• This is a wildflower/weed that is growing on the edge of the funky patio. It’s easily 4-5 feet tall. There are a few more in the memorial garden. It’s just started blooming and the flowers are a subtle pale brown. Aster family? I’m not sure. This year, I left a lot of what-is-this plants alone because I was curious about them. I’m glad I did because the wildflowers are hardy and seem to be withstanding the heat.
I haven’t done any research as to its name, but I like it.
• I hear fewer birds singing at this point in the summer and it always makes me sad. The past several mornings, however, I’ve heard the call of a mourning dove. My favorite bird. My favorite call. That is a lovely way to start the day.
• This morning, while sitting in the den, I heard a bird call that was so loud I actually thought it might be in the room with me. In actuality, it was right outside the open window but danged if I could see the bird. A completely different call than I’ve ever heard before. A mystery.
• Also, this morning while sitting in the den – I heard this loud whirring sound. I wondered if it was some sort of vehicle coming down the road from a long way off. As I turned around to look, there was a hummingbird hovering and looking in the window. That sound was the hummingbird’s wings. I still can’t believe how loud it was. Fortunately, it’s a quiet Sunday morning, so I was able to hear that whirr without any competition from traffic. Amazing.
• And finally, we have a cricket living somewhere in the office. Upstairs. How did it get there? I’ve tried to rescue him a few times, but I can never find him. At first, he was over by the window. Now he’s in the corner near my desk – an area that’s so full of ‘stuff’ that I’ll never find him.
Okay, my friends. Time for more coffee.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
Perhaps the hummingbird is suggesting that you get a syrup feeder? Ours is very rewarding, it attracts little woodpeckers as well as hummingbirds!
ceci
Thanks, Ceci.
Stay safe.
Good morning Claudia. While sitting outside with coffee, we have a sweet hummer that comes over from the feeder to greet us each morning. She flits around about 10” from Scott’s face and then comes over to me and does the same with a beautiful chatter. We can feel the breeze from her wings. It’s quite magical.
The mystery plant is lovely. Poor cricket. Hopefully he won’t be a loud guest.
I love that! You have a relationship with a hummingbird!
I feel badly for the cricket and there’s nothing I like more than rescuing a bug and putting it back outside. I know there’s nothing for this cricket to eat but I can’t find him.
Stay safe, Verna.
I believe that may be horseweed, a member of the Aster family. Considered to be a widespread common weed and can be quite aggressive. You might want to consider pulling it out before the seeds are set and begin disbursing.
Isn’t it amazing how loud the hummers can sound, especially on a quiet morning? I’ve seen far fewer this year than in the past few years, and that saddens me.
Have a quiet and relaxing Sunday.
I don’t think it will get too aggressive here – it has plenty of competition.
I was truly stunned by how loud the flutter of the wings was! Amazing!
Stay safe, Amy.
How lovely that you had a hummingbird encounter. I just adore them. Perhaps you might consider getting a feeder for next year? I can guarantee you many more happy encounters. Enjoy your day! ;)
We think about it, but, when it comes to feeders, I always worry about my neighbors’ outdoor cats.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
whatever it is, weed or not, named or not, i think it’s beautiful. and i applaud its persistence. :)
hope you can identify the different bird and glad you had a hummingbird visit. hope you can see them both next time. :) makes me think of a lovely non-fiction book about a woman who found a hummingbird in her sunroom late in the year and cared for it through winter until it could be let outside. full of incredible photos and called “hummingbird in my house”. i gave a copy to my parents (decades-long bird feeders/watchers) probably thirty years ago. :)
good luck with the cricket. i’d have to ask for help with that one … i don’t like bugs and jumping bugs in particular.
here? taking it easy today … because i can and i am so grateful for that.
hope you, don and everyone else here are having a good day, too.
kathy
I don’t mind bugs at all. But trying to find a cricket is next to impossible.
Enjoy your easy day, Kathy.
Stay safe.
In the foggy morning, but not too early today, I saw thirty teeny-tiny birdies on a wire. What were they doing up there but surveying the scene!
Hope your good-luck cricket survives!
Reading (multiple sources) just now about crickets. I love the sound, but probably not all night when trying to sleep. It said to cut grass and weeds near your foundation. Crickets aren’t fond of the scent of lemon. “Field and house crickets are strongly attracted to bright lights, and they can enter your house through open doors or cracks in doors, window frames, foundation or siding. Crickets don’t usually lay eggs or live very long inside homes — they usually die in the fall or early winter.”
But, while you have him, he is thought to be a positive presence, signifying good luck, fortune, wealth and abundance: “Cricket wisdom is said to represent joy, intuition and power of belief. A cricket’s ability to jump is said to offer the power to leap over a difficult situation.” Crickets are VERY good luck, even more so than ladybugs!
I have a brass cricket which always sits on my fireplace hearth; was my parents’!
xoxo
We couldn’t hear him when we were sleeping because the window a/c was on. But now I don’t hear him at all, so I think he might have left us.
xo
How lovely!
Stay safe, Vicki.
It is definitely Horseweed and I love it!
I do, too! Thanks, Sandy.
Stay safe.
I love listening to the birds when I’m on my back deck or front porch. Today was the chirping of my cardinals while I was sitting on my back deck. 🥰💓💗
It’s the best sound!
Thanks, Luanne.
Stay safe.
So, it is always something. I need some words of encouragement as I am having a hard time dealing with this. We just get through dealing with the passing of my MIL, and then I get news from my cardiologist. I had a scan done last week and he informed me Friday I have a blockage in one artery that I need a stent put in…..NO!!!! Here is the issue. My father had a cath put in and instead of it going smoothly, they tore his aorta! He barely made it through the surgery and lived another year totally disabled. That was 15 years ago but I still have nightmares about it! Has anybody else had this done with good results so I don’t need to be freaked out about this? Tomorrow they will call me with the date it is scheduled for. Thank you Claudia for giving me a place I can vent! Health is wealth!
hej, deb …
offered a reply, just in the wrong place. scroll down to see it, if you like.
kathy
Deb, a very close friend of ours had this done about 4 years ago and he is doing fine. The healing process was hardest for him ~~ patience is a hard task for a lot of people ~~ and healing does take time. But he has had no after-effects at all. He leads a very active life. Let us know when you have your procedure, and you will have a lot of positive thoughts and prayers coming to you. Good luck!!!
Thank you Chris. I will welcome prayers!
Deb, I had two stents (one on each side) placed about 3 years ago. The procedure went well and I went home the next day. My recovery was quick with no problems and I’ve not had an issue since.
I am pretty active and it’s not affected me at all.
My cardiologist doesn’t have a great bedside manner but I’ll take his knowledge/ experience any day!
Hope all goes as well for you!
Thank you Deanna. It is good to hear positive outcomes. I will keep everyone posted.
Oh no! I’m sure all will be well, but you surely do not need more stress right now. I see from the comments that some readers have experience with this, Deb. We’ll be praying for you, my friend.
Stay safe.
Thank you Claudia. Reading the comments is a big help. I will definitely be needing prayers. Trying to read today to keep my stress level down!
Yes, read and do whatever you need to relax, Deb.
xo
dear Claudia/Don — how great re hummer encounter — we have “resident” hummers in the summer, so tiny and beautiful — they really like the sugar water we put out, and also the red canna blooms in the yard, usually they are here until almost Oct. when we put out fresh water, they “buzz” around us until we finish, so delightful. Myma always said to never kill a cricket in the house — another of her “warnings” !!! hope you stay safe/healthy
I wouldn’t kill any bug in the house! I’ve got a good track record for rehoming them back outside.
Thanks, Linda.
I have the app “BirdNET” on my phone for identifying birds by their calls. It’s by Cornell University. Fun to learn which birds are in our area. Available in Google Play Store and Apple Store. By Stefan Kahl. Has a blue jay icon.
I’ll definitely get that app, Donna. Thank you for the tip!
xo
Stay safe.
What a lovely coincidence! I was looking to the bird feeder I have on my back window when suddenly a fast fluttering of wings caught my eye, to my amazement it was the smallest hummer! He stop for a second in a bare branch close to my window and then came to inspect the bird feeder and for a split second my amazed face near the glass. Sadly I was not prepared for his visit. 😞 I ran to my bird supplies and fetch a feeder that now is hanging in the same bared branch he sat just a few minutes ago, full of sugary liquid. Hopefully he will return! I’m still in awe!
I’m thinking we’ll get a hummingbird feeder next year.
Stay safe, Marlene.
OMG ! I went crazy when we had a cricket in our camper. I couldn’t figure our what it was. Every time I got our of bed it would stop. Finally it either left or died. I never found anything.
You can never find them!
Stay safe, Kay.
hej, deb.
so sorry for the loss of your father and for what he and you all went through and now for the loss of your mother-in-law …
… and for you being told you need a stent put in. life is beautiful, but there can sure be some tough times! sorry you’re in one now.
no personal/ family experience with that procedure. sending a hug (if okay) and i will be praying for you.
if you’re comfortable with it, will you please let us know when the procedure is scheduled and when it’s done and you are then relieved and relaxing at home? will be looking to hear your good news. :) thanks.
kathy
Thank you Kathy. You are such a sweetheart.
It sounds like a lovely Sunday. I just added the Merlin app to my phone and you can record bird calls to identify. So far I’ve only got the hairy woodpecker. I either don’t have the phone when I hear the birds or they are so high in the trees I’m not able to get it (though it IS pretty sensitive). They have a really nice website (I think through Cornell, but not sure). So, I’ll be spending some time with that!
Meanwhile around here I’ve seen the eagle, heron, geese, ducks, doves, several woodpecker types, and chickadees. I think a flicker was bobbing around, too, and maybe a nuthatch. And some big black ones — crows? Not grackles, for sure. Always something!
We had a bald eagle living near the river across the road for a while. And we have a lot of woodpeckers on the property. If they’re big and black, most likely crows.
Stay safe, Jeanie.