Frogapalooza, low flying ducks

 Lovely weather for a walk this morning while I decided what to make for lunch. The Sunday duffers were out on the golf course, and I shied a few errant golf balls back in bounds.

The ripples in the pond are the result of about ten large frogs flying from the bank into the water when I approached. 

Each gave a kind of scream as they took off, very different from the bass notes they'd been sounding a few seconds before they spotted me.

The drake you see over there was swimming peacefully until the frogs all leapt in, whereupon he leapt up and flew away. I was an interloper.

While I watched the ripples moving across the water, I listened to a pair of cardinals, nesting nearby, and a redwing blackbird, then some Carolina wren songs.

The scarlet pimpernel are spreading 

And watch this space for orange day lilies which have evidently gone feral long ago, in many ditches and roadsides around here. 

This old tree's roots look like a dinosaur might be related 

And at the other end of the spectrum, a baby rabbit too young to realize that now would be a good time to run.

 A second later he did. 

Lovely day, lunch was a weird assortment of cheddar cheese, mini naan, cooked sweet potato and raw spinach. Dessert was new made yogurt, with strawberries. 

I spent the afternoon in a live stream with Marion the multi-talented stitcher, gardener, knitter, dressmaker, painter, you name it. There seems to be nothing she hasn't tried. She's modest but I think she succeeds at anything she tries, intrepid.

She's recovering from the loss of her longtime husband who was her great partner and encourager, and starting this YouTube channel a year ago is part of the recovery.  

She knew little about it, little about the internet, but her daughter encouraged her to try it, and she's doing very well, but still a North country lady. Sceptical, but enjoying it all.

While I listened and watched, I wove several more squares, and ideas are vaguely starting about them. 

I do want to get on with the fabric book, too, and the idea for the next page,  also ideas for that rescued linen. And for the rescued denim look cotton sofa cover, dress weight. And the Ministry Socks continue. 

Aside from that, Mrs Lincoln..

Happy day, everyone, make something today. Even if it's only a fuss.

Woodland friends and neighbors

Yesterday I was happy to see my next door neighbor and good friend home after yet another Florida trip, no doubt rehabbing a friend's house. Knowing he's back goes a long way to allaying my concerns about being alone and various health adventures. Having all three of my helpful neighbors either away or about to leave has been part of the anxiety I've been feeling.

I walked early yesterday, before it got too hot, meeting these shy woodland creatures, rabbit studying me at a distance - why do rabbits run away keeping right in front of you instead of dodging off the path?

And this new sighting, probably left by squirrels. I'm guessing some puppy is wondering where his toy went.

Speaking of squirrels moving things around, a while back one of my neighbors was complaining that his collection of miniature gourds decorating his picnic table were being swiped one by one. 

Which explained the gradual appearance of more and more miniature gourds chucked onto my patio. I saw a squirrel carrying one, illustrating it all. l restored the gourds to their rightful owner now I knew who it was, complete with bite marks. The gourds, not the owner.

Yesterday's movie, another big family fantasy, was

Which is the next chapter of the Cheaper by the Dozen family story. This one starts with the college graduation of the youngest. And pays respect to Lilian Gilbreth, who became a widowed mother of twelve at a young age and still pursued an engineering career.

Frank Gilbreth, the father, was a pioneer, for better or worse, of time and motion study, and ran his family more or less along the lines of efficiency theory. 

He didn't really raise them, though, since he died suddenly, when the eldest was still in college, and the family ranged down to very young. His widow raised them and lived to a great age. Tough stuff, that Lilian.

The movie is kind of a musical, breaks into song and dance now and then, but I wonder if they couldn't decide if it was a musical or straight comedy. I'm not a fan of musicals where the plot keeps going on hold while they sing about it. I tend to go put the kettle on when a song starts up. 

In opera it's the other way, the arias being to my mind the whole thing, the plot not so much, and the recitative, the bits where people half talk half sing, too actory for words. 

I'm missing so much being able to knit, but I really need to hold off till my shoulder feels better.  Movies and mysteries on the Kindle are just the ticket, nothing very serious or demanding right now. Hamish Macbeth mysteries, fantasy big families are about where I am this week.

That and drawing with marker.

Happy day everyone. Looking forward to seeing better soon. Like birds flying singly instead of in double formation, and words being legible again, without having to angle them just so. 

Hang in there, Brit blogistas, I hear about the stresses of all kinds you're dealing with, and hope for some relief for you, one way or another. You've got Janie Godley's voiceovers and Josie George's found poetry to help keep you afloat though, fortunately.

Midsummer lunch, and little visitor

Lunch today, hot summer weather, local peas, steamed with carrots and homegrown thyme, tuna salad with homegrown tarragon, local strawberries with mango yogurt and chocolate drops. Followed by Vietnamese coffee and Goya cookies.

Then a tiny visitor came to play on the deck, safe from the active local foxes.