carriewolf.net

We actually owned a Renault when I was growing up, it was not so affectionately referred to as the “tin can”

Some veg for the Grandma Saari chicken salad for Mothers Day tomorrow

Crocheted with lime and white Lion Micro Spun from this pattern, although modified a bit

Hot as ever but still fun to take a walk around the prop. This is a Square Bud Primrose

My worst enemy…the dreaded posion ivy

We have bees!! I saw no lack of these guys buzzing around the Lantana and other wildflowers…a good sign

The Mexican Hats

Pleasantly and well-suited I walk,
Whither I walk I cannot define, but I know it is good,
The whole universe indicates that it is good,
The past and the present indicate that it is good.

How beautiful and perfect are the animals! How perfect is my soul!
How perfect the earth, and the minutest thing upon it!
What is called good is perfect, and what is called sin is just as perfect;

The vegetables and minerals are all perfect…and the imponderable fluids are perfect;
Slowly and surely they have passed on to this, and slowly and surely they will yet pass on.

Oh my soul! if I realize you I have satisfaction,
Animals and vegetables! if I realize you I have satisfaction,
Laws of earth and air! if I realize you I have satisfaction.

I cannot define my satisfaction…yet it is so,
I cannot define my life…yet it is so.

I swear I see now that every thing has an eternal soul!
The trees have, rooted in the ground…the weeds of the sea have…the animals.

I swear I think there is nothing but immortality!
That the exquisite scheme is for it, and the nebulous float is for it, and the cohering is for it,
And all preparation is for it…and identity is for it…and life and death are for it.

—-Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (1855)

Wow, it is hot today, the AC has been running non-stop. Supposed to be 95 tomorrow…..here we go!

Ever since we got Theo just over a year ago, he has been really weird about drinking out of his water bowl, much preferring puddles and causing us to worry about his level of hydration. Finally the lightblub went on today as we watched Theo hesitantly approach his bowl, bob his head up and down, then back away even though he was panting and clearly thirsty. Dean, in a flash of brilliance, used Temple Grandin’s method of getting down on the level of the animal, to see what they see, and lo and behold when he got down close to the water bowl, its shiny stainless steel surface caused a reflection in the bottom. Poor Theo has been freaked out by the other black dog in the water bowl for a year now! We have always known that he does not like reflections, but it took us this long to put the two together. Temple, we owe you one

Carrier - If you have not seen this, hopefully you will have a chance or watch them online. KLRU our local PBS station recently ran this 10 hour series about life in the navy. It was very well done and worth watching every minute to get an understanding of the sacrifices these people are making for us.

Support PBS!

It is so beautiful right now - the best thing to do first thing in the morning is to grab a cup of heavily creamed coffee and go on a bird walk on the property (carefully avoiding the poison ivy that has made its home here). Right off I heard the Downy (Hairy??) Woodpecker, sounds like he belongs in a jungle. Then I heard a riot of Titmice and Chickadee parents and babies in the front oaks. Best of all, I spotted the male and female Painted Bunting on the side property in the sumac. They were just relaxing and taking in the morning like I was. Two Mockingbirds sat on the wire above me and Theo and chided us for even thinking about being anywhere near their nest. A male Lesser Goldfinch was swaying on some blown out grass happily picking out the seeds. What a perfect way to start the day!

How I have managed without this thus far is a miracle