Just the facts, man. Just the facts.

We’ve moved from severe drought to extreme drought to the dreaded “exceptional drought”. It’s the worst case in history. Restrictions will get tighter through December. So long, green! Hello, brown! Two hours ago it spit rain for ten minutes and I was thrilled even though I was hand watering under it and the hairspray and root boost I used this morning turned my hair into a blonde helmet.

My hoity-toity neighbors in their McMansion across the street are going to get nailed soon. Twice this week during the evening hours, I heard their irrigation running and I’m close to calling the authorities. Water conservation is important now and I’m making a great effort every time I use water. We still flush toilets. I turn the shower off when I’m shampooing my head in the morning and they’re wasting water on a lawn and gardens perfectly planted by a professional.

I want this miserable post to brief from here on. I'll try. October is a beautiful month that gave us an exhilarating three days of Autumn. We opened windows and let the chilly night air inside put us to sleep. Now the air conditioners are humming again.

Earlier this week, the morning temperature was a cool 75!

I saw another one.

Good day for a walk on campus during lunch hour. It’s been three long months since the weather cooled enough for me to risk just a little brow sweat vs. the dripping type - very unattractive in an office atmosphere.

My walking trail is petrified.

It rained dry pine needles and the only sounds I heard were my heart beating, crunch under my feet, and of course, the sounds of construction nearby. The latter is destroying the beautiful equilibrium of nature that so many humans don't notice...sigh.

This is the only color I saw on the trail. I remembered the exact spot on a tree that I found a Ruby Crowned Kinglet and the places I saw Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, and Warblers. Areas where I saw a variety of Sparrows were bare and brown. Other than a sweet chirp of a Cardinal and some Chickadee warnings, there were no bird sounds, no bugs, no butterflies. I did find a shirtless man.

Approaching a shirtless man adjusting his athletic shorts made me feel a bit uneasy… We were the only two people on the public recreational part of my trail and when I saw him, I realized that my only out was to run through 100 yards of heavy brush to the main road. It was odd, I thought, to see a shirtless man. He was walking – not running. It was a cool morning. We did, however exchange polite greetings. My police officer friend is going to give me some pepper spray. Am I too paranoid?

To sum this up, my long awaited walk was disappointing but good for my heart and body. For now, there is more to see at home.

The Gardenias are blooming again. The fragrance is so intoxicating.

Does anyone have a camera that can zoom and focus in 1.5 seconds for little flitty birds? Too much time is wasted while waiting for my camera to make up its mind. It's annoying me. The low-light photos are dismal but it's a great sunny day camera.

Cute little nutty butt.

I call them the “Nutty Cuties”.

The staff at Wild Bird Unlimited loves me. I added a new feeder station last week and bought a new nut feeder today. I learned that Rufous Hummingbirds have taken up residence about thirty minutes north of me at Lake Norman. Odd, but very cool!

I'm thinking it will be good for me to wait for some refreshment before I post again. Ideas and words are difficult lately and I'm wanting to say something happy and uplifting. It won't be long, I hope, because right now, I hear a real rain shower out there. Rain? Are you kidding?