Hello August

July consistently gave us hot, hazy evenings. What will August bring? More of the same, I'm sure, but hotter than hell, so they predict. I'm not quite fully cooked but August will take care of that!

Another day has passed without an idea for a post. Boredom strikes again and this trend is turning into a bad habit. Think Mary, Think! Hello? Where are you? In lieu of a lot of meaningless chatter (typical on this blog), I’ll share some photos I’ve taken during the past week and add a few brief comments. If you like photos, stay with me. If not, hit your back button.

I screwed up, allowed the fence to get in the way, and consider this to be an example of poor photography. I love this shot anyway. Female Cardinals are so strikingly elegant!

A few brief downpours and my hand watering have kept the flowers and shrubs from dying so we planted some hibiscus along the fence near the pond. They’ll wrap themselves around the rails and turn into a solid mass of eye candy for the hummingbirds.

Speaking of hummingbirds, they put me in a trance. I have never witnessed such frenzy! Ten to fourteen at a time chitter-chatter and hover in front of my face which makes me instinctively duck for cover. I sit for long periods and watch the magic.

Where are the males? Can someone tell me why I've only seen females in the last week or two?

A new visitor came to call while I was washing dishes so I went outside to introduced myself and to also make sure his intentions were good, as he was actually trespassing on our property. The pond had him mesmerized and he said, “It’s breathtaking!” I wanted to ask him if he has a blog. What nine-year-old boy refers to nature as being “breathtaking”?

Chloe and Bella made a new friend. I'd hire him to play with them but it's too hot for their running for more than ten minutes.

The dragonfly population is growing. After taking about fifteen photos, I found a decent one. It looks like a Common Whitetail without the white tail.

A very cute and clever smart-ass. I grit my teeth and laugh at the same time at this brazen little creature.

The Pokeberries are ripening and the patch has grown to about eight feet round. At least something is growing well... They are new this year.

My lifeless Canna plants are looking a little better. The beetles are still tormenting, though.

Does anyone want some free pond plants? I need to thin the celery every day. I'm not complaining but I'd like to have room to sit on the edge and cool my bare feet.

On to the "Dog Days":

"I'm... too sexy for my toys...too sexy..." Mr. Biggins. What a man!

Do Boston Terriers need teeth to carry things? Don't think so...

Eeeeeks! Poor thing. That face... Chloe’s face is one only a Mother could love.

Tomorrow I will THINK.