Snake Visitation Day

There were a few small, green garden snakes and a few large black snakes that lived with us in Maryland. Since then, I haven’t seen a snake at my house until today. We live on a small fraction of an acre in suburbia so who would have thought they’ve been living with us for a while?

The sound of a grown man screaming like a girl is hilarious. He was pulling weeds around the hydrangeas (which, by the way did not produce flowers this year) when I saw him jump back. I guess I would have jumped back, too. My role as house photographer went into immediate action and I directed him to fetch a rake. He came back with a shovel. Hellooo? I knew his heart was pounding and he just couldn’t think. I commented, “Unless you intend to chop its head off, go get the rake. The heavy one!” The rake didn’t work. We lost the snake. You can’t be timid when relocating a snake. I know from experience.

Chloe has had her head in the same garden for days and now I know why. She’s a skillful hunter and recognizes the musky smell of a nervous snake, unlike her sister,

Bella, who fears a hunt and would rather keep herself safe within her hula hoop or behind my legs.


Two hours later…

We have numerous lizards and toads around the house and this poor Skink was about to be called dinner, by this:

Another snake? Two snakes in one day? It looks like a common garter snake to me – no danger. But I’m not quite sure yet.

I had my camera. I had to take a chance. Not knowing if it was deadly or if it would strike, I sat down anyway and scooted two feet away from the pretty snake and whispered, “Let’s see a little snaky lick”. Success!

It became heavenly cool this weekend! Overnight temps in the 50’s and daytime highs in the 80’s probably made the snakes move. They are also very thirsty and I have what they need. Our drought is beyond being called severe or extreme. We are in real danger here and I’m not exaggerating. I read David’s post from Leave Me Alone I’m Digging and I loved it. His frustration with the heat and drought here in NC is shared but entertaining at the same time.

Irrigation systems and spinklers are prohibited, making the pond an oasis. A Mockingbird insisted I leave before taking a dip.

Early evening mirrors the golden sunset on cool water.

The cool evening air invited me to spend a little time to photograph a Canna’s reflection.

It’s out of focus but I like it. We still have some life to see and for that, I am thankful. Now, I'm heading outdoors again to breathe the fresh air and to enjoy the end of summer. It's 6:24 p.m. I need to go see the sunset in an hour.

Travel Prep

Plump and ready to go - a recent photo.

It might be the last hummingbird photo I take this year.

Today I stepped onto the deck and didn’t see them or hear their squeaky chitter-chatter for twenty long minutes. The silence was too apparent so I sat in a chair, waited for them, and thought about it. I was relieved to see two come in for a landing and guard their nectar.

It won’t be long now. At any moment, they will fly away without looking back and leave this uncomfortable place. I hope they soak up rain showers on their journey because they deserve a break – a vacation away from this dry pit.

I have heard they often return to the same address in the spring. That fact amazes me because I get lost while reading a road map.

Since May, I have felt a sense of ownership or rather, a bond with my hummingbirds as if they were my pets. I’ll miss them and the pleasure they give.

Unusual Names and Things

My Mother loved Marcel Marceau and the romantic sound of his name.

Listening to the Bose radio alone tonight is quite alright. I’m not alone, really, because I can hear Chloe and Bella’s jingle and their chomping jaws on rawhides. Delilah takes requests on an evening romantic radio show. The music is loud in the house now but the tunes are soft and reflective…James Taylor’s, “You’ve Got a Friend”, “Lady in Red”, “You Look Wonderful Tonight”, and, “Love Shack” (yeah!)

Sherry at Q’s Corner invited me to participate in a middle name meme. Please click and browse through her artistic talent and see photos worth publishing.

I’ve never liked my middle name and had no intentions of participating in this meme! Throughout my life, everyone I knew named “Mary” had a sweet or saintly middle name attached to it, i.e. Mary Ann, Mary Beth, Mary Alice, Mary Lee, or Mary Lou. I was known as Mary Moore (first & last name) during elementary and high school and I withheld my middle name from everyone until today.

So, in honor of Marcel Marceau who left us on Sunday, September 23, 2007, I find it to be fitting that I honor his talent and my Mother, who chose this name for me. I’ll describe myself in one word for each letter of my middle name.

M – moody

A – artistic

R – rebellious

C – caring

E – empathetic

L – laughing at every given opportunity

Now the entire world knows that my Mom didn’t choose a traditional middle name for me. When I questioned her choice several times during my childhood years, she said, “Marcel Marceau is a famous mime and I like the sound of Marcel.”

I’m not French. I'm not a mime. I'm a female. But I love my Mom anyway.

So, there you have it.

I am named after a famous male French mime. Go ahead and laugh! I am... and now, after a few decades, I think I like it.

Tag: Susan, Pam, and Laurie.

Unusual post? Yes. Here are some things that amuse my unusual self - photos I rescued from the recycle bin.

Slug or dried up hibiscus bloom?

Laughing Cardinals

I stare at flowing water patterns.

Toads in all colors

Bam’s sweet obsession with my daughter's fragrant ponytails

Cloud formations (pucker up, handsome!)

Mushrooms during a drought?

Microscopic butterflies and moths

My husband’s obsession with the ugliest tree on earth:

He enjoyed himself alone at the nursery. He destroyed the tag and I don’t even know what it is. Sickly, but soft to touch!

Orb Weavers, Birding, and English Bulldogs

Grinning from ear to ear, I'm posting again... After an Autumn tease for a few days, we are roasting again. Fry an egg on my exhausted head.

Walking through an Orb Weaver’s web the size of Texas was the highlight of my weekend. I didn’t see it as I walked by the northeast side of the house yesterday. The slimy, elastic net pulled, snapped, and attached around my entire body - across my hair, eyeglasses, neck, waist, and legs. I could hear a rubber band popping sound as it was unable to hold me in its surprisingly strong grip. Waaaaaaa! Mary instinctively put on a show for the world to see of arms flinging, feet stomping, pirouetting, and head shaking all the way through the gate, up into the sunroom, and through the kitchen door. I wouldn’t dare touch my hair because I felt something moving in it!

Michael saw me running through the sunroom and thought I might be having a seizure fit of some sort. His eyes wide, he heard me yell, “Mi-i-i-i-i-ichael! Is there a spider in my hair? LOOK!”

No spider. But… there was a spider. I gave it a free ride into the sunroom where it greeted me this morning.

In the sunroom. In my house. I’ll have nightmares tonight.

Overnight, it made an elaborate web that was attached to the ceiling fan, coffee table below it, and the wall. I didn’t know it was there until I let the dogs out this morning and felt that familiar “snap” around me again…just a little snap when I passed through one of its anchors.

It took me two hours to muster the courage to remove it with a broom. It’s back in the bushes on the northeast side of the house now and I won’t walk that way again without waving a broomstick in front of me. I won't forget.

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We’ve been in NC for two years and I need to get around and know the state. I submitted a reservation request for a field trip with the Mecklenburg County Audubon on October 13! It’s a beginning birder field trip and I think that’s a good place for me to start. I would love to join them on the 14th’s Big Sit but I’ll wait until next year for that! I’ll enjoy meeting new people in NC and discovering hot spots for birding and nature, plus, I’ll know my way around to find good images when I want to break away from backyard boredom.

I do love my birds and the life in my backyard…

L.O.L.! (I do have a good variety of birds, not shown here!)

Didn’t know that gargoyle on the lower right stepped into the photo…

The dark beak threw me off but Julie helped me to identify it as a juvenile Goldfinch. The poor little thing drank and bathed in the pond alone while a hawk watched nearby but I was there to protect...

Update: I count four now. The other ten or so have started their journey. I took this photo this morning knowing it might be my last opportunity for a long while.

I am grateful for what my yard offers, but I gotta get outta here!

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~ Weekend Funnies ~

Bam Bam’s (a.k.a. Bamma Lamma Ding Dong) testicles are still healing and needed a break from roughhousing with Mr. Biggins. I took him for a few hours while Michael and Gina shopped around town.

Doggie McWanna Whiz on Weeds and Wildflowers

He laughs heartily at Chloe’s concern about his healing testicles.

Hula Hoops frighten him but he can’t resist chasing Bella.

I’m the b-b-best hula girl, ain’t I, Mom?

I am in a snit.

!$%&*!#* !

My photos are worth dirt today and I'm not happy. I'm irritated about the whole day. Little setbacks and imaginary gnats flying around my head make me grit my teeth.

Thank you for making me wait, young lady. You are lovely.

I’m in a snit.

My right eye has an annoying twitch.

Water restrictions will become more severe soon but I planted Coneflowers today with high hopes. I’ll haul buckets of water to them in the evenings until it rains again – maybe in two weeks. Garden hoses are not allowed!

Of course, no one visited. I waited for a while but the butterflies didn’t notice them.

They seemed interested in ratty, dried up Canna, instead, and flew away while I was navigating over rocks in my Crocs to get closer.

I see a fetus. Maybe the twitch in my eye is affecting my vision.

Tomorrow is another day. Deep sigh...

The day wasn't a total loss, however. OJ and Marsha Clark met in the same courtroom. Very cool!

Writing Challenges

Oh, we thought this little three-hour class would be a cinch. It was an opportunity to earn professional development credit hours so about fifteen of us strutted through the door, ready to learn we don’t have anything to learn. We thought, “Who needs room for improvement for sending simple e-mails?”

We laughed throughout the entire class because it was fun, especially to see a small group of autobody instructors putting together a decently arranged paragraph consisting of adjectives, subjects, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, interjections, phrases, indirect objects, and clauses. I didn’t have a clue as to what most of these terms meant. Really. I recognize the terms, heard about them, studied them, but didn’t know a phrase from a clause. Eeeks. Punctuation was a highlight, especially when we were asked to punctuate contractions and plural possessive nouns!

Does anyone remember sentence diagrams? I do. I liked them, probably because I’m a visual learner and I like to draw. They were pushed down our throats for years, to the point I would dream about them and draw them for fun. My Mom would recite a sentence and I’d diagram it for her. How’s that for an exciting evening at the kitchen table!

The Sisters in the Catholic schools I attended for twelve years were ruthless and mean when it came to teaching grammar and writing. Donna, a very kind teacher, uses a green pen for marking up papers but those Sisters of Providence and Notre Dame used red flairs and other humiliating tactics to whip us into shape.

I don’t think children are taught grammar and punctuation the same way anymore. Whenever I hear the question, “Where’s it at?”, I freak out, especially when I hear professionals say it. It’s kind of sad that I had great preparation for writing but can’t tell you what an independent clause is. I’m aware that I use old, tired clichés and too many commas. My worst writing habit is the consistent use of run-on sentences. I tend to add an "and" and keep going. And, what’s worse than that is I know I’m doing it! But don’t care. La Dee Da~

I had a horrible time writing my last post because I was paralyzed with new information. I mean, how many times can you recite a sentence in your mind and then have the audacity to type it as a run-on? It took me hours to write it and I was so disgusted that I nearly scrapped the whole thing.

So, here are a few photos that show how much I loved the cool weather this weekend. I will try to be a very good caption writer. Donna, have your green pen ready.

It’s been a long time since Chloe & Bella shared a sunny spot on the porch. After the daytime temperatures dipped from 95 to 78 overnight, we're all in shock.

Autumn is almost here but I have a feeling summer will continue for a while. Summer is my favorite season despite the horrible one we faced in 2007.

The bees are back. I didn’t even realize they weren’t around for a few weeks. Or, maybe there were here and I was just too hot to care.

No one knows how large the Koi are by looking at my photos. The largest ones are at least ten inches long and hefty enough for a fish dinner for two. They are rejoicing, too, after sinking in darkness for a few months.

The birds are active and gay now. I often wonder what they were doing when it was so hot. It was cool enough to attempt to get a photo of a Tufted Titmouse last night. I'll keep trying.

It’s good to see plump hummingbirds. They need to beef up for their journey…

If you haven't seen the best hummingbird photos, visit Ruth at Nature Knitter for a real treat. I've viewed her post several times!

Dripping Gemstones

We waited for Joe to arrive for dinner at the clubhouse on Friday night. From Maryland, he drove through tornado conditions in Virginia and a very long back-up on I-85 south in North Carolina but he took the time to stop at a grocery store nearby to hand me a pretty bouquet of flowers. Very sweet!

The view from the 9th hole was cloudy. The rain kept us under cover and we were all happy about it!

We spent many hours at dinner. Our sides ached from laughing and drinks flowed generously until we faded before midnight in our family room. Michael, Joe, and John share the same stressful occupations and enjoy being “boys” for needed relaxation of golf and Casino Night fun.

Two days prior:

I took this photo just before “lights out” on Wednesday. Chloe & Bella wore him out. Mr. Biggins spent two nights and days here because Bam Bam was neutered on Wednesday. The day after his surgery, however, he was rushed to the emergency vet with respiratory complications that scared us! English Bulldogs are very special surgical patients. His distress was temporary and he arrived home a few hours later feeling great.

During the wee hours on Friday morning, I heard rain tap the windows. Rain? The soft sound was music to my ears and I returned to bed heaving a sigh of relief. I spent most of the day watching soaking rains we haven’t seen for months.

I listened to tiny splashes and did not feel the blistering sunshine.

Diamond drops from heaven. Tiny gemstones.

The cool air invites me to stalk birds and take long walks again.

I think I've lost my knack for photographing birds. She would not cooperate! Practice will help me get into the groove again.

What a voice! Loud and sweet. Sing to me!

I shouldn’t be able to see a Carolina Wren in this tree. The summer has sucked the life from it... It's been so harsh.

The green gems are still plentiful and active. Please stay for a while longer?

Now, I'll find a jacket, pull up some sweat pants and check on the pond fish. I can breathe again. The refreshment is almost too much to handle. I want to sleep for twelve hours or more.

I should NOT worry about Cobwebs.

It's been an endless summer. It's still beautiful, hot, and dry.

Cobwebs decorate my house and I have no plans of having a Halloween party. Cobwebs are a sign of neglect. But hey! Who freaking cares? Check out Bill of the Birds post today, written by Birdchick. Get the message. You might laugh until you cry.

Why am I talking about cobwebs? We have friends from Maryland arriving on Friday for a weekend of golf and fun. I really don’t want them to see the cobwebs, dead flies on windowsills, or toilets that need cleaning. The dust that covers every inch of living space here includes short, black & white dog hairs and whatever else floats around this house. Hey, they’re men. Maybe I’ll just put fresh linens on their beds and be done with it. HA! I will make the bathrooms shiny and pristine.

I probably won’t be posting for a few days due to sleep deprivation and having a lot to do. Bam Bam had his testicles whacked off today so we have Mr. Biggins for a night or two. We’ll share a back bedroom. Me and Mr. Biggins, with his 25-foot long legs that will push me, inch by inch, to the edge of the bed by 2 am.

Here are some photos and some of them include frustrating captions. Bear with me?

Yeah, I know it’s hot, sweetie. We have this mood thing going on. It's called LAZY.

Autumn is near but this is not a sign of Autumn. It's a sign of stress.

Stress from an extreme drought. Water restrictions might last until January.

Determined to get out of the house, I drove to the pond to see the Egret. No Egret, but I thought I saw a sandpiper! Naaaaa…

Oh, boy. What’s this? TRASH. Were these photos worth standing in baking sun and feeling sweat drip into my burning eyes?

These water creatures are worth it. Me loves my turtles.

I’m trying not to think about them leaving. After five months, I have loved and cared for them every day. I hope they remember that my house is their house and return next spring. Sigh… I have taken numerous photos that I'll treasure and share whenever I need a lift.

Long-term residents include clumsy juveniles practicing their feeding skills. Their summer pink feet are pretty.

During the weekend I got fed up and impatient. For a long time I let the pond ooze with overgrown plants to provide shade for the fish in boiling heat. I missed seeing them, and like a crazed mad woman, I forgot about my painful back and used the large net and my hands to rip out the overgrown celery plants. The water lilies have room to grow now,

and here they are, at last.

They grew inches without pellet food for two months. Hello strangers! Remember me? They obviously did...

Hey, excuse me… Excuse me… Excuuuuse Meeeeee! Go find some acorns or something… It’s too damned hot out here and you’re getting on my last nerve. Hmmmph.

I Remember

It was a glorious morning in Maryland with clear blue skies, sunshine, and cool breezes wafting through the classroom windows. Eight hundred bright students and a refreshed faculty and staff were all gathered in the high school gymnasium attending a Back to School liturgy. We all felt connected that morning and raised our voices in song together, unlike many liturgies before.

Near the end of the closing hymn, someone delivered a message to the Principal. He made an announcement that we didn’t fully comprehend. “…an aircraft has crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. Let us pray.” A freshman girl sitting on the bleachers knew her Dad had a morning appointment in one of those towers. He occasionally had business there. His body was soon identified.

Five hundred miles away, my daughter was stunned. She dialed my cell phone from her condo at the university. I reassured her, “Oh, Gina, it was probably pilot error.” She knew more than I did. “No, Mom. The other tower has been hit.” Her classes were cancelled.

I wanted to reach through the phone and pull her close to me. Without waiting a minute, I wanted to gather her, my husband, and everyone I else loved.

The school office phones rang continually, students were dismissed, and after the last student left the campus I went to my car, still not knowing all of the ugly details of the day. The ride home was quiet and strange. It was such a beautiful day... When I looked at other drivers’ faces, I saw grave concern. American flags were already being draped over store fronts and homes.

So I sat in my family room for the rest of the day, feeling helpless, and watched the tragic, life changing events unfold on TV.

God Bless Us.

Where were you six years ago on this day at 8:46 a.m.?

Who were you missing?

Floating Feathers

When I see the bird feeders half-full and not empty at the end of day, I’m surprised. I’ve been consistently feeding twenty pounds of black oil sunflower every week, in addition to suet, peanuts, and grapes. Not so, this week.

Bird feathers are scattered everywhere around the feeders and pond - so many feathers on the ground that we track them inside the house. What I’m seeing aren’t piles of feathers from a struggle or kill from an owl or hawk. Well, the above photo might be a sign of a fight.

I have wondered if the birds are dehydrated like we have been this summer but they drink and bathe in the pond, so that's probably not the case.

They’re everywhere, floating freely,

and attached to everything.

I haven’t seen a hawk in many weeks but Saturday morning proved they are here during the day when I’m away.

I wanted this to be a red-shouldered hawk (I love them) but it isn’t… By looking at the tail markings, I think it’s a juvenile Cooper’s. Ok, Susan and Julie, I’m ready for my penance. Sock it to me.

At 7:15 a.m. I stepped outside with the dogs, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and quickly but clumsily ran for my camera. The hawk was in its alert mode on my neighbor’s rooftop, about fifty yards away and this is the best photo I could get. I want a lens the length of my arm!

Are pigeons stupid? I think so. While the feeders were quiet and vacant of intelligent birds, four retarded pigeons teased the hawk with their sluggish fly-bys. The hawk’s head twisted and turned with an accurate aim and I knew death was imminent.

I’ve seen a hawk carry away a Mourning Dove once, but I never saw the pursuit. The powerful take-off and skillful flight of a hungry hawk is something to behold. On the other side of that rooftop I am certain a pigeon perished.

Perhaps this house cat is to blame for scattered feathers! I thought about it during her visit late last night and concluded she is too interested in rubbing, purring, and mewing for attention to traumatize birds. She hasn’t visited in several months and while it was nice for a few minutes, I sent her purring hiney home.

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Bella got a ride in the back seat of Daddy’s new truck. She’s a good passenger.

She sits still, unlike her sister who scrambles to the window at every stoplight. Her ears tell me she’s concerned about something.

She was worried because she knew her toenails were too long… "Me thinks I'm in twouble."

"P-p-please, no! Let’s g-g-go back home!"

As usual, "Good girl, Bel Bel!" No tranquilizers for her! Chloe would certainly need a few.

No rain. Just a tease from Mother Nature. Sigh...

The Dog Days Remain

Will September ever arrive and bring a cool breeze with it?

Today our tongues are dry. Swimming pools and garden hoses are not allowed. Sorry, Bel Bel, Chloe, Mr. Biggins, and Bamma Lamma Ding Dong.

Let's all go inside and watch Everybody Loves Raymond.

It's too hot for words and playful dogs.

"Police Academy" - not a Comedy

This won’t be my usual post about nature or ranting about the weather. Well... yes, it is about nature. Human nature.

Have you ever loved a police officer or a soldier? I have. Have you ever wondered why they chose their occupation to defend and protect? I have.

I am observing and photographing my fourth class of police recruits at the academy where I work. The recruits know I’m their photographer and have agreed to allow me to capture their moments in training with photographs. We smile at each other but don’t talk much because I respect their routine as being rigorous. They began as a class of thirty a few weeks ago. Now there are twenty-two and a few more of them won’t graduate in December.

I’ll try to be brief instead of forcing my usual long-winded chatter on you.

Week One:

First formation on August 13. Some of them are prepared for seventeen weeks of Hell. Some are not prepared at all but might make it to the end.

Intimidation is felt by the recruits on day one. Fear. They need support from their families and friends and to form a bond with their classmates.

Seven-foot two Sgt. Moore is a kind and somewhat shy man until he needs to test their physical and emotional strength. His command surprises me. I love working with him and listening to his strong and wonderful singing voice on morning runs. He weeds out the deadwood quickly.

This recruit is hearing things his mother would never say to him… Other commandants and trainers are ruthless, as well. Harsh words prepare them for the streets.

Many of the recruits don’t realize that physical preparation for a few weeks before they begin training would help them. They had warning.

Two weeks ago, I witnessed PT at 7:15 a.m. It was already eighty-five degrees and humid.

Stretching and getting ready for a grueling workout.

The PT lasted over an hour and they were directed to run one-half mile, do twelve push-ups, run one-half mile, do twelve sit-ups, and they repeated the test at least twelve times. I wanted to lay down for a nap. They help each other with encouraging words if they have the breath to give…

Watching “Johnson” struggle was hard for me. I didn’t want to speak to her because I thought I’d be over-stepping my boundaries as a photographer. But I did anyway. She heard me say very softly, “Go, Johnson! Go, and finish!” And she did. She came in last but made it.

They learn from experts in areas of domestic violence, gang awareness, legalities, martial arts, hazmat, meth awareness, juvenile crimes, weapons, Spanish for law enforcement, driving, and much more. Our basic law enforcement training is regarded as superior at agencies in the surrounding counties.

Reporting for class after showers.

They smile! Yeah!

They’re prepared physically, emotionally, and academically. Academics and testing takes a toll on them when they are so physically exhausted.

I’ve met over one hundred police officers at the college during their state-mandated classes and in-service trainings. What I’ve noticed is that they have exceptional people skills and are wonderful folks. Oh sure, 5% of the entire population are a-holes. They are everywhere. I love the police officers. They care. And, if I find myself on a NC interstate speeding, maybe my trooper friend, Officer Willie, would give me a break? :o)

Sorry for another long-winded post. I'm just so proud of them.

LAZY WITH A CAPITAL L

Blogging has been on my mind. I want to post more often because the innards of my roasted brain contain ideas. My attitude has been poor, to say the least, and I can’t even bring myself to comment on blogs I love to read. For the past six weeks, I’ve been lazy about everything I do at work and home. I have been yearning to walk and get out.

Reason: 32 days of record heat with the average temperature at about 96 - (no, I think 99) with five days just under 104. It’s been the hottest and driest August here since 1867, when record-keeping began. I should not let the weather affect me but it does. It has become an ugly obsession.

Now there is good news to report.

We had three brief rain showers this week! Mandatory water restrictions are being enforced because we are ten inches below normal rainfall for the year. I can use my garden hose on Thursdays and Sundays only, and the rule will last for quite a while.

More good news! The weekend has been cool! 80’s!

Summertime

and the livin’ is easy.

Fish are jumpin’…

I fed them today. They made it through August and look just fine.

I went outside this morning and enjoyed watching Chloe & Bella charge the pigeons.

Here’s a pigeon bottom. There were twenty up there giving me the one-eyed stare through the skylight.

Every day I see Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Nuthatches, Wrens, Chickadees, Titmice, Brown Thrashers, House Finches, Mockingbirds, Hummingbirds, and Goldfinches. I’ve seen them through the window.

I had ten minutes to spare before the nail salon opened on Saturday morning and it was cool, dark, cloudy, and refreshing. A pond is nearby so I parked near it. I had less than twenty seconds to get a shot of two birds who were a half of a city block away and that one shot was all I could get before they fled. I guess this is a Great White Egret and I don’t have a clue as to the bird in the tree. Can anyone help? (click to enlarge the photos)

I leafed through a field guide on the way to the optical store with Michael. It was useless to me due to the bad photo above. We bought new prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses. I was in stitches watching him try on glasses fit for the Nutty Professor! We are wearing our sunglasses already and I love mine. My new eyeglasses will be ready in two weeks and they are not the usual oval frames I wear. They are very sexy… and rectangular.

I enjoyed finding a small yellow weed living under the Canna.

My bargain butterfly bush was near death when I brought it home and needed constant attention during the last two weeks. It’s doing well!

Two dozen dragonflies pose for me. I’ve ignored them for so long...

Low maintenance. I love them. I’m showing life here – not the August death and ruin all around.

This photo was taken last night at the little fall. I didn’t see the spider on the lower right. I could have zoomed in. Oh, well.

Today we felt a glorious 82 degrees at noon. This is the pond where I saw the two mystery birds who got away. North Carolina is wonderful. The foliage is abundant and this pond is located next to a grocery store and shopping strip mall. That's typical here. I hadn’t stopped by in two long months.

Made my day. Awwww… a-haw-haw-haw… I counted ten at the turtle party.

Mary is happy, enjoying outdoors, and smiling again.

She drove away from the pond in her sexy black car. She wore her sexy black sunglasses, sexy pink lipstick, and opened the windows and sunroof with air conditioning on. Her hair was flying. She sang to songs of the eighties loud on the radio - Paula Abdul, Barry White, and Donna Summer, while on her way to her friends at Wild Birds Unlimited. What a day.

Sexy? Not really - but a girl can dream, can't she?