ysabetwordsmith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-20 12:04 am
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-20 12:04 am
Entry tags:
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 09:24 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 09:24 pm
Isis (isis) wrote2025-06-19 04:30 pm
isis) wrote2025-06-19 04:30 pmthursday reads and things
What I recently abandoned reading:
I got just over halfway through Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao before deciding that YA mecha is not my thing, even when it's a YA mecha AU of Chinese history. I think I'd rather read an actual historical novel or even nonfiction about Wu Zetian, who seems to have been an impressive-as-hell woman. (I will take recommendations!)
What I'm reading now:
Lamentation, the 6th Shardlake book by C. J. Sansom. (An actual historical novel! 😁)
What I recently finished watching:
S2 of Andor, which as I said, weirdly ironic to be watching as we grapple with our own ascendant Evil Empire. The pacing of this season was strange, big time-skips and characters that had seemed important in S1 (or in early episodes of S2) disappearing completely, or reappearing briefly only to be killed. I was expecting more about Mon Mothma's family, after all the screentime lavished on the wedding and her sort-of-blackmail situation. I was also expecting more of a resolution, though that's probably because I only vaguely remember Rogue One, so a lot of the breadcrumbs were, "wait, who was that again?" instead of, "aha!" for me. But I liked Kleya a whole lot, and also the snarky ex-Empire droid, and some of the spycraft bits were fun.
What I'm watching now:
We are giving American Primeval a try, despite it probably being on the violent/gory side for our tastes. We're two episodes in, and - I immediately recognized Shorty Bowlegs from the most recent season of Dark Winds! (Derek Hinkey, playing Red Feather.) Also, there is a local(ish) woman in it, Nanabah Grace from Cortez just down the road, who plays Kuttaambo'i. An article about her in the local newspaper was the way I first heard of this series, actually.
I'm enjoying the historical stuff; it's set during the Mormon War, which I actually researched a bit for my Yuletide fic, the premise of which was that the main reason that Deseret became an independent republic in the alt-history of Francis Spufford's Cahokia Jazz was that President Buchanan backed down in the face of united Mormons and natives, as both religion and respect for the tribes were stronger in that universe's US. I also like seeing the Old West, even though it was all filmed in New Mexico pretending to be Wyoming, although I'm getting a bit tired of the washed-out sepia filter.
What I recently finished playing:
Okay, not quite finished, but I have completed the last major quest in Mass Effect: Andromeda, so it's basically over. (I mean, the credits rolled! Therefore, it's over!) I know that Andromeda is considered ME's poor stepchild, but - I really enjoyed it. The "major threat to the world as we know it!!1!!one!" of the main trilogy is such a staple plotline of video games like this that I appreciated the "survive, explore, and (hopefully) thrive in a NEW UNIVERSE (and also defeat the major threat to the world as we know it)" plotline for its novelty. I thought the structure of quests opening new planets and objectives in a rough but not strict order worked well, and I really liked that most (maybe all?) decisions are not hugely critical, so you don't doom yourself to a bad ending by choosing X instead of Y. I did check the wiki a few times when I was nervous about things, but pretty much none of these decisions made any real difference, which meant I was free to actually role-play as "what WOULD (me as) Sara Ryder do?" and I find that much more relaxing.
I wasn't quite completionist - I didn't do all the fetch quest type quests, and I didn't do one vault (Elaaden, which I might go back and do), but I did pretty much everything else. I liked the glyph puzzles, and I hated the Architects, ugh. I played mostly as what in the main trilogy would be Infiltrator (combat + tech). I romanced Liam (after a fling with Peebee). It was fun!
What I'm playing next:
I think I will try some shorter games; I got Lorelei and the Laser Eyes a while back because a friend recommended it, and Skabma - Snowfall from a recent deal, because it looked pretty. I might try Baldur's Gate 3 again - I never managed to get into it and found it frustrating and annoying. Eventually I plan to get Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and also probably Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which I've heard good things about.
(Or sell me on your favorite adventure game!)
I got just over halfway through Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao before deciding that YA mecha is not my thing, even when it's a YA mecha AU of Chinese history. I think I'd rather read an actual historical novel or even nonfiction about Wu Zetian, who seems to have been an impressive-as-hell woman. (I will take recommendations!)
What I'm reading now:
Lamentation, the 6th Shardlake book by C. J. Sansom. (An actual historical novel! 😁)
What I recently finished watching:
S2 of Andor, which as I said, weirdly ironic to be watching as we grapple with our own ascendant Evil Empire. The pacing of this season was strange, big time-skips and characters that had seemed important in S1 (or in early episodes of S2) disappearing completely, or reappearing briefly only to be killed. I was expecting more about Mon Mothma's family, after all the screentime lavished on the wedding and her sort-of-blackmail situation. I was also expecting more of a resolution, though that's probably because I only vaguely remember Rogue One, so a lot of the breadcrumbs were, "wait, who was that again?" instead of, "aha!" for me. But I liked Kleya a whole lot, and also the snarky ex-Empire droid, and some of the spycraft bits were fun.
What I'm watching now:
We are giving American Primeval a try, despite it probably being on the violent/gory side for our tastes. We're two episodes in, and - I immediately recognized Shorty Bowlegs from the most recent season of Dark Winds! (Derek Hinkey, playing Red Feather.) Also, there is a local(ish) woman in it, Nanabah Grace from Cortez just down the road, who plays Kuttaambo'i. An article about her in the local newspaper was the way I first heard of this series, actually.
I'm enjoying the historical stuff; it's set during the Mormon War, which I actually researched a bit for my Yuletide fic, the premise of which was that the main reason that Deseret became an independent republic in the alt-history of Francis Spufford's Cahokia Jazz was that President Buchanan backed down in the face of united Mormons and natives, as both religion and respect for the tribes were stronger in that universe's US. I also like seeing the Old West, even though it was all filmed in New Mexico pretending to be Wyoming, although I'm getting a bit tired of the washed-out sepia filter.
What I recently finished playing:
Okay, not quite finished, but I have completed the last major quest in Mass Effect: Andromeda, so it's basically over. (I mean, the credits rolled! Therefore, it's over!) I know that Andromeda is considered ME's poor stepchild, but - I really enjoyed it. The "major threat to the world as we know it!!1!!one!" of the main trilogy is such a staple plotline of video games like this that I appreciated the "survive, explore, and (hopefully) thrive in a NEW UNIVERSE (and also defeat the major threat to the world as we know it)" plotline for its novelty. I thought the structure of quests opening new planets and objectives in a rough but not strict order worked well, and I really liked that most (maybe all?) decisions are not hugely critical, so you don't doom yourself to a bad ending by choosing X instead of Y. I did check the wiki a few times when I was nervous about things, but pretty much none of these decisions made any real difference, which meant I was free to actually role-play as "what WOULD (me as) Sara Ryder do?" and I find that much more relaxing.
I wasn't quite completionist - I didn't do all the fetch quest type quests, and I didn't do one vault (Elaaden, which I might go back and do), but I did pretty much everything else. I liked the glyph puzzles, and I hated the Architects, ugh. I played mostly as what in the main trilogy would be Infiltrator (combat + tech). I romanced Liam (after a fling with Peebee). It was fun!
What I'm playing next:
I think I will try some shorter games; I got Lorelei and the Laser Eyes a while back because a friend recommended it, and Skabma - Snowfall from a recent deal, because it looked pretty. I might try Baldur's Gate 3 again - I never managed to get into it and found it frustrating and annoying. Eventually I plan to get Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and also probably Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which I've heard good things about.
(Or sell me on your favorite adventure game!)
purplecat (purplecat) wrote2025-06-19 07:31 pm
purplecat) wrote2025-06-19 07:31 pmEntry tags:
Inca Trail: Day 3
Unlike Day 2, which was hard work and not terribly rewarding, we loved Day 3 on the Inca Trail. Once again we set off almost as soon as it was light. Wilbert's plan was again to have all the walking done before lunch, in part because of convenience, but this time he also knew there were a lot of ruins to see and was quite keen to get us to them before everyone else got there. In this he was successful. We generally got to look around ruins on our own, but a big group would arrive just as we were leaving.
The first of these was Runkuraqay which Wilbert described as a fuel station for people, which we interpreted as meaning an Inn.
( Runkuraqay Pictures )
We then went up and over a pass, a little lower than Dead Woman's Pass the previous day, and a shorter climb because we'd started higher. Then we came down towards Sayacmarca, a much larger ruin.
( Pictures )
Once we left Sayacmarca we continued down to about 3,500m. After that the trail was much more level. Strava shows a steady climb, but I felt much more able to look about me at the scenery rather than paying close attention to where I was putting my feet. As the trail levelled out we got to Qunchamarka, another Inn. It wasn't clear how to access this, but we walked around the outside. I think at this point we were up in a Cloud Forest - though I'm hazy on the difference between Cloud Forest, Rainforest and regular forest, all of which I think we walked through at various points.
( Pictures )
Wilbert spent some time telling us about the Inca Tunnel we would meet. B was pretty sure this was just a large fallen rock which the Inca's had run the path under. Wilbert got distracted at this point since he found a dog in the brush above the tunnel. After some encouragement he got it to climb down and it ran off down the path ahead of us. We met it again at the next campsite where, presumably, it belonged. I'm afraid we failed to photograph the dog, so you'll just have to imagine it.
( B did photograph the tunnel, however )
We arrived at our campsite in good time for lunch. The camp was above another Inca ruin, Phuyupatamaca, and after lunch Wilbert packed us off to take a look at it on our own. This involved going down some steep steps and it seemed like the water source for the camp was at the bottom, because we were passed by a lot of porters carrying water back up them. At the time we assumed he sent us to look at it then, rather than the next day, because the plan was to leave before light so that we would get to Machu Picchu in time to meet up with the rest of our group. However it transpired that pretty much everyone was leaving before light and we seemed to be the only party who's guide thought to encourage us to check out the ruins we would miss in the dark.
( Pictures of Phuyupatamarca )
We had an excellent position in the camp right next to a large rock that overlooked the view. We were next to the camp of a group of three people who were on the "Luxury" tour. Wilbert was very contemptuous - they had three guides and a masseuse. They were also served cocktails in glasses made of glass when they reached camp. The most disconcerting thing was that they were played into camp by Andean pipes. B felt he would have been quite happy with the cocktails and the larger tents (including a shower tent!) and so on, but felt he wouldn't have coped with the pipes.
( Pictures in the Camp )
The first of these was Runkuraqay which Wilbert described as a fuel station for people, which we interpreted as meaning an Inn.
( Runkuraqay Pictures )
We then went up and over a pass, a little lower than Dead Woman's Pass the previous day, and a shorter climb because we'd started higher. Then we came down towards Sayacmarca, a much larger ruin.
( Pictures )
Once we left Sayacmarca we continued down to about 3,500m. After that the trail was much more level. Strava shows a steady climb, but I felt much more able to look about me at the scenery rather than paying close attention to where I was putting my feet. As the trail levelled out we got to Qunchamarka, another Inn. It wasn't clear how to access this, but we walked around the outside. I think at this point we were up in a Cloud Forest - though I'm hazy on the difference between Cloud Forest, Rainforest and regular forest, all of which I think we walked through at various points.
( Pictures )
Wilbert spent some time telling us about the Inca Tunnel we would meet. B was pretty sure this was just a large fallen rock which the Inca's had run the path under. Wilbert got distracted at this point since he found a dog in the brush above the tunnel. After some encouragement he got it to climb down and it ran off down the path ahead of us. We met it again at the next campsite where, presumably, it belonged. I'm afraid we failed to photograph the dog, so you'll just have to imagine it.
( B did photograph the tunnel, however )
We arrived at our campsite in good time for lunch. The camp was above another Inca ruin, Phuyupatamaca, and after lunch Wilbert packed us off to take a look at it on our own. This involved going down some steep steps and it seemed like the water source for the camp was at the bottom, because we were passed by a lot of porters carrying water back up them. At the time we assumed he sent us to look at it then, rather than the next day, because the plan was to leave before light so that we would get to Machu Picchu in time to meet up with the rest of our group. However it transpired that pretty much everyone was leaving before light and we seemed to be the only party who's guide thought to encourage us to check out the ruins we would miss in the dark.
( Pictures of Phuyupatamarca )
We had an excellent position in the camp right next to a large rock that overlooked the view. We were next to the camp of a group of three people who were on the "Luxury" tour. Wilbert was very contemptuous - they had three guides and a masseuse. They were also served cocktails in glasses made of glass when they reached camp. The most disconcerting thing was that they were played into camp by Andean pipes. B felt he would have been quite happy with the cocktails and the larger tents (including a shower tent!) and so on, but felt he wouldn't have coped with the pipes.
( Pictures in the Camp )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 01:18 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 01:18 pmBirdfeeding
Today is partly sunny and mild. It rained yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- We went out for a while and saw the library wildflower meadow, Fox Ridge, and the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder that was half empty.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I sowed 5 pots with yellow raspberries.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the south side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
Lots of fireflies are coming out. :D
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the North side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- We went out for a while and saw the library wildflower meadow, Fox Ridge, and the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder that was half empty.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I sowed 5 pots with yellow raspberries.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the south side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
Lots of fireflies are coming out. :D
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the North side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 01:16 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-19 01:16 pmEntry tags:
Wildlife
New butterfly species wows scientists: 'This discovery reveals a lineage shaped by 40,000 years of evolutionary solitude'
The Satyrium semiluna, or half-moon hairstreak, is a small gray butterfly that looks like a moth at first glance. The wildflower lovers are widespread across North America, from the Sagebrush steppe to the montane meadows of the Rocky Mountains.
But tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Canada, another colony of butterflies flaps across the Blakiston Fan landform of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Until now, they were thought to be a subpopulation of half-moon hairstreaks — until scientists made a phenomenal discovery: They were a new species of butterfly that had hidden in plain sight for centuries.
The researchers, who recently published their findings in the scientific journal ZooKeys, defined the new species as Satyrium curiosolus.
The Satyrium semiluna, or half-moon hairstreak, is a small gray butterfly that looks like a moth at first glance. The wildflower lovers are widespread across North America, from the Sagebrush steppe to the montane meadows of the Rocky Mountains.
But tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Canada, another colony of butterflies flaps across the Blakiston Fan landform of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Until now, they were thought to be a subpopulation of half-moon hairstreaks — until scientists made a phenomenal discovery: They were a new species of butterfly that had hidden in plain sight for centuries.
The researchers, who recently published their findings in the scientific journal ZooKeys, defined the new species as Satyrium curiosolus.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-18 08:57 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-18 08:57 pmEntry tags:
Birdfeeding
Today was warm and muggy. It stormed midday, then cleared up somewhat later.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
throbbing light machine (lotesse) wrote2025-06-18 02:12 pm
lotesse) wrote2025-06-18 02:12 pm(no subject)
going home this weekend for dad's memorial
purplecat (purplecat) wrote2025-06-18 07:15 pm
purplecat) wrote2025-06-18 07:15 pmEntry tags:
Inca Trail: Day 2
Day 2 on the Inca Trail was the least fun of the trip. We had to climb 1,200m to get up and over "Dead Woman's Pass". Wilbert, our guide's plan was to get going as soon as it was light (around 5:30am) and aim to reach our campsite at lunch time. His reasoning was to get most of the actual climbing done while we were in the shadow of the tall mountains around us. It also made life simpler for the support team who wouldn't have to pick somewhere en route, unpack to make lunch, and then pack up again to get to the campsite. He also, I think, quite liked the idea of catching up with the group that were ahead of us who were starting around 700m up the climb and who would be having lunch at our evening campsite. In the event we arrived at our campsite about 2 hours after they had left, having another pass to go over before they got to their campsite for the night.
We were on modern trails, according to Wilbert, and although I think we passed some Inca ruins at a campsite en route, we didn't look at them. Wilbert's explanation for the route wasn't entirely clear. As I understood it the original Inca road went over a different pass, though I never figured out if it was higher or lower. I got the impression a large section of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu was destroyed by the Inca themselves, triggering landslides, in order to prevent the Spanish finding their way along it, so maybe that explains why we were following a modern alternative.
We started at about 3000m. At around 3,700m I began to feel quite tired and a little concerned about the 500m still go. At 3,900m as we came out of the shade and into the sun, my legs felt like lead and I made it up to the pass only by doggedly walking 300 steps and then stopping (300 steps, if you are interested, gets you up about 50m). At the time we put this down to the fact Manchester is super-flat and so our uphill muscles don't get a lot of exercise. However, I wasn't remotely stiff the next day, at which point it occured to us to measure my blood oxygen using my watch. It was down at 81%, rising to 88% if I took several deep breaths (B., in contrast was generally in the high 80s/low 90s). So it's possible the issue was lack of blood oxygen - even though I wasn't showing any other symptoms of altitude sickness.
Once over the pass we descended around 600m to our campsite. I badly wanted to go to sleep, but B. and Wilbert forced me to have some lunch first. Then I slept for an hour, after which I felt much more like myself.
We walked a total distance of just under 12km.
( Pictures under the Cut )
We were on modern trails, according to Wilbert, and although I think we passed some Inca ruins at a campsite en route, we didn't look at them. Wilbert's explanation for the route wasn't entirely clear. As I understood it the original Inca road went over a different pass, though I never figured out if it was higher or lower. I got the impression a large section of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu was destroyed by the Inca themselves, triggering landslides, in order to prevent the Spanish finding their way along it, so maybe that explains why we were following a modern alternative.
We started at about 3000m. At around 3,700m I began to feel quite tired and a little concerned about the 500m still go. At 3,900m as we came out of the shade and into the sun, my legs felt like lead and I made it up to the pass only by doggedly walking 300 steps and then stopping (300 steps, if you are interested, gets you up about 50m). At the time we put this down to the fact Manchester is super-flat and so our uphill muscles don't get a lot of exercise. However, I wasn't remotely stiff the next day, at which point it occured to us to measure my blood oxygen using my watch. It was down at 81%, rising to 88% if I took several deep breaths (B., in contrast was generally in the high 80s/low 90s). So it's possible the issue was lack of blood oxygen - even though I wasn't showing any other symptoms of altitude sickness.
Once over the pass we descended around 600m to our campsite. I badly wanted to go to sleep, but B. and Wilbert forced me to have some lunch first. Then I slept for an hour, after which I felt much more like myself.
We walked a total distance of just under 12km.
( Pictures under the Cut )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-18 12:36 am
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-18 12:36 amEntry tags:
Cuddle Party
Everyone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
For the upcoming 4th of July, enjoy some of my previous posts about fireworks. Watch a video of fireworks going off and fireworks fail.
( Read more... )
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
For the upcoming 4th of July, enjoy some of my previous posts about fireworks. Watch a video of fireworks going off and fireworks fail.
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 10:31 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 10:31 pmToday's Smoothie
Today we made a smoothie with:
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
about 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh seedless watermelon chunks
1 frozen banana
about 2/3 cup frozen strawberries
1 teaspoon lime juice
The result is bright pink and a little thicker with the frozen banana, with a notable watermelon flavor. This is a definite improvement over the previous version and I quite like it. \o/
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
about 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh seedless watermelon chunks
1 frozen banana
about 2/3 cup frozen strawberries
1 teaspoon lime juice
The result is bright pink and a little thicker with the frozen banana, with a notable watermelon flavor. This is a definite improvement over the previous version and I quite like it. \o/
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 05:43 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 05:43 pmEntry tags:
Where do migratory birds have their home?
Where do migratory birds have their home?
Below are just three screenshots from a series of 16 photos on the Instagram account of somadifusa (Laura Ortiz), of murals she and the tattoo artist Azul Luna (Instagram account azulunailustra) painted in Bogota, Colombia.
I'm captivated by these images both of traveling swallows, some bearing backpacks and baskets, some with shells on their back like hermit crabs, and of hearts that are also nests, or that morph into shells, or sprout flowers and eyes. "Home is where the heart is," or the heart makes the home.
( Read more... )
Below are just three screenshots from a series of 16 photos on the Instagram account of somadifusa (Laura Ortiz), of murals she and the tattoo artist Azul Luna (Instagram account azulunailustra) painted in Bogota, Colombia.
I'm captivated by these images both of traveling swallows, some bearing backpacks and baskets, some with shells on their back like hermit crabs, and of hearts that are also nests, or that morph into shells, or sprout flowers and eyes. "Home is where the heart is," or the heart makes the home.
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 03:07 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-17 03:07 pmBirdfeeding
Today is partly sunny, steamy, and hot.
I fed the birds. Sparrows and house finches have been all over the feeders today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I checked the grass patch by the garden shed. Something had eaten about half the seedling clover. :/ So I sowed more Bee Lawn Mix, watered that, and watered the recently planted wild indigo.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
My wildflower garden is swarming with baby praying mantises, at least two hatches. I've seen a tiny brown one and a slightly larger green one. :D
I've seen a mourning dove in the forest garden.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries along the street and in the savanna.
Fireflies are coming out.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I trimmed low-hanging branches in the house yard.
I hauled a large branch to the ritual meadow and broke it up for the firepit.
My partner Doug has mowed the ritual meadow.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. Sparrows and house finches have been all over the feeders today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I checked the grass patch by the garden shed. Something had eaten about half the seedling clover. :/ So I sowed more Bee Lawn Mix, watered that, and watered the recently planted wild indigo.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
My wildflower garden is swarming with baby praying mantises, at least two hatches. I've seen a tiny brown one and a slightly larger green one. :D
I've seen a mourning dove in the forest garden.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries along the street and in the savanna.
Fireflies are coming out.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I trimmed low-hanging branches in the house yard.
I hauled a large branch to the ritual meadow and broke it up for the firepit.
My partner Doug has mowed the ritual meadow.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.