HaHa, Assateague ponies got not only the grapes, but most of the rest of our food (they didn't get the cooler opened) while we were checking out the ocean just after we arrived. They had to reach their heads in the partially rolled down car windows to do so! They didn't stop their raid even with all our yelling and arm waving until we were within ten feet.

I wanted to sleep on the beach...full moon, NO mosquitos, but mis judged the incoming tide and had to move up beach twice and then was afraid to sleep because I was in the "path' of the early morning pony strollers. I reminded myself that horses will not step on lying down people (from the movie "Gandhi") ,but elected to stay awake and greet the dawn. Saw some dolphins playing far off in the surf.

sounds wonderful, MMaid (mostly!)

Magical!!

I"m sorry about your turtle, Rosie; that must have been such a sad sight.

I got about 10 feet away from a deer once because it was in a standoff with the neighbor's Himalayan cat and wouldn't leave until I went close and clapped my hands. They were about 10 feet apart and staring at each other, not moving.

while checking my plants today I noticed one of our squirrels was digging in one of my 6 small bronze fennel pots.
I leaned in to pull them closer to me and see an american toad guarding the walking iris pot we got from Ric and Holly.
I'd blame the toad but I don't think it could of dug up the small fennel pot as much as it was and the squirrels have been a real problem this year
I've covered most of my exposed dirt where they dig with rocks but they keep finding new holes in my defenses.

KROBRA--re toads in pots....here is my old story.

Some of you may remember this colorful, BIG toad that came to visit me in 2013.
He stayed for a couple days--then disappeared. I fed it some slimy slugs....yum...
Then came back--but left soon after that. I even built him a lean-to house
from a clay pot (down my basement steps) and some mulch. I think he used it one night...

BUT--I digress--the reason I wrote this is another experience with a different toad
that had set up house in a 6" pot pf soil. Don't recall if this pot also had a plant in it?

Every day, for about 3 days--I would come out and half of this pot's soil would be
out. I would shovel it back into the pot. Next day--the same thing.
Then as I was shoveling the soil back into the pot--it felt like something was in the pot.
Dumped it out--and there was this toad that had had to put up with my shovel
digging in there for several days. It was a wonder i did not kill it.

My Toad---

Darn Yellow Jackets laid me up for 2 days. My left leg is still 1&1/4 the size of the right. Most of the overall joint pain (histamine reaction) has gone, but it still aches like crazy.I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.

Eric4home said:Darn Yellow Jackets laid me up for 2 days. My left leg is still 1&1/4 the size of the right. Most of the overall joint pain (histamine reaction) has gone, but it still aches like crazy.I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.

Yellow Jacket Nest needs to go!!

Oh Ric! And with super sweet Holly away, too. Not what you had in mind for sure when you said you were going to explore your 'bachelorhood' a bit. Wishing you a speedy recoup from the 'blues' and all those stings.

After turtle finished the slugs and worms it dug itself in to the mound of dirt in one corner of the box and stayed there to morning. Put it out on a mossy place in a pawpaw grove. Off it went rested and well-fed. Fare thee well little one.

Ric = many years ago I was on massive doses of prednisone for a severe eye inflammation. While dismantling a brush pile my hands suddenly hurt. I lifted them up and discovered multiple yellow jackets on each. I shook the critters off and within a few minutes I had forgotten I had been stung. Wish there wasn't such a down side to that medication.

sweet, turtle sendoff!

Uck, David, so creepy!

Ric, heal quickly...

David, next time I get multiple stings, I may just go to the ER for a couple shots. A good dose of prednisone would be better that awakening Arthur.

Mr. Itis? He's a jerk. I went to Patient First one time for a swollen knuckle. I was concerned I might have an infection. Nope, they gently said, looks like Arthur Itis. But, but but...I'm too young!!!

I first met that jackass, Arthur Itis, when I was in my early 30s. I've known him way too long. He doesn't like me either... makes my knees ache like crazy any time I'm planting or tending to the beds more than a few minutes.

Sally, they told me I had significant Arthur when I was 18, age doesn't matter if you have the genes for it. The nasty part is the reaction from bees sets the inflammation into overdrive. It's like every joint in your body hurts. Next time I may visit an urgent care to see if they will give me a shot of cortisone.

'Arthur Itis'--would be funny except so painful. Sorry you guys are having to deal with him!

My knee pain has now been diagnosed as being partly due to arthritis, so I guess Arthur and I are friends now, too.

Just saw quite a swarm of--cicadas?--circling my backyard. Must have been a good dozen of them. Anyone else seen anything like this?

never have seen a swarm of cicadas...

Saw a bluebird this evening in the yard though.
And we have a few bats covering the backyard these evenings.

Coworker and I were discussing the rescue of the swimming baby raccoon the other day. I kid you not, the next patron who came to the desk was wearing a pest control shirt. I said Hey did you hear about that raccoon rescue? He laughed...