Thank you all for the responses to yesterday's post, both the helpful words, which I've spotlighted, and the kind restraint you showed if the subject isn't your life.
I'm encouraged to continue as before, feeling as if the people with the right to decide have authorized it. That feels better.
I got in a walk early this morning before the rain came on, and noticed this
There's a bee that punches holes in leaves and carries the disks back to line their nest. I wonder if this is the work of one of them. I also have perfectly punched out holes in my hibiscus, same question.
And finally the thistle is budding
Today's Handsome Partner's birthday, and he'd have been 94, if I'm counting right. I ate strawberries, his favorite, in his honor this week. It was easy to decide on his birthday cake each year -- strawberry shortcake never missed.
Today's activism was to write to my State reps, at the urging of NJACLU, to get their vote for the New Jersey John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, to safeguard our elections regardless of the shenanigans elsewhere.
In the US, States run their own elections at every level and counties administer them. Ignore the bloviating feller in the White House, he doesn't have the authority.
We're going to have a couple of feels-like-115°f days coming up, so I think I'll roast chicken thighs with Cajun seasoning, ready for sandwiches. Be prepared.
Sandra, that Cajun seasoning is definitely one of the best things that's come along lately, since I finished up my Old Bay.
This week's potatoes are as good as I've ever had, meltingly soft inside, crisp outside, to go with plant based very hot burger type pat
ties. Bit of malt vinegar, salt, perfect.
After several years and donations to the food pantry, I'm finally seeing the end of millions of little packets of malt vinegar. I hit the wrong button when I ordered.
I still have a more than lifetime supply of vital wheat gluten, same fat finger issue.
I treated myself to a solar lantern like the one AC received for Father's Day, because I've been wanting a solar light for the patio ever since my last one gave up. I really liked the one AC showed us, great idea
It arrived today in pouring rain, so the unboxing is deferred for a day or two. I hope it will cheer me up when I'm looking out on the upcoming hot evenings.
Ed note: I set it among the plants near the window to remind me to take it outside when the rain stops and to my surprise, when I closed the curtains tonight there it was, shining away and casting lovely bird shadows on the dresser. They don't show on a picture, I tried.
Happy day everyone, the Boleyn Traitor continues to do bad things, now directed by Cromwell. Everything new happened before.
Every day please
Bees make those holes? That's a relief. I have bees around my jade flowers and now I know maybe it is them making holes in other leaves, since there doesn't seem to be any caterpillars around.
ReplyDeleteThat's possible, though I'm not very knowledgeable about Australian insect life.
DeleteI had to look up 115F - 46C... that's HOT take care!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm taking precautions.
DeleteMason bees do cut circles from leaves, but they start from the edge..and the holes left are bigger
ReplyDeleteYes. These holes are small and look interestingly spaced.
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ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about the states with election powers. I suppose when a country's as huge as America - I was going to say it makes sense but that's not logical. I'm not sure whether the Welsh Senedd has any such powers. I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI think the English Parliament has taken care not to devolve too much power to the other nations.
DeleteI’ve never seen a leaf-cutter bee in action. I’ve been told they don’t do any damage to the plant, but the holes don’t make me happy. My mother had more than a lifetime supply of malt vinegar packets (from where, I do not know) and sugar substitute. She and her sister had been “stealing” sugar substitute from restaurants and hotels for many years. When we closed our own hotel, I gave them each more than 200 packets. My aunt was stunned and asked why I would give her so many. I told her so she would end her life of crime. She continued to take the packets from restaurants.
ReplyDeleteThey were committed to their life of petty larceny. Reform is so difficult.
DeleteInteresting about the bees. Glad to hear you’re promoting efforts to keep our voting safe from the shenanigans from the White House. My mum when she was still living on her own collected all the packets on the table whenever we took her out to restaurants also. I haven’t reached that stage, but you never know by looking in my junk drawer in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThere's something about those little packets which makes them jump into your purse.
DeleteI smiled. We all have fat fingers now and then! That solar lantern sounds wonderful. Your rain is coming from our big storm the other day. Pleased to say it doesn't last forever! (I usually just buy the bottle of malt vinegar! I didn't know it came in packets.)
ReplyDeleteMalt vinegar is unobtainable here locally so I had to go online. I don't think I've ever seen little packets of anything in stores. They seem to be a restaurant item.
DeleteI have heard of and seen the work of carpenter bees but not mason bees. Learn something new every day.
ReplyDeleteI will think of HP when I make Mr. Moon's strawberry shortcake. I believe I'll be making an inauthentic version of one though, making a pound cake for the base, rather than the traditional biscuit-like pastry.
I am now listening to the Boleyn Traitor. Very good narration and I'm enjoying it.
We had plenty of carpenter bee action when we had wooden fences. Perfectly circular holes drilled everywhere to put their eggs in. Bees are amazing. Some of them dig!
DeleteWho's narrating the Boleyn Traitor? I do like good narration.
Gemma Whelan.
DeleteHappy Birthday to his partner. Love strawberries too. Ate so many of them recently. That's neat about the punched holes. Wishing you a fun week ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wishes. Strawberries have been very good this year. And a good week to you, Ivy.
DeleteInteresting work by the leaf-cutter bees! The holes are so neat and round and evenly distributed.
ReplyDeleteThey're an artwork. I wonder what's the idea behind the pattern. Probably certain parts of the leaf are more suitable.
DeleteI hope you will celebrate your many happy memories of your HP as you enjoy the strawberry shortcake.
ReplyDeleteStrawberries certainly bring him back.
Deletetesting - my previous comment refused to publish.....
ReplyDeletehmmm - seems to work okay now. Must have been a hiccup on blog-grrrrrr's end.
ReplyDeleteBelated hugs for HP's birthday. Celebrating his memory with strawberries sounds just right.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
Thank you. Until the pandemic, handsome son and I used to go out to dinner on the day, but that fell into abeyance and now it's strawberries and a text exchange.
DeleteThistle on purpose or is it an accidental/incidental arrival in the garden? The flowers should be wonderful - expect bumblebees.
ReplyDeleteThe thistle planted itself, so I left it for the butterflies and birds. Bees have been very active, ever since the sage bloomed, and the daisies have a lot of insects including tiny sweat bees, those lovely metallic green and blue ones.
DeleteI'm happy you like the seasoning. It's so simple. I had a mare who would delicately pluck the flowers off thistle. I've remembered that all these decades later. We are in the heat dome as well. Miserable times.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it will also attract horses, then. That would be fun. I'll keep watch.
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