! Bizarre. Anyway, it’s back to normal, Chris. Thank you for letting me know!
Stay safe!
Thank you, Claudia, for your brilliant shots of the Hummingbird Moths. We have some in West Europe, quite rare though. They are called big and small (two sizes) “Taubenschwänzchen” – Dovetails. They come from the Mediterranian Sea and wandered over the Alpes mountains north to West Europe due to Climate warming. I’m always thrilled when I see them. They look so exotic to me. And yes, it is very very dry here too! Regards Helga
Me too! I love the way they look. I was so fortunate to be outside when they were out and about! Stay safe, Helga!
I have never seen a Hummingbird Moth! I don’t think I have ever heard of one! How fascinating to get to see them! They look like they would need stronger wings. Thank you for taking the pictures and showing us!
They move and act like hummingbirds – quick darting here and there, hovering. The very first time I saw one, I thought it was a hummingbird. They’re quite amazing.
Stay safe, Tana.
They are amazing! Great photos.
Thank you, Nora! Stay safe!
Catching up to your emails from the last couple of days. You’ve written with a lot of thoughtfulness about the altered theater season and bookshops.
It sure sounds that New Yorkers are being cautious and smarter about everything. I live in areas where there aren’t long strings of shops the way you’d find them in a big city, but I also was never much of a brick & mortar shopper in recent years nor have I shopped at all, for fun stuff, in six months, going to the stores.
I wish Southern Californians could be as cautious as New Yorkers. I heard a man interviewed who owns a Los Angeles-area beach cafe (was on TV newscast), transitioned to all outdoor dining, and he said he hasn’t seen people being careful and wished it was different for the health of his own employees and himself or anybody. And you could see this in the background, with large swaths of beachgoers, playing volleyball and touching the same ball, slamming into each other when going for the same volley, people clustered with too many of them on stretches of beach, no masks.
We’re in a heatwave; it was 96 degrees here yesterday at 2pm; I don’t even want to look at what it is right now. So, people leave their hot homes and go to the seabreeze and out to the beach. My husband and I took a brief drive on Friday and could not believe the amount of cars on the freeways & roads going to the beaches; motorhomes and trailers lined up inches from each other on long strands of beach highway/beachfront where they’re allowed to camp. No empty spaces; full to capacity. We never go to the beach on holidays, but you would have thought it was Labor Day Weekend or 4th of July.
I also saw a disease specialist/epidemiologist interviewed out of USC or UCLA, like night before last, can’t remember specifics, who spoke straightforwardly to Southern Californians to ditch their complacency and instead double-down their efforts like never before to try to contain virus spread, with the distancing, masks, handwashing, not gathering. We’re in a world of hurt here with the Covid ‘numbers’.
My neighbor’s party went from 2pm to midnight last night and there were probably 15-20 cars parked in front of our house. Sounded like a lot of gathered people. I felt like I heard their back door slam a thousand times as they all were in & out of that house, flowing between the home and backyard/patio. Heard the newborn crying more than once; just unbelievable that you’d expose a baby, in the middle of a raging epidemic which is happening in your own city. I went out at 10pm to just walk around the perimeter of my house and look at the moon, get some cooler air on my face, and I saw some of those party guests at their cars, visible under the streetlights; still talking in small groups; no masks.
I lost a lot of my hopefulness and positive energy this weekend, thinking how impossible it is to fight this virus without a vaccine and stupid humans, but I’m going to try to re-summon my hope on this Sunday and remember my prayers. And despite the loss of foot traffic in Manhattan stores, feel encouraged that in other parts of the country, citizens are trying hard to follow the virus-contagion ‘rules’.
Your photos on the posts are just ‘summer bounty’ and it’s fun to see the flying creatures up close & personal. My husband had planted several bare-dirt patches of our yard to meadow-flower seed and it’s very pretty now, with every color of the rainbow and quite a lot of little varieties of flowers I can’t identify, but we’ve attracted bees and butterflies, so that makes me feel good.
I sit here reading this and just shake my head. Stunning that people would be so careless, so obtuse. And a newborn baby!
Stay safe, Vicki.
Yeah. I just read something online; quote from a guy I’ve seen interviewed a lot on the TV news channels. “Ashish Jha, MD, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) … no state is free from the risk of additional coronavirus outbreaks. In fact, there’s one major COVID risk factor he sees people engaging in that make those outbreaks even more likely to occur: hosting or attending indoor gatherings.  ‘People have let their guard down, thinking it is totally fine to have 20 people over on a Saturday afternoon—and it probably isn’t.'”
This party next door to me was, again, a flow between indoors/outdoors; small, old tract houses from the 1950s; boxy. Can’t hold a lot of people without being very crowded. So, people inside, and maybe it’s where she had cold foods on the dining table, yet out to the patio and rear yard for the BBQ/grill. Kids playing with that moon jump/jolly jump thing. It was a really warm afternoon and evening. Sigh. Such a nice event for them on any other typical summer night, were it not for Covid. But ‘way too many party guests.
And you know what’s also complicating things is that my husband and I actually do have an easygoing-enough relationship with these people who have the newborn. We’ve worked hard at it, when I know this young couple probably just looks at us as a couple of old duffers. But the people who lived there before they did, three years ago, were sketchy, so we’ve been glad to get in this decent young family. At one point the father/husband yelled over Saturday nite to my husband, “We’ll bring you some good food in a little while; we’re having everybody over to celebrate my daughter’s first Holy Communion!” That then began a whole discussion, between my husband and I, that if he HAD come over, how do we accept the food, practice distancing and be cordial rather than standoffish. Turns out, the party tuned up, all various ages, and I think he got preoccupied; never brought over the food. Which was a relief because we didn’t think we could risk contact, him OR the food. But, you know, you don’t want to offend. He was making a nice gesture. Our houses are SO close together and we need to be able to get along with these folks. I just pray they can stay safe, for their family. The children are darling; I don’t want any of them getting sick. I wish these young parents and all their relatives would heed Covid warnings. They’re not bad or uneducated people; the guy’s mom is a schoolteacher!
Yes, of course you need to get along with them. I, too, wish they had more common sense, that they were not having these parties.
xo
I had meant to start this out (my comment) by saying, ‘catching up to your POSTS’ (not emails!).
I also considered that I don’t want to keep talking about Covid as much this week starting Monday (speaking of me personally). I catch myself harping too much and you’d said at the beginning of this that maybe we should try to avoid the doom & gloom and concentrate instead on our wellness. By now, we all know the problems about non-compliance; we all know the virus risks; we know this will still be bad for awhile. We know we’ve got an election coming up in under 100 days. A lot going on. Worries and frustration. But right now, I’m also watching what’s happening with the hurricane coming up the East Coast! I wonder if you’ll get some rain, Claudia?!!
Yes. We got rain yesterday, but that wasn’t associated with the storm. There’s a flash flood watch up and we’re due to get heavy rain tonight and through tomorrow. It will be worse near the coast, of course, but we’re due for a lot of rain.
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe.
Your ‘tropical rainforest’ will be even more soggy, but you needed the rain and I hope it’ll be just the right amount!! We’ve got wildfire burning right now, about 40 miles from here, but I think they’re getting a handle on it as we’re somewhat cooler today by maybe even ten degrees; however, this is when our alertness grows; ’tis the season for it in SoCalif. And we could start getting Santa Ana winds a month from now. Winds and heat and low humidity and drought; not a good combo. I still see some green on our mountains to the south, but oh-my-gosh it’s been such a long time now that we’ve seen any moisture from rain.
My good friend had a wildfire about a 100 feet from her house. This was two days ago. They put it out, thank goodness!
Stay safe.