It's been busy lately... what with DH's Bell's Palsy, 2 birthdays, Covid boosters, and company coming. I guess this is a good thing... to be busy with life.
DH's Bell's Palsy is pretty much over and done. Both our birthdays were celebrated quietly but happily, got our 2nd Covid boosters Monday. DH is fine, me - not so much - extremely tired and achy Tuesday, but fine on Wednesday.
My Brother and Sister-in-law are coming for a weekend visit in August, so we are getting our guest room ready. Haven't had any visitors in over 2 years, so there's a little preparation to do. We actually went out and bought a bedroom set for that room... (have been meaning to do this for a while, just had put it on the back burner).
Didn't realize that with all the other supply problems going on... that getting a bedroom set bought and delivered before October was going to be difficult. We must have checked 5 different furniture stores before finding one that could actually deliver this week. I'll post a pic once things are set up and ready.
Oldest son hurt his back recently. He, wife, dog, and bunny spent a weekend in an RV on a lake on the 4th. While boating in the lake, Winston (their Golden Doodle) unexpectedly jumped into the water and surprised everyone (including himself since he's never been swimming before). He did have on a doggie life jacket, so when he popped up again, son grabbed him with one arm and pulled him back inside the boat. Winston weighs about 80 lbs, so the next day, son realized that he must have twisted his back doing this as he could hardly move or walk. It's gotten better now - thank goodness.
Youngest son and his family are going off to Florida for a few days this month. I'm looking forward to pictures of granddaughter on the beach!
And I just learned that our daughter will be coming here in September. I'm excited about that - as we haven't be able to get together much at all during the pandemic. Oh, and I have a video of her young bunnies. She lets the older ones run loose on the property, but she keeps the young ones together to get them people friendly in order to find homes for them.
Also as mentioned in other blogs, her animals take well to each other. The chickens accept the bunnies in their area... and recently they couldn't find their large tortoise. He had climbed out of his area and was found snuggled up with one of the hens in the doghouse. Yes, they also have a dog, a Great Dane (Moose) and 2 horses (Tootsie and Hemi).
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| tortoise and chicken in dog house |
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| close up of tortoise and chicken |
There are also things going on that are not so good too... but I find it best not to dwell on that. 2 of my cousins in New Orleans have just been diagnosed with Covid, another is suffering with 'long term Covid' from contacting it last year. I think the new variant is extremely contagious and spreading very fast. It may or may not be one that puts you in the hospital, but to be honest, I don't want to take that chance.
As for the heat here, we were 109 F ...and even if we get a day or so of the 90's, it looks like we're in for a triple digit summer. (It's strange as when you open the front door, the heat hits you - never really noticed that before). They are opening places all over for the homeless and bringing water and fans to those that may need it. It makes me wonder - if this is Climate Change, we're probably in for more of this as time goes on.
And now for the good news of the day:
My first Black Swallowtail emerged out of Chrysalis today!
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This is a short video I took while her wings were drying. Thanks for letting me share this with you. It's these little things that make life worth-while when the world seems to be in shambles...
Hugs my friends,
Rian
(remember: sometimes you have to click twice on the videos for them to play!)
That swallowtail is simply gorgeous. Breathtakingly so.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you have some good things mixed in with the less so - and things to look forward to.
Stay cool, stay safe.
And happy belated birthday to you both.
Thanks, EC. It's wonderful to see them fly off on their own...
DeleteRian, I sure am glad your son's back is better--that was a bit of a scary read. And it's very nice that your family is coming soon too, you guys have been careful for a long time now. How is your British stove working? And that photo of your Black Swallowtail... I think it shocked my eyeballs a little, I'm not kidding! It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTrue, Dug. It certainly frightened my son who was in bed several days hurting and not able to walk. But it gradually got better, thank goodness.
DeleteAs for our Aga, it's up and running and keeping us happy and cozy. It's only been down twice since we got it in 2005, but we sure miss it when it happens.
The Black Swallowtails are gorgeous... and it's really euphoric to watch them take their first flight.
I loved watching that bunny melt under those caresses, and yes that is one beautiful swallowtail! And I smiled at that unusual pairing of turtle and hen. :-)
ReplyDeleteNature is amazing...
DeleteLove at swallowtail and it's first flight!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly made my day...
DeleteI enjoyed your pictures so much, especially the tortoise and chicken. Do you suppose that the chicken thinks the tortoise is a giant, lumpy brown egg.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a baby, my Mom and Dad had a giant tortoise in the back yard and it had a big bowl of water to drink out of out toward the back part of the yard. One day, I was crawling age, my Mom took me outside with her while she did a few little things in the garden. She turned her back on me for a minute or two and I speed crawled and made a bee line for that tortoise water bowl. When she saw me I was there with my face down near the bowl drinking water from it.
That was it for her gardening with me on the loose. I guess she waited until I napped for a year or so to do the gardening.
Enjoy your summer. We heard cicadas here the other day. A sure sign summer is speeding by.
I have no idea what the chicken thought... but it makes you realize that different species can be friends. And your mom learned quickly that you can't turn your back on a baby - not even for minute or two...
DeleteHum, let's see--the turtle and the hen could be a sequel to the tortoise and the hare:) Love how all the animals get along so well and those bunnies are precious.
ReplyDeleteGlad your brother is doing better. It is so easy to make a wrong move that can lay us up.
The tortoise and the hen... seems a strange combination, but just goes to show that you never can tell. And yes, I think the bunnies are precious too!
DeleteIt IS the "little" things that make the days worthwhile. Like tortoises snuggling up with chickens, like bunnies, like an emerging butterfly, family visits....That's life in its glory. And you're right, far better to be busy with life than not. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kea, I agree. It helps to balance out all the strange things that seem to be happening in our world. A butterfly's first flight seems like such a little thing when compared to all the tragedy of war, etc. - yet somehow it brings life back into focus (at least for me).
Deleteoooooh you have been busy....and companies coming, how exciting!! my sister recently stayed with us, with a friend. she called and 8 hours later, she was here. i had zero time to prepare. i washed the sheets and "knocked down all the cobwebs" in the guest room and that was it, good thing i have furniture. i am so excited about your butterfly, you captured her well in both the video and picture!!
ReplyDeletei'm glad your husband is doing well!!
Yes, lucky you have furniture. Ours was delivered yesterday... thank goodness. I have a beautiful quilted bedspread my good friend made for me that I will use, just need some throw pillows and a lamp... and that should suffice. And so happy that my first butterfly did so well. I worried about her last night - hoping she got through the night OK. They have such short life spans. I hope she enjoys her time.
Deleteawwww, how sweet!! saying good-bye is always hard for me, i worry about them too!!
Deletethanks for the tip about around the world in 80 days, i am going to check it out!!
DeleteEnjoy reading about your busy life. You've got it goin' on!
ReplyDeleteTom, it has been busy lately... but after these last 2 years of isolation, it's welcome. However, we're basically home bodies, so we really can't complain.
DeleteOh the swallowtail is amazing! I chuckled at the sight of the tortoise and the chicken.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your son and DH are feeling better.
Thanks, Mae. That chicken is very accommodating.
DeleteWe need to keep remembering the good things! The swallowtail is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteYes, we do, Olga...
DeleteWow! So many things happening on your end. Those are gorgeous photos of the swallowtail. But wow! You are really, really busy!
ReplyDeleteYes, busy here... but not as busy as you've been... with the cruise and company, etc.
DeleteDear Rian, what a lovely, uplifting posting this was--all the good news about your family and the visits and also introducing us to your daughter's rabbits, tortoise, and motherly hen. As I watched the rabbits, especially the water one licking your daughter's fingers, I suddenly realized that rabbits must groom themselves just as cats do! A totally new realization.
ReplyDeleteI hope your son's back gets back soon. Pulled muscles can take a while.
And thank you for your recent comment on my "Arthur/tattoo" posting. I'm unable to respond because I don't know how to "sign in with Google." But I do so appreciate your reading the postings and leaving a comment. I hope this weekend I'll be able to post and show the actual tattoo. We, too, are having very high air temperatures and higher still heat indices. And here in "Tornado Alley"--as western Missouri is nicknamed--the barometer bops around so precipitously that Meniere's has been problematic this summer. So while I hope for a Sunday posting . . . it well might happen days later! Take care. And please know how much your gentle touch on life comes through in your blog and inspires us all. Peace from Dee Ready.
Hi Dee! I appreciate your commenting here. And I'm sorry that you are having trouble (as some others are) signing in as Dee and having to use Anonymous. Looking forward to seeing the tattoo. BTW, my cousin in N.O. suffers with Meniere's also... although I believe that hers is not as bad as yours.
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