I did not want anyone to run over the flower. It was one “freak” black-eyed susan that came up in September and the petals wilted for it became too cold. Usually they bloom late summer. I moved the garbage cans I brought out so it would not get trampled in the morning when the men came to empty the trash into their truck. I liked looking at it. You really do not know one hundred per cent what to expect from nature–this time one flower.
Tags: black-eyed susan, expectations of nature, Fall, flowers, garbage cans, gardening, September, summer, the "freak" black--eyed susan, the unpredictablity of nature
Posted in beauty, flowers, local, nature, time |
The goldfinch finally came back. I realized I had not seen one at the thistle feeder for months. I first cleaned out the crusted thistle and put out fresh thistle (out) and waited. It took about a week for the goldfinch to rediscover the thistle. There were even three on the feeder at one time today. I did not realize the thistle had gone bad.
Tags: bird feeding, birds, goldfinch, goldfinch and fresh thistle, thistle feeder
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, time |
I spotted my first slate-colored junco in the yard two days ago. I guess winter and snow is on its way. The bird’s flittering back white wings was unmistakable. It vanished into the undergrowth of the gigantic bush. I saw my second one today. Last night we got a smattering of snow. I have a friend who calls them “snow” birds so, maybe, the sighting was no accident. They are often found in flocks so as we get more snow I may see more. I never see them in the summer. It is a mystery to me where they go then.
Tags: bird-watching, birds, Fall, first sighting of Slate-Colored Junco, first smattering of snow, it no longer feels like summer, Junco bird, Slate-colored Junco, snow birds, summer, winter
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
Our involvement in the Middle East (after 9/11) was really about vengeance. The American people wanted someone to pay for the thousands who died at the world trade centers. And our president used that as an excuse to invade Iraq and have a greater presence in the Middle East and to this day we don’t know whether he outright lied or was deliberately fed faulty intelligence when he claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. And it was not true. Terrorism got worse there. And we are still in Afghanistan–the longest war we have ever been in and we don’t hear about much but we are still there. And you have to wonder why. Much money is being made and no one is honest: we are there because of the oil. We want a greater presence in the Middle East because of the oil there. None of the politicians want to say that openly but that is the truth. We are there because of the oil. Fighting terrorism is just an excuse.
Tags: 9/11, Afghanistan, American people, Iraq, Middle East, much money is being made in the middle east, oil and the war, politicians, war, world trade centers
Posted in death, knowledge&learning, money, politics |
I just wanted to be in. I dashed out for a quick errand and noted the temperature outside was forty degrees according to my car thermometer. The clouds were stormy and dark–snow clouds. I guess the cold weather is here for good. All I want to do is hibernate and only go out when it is necessary. Next spring and summer seems an eternity away.
Tags: 40 degrees temperature, cold weather, Fall, hibernate, quick errand, seasons, snow clouds, spring, summer, want to stay inside, winter
Posted in local, nature, seasons, time |
Every night we play a game of scrabble. It is a fierce rivalry. Often it goes down to the last turn or two before we can declare a winner. I taught her everything I know about playing the game and getting more points. I think she has learned her lessons well for she beats me all too often.
We play a open game with a computerized scrabble dictionary. It is more fun that way. We use a deluxe game which swivels although it is “patched” together with duct tape. There is one “build” allowed each game. In other words you are allowed once a game to enter your seven scrabble letters in the dictionary to see whether you can come up with a seven letter word, for there is a bonus of fifty points if you use all your letters in one turn. This is such a powerful “weapon” that we limit its use to once in each game. We have come up with some strange words that way. I really think she has become a better player than me, though we seem to take turns in winning. I hate losing.
Tags: bonus fifty points, game, getting more points, I taught my wife all the "tricks" I know regarding scrabble, Scrabble, Scrabble build, Scrabble dictionary, scrabble rivalry, seven letter word
Posted in knowledge&learning, local, marriage, relationships, time |
I put out fresh thistle today. I had not seen a goldfinch in weeks. I tried scraping out the caked thistle as best as I could using the end of a knife before putting out new thistle. Let us see if the goldfinch come back. And how long it will take.
Tags: autumn, bird feeding, birds, cleaning thistle feeder, Fall, goldfinch, thistle
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
The differences between my two black pups now full grown are several. Coco is long haired and when she is happy to see you, she will swish her tail back and forth slowly. She likes to observe and takes in the whole situation. Tilla is exuberant. When he is happy to see you, his tail goes thump, thump. Sometimes I will go into my bedroom and he will jump on the bed wiggling all over to greet me. He is the most athletic. He necessitated us building our fence higher. He could jump over it. He is the most unpredictable and is streamed lined really muscular.
He has some peculiarities. He will lock himself in the bedroom and act so happy when we open the door. Also if he joins me in the office he will close the door as if to make sure he has me all to himself. He is male and the most aggressive of our four dogs. If you throw four snacks out for our dogs, he will get three.
Coco is female and just plain sweet. If she wants her belly rubbed, she will slowly demurely lift her leg to indicate that. Coco can be quite insistent and will bark if she wants to go out. They are only the second and third dogs I raised from pups.
The two dogs have had some different nicknames over time. Coco is also called Coco Puff and Puffy Girl by my wife. Atilla was originally called Atilla The Hun now shortened to Tilla, and once called Atilla The Olympian (when he kept jumping the fence) and now affectionately Tilly Willy. Both of the dogs are a lot of fun.
Tags: Coco, Coco Puff, differences between Coco and Tilla, dogs, four dogs, pets, Tilla, Tilla is exuberant and Coco is more laid back
Posted in animals, local, pets, time |
Last night was the third one in a row Tilla slept in my bed. I sleep on the right side and my dog plopped himself right where my head would go so I had to fight for space and every inch. I guess he like(s)(d) being close to me. Coco, my other black dog was in her usual spot along the left side of the bed. In fact I even had the third black animal we own sleeping on the foot of the other side of the bed–Cool Hand Luke–one of my seven cats. That was somewhat unusual for Jasmine and her grownup kittens have, of late, taken over that spot. She had two litters–four cats and it is not that unusual to see at least two of them sleeping nearby her on the bed. They get along really well.
Tags: cats, cats sleep on bed, Coco, Cool Hand Luke, dog sleeps in bed, dogs, Jasmine, Jasmine and her grownup kittens, My black Animals were sleeping on or near my bed, pets, seven cats, Tilla
Posted in animals, local, pets, relationships, time |
The latest count of buds on that gigantic cactus is six. It has four feet tentacles–like a monster out of a scary movie. I inspect the plant in my office every day. Today I spotted another bud. We just wanted to take it out of the cold. Each day I will watch the buds grow. And also see if new ones come along. I never had a budding cactus in my office before.
Tags: cactus, gardening, my office, plants, the budding cactus in my office, the budding cactus with gigantic flowers
Posted in flowers, local, nature |
November first started auspiciously: the forecast was seventy degrees. I checked the ten day forecast and the temperature was all over the place–the highs were forties, fifties and even sixties. So far it has been a warm fall. I really do not care as long as I have the appropriate clothing on. I do not like being cold.
Tags: being cold, Fall, November, November's high was forecast seventy degrees, the warm fall
Posted in local, seasons, time |
Our “monster” cactus has five buds. It was only a few weeks ago we moved it indoors into my office. It has four foot tentacles. I was really surprised. The top of it gets a bit of light but not the areas that are budding. I am going to watch the cactus really carefully and inspect the buds for growth each day. I never expected it to bud in my office.
Tags: cactus, five buds, gardening, my "monster" cactus in my office is budding, my office, plants
Posted in flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
