I briefly saw a monarch butterfly dining on one of the coneflowers the other day. I tried to quickly get my camera but alas, when I got back there, she was gone.
A brief appearance by Buddy (or one of his siblings) late yesterday afternoon. It’s hard to tell the difference between them now because they’re nearly full grown. Also, an equally brief appearance by a baby bunny.
It’s a lovely day today and I’ll take advantage of it by attempting to mow the lilac side of the lawn. I think it might stay sunny all day! How can that be???
Don got home at midnight last night. I was already asleep because I was darned tired and he told me not to wait up for him. He had a great time. Don loves performing and he hasn’t been getting enough of that during the past four years. Even though it was a long drive, he came back energized.
We like to work. We need to work. We need to perform. (As a former entertainer myself, I get it.)
So sad to hear of Tony Bennett’s passing. What an incredible human being he was. My mom LOVED him. And she got to see him live at least twice, maybe three times. She was so, so happy. I loved him too, but my favorite memory is of Mom singing along with his recordings.
The devastation from the flash floods of last week continues. We were lucky to escape the worst of that but there was definitely flooding around here, as well. All the rivers – and we have two of them within 100 feet of us – are incredibly high. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with the devastation, from just south of us, to Vermont, to Kentucky, and all places in-between.
I spent most of the day yesterday calculating and writing up our deductions – we always take an extension. I had to force myself to do it but I’m very happy it’s done! Now, Don has to finish his but I won’t bug him about it until tomorrow.
Nothing else new, I’m just happy Don is back safely and that the sun is shining today.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
Oh happy day! It is a wonder what a difference in attitude the sun can make. We have clouds here…which brings the possibility of thunderstorms later today…so I’ll take that as a win.
Glad Don had a great night. As a performer I’m sure he misses it deeply. Glad he has these gigs to keep his skills sharp.
Happy to hear you had a possible Buddy sighting…they grow up so quickly. I haven’t seen or heard the baby raccoons around here…although someone told me they made an appearance last weekend. Our orioles have stopped coming to the jelly feeder…so I suppose that’s the end of that, too.
Enjoy your day! ;)
He really does miss it. It’s very hard for him.
This part of the summer always makes me a bit sad. The baby birds have fledged, the baby animals are growing up, less and less bird calls…
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Lovely, lovely coneflowers! Never could get them to grow at the lake, hard as we tried…yours will have to suffice. Yay Don and his gig! Having seen him in action, I know that his audience was pleased.
Oops! forgot to mention that your monarch reminded me of the first Kingsolver book that hooked me—Flight Behavior. Just the first of many stories of hers that I’ve enjoyed lately. She weaves such beautifully descriptive tales of the natural world and the humans who mostly revel in it and/or try to control it.
I have her newest reserved at the library. I’ve not read her books, though I think I have another one around here somewhere is a TBR pile.
I’ll have to remedy that!
Stay safe.
He’s a charmer!
Thanks, Shanna.
Stay safe.
except for the flooding problems, everything else sounds good. you sound relieved, like today will be an easier day for you. i am glad if you have a good day and that don’s gig went well (of course it did!) and that he is pleased. :)
i knew you lived near a river, but two?!? and within 100 feet of your home?!? no wonder you have worries about lots of rain (sorry). but two rivers with easier weather?!? i’d get nothing done for wanting to be by/in them all day … haha! but again, happy for you. :)
glad you saw buddy. we finally saw earl on the deck now two days ago after his extended absence … a relief. :)
well, here, i am on a vase-buying spree. :) got two a few weeks ago and just bought another one last night. it is beautiful (also, vintage and handmade) and i am so excited to get it. will take a while as it’s coming from england. :o i’m trusting the seller and the reviewers that it will be packed securely and arrives safely. otherwise i’d leave it more safely in england for someone else to be thrilled to have it. but i get to be thrilled to have it! :)
usual chores, then a walk before it heats up. still reading, too. :)
happy, safe saturday to everyone.
kathy
Yay for seeing Earl again! You must be relieved.
And hurrah for pretty vases that you can’t resist.
Stay safe, Kathy.
yes, it was a relief to see earl … but i am trying very hard to not get attached (too late), you know? it’s hard. he is so cute, just precious, but his trust in us (especially when he flops down on his belly and lays on the deck for fifteen minutes or so) often leaves me in tears because i know not all people would be kind to him and because earl needs to stay wild. (sigh …)
though it might sound otherwise, i’m not looking to collect vases. just looking for pretty things to hold pretty plants and, occasionally, flowers. not that things look spartan at my little place, but also i want to see something where once there were piles of books (which are now in that new-to-me cupboard).
hope you are having a nice night.
kathy
It’s impossible not to get attached. Trust me.
xoxo
Claudia, that’s a beautiful photo! I can just visualize the monarch flitting around! Glad you’re getting some clear skies and sun and can get outside to do some work. Yes, Tony Bennett will be missed…a beautiful voice and a good person! Hope your rivers don’t exceed their banks!
So far, so good, Barrie.
Stay safe!
dear Claudia/Don — glad Don had a successful trip — these days you never can be sure. so sorry for all the flood victims — even w/out any deaths — the destruction, property losses, not to mention crop destruction down in WKy. reading about is easy but the reality of living thru it, is not. AND the cleaning up, replacing, insurance hassles, etc seem to go on forever. Like in WKy, it is way too late to replant crops, so they have tremendous loss. sure y’all stay safe.
It’s terrible. Just terrible!
Stay safe, Linda.
Hi, Claudia: I’ve been meaning to write this for some time, so before I forget — I want to say that I admire you for “pushing forward” – or however to say it – when you are upset or worried. You occasionally write about those feelings and that you will then undertake some chore or another to take your mind off what you are concerned about. I really admire that because I know those feelings . . . and when they overtake me, I freeze. I become frozen and can’t do anything. So I am going to have to start behaving more like you. :-) Anyway, glad that Don had a great performance. I think I’ve said it before, but I read your blog every day and I always enjoy it. A great public service, as far as I am concerned. Now . . . let’s keep our fingers crossed that the orange stain on our country will soon pay the price for his crimes , , , ALL OF THEM. From your friend you’ve never met, Chris
I don’t always ‘push forward’ – sometimes I can’t. It depends on the situation. But I have learned that distracting myself with a task of some sort, whether it’s a chore or dressing a Blythe, really helps. I am a worrier by nature and have been since I was a little girl. I have had to find a way not to live in worry. So that’s what I do.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Chris.
Stay safe.
I am so happy for Don. Good for him on making the effort.
It’s been a very stressful time here for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which was the lack of work for Don during COVID which has resulted in a 4+ year stretch of no acting work. I’m happy he is playing music publicly again – it gives him a creative outlet that he desperately needs. Plus, he feels better about himself.
Thanks, Kay.
Stay safe.
Two things to be thankful for – Don’s safe arrival home after his successful gig and the sunshine. Your picture reminds me of visiting my aunt’s farm when we were kids. Always flowers, always butterflys, always bumble bees flitting about. The flooding is tragic and has affected so many people. Tony Bennet will be missed. I remember him performing with Lada Gaga in 2021. Enjoy the rest of your weekend with Don. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine!
Stay safe.
We’ve had our first brood of barn swallows under the overhang on the front porch fledge and fly away, leaving room and time for a second one. What’s really fun is watching the mockingbirds take over my lounger on the covered porch in the back. They tumble or face off for territorial fights on the supports, run underneath the space left where the long cushion curves up to meet the back support, and hop on the arms. Sometimes there are six or seven on this back-porch playground. It’s great fun to sit at the bedroom window, reading, and look up to watch them. Our temperatures are brutal this summer, and I’ve had three skin-cancer-related surgeries in six weeks, one requiring a skin graft and a flap to remake my nose, so there’s not going to be much outside time for me. I’ve seen the first butterflies out my office window, too. I’m grateful for the nature that I do get to see and that the Texas grid is holding up. Because we’re older, we did get a portable AC unit powerful enough for one room this summer and we already have a generator powerful enough to run it. Thanks to Greg Abbott and others, we’ve been buying one piece of expensive equipment we might never need each summer, just in case. I’m glad Don had that gig this weekend.
hej, linda. :)
sorry that you’ve had to go through those surgeries. praying for your fast and full recovery to great health!
glad you have books and birds and air conditioning!
stay safe and well.
kathy
How wonderful to be able to observe all the birds, Linda.
I am so sorry you have had to go through those surgeries. I’m am sending prayers and healing energy your way, knowing that you will recuperate fully.
And hopefully, the DOJ will sue Greg Abbott for what he is doing to immigrants at the border!
Stay safe.
We’re so hot in southern Calif after a long period of weeks when it was so nice and cool. Even the beaches will be in the 80s today (Sunday); hot all next week, too. I think it’s called SUMMER. But I just wilt in these 90s temps at my house slightly inland from the coast.
I have a friend from the school years who lives on a ranch in southern Utah where he’s working hard (as a retired biologist) to establish monarch-butterfly habitat where there hasn’t been one (in the high desert); he says milkweed is essential for monarch survival. My husband cringes at the idea of purposely growing it; I think you said you have some on the edge of your woods? It’s considered a weed by many of course.
I may have only seen ONE monarch in the past year. Even with our meadow patch. At least the bees are coming back.
Why cringe at growing it? It’s a great thing to grow. We used to have it on the edge of the woods, but now it grows in our big garden bed and over by the rose bushes. It self-seeded on its own. Milkweed has beautiful flowers and then you can watch the process of milkweed caterpillars appearing and, eventually, monarch butterflies. There’s nothing better! Monarchs will only come from milkweed plants. That’s it.
Stay safe, Vicki.