Well, I sort of overdid it yesterday, so decided not to ride today, and to rest a bit. I started the day gazing at the new hibiscus, which is blooming outrageously.
That was about the extent of resting. I had to venture out for mower fuel, an uneventful trip. And when I returned, Rebecca had already arrived, with eggs and peaches and glorious flowers. It was hot, but inspired by Rebecca’s resilience, I did some push mowing while she mulched.
Rebecca likes to be out of focus – here she is next to the newly blooming tall daylily
Nathaniel arrived and mowed the south pasture. That is a rough ride, but it looks beautiful now. Like Rebecca, he is undeterred by the heat and they both inspire me to be both nicer and tougher.
The dogs, cats, and horses are all sort of resigned to the heat, so there wasn’t much activity today. Even Roscoe elected to stay in the air conditioning. The horses camped in front of their fans. Meanwhile, Harry worked hard as ever in the studio after doing his exercises.
As I started to write about the birds, I remembered that I had not retrieved the bird feed from the back porch, and it’s dark. Damn! I turned on the back light and there was the fat raccoon already feasting. He doesn’t even leave with any alacrity when I open the door, he’s so brazen. Well, he didn’t get too much. But I’m afraid he may need to be relocated.
The birds were fun, as always. I never tire of the pileated woodpecker.
Female tanager and hairy woodpecker
The daylilies are enjoying the heat.
A storm threatened, but nothing came of it. Unfortunately, Wayne had cut the hay in the back hayfield two days ago, when the storm was not just kidding, so it’s lucky he uses it to feed cattle. I think he baled it this afternoon, I could hear a tractor through the trees.
Mown grass, dark clouds
The horses were happy to get out once the sun was low. Poor Stone is pretty ouchy without his shoe, but the foot doesn’t look any worse (yet).
It’s hard to believe how little there is to write about, when I have been busy all day and am tuckered out now. I continue to be very grateful for this life here and the help from Rebecca, Nathaniel, and Marianne, without whom the place would be in chaos.
Stay safe, stay well, wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance… be grateful.
I am grateful for your blog and you and your crew of animals, plants and humans.
Me too
Screw being “nicer and tougher,” some of us are just not cut out for the high exasperating heat and humidity throughout our winding river states. But, God love them, they do carry on when we suffer. As to the Pileated Woodpecker, ugly guy, but I agree, something calls to us about them. Is it their prehistoric appearance? Your farm, the artist in residence, the horses, the dogs, the cats, the frogs, the skinks, I love it all!