Heading Out

Monday, August 7, 2023, 6:38 AM

My photos don't upload here as easily as they used to. I think I mentioned that a few weeks ago. Google doesn't really seem to be doing anything to fix the issue; there are many complaints going back months.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 6:39 AM

So I'm considering posting these to Instagram as a daily project, instead of posting here weekly, since it's become such a hassle. I don't seem to get much interaction here anyway.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 6:39 AM
Photo by Jacqueline, enhanced by me

In other news... This summer has been a roller coaster of drought and rain, sun and clouds.

Thursday, August 10, 2023, 6:40 AM

I haven't had to water the garden much lately because of all the rain, but it also hasn't been warm enough to get the really good growth of my plants.

Friday, August 11, 2023, 6:40 AM

Of course when it was supposed to be cooler, and I had just planted my radishes, the days were hot hot hot, leading to hot hot hot radishes that didn't grow fast enough.

Saturday, August 12, 2023, 7:36 AM

So, yeah... I htink I'll be posting these on Instagram daily from now on. Follow along if you'd like! https://www.instagram.com/bunnykissd/

Sunday, August 13, 2023, 7:07 AM

Exhausted

Monday, July 31, 2023, 6:41 AM

I'm starting to realize my exhaustion is never-ending. 

Tuesday, August 1, 2023, 6:41 AM

The only way to have any kind of a life outside of work is just to push through.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 6:40 AM

So that's what I did this week. Saturday errands run after work over the course of a few days. 

Thursday, August 3, 2023, 6:37 AM

A fun after-work walk on Wednesday at the park, something I haven't done since last fall.

Friday, August 4, 2023, 7:55 AM

And Friday off of work to adventure! We went to see Fall Out Boy and were up SO late (3 a.m.!!!), and although I *did* wake up at 7 a.m. and take a walk, it was because I had an ankle cramp (which I always get sleeping on those soft soft mattresses), and I only walked around the giant hotel room we were given. I did open the blinds all the way to let the sun in while I did, but I didn't take a photo, and then I crashed for another hour before getting up for the day. We visited a friend vending at the Lockport Farmers' Market, had Lake Effect ice cream for lunch, Arthur Treacher's fish & chips for an early dinner, and made it home without crashing.

Sunday, August 6, 2023, 7:08 AM

This morning the sky gave a big (silent) cheer for all I did.

Birthday Week

This week was the birthday week for three of our five kids. Boom boom boom, all in a row. Yes, just a few days after my own. It makes for a week filled with lots of fun & treats.

Monday, July 24, 2023, 6:37 AM

Because of the event I worked over the weekend, I had to flex some time and so I took Wednesday off.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 6:42 AM

And I slept late late late for me!

Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 8:11 AM

I also took Thursday off to attend a fun art event, but sadly both it and my morning walk were cancelled due to rain. :(

Friday, July 28, 2023, 6:41 AM

The mornings may look lovely, but often I am fighting off hoards of mosquitoes and deer flies while attempting to take my photo(s).

Saturday, July 29, 2023, 6:52 AM

They've been so bad this year. If I keep walking, they can't catch up, but the moment I stop...

Sunday, July 30, 2023, 7:22 AM

Frustrations

I've been working for hours this morning, trying to find a work-around to having to download and re-upload my photos for this blog, since both platforms are owned by Google. There *is* a tool that should allow me to add them directly from my Google photos, but that tool is not working. This certainly doesn't make me want to keep blogging here, but here we are. Anyone have other options for similar platforms?

Monday, July 17, 2023, 6:05 AM

Monday, I woke before my alarm, and we took our walk as the sun was just breaking the horizon.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 6:40 AM

Tuesday, the sun was red and sky dark from more Canadian fires. As before, I don't know why my camera won't pick up the colors right. The sun in this image is almost the accurate color, but the sky wasn't so dark & purple, more of an hazy yellow-grey along the horizon and blue above.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 6:44 AM

Wednesday and Thursday were sunny but hazy, foggy mornings, but not due to poor air quality.

Thursday, July 20, 2023, 6:39 AM

Friday was a cloudy morning, but not all day.

Friday, July 21, 2023, 6:38 AM

And Saturday was my birthday, but I had to work, and earlier than usual. The sun was just climbing over the horizon again during our walk.

Saturday, July 22, 2023, 6:00 AM

And today I slept later than usual, and the sun was high and the sky was beautiful.

Sunday, July 23, 2023, 7:59 AM

Rough Week at Work

I think these morning walks are a habit now.

Monday, July 10, 2023, 6:36 AM

Monday, there were torrential downpours and the basement at work flooded. A literal river from the front of the building to the back corner where the sump pump drain was. And the sump pump was completely overwhelmed, could not keep keep up at all. And leaks from the windows on the second floor into the walls and my office on the first. Also, no real management in the building so I muddled through, thankfully with help from the rest of the staff.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 6:39 AM

Tuesday was ok. Things still a mess at work from the flooding, but at least we could get some work done.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 6:40 AM

More rain on Wednesday had me worried about more flooding & damage, but it was a short-lived storm and caused no issues.

Thursday, July 13, 2023, 6:41 AM

Thursday started the local firemen's field days which takes place behind our offices and uses our parking lot; so there was more stress from moving the company vehicles around and blocking off the basement stairwell which drunken revelers use as a toilet if not blocked off.

Friday, July 14, 2023, 6:43 AM

Friday we said good-bye to one of the management team. 😢

Saturday, July 15, 2023, 6:39 AM

Saturday, we celebrated my mother's 75th birthday! It was a LOT of work, a LOT of walking, and a LOT of heat, but I think my mom had fun, which was the important part.

Sunday, July 16, 2023, 7:12 AM

Today was humid but cooler, and I was able to get a wee bit of yard/garden work done. Not all I wanted to get done, but enough to satisfy me. I still have so much I want to do.

Messages from Mother Nature

This week was a wild ride.

Monday, July 3rd, 6:40 a.m.

I should have been listening to the message of all the Amber snails on the road each morning.

Tuesday, July 4th, 7:45 a.m.

Slow down. Be patient. Find your resiliency. Everything you need, you already have.

Wednesday, July 5th, 6:40 a.m.

Because despite the chaos-filled days this week, there were moments filled with family & friends, peace & joy, beauty & love.

Thursday, July 6th, 6:34 a.m.

And every morning, we got up and took a walk in the sun. Mostly. 

Friday, July 7th, 6:38 a.m.

The gardens need the rain to grow.

Saturday, July 8th, 6:54 a.m.

And we need the clouds to appreciate the sun.

Sunday, July 9, 6:56 a.m.

And the chaos to appreciate how serendipitously everything just works out. ♥♥♥

Weekly Wandering

 

Monday, June 26th, 7:13 a.m.

I took Monday off to attend the interment of our boyfriend Joseph's ashes. Joseph died from COVID in January 2021 before vaccines were available, and it is only now that his family felt it safe enough to hold a gathering. His ashes were buried at a natural cemetery in a small grove of pine trees surrounded by rolling hills of meadows. It was good to meet some of his friends from the area that we had never met before. The thunderstorms held off until we were on our way home, and the evening ended with a beautiful rainbow just after sunset.

Monday, June 26th, 8:47 p.m.

The rest of the week was filled with sun ...

Tuesday, June 27th, 6:40 a.m.

... and rain off and on as is usual in the summer.

Wednesday, June 28th, 6:39 a.m.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was high again from the Canadian fires, and Thursday the sun was otherworldly. 

Thursday, June 29th, 6:42 a.m.

My cellphone camera could not accurately capture the color, even when I zoomed way in.

Thursday, June 29th, 6:47 a.m.

The color was so much more red than this photo and the sky lit up more like the photo above.

Friday, June 30th, 6:30 a.m.

Friday still held a haze from the smoke, but the AQI wasn't as high.

Saturday, July 1st, 7:25 a.m.

Yesterday was hot, right from the get-go. The deer flies joined us on our walk.

Sunday, July 2nd, 7:17 a.m.

And today, although it had rained, was still hot. The grass & wildflowers along the road are almost as tall as I am now.

Summer Mornings

Content Warning: Leggy bug close-up.

Sunday, June 18th, 6:04 p.m. - Momma rabbit feeding unseen babies

Last Sunday evening, as Jacqueline & I were watching TV, I watched this Eastern cottontail walk up close to the house and do a weird little stretch. I realized after a few minutes that she must be feeding babies! And yes, she has chosen to make a nest right near our house! So for the next few weeks we'll be avoiding mowing the area or otherwise disturbing the nest.

Monday, June 19th, 6:37 a.m.

This week was hot, but the mornings were still cool enough to wear my hoodie on our walks.

Tuesday, June 20th, 6:43 a.m.

I saw a Kentucky flat millipede, Apheloria virginiensis, in the yard. We often see the American giant milipede, Narceus americanus, but not usually this colorful variety.

Wednesday, June 21st, 6:40 a.m.

The solstice dawned just as beautifully as the rest of the week, and the birds have eaten all the cherries I could reach before they ripened.

Thursday, June 22nd, 6:40 a.m.

I've been waking up about an hour or so before my alarm goes off, but not feeling ready to get up, so getting back in bed and drowsing, but of course falling back into a deep sleep just in time for the alarm. It leaves me feeling groggy all day long. Maybe with the solstice past I'll be able to sleep more soundly.

Friday, June 23rd, 6:37 a.m.

Friday was grey, but it didn't rain much. Saturday was so rainy when we went to take our walk, that we decided it was best not to go. And although this morning was grey, the sun is now shining and I am hoping to get the pond set up!

Sunday, June 25th, 7:42 a.m.