The limelight hydrangeas are starting to turn pink, a sure sign of impending autumn.
I was outside on Sunday with my telephoto lens, trying to capture a photo of the goldfinch who was munching on coneflower seeds. This little one was tenacious! He/She would perch on the top of a stem, or on top of the flower itself, and yank those seeds out. But only on the older coneflowers that were fading, not on the others. I’m going to keep an eye out today to see if the goldfinch returns. He was here both Saturday and Sunday.
I was up early today because Don had to get on the road early, so I heard the Carolina wrens peeping as they woke up. It’s fairly quiet on our busy road when it’s just turning light, so there’s an intimacy to that sound, as if the bird and I are the only ones aware of it. And I think we were.
Another foggy morning today, foggier than yesterday morning.
As the election heats up, I may be encountering more negative comments, like the 3 I had over the weekend. If I feel they are inappropriate, I will delete them and block the commenter. Not because that person is disagreeing with me, but because the comment is ill intentioned, and in one case this weekend, full of falsehoods about what I said in Saturday’s post. There’s no reasoning with that.
Anyway, not to belabor this sort of thing – because we’ve seen it before – but I’m going to turn on comment moderation. That means that you won’t see your comment right away. It will come to me for moderation. Since I usually monitor the blog during the day, your comments should be approved quickly. I just wanted to give you a heads up so you won’t think there’s something wrong with the blog and/or your comment. Okay?
I’m close to the end of my first John Sandford book and I’ve really enjoyed it. Suddenly, I have seven books from the library here at the house; two of them Don is reading, and the other five are in a pile next to my chair. I love a good thriller/mystery/spy novel.
I hope you had a good weekend!
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Your hydrangeas are so lovely, Claudia. We will have 90° weather this week in Illinois so summer is holding on for a bit here!
I perfectly understand your reason behind the moderation and am grateful that I don’t have to read rude comments on your blog! Thank you!
I’m reading The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear who also wrote the Maisie Dobbs series that I have enjoyed. I like her books.
Yes, we have high temps through Wednesday, then it cools down.
Thanks so much for understanding, Ellen.
Sounds like the perfect book to read.
Stay safe.
Good morning Claudia! We have had some lovely thunderstorms and coolish weather but we heat up again a bit today. Your flowers are beautiful. My cone flowers are starting to fizzle and I was going to cut them back but now understand from your post my goldfinches may enjoy them. I will keep a watch out and see what transpires. I love those sweet little birds. They are so tiny eating next to all the other birds.
I envy you just discovering John Sandford. Enjoy!
Have a lovely day.
Yes, and not just goldfinches! Lots of birds.
Thanks so much, Verna.
Stay safe.
Thank you for curating the comments; even reading rude hateful comments on someone else’s blog is a shock, it must be more so to actually get one! I can only think that some people’s lives must be very empty…..
ANYWAY thank you for the hydrangea picture – ours are barely staying alive with our watering, due to our drought. And I am so delighted you are another Sanford fan.
Ceci
I hope your hydrangeas hang in there, Ceci.
I have another Sanford on hand, but I have to read a 14 day book first. Can’t wait to get back to him.
Stay safe, Ceci.
Your hydrangea is gorgeous. The hydrangeas around here, and my own, are spectacular this year. We got so much rain, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Mother Nature did provide though, and we are grateful.
I, too, am thankful you are going to moderate comments. Don’t need the negativity. Too bad you have to read them to spare us.
Heat indexes the next two days over 100. So…I’ll be watering early, then hibernating inside. You better get to reading with five books waiting for you. Enjoy your day! ;)
I just mowed the lilac side of the lawn and I’m pooped! It’s over 80 degrees and humid.
Thanks so much, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
Thanks for the Sandford recommendation, I was needing one. And my library seems to be full of his books! Thought I’d start with the first of a long series and noticed it had been written in 1989—where have I been?
Oooh, I miss foggy mornings. They are much too infrequent here.
I know! And I’m not even reading them in order!
Stay safe, Shanna.
Gorgeous hydrangeas! Our limelights have pretty much turned brown, a bit early this year. I pick them when they’re dried and put them in hand made baskets I have around the house. I love to decorate for fall.
Never understood why people go out of their way to troll blogs they normally don’t comment on. Well, this cat lady (with children) is anxiously awaiting her Kamala shirt with a cat face in profile.
Take care,
Kay
I don’t know either. I also don’t know why they keep reading the blog when they know my politics.
That will be one cool shirt!
Thanks, Kay.
Stay safe.
I believe some people just want to “pick a fight” you cannot have a dialog when their intention is be disruptive.
I am half way through the 4th Thursday Murder Club book.
book.
Your yard is so beautiful, it inspires me.
Take Care,
Kaye
I love that series – I can’t wait for another one!
Thanks so much, Kaye. My experience with the supporters of you-know-who is that they definitely want to pick a fight. Ah well.
Stay safe.
Claudia, I know you don’t watch movies of books that you like, but I’m waiting impatiently for the netflix one of the Murder Club—what a cast, Helen Mirin, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsly… Can’t get here soon enough for me! (And Osman’s next book is also in the works!)
Yes, I know all about it, but I will not watch it. Maybe, someday, when the author has ended the series and I’ve read them all, but not while it’s still ongoing.
Stay safe, Shanna.
Your hydrangeas are beautiful!
It is still summer in Michigan…80s all week. Of course it gets hot and humid again just in time for school to start. We spend alot of time with granddaughters here in the summer, or driving them somewhere or picking them up. I’m always ready when it’s time to send them back to school.
It’s best to moderate comments although sometimes I like reading another viewpoint if it’s civil. Usually things get ugly pretty quickly though and moderating is the only way to avoid that.
I’m reading Tom Lake which is set in Michigan. It keeps bouncing back and forth which makes the story a little harder to follow. It’s fun to read a book set in a familiar area though.
Take care
I loved Tom Lake. As a native Michigander who spent a lot of time on all the Great Lakes, I really appreciated it.
Enjoy, Marilyn.
Rest assured – if the comments were civil, I wouldn’t block them.
Stay safe.
Sorry you got some inappropriate comments. The shot of the hydrangeas is really pretty. I thought our cooler weather would stay, but it’s almost 90° today, and warmer tomorrow.
Thanks so much, Barrie.
It’s pretty warm here today, as well. I mowed. Now, I’m tired.
Stay safe.
Your hydrangeas are stunners. And yes, pink is the autumn color!
Smart move on the comments. I can see why and it makes perfect sense.
Better safe than sorry, Jeanie.
Thanks.
Stay safe.
i understand why you feel the need to moderate comments to keep out the mean ones (if i had a blog, i’d do the same). sorry there’s been any meanness here and that moderating will take more time for you.
glad other things are well, save the heat/humidity. as a recently returned reader, i can say it does feel good to have books waiting for their turn, that i am excited to read so i am glad you have the same.
think we reached 99 degrees for the actual temperature yesterday (heat index more like 108) and it was already super-muggy by 7:00 this morning. i don’t want to wish time away, but i am ready for fall’s cooler temperatures!
keep safe and cool, everyone.
kathy
Oh, I don’t blame you! We’re rather hot today and tomorrow (though not as hot as Iowa!) and then we dip back into the low 70s. Ready!
Stay safe, Kathy.
I’m sorry people are so mean to you. I’ve followed you for years but never comment, or read the comments. I’m grateful I didn’t see them. As everyone in my family are Republicans, you are a breath of fresh air on the subject. I left that party when “he” started lying about the election being stolen and I became an Independent. I thank God there is still a party that loves our country and wants the best for everyone, not just a few. Keep speaking the Truth!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Carol!
Stay safe.
God Bless You for sharing your beautiful pictures of nature. i’m going to quote a friend that shared this message with me the other day it matters little who lives in the White House that matters more who lives in your house. I so appreciate your sharing of your gifts of photography and love of nature, we may not seem share the same worldview, but we do say share the same world.
Thank you so much, Patricia!
Stay safe.