A little blurry, but a monarch visited us on Saturday afternoon. He was feeding on whatever zinnias were still viable. I don’t know whether he came from an egg laid on one of our milkweed plants, but I like to think so. I’ve only seen about 3 monarchs this season. That doesn’t mean there weren’t more, but if there were, I missed them.
Don’s gigs went well. He had great, attentive audiences, so he was jazzed when he got home.
The hurricane damage and flooding in North Carolina is heartbreaking. I didn’t mention it on Saturday because I still wasn’t fully aware of how devastating the situation was. Who would have thought a hurricane could cause such flooding at such a high elevation? Entire towns gone. So many lives lost. I pray for all who are impacted by the flooding. The loss is unfathomable.
We haven’t walked in a few days because of other commitments and rain, so we hope to get back to it this morning. I found myself missing that exercise, and for someone like me, who can be a slug, that’s a good sign. We’re mowing less and less, though the front lawn needs to be mowed this week, so we can’t count on the exercise we get from that little task. We have to walk consistently. And we’ll definitely be raking a heck of a lot this week. You wouldn’t believe much of our property is covered in fallen leaves.
I’m really enjoying Playground by Richard Powers. It took me a bit to get into it, but it was worth it. Powers is one of my favorite authors. Now only does he write beautifully, but he takes on big issues in his fiction. The Overstory, the first book of his that I read, remains one of my favorite novels ever. I think this one is going to be equally beautiful.
I’m working away on the jigsaw puzzle. It’s a difficult one, but I’m making progress. Don made an apple pie yesterday, so we’ll have a piece this afternoon. We’re cheering on the Mets, as they try to get into the post-season. They’ve become our team as we don’t get to see enough Red Sox games in the course of the season to have any sort of relationship with them. Plus, I love the guys in the booth – they’re excellent at what they do and they don’t talk incessantly. And they’re funny. Anyway, I have my doubts as to whether they’ll move on. (I hope they do, of course.) We’ll see today.
That’s it for this Monday,
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
all the losses and destruction from hurricanes, violence, etc. … heart-breaking, overwhelming. that’s one reason why i’m glad you saw the monarch. nature is (most of the time) soothing. also, your photo has a lot of depth that gives perspective to the size of things and such pretty colors! thanks for taking time to include photos along with sharing your words …
glad also that you have lots of other good things in books, a puzzle, pie, etc. and that don’s gigs went well.
finished the seventh “vanderbeekers” book. happy to have read them, but this last one had some very tough parts (a child dies). needed to change it up so now am reading a surfer’s memoir (that i’ve had for probably twenty years) and, as with the “vanderbeekers”, i am very much liking how the author writes. i have a stack of books ready here (at my parents’ home) and at my apartment and i haven’t let but maybe one day go by after finishing one book before starting the next one. i’ve enjoyed all the books i’ve read, which is good too because i don’t want to lose reading again.
been watching lots of doves at the feeder this morning. bluejays and cardinals follow. earl usually shows up very early, then a couple more times during the day and definitely before it starts to get dark out. all fun to see.
best i get to some tasks. i like to get them done early and it’s almost 10 am here (oops).
hope you, don and everyone else have a great day. stay safe!
kathy
You, too, Kathy.
Have a great day.
Stay safe.
I have not seen one Monarch this summer and very few Mourning Cloak Butterflies.
I looked up Oliver, he died in 2000 from cancer in Louisiana . Do you remember the song Good morning sunshine the earth says hello? He sang that .
Have a lovely fall day,
Kaye
Yes. That song is from the musical Hair.
xo
My son lives in North Carolina. Luckily, where he lives is high in the city, but his apartment still flooded as it’s a garden basement apartment. He spent two days vacuuming water and two nights in a hotel. He’s back in his apartment and it’s dry and he has power, but no cell signal. He said the lines for the grocery store and the ATM (stores are only taking cash right now) are unbelievably long. He sent us photos of devastation all over the place. His work is shut down, so he can’t make money. Yet, he is one of the fortunate ones. When the hurricane first formed, I was worried about Florida. I had no idea it would affect North Carolina!
I’m so glad to hear that Don had two great concerts, and that you both get apple pie. :)
Oh, your poor son! But, yes, he is fortunate. What a terrible tragedy for so many!
Stay safe, Jenny.
Hi Claudia. My husband and I are from Asheville, NC but we currently live in Greenville, SC about 70 miles from Asheville. We have a lot of damage here as well. We are fortunate in that we are on an electrical grid with a local hospital, so we received our electricity back within a few hours on Friday. Others have not been so fortunate. Over 60% of our city alone are still without electricity. There’s so much damage with trees down all over, it’s just craze.
Our beloved Asheville is devastated as are we as we see all of the damage. So many of the smaller mountain towns are all but completely gone, so many lives lost. It’s like we are living in a bad apocalyptic movie right now. Western North Carolina is filled with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known, and the area is so incredibly beautiful. It will take a lot of time, and much healing but I know they will rebuild in Asheville.
Best to you and Don.
I’m glad you’re okay, Belinda. How heartbreaking this is. The devastation, the loss of houses, businesses, life. I know it will be rebuilt. My prayers are with you and everyone in NC.
Take care.