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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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?