all done, yard work, misc photos

Ta da!

I put it all together Friday. I think the next one will be a yellow trumpet flower but I’ve also been thinking about mushrooms and lichens. I’ve been considering butterflies but haven’t yet managed an image in my head of how it might look.

Saturday morning was definitely a little chilly. Still in the 70s late morning but low 90s predicted for the high. I got outside and took the little electric push mower, and by little I mean a 14” cutting swath, and the 100’ heavy duty extension cord across the street and mowed as far around the house as my extension cord will allow. Joe and Mary, the couple that do the mowing and trimming over there, haven’t been here in at least four weeks. They’re old like me and Joe’s been saying he’s going to retire every year but he keeps on going until lately. He’s having some pain in his hip and can’t stand long to do the trimming or use the push mower for the areas his zero turn can’t get to so this may be it for them. My grandson will mow but he has to bring his zero turn mower over from his house and it can’t get in the small spaces around the house and trees and shed and septic system with it. Anyway, it took me three sessions to get the front and sides of the yard around the house, having to take breaks to prevent heat stroke and had to peel my clothes off when I was done. Back on Sunday to finish the yard in the back and to trim some lower branches off one of the catalpa trees in the front and the sycamore in the back because I’m tired of bonking my head when I walk under them. That took me two sessions and by the end of day Sunday I was tired. Took a cold shower, fixed a cocktail, and plonked my butt on the couch.

I have some tree trimming to do over here at my house but today, I’m just taking it easy. You may remember that months ago a friend who is writing a book on pate de verre, the lost wax glass casting process that I used to do, had asked to use some of my images as illustrations (among many other glass artists) and has asked me to proofread the entire document before it goes to press. So I have that to do spending an hour or so a day on it.

My grandson Mikey stopped by this morning with Paisleigh and Harrison. He was waiting for a customer to bring him a truck though with Robin in the city at her part time job and Paisleigh out of school this week, he won’t be getting any mechanic work done today at least. This is a new school break, calling it Fall Break instead of just getting Columbus Indigenous People’s Day off. So, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, Spring Break; when do these kids go to school?

Some photos have been piling up…Mikey and Harrison head to head, Harrison working on a car just like his daddy.

My current resident wolf spider.

Heard a tinkling sound and looked up to see this anole on one of the ornaments.

The yellow bells and banana trees over on the shop property. When individually planted there was plenty of space between them but now they have grown into each other. 

The pink trumpet flower vine/shrub is blooming

and a black swallowtail.