20200828

Went outside for the first time in a couple of weeks. I’d been trying to take Casper out for a while every morning. It’s usually cool enough to be nice for a couple of hours in the morning. But it’s heated up and gotten really humid for the past couple of weeks so I haven’t gone out. Casper’s been mad at me. He loves his morning out in the garden. As do I. So this morning we sat outside and enjoyed the butterfly parade. Casper enjoyed my orchids.

I got some new fish for the pond recently. I’ve had one for several years and think she’s been lonely, judging by the eggs she’s been laying. I had one fish for a long time before. I bought several at once and then all of them died but the one. This time I decided I quarantine them for a couple of days before I put them in the pond. This time everyone seems to be doing OK. I named them before I got them home; I don’t know why. Blanche, Lucy and Coppertop. I’ve had the other fish for 3 years and never called it anything but fish. At first the newcomers hid from Fish. No wonder, she’s 3 times the size of the others. But as of now they’re schooling around the pot, acting like fish. So far so good.

20200815 – Home maintenance

Kinda feeling like a home maintenance diva right now. We’ve had a couple of things go wrong lately. Got an outside faucet with a major leak. And the air conditioning broke down. During a major heat wave.

For the plumber I remembered a guy who had worked on our water heater a long time ago who I’d been impressed with. He knew what he was doing. Thanks to the wonderful spouse we had the number of the company he worked for and he still works for him. And even though they’re only supposed to do water heaters, he’s coming on Monday. I don’t know anything about plumbing, but at my age, I’m starting to know what competence looks like.

Then the AC broke down. The spouse had tried a few places, but all of them just had message machines. I tried a few myself and got the same result. I broke down and used one of the on-line services. I hate giving people my phone number, but the prospect of no AC, temperatures in 100’s and high humidity sounded awful. Entered my info and got a call back in minutes. The guy showed in minutes and fixed it in half an hour. At a price I considered reasonable.

I totally feel like a winner right now. Hope things go as well with the plumber.

20200814 – His Majesty

This gallery contains 1 photo.

20200812 – Morning in the garden

There are lots of caterpillars right now.

Big ones

Small ones

And ones so tiny I have a hard time holding the phone still enough to get a decent picture. All of the passion flower vines are ragged and the butterflies are ragged from fighting over territory.

Casper and I go out in the mornings when it’s still cool and the onshore breeze is blowing. Usually I’m outside about 3 minutes before I see something that needs to be done. Taking Casper out is just the motivation I need to get me moving on the yard work. I sit down and read between chores and he sits by my chair and watches the butterflies. After a dirt bath.

20200813 – Random cat photo

20200812 Garden

Pulled down the Boston this morning. Way overdue. Had nearly a trash can full by the time I was done. But at least I felt like I accomplished something.

One thing off the endless list. I’m sure something will grow to take its place. At least it gives me a sense of purpose in this totally senseless time.

It finally happened

Someone in a film wanted to play a song on their Alexa and ours started play it.

Quietly awful

I needed to go out today, so I decided I wanted some onion rings so I went to the local burger place and when I got there, it was gone. Closed and empty. Actually, the whole strip mall was closed and empty as far as I can see. Went to the next strip mall, because I know McDonald’s is still open. Most of it’s stores were closed, too. At least 50 percent of the stores where our grocery store is are empty. I know that retail shops have been on the way down, but this is beyond that. So many people around here aren’t just closed for the duration, they’re gone.

It’s just like the zombie apocalypse, without the zombies

Some people are trying to hide the face they have it
The government’s desperately trying to hide how many people are going to get it.
Some people are trying to spread it on purpose.
It’s really scary.

Cat in a 8 foot jungle

The atrium has been Casper’s new favorite spot. He plays, he prowls, he pounces. He’s my lion in a 8 foot jungle.

He loves it because it’s outdoors, with breezes and sunshine, but it’s also away from people and delivery trucks because he’s terrified of them. He’s a big, hairy chicken.