End Of The Season
bees · blogging · bugs · butterfly · Eastern Redbud tree · Flowers · hibiscus · Nature · Nature photography · Photography · spring · squirrels · Summer

End Of The Season

Featured Amy9 Comments

It’s late summer now, and the plants feel like they’re done. It’s been far too hot, far too rainy and the plants are tired. My eastern redbud is dying, its leaves have been dropping all summer and at the base of the tree, you can see the borers doing their damage. The shock of ERJ being sick combined with several other losses this summer broke my heart a little bit. But after some tests, the doctor says my heart is normal. It broke, but it is getting better. I saw a hummingbird a few days ago. I opened the front door and it was hovering above the red Zinnia, staring at me. It looked displeased. I apologized for the lack of selection, but most of the Zinnia had to be pulled because they got powdery mildew. A few days ago, a monarch butterfly arrived to the same plant, and was visibly irritated by the lack of selection. Hopefully they don’t leave me a bad review. I’d like more visitors next year.

I’ve seen a cicada shell, in the usual space I see them. On the clothes pole. I never catch the live bug – I arrive too late.

Ma’am has been here on and off. She had babies this summer, and her face is totally healed. I saw her last week. She’s looking good.

I have four fledgling robins in my backyard, two young squirrels, many sparrows, and very demanding Cardinals. My backyard is the nursery for all of the babies. There was plenty of water at ground level and above in the birdbath, and there are peanuts, served daily. I just wish the moms would come back and pick up their kids!

The hibiscus just finished up blooming. Acorns are dropping prematurely from William I, my 100-year-old Willow Oak. It’s likely due to the weather, or the small acorns not being pollinated. As I said, it was a rough summer.

We’re heading into spider season. I’ve got an office mate named “Stephen with a ph,” and he takes care of any fruit flies for me. I have to be careful not to bump him with my chair or he runs and hides. His cubicle is quite small, so I don’t insist he pay rent. Plus, he’s doing me a service. I only wish he could get the mosquitoes down to his lair.

Here are some photos of late spring and summer. I haven’t posted photos here in a while, and I have missed it. Watch the space for a 🕸️ post.

ERJ before the fatal diagnosis
I had no idea these blooms were the last
Some type of Daisy like plant I couldn’t resist
Wild clover
My mom’s clematis and a purple petunia
A bumble!
Part of a wildflower mix – anyone know?
Basil the pig and friend
Ma’am 💗
Pink zinnia
Hibiscus
Black petunia, my favorite plant
Red zinnia
Cicada shell
Annoyed Monarch butterfly on giant zinnia
I DO NOT LIKE THE PINK KIND, LADY 😠

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Kindness
Advice · blogging · daily prompt

Kindness

Amy4 Comments

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

Even when it’s difficult, even when others don’t do the same, try to remain kind, because we don’t know what others are going through. And if we had the choice, we would want to be treated with kindness. It is challenging to try to keep kindness in your back pocket each day, because it seems we are met with so much cruelty and things that are unkind as soon as we leave the house. But if you look for it, kindness is out there, and sometimes it needs a starting point to gain momentum or to turn a grumpy person in the grocery store to a laughing one. It’s not easy to do this. It requires discipline and practice. Sometimes kindness does not work. There will always be those people who will not budge into a softer version of themselves. That’s OK, but do please leave those people in the dust.

Look for the ones who reciprocate the kindness – they will understand why you carry it with you.

Happy Saturday/Caturday, everyone!

Usefulness of Mosquitoes
daily prompt · Humor

Usefulness of Mosquitoes

Amy9 Comments

What are you curious about?

It seems to me that around this time of year, mosquito venom becomes 25,000 times more concentrated and illicits a bump immediately. They also become super aggressive and bite (stab – let’s call what it is, it’s a stabbing from a tiny insect’s probiscus) in quick succession.

Yesterday I was assaulted multiple times by one mosquito. You could see the trail of one bite to the next. The first bite was very large, but then by the last one, which was approximately fifteen bites later, the bite was very small. That’s because the mosquito had a full belly. Meanwhile, I looked like I had measles. I made way for the calamine lotion and applied diligently. I think I used a quarter of the bottle.

I understand these bugs must have a purpose – like maybe they taste good to bats? – but mosquitoes do not need to bite me when there are many other animals outside who would be just as suitable. I’m not into rolling the dice and seeing if I get a mosquito-borne illness. But these mosquitoes do not care. I think they sense your fear and your dislike of them.

But I’m curious: are they really useful? They’re not adorable like lightning bugs or ladybugs, they are teeny, tiny vampires. And why does their venom become so concentrated at the end of the summer? I’m curious about that.

If you know what creatures feast on these little hypodermic needle-nosed bugs, and/or if you know why the venom becomes so concentrated toward the end of summer, please drop a comment.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a mosquito-free day!

No Idea, and Nope
blogging · daily prompt · Humor

No Idea, and Nope

Amy2 Comments

What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?

Do you know why? Because I can’t remember what it even was. It may have been my bowl of cereal yesterday. A box of cereal will set you back about twelve dollars these days.

Have a great day, everyone. Eat as healthy as you can within budget, but please remember to have a cookie or two sometimes.

Cookie Monster demonstrates proper form
Is This A Trick Question?
blogging · daily prompt · Humor · Uncategorized

Is This A Trick Question?

Amy5 Comments

How would you describe yourself to someone?

I just answered a similar prompt, although it was asking to describe yourself to someone who couldn’t see you. My response was I smell like vanilla. Maybe it’s true, maybe it isn’t. But someone who can’t see me already knows what I smell like. People who can’t see have heightened other senses.

I wonder if WordPress simply forgot to add on the rest of the question to this prompt and it was published again. I’m just saying…it wouldn’t surprise me.

Honestly, I wouldn’t describe myself to anyone. Isn’t that a weird thing to do? Is this a job interview? I can’t think of a single other situation in life where describing yourself is asked.

I have never been asked to describe myself while filling the tank with gas, for example.

“Ten dollars on pump four, please,” I say as I pass the bill across the counter.

The clerk takes my money, then thoughtfully asks, “How would you describe yourself?”

“Currently?”

The clerk nods a gentle encouragement.

“I would describe myself as a little bit weirded out, impatient – because I’m waiting for you to hit the button so I can fill my gas tank, and I’m contemplating running out of here because this is stupidly awkward.”

Can you imagine? Me, neither.

Thirty One
blogging · daily prompt · Humor

Thirty One

Amy14 Comments

List 30 things that make you happy.

Sunshine

Books

Cats

Dogs

Bunnies

Birds

Squirrels

Flowers

Trees

Days off

Sleep

Chocolate

Tiramisu

Basil pesto

Books

Writing

Photography

Tennis

Glitter

Hummingbirds

Turning off autocorrect, because I know what I meant to type, so stop insisting

Finding money on the ground

Good hair days

Warm brownies

Art

Photography

New pens

Notebooks/journals

Ok, ok, stationery as a whole

Laughing

Making other people laugh

You, dear reader! Thanks for being here!

I Smell Like Vanilla
blogging · daily prompt · Humor

I Smell Like Vanilla

Amy7 Comments

How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?

If a person can’t see you, it doesn’t matter what you look like. They’re not going by visual cues, they’re going to use their other senses.

Pacifica Island Vaniila (original formula) is my go-to.

The description of the scent, as well as the perfume, can be found at pacificabeauty.com.

Inspired by the luscious Tahitian Islands, this beautifully sophisticated fragrance is an exotic blend of Tahitian vanilla, loved for its fruity and slightly floral aroma, anchored with creamy, rich bourbon vanilla.

Image credit to fragrantica.com

So if you’re walking down the street, and you don’t see me, but you smell this ☝️, say hi. 

No.
blogging · daily prompt

No.

Amy2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.
View all responses

This prompt smacks of narcissism and braggadocio. Do we need to be kind to others so that we can tell everyone about it? Do we need attention for being kind? Is that what this is about?

Because I think it isn’t. And I think this prompt is tactless.

Be kind to others. You don’t need to announce it. In fact, it doesn’t really count as a kindness if you tell everyone. At least not in my book.