I was mostly kidding, up there. But really”
In 1960 there was serious concern among some that the Election of John F. Kennedy would make the US subject to the pope.
That was in SC. I don’t know about other states.
Kim posted on yesterday’s thread at 6:20 a.m., “I saw on FB this morning that Michelle evacuated about 6 hours ago.” Yesterday Michelle asked for prayer that the predicted winds not come, because her area was in danger from the Glass fire. Whatever the details, I’m sure they could use our prayers.
I saw that scary photo Michelle posted on Facebook in the night. It was dark with the orange glow from approaching fire that could be seen from their front porch. I have been praying. My heart feels heavy for them and others.
The header photo is a fuzzy little insect maybe half the size of a honeybee called the bee fly. I think it’s a cute insect, but it’s also a skittish one and I’ve had trouble getting good photos. Well, this summer I have a close-up lens for my camera and I’ve learned a lot about photographing insects. One trick is that if you want “lots” of insects, you go out on a warm summer afternoon–the hotter the better. But if you want close-ups of insects, you go out in the morning when insects aren’t warmed up yet and they don’t move as quickly, and some of them won’t move at all because they’re resting until the sun warms them up.
Anyway, this is a bee fly on New England aster. In the spring, fleabane blooms, a tiny little white flower that I have no idea how it’s different from asters. In summer, asters take over and bloom in multiple species. I can’t tell them apart as to species but I can certainly see the differences. For instance, the flowers are different sizes, there are different numbers of petals and some are skinny petals and some are far ones. The plants are different, too. Some are short and straight and some are bush-like, hairy clumps. But all the asters are daisy-like, white white yellow centers. As fall comes on, new species start blooming, and several of them have yellow centers that turn pink after getting pollinated. Then most of the summer flowers die off, the asters start blooming really profusely, goldenrod start blooming . . . and then, as August gives way to September, out comes an aster that is different. It isn’t small and it isn’t white. It’s large, and its flowers are purple or pink. (This is a pink one.) A few other of the smaller asters also begin to bloom in very pale purple. But this one is boldly colored, and ti stands out among mostly yellow and white flowers of fall. (The ironweed is also purple, a different shade, and some of it is still in bloom now, but it’s finishing its blooming time.) And we have a new crop of insects, too, species that can handle slightly cooler weather.
I have now photographed more than 400 insect species this summer. I have no idea how many animal species I’ve photographed in all (adding in spiders, birds, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, and others), but for insects it’s more than 400. (For other creatures it would be more than 100 altogether, but it wouldn’t be hundreds and hundreds.) The bee fly was one I was watching for, since I was hoping for a chance at it with the close-up lens.
I posted on today’s prayer thread, adding a bit more detail myself to the general information I had posted yesterday about my parents’ decline. I might slowly add more over time as the situation progresses. Thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated and needed in our family.
Here is your update. There are only 95 days left in 2020. What chapter of Revalations will we be living today. (I am the one on the countdown, the comment is from a FB meme). Seriously, this has been a year! I know that at some point in the future we will look back on it and remember some of it fondly and see where it led to our growth. Just not right now in the middle of it.
I ended up having a busy weekend. I got the Buyer under contract and I put 2 of my listings under contract. I have another listing that is supposed to close tomorrow. I know it is selfish but please pray these all go through. Now that I am looking at a $7,500 insurance deductible or the out of pocket expense of what a roof will cost, plus an electrician, etc. I sure could use what these sales will bring in.
I was also able to give two referrals out to other agents. One in Milledgeville, GA. I don’t think it will be a high enough pricepoint to ask for a referral, so I told her “Merry Christmas”. If it is enough of a listing to pay me a referral great and if it isn’t….don’t worry about it. The potential seller wants to move back to Mobile, so I will get her on the buy side eventually. The other was an agent who submitted an offer on one of my listings. She is in Mobile and someone wanted to see the property Thursday when I was solo with Little Miss. She did me a favor by showing the property to them. Now they have moved on to a different property. Since she did me a favor I told her if it sells to only pay me a 15% referral fee instead of the customary 25 or 30 percent. I wasn’t even going to ask for that but she offered again. If that happens it happens.
Now to go figure out how much I can list a lot for in Perdido Beach.
Praying for Michelle. I have a friend whose nephew also lives there so they’ve also evacuated, I’m sure.
I’m off to PT early this morning, we’ll see what they say about resuming activity in light of my car accident last week; wondering if they need some sort of dr’s clearance? I never checked in with my GP as it was bruises only from everything I can tell.
I may get word on the jeep today — an arborist also is coming at 11 a.m. to check out my golden-colored pine tree 😦 – At least I’ll know what the problem is after that, then I just need to figure out how to pay to ether “fix” it or take it down (if I also need to buy a replacement car on the fly). Never a dull moment.
I have cone flowers in my garden, but have never noticed bees sleeping on them. A friend told me she has photographed the males sleeping in the early morning right on the flower head. She said only males to that. Females must be too busy. 😉 I can’t vouch for any of that, but Cheyl’s picture reminded me of it.
The Glass fire, by Michelle, is at 11,000 acres and 0% contained. They have 1000 firefighters working and I just found a spotter plane circling on my app.
Mumsee, still gathering information. I will ask for permission soon. I am getting no information other than what is on facebook and in the newsletters I get. I am on the denied permission to return so am not in the loop to learn anything.
PT went fine, they just asked me a number of questions about back, neck or head pain and were careful to check in with me after each of the exercises to make sure all was ok. I think I’ve finally figured out what the likely scenario was that led up to the accident that had a lot of moving parts and one major and simultaneous distraction.
Another work week has launched, meanwhile, and I’m expecting the gardener shortly along with the tree Dr in about an hour, so it’s a busy morning.
Meanwhile, I can’t figure out how to turn off the windshield wipers in the rental. Ugh.
One of our elders is a police officer. He put out the fire at a member’s house while waiting for the fire truck to arrive. House was saved.
Head elder’s house:
Apparently, E’s new boyfriend is a firefighter and he and his engine protected the J home while fires raged all around.
I’m giving you a third-hand account. I heard this from G, who heard it from A, who heard it from A. lol
Meanwhile, I’m essentially on vacation. Hardest thing since I arrived here was pulling Tiggerboy out of the rosemary hedge after the dog tripped him into it. Tiggerboy came up smelling like . . . a rosemary!
We’re fine.
And you know? If we lose the house, it just means we need to be ready to pivot to something else. And I won’t have to declutter.
Michelle, Why don’t they do managed burns to cull out debris so you don’t have huge fires like this? Back when my family had timberland it was quite common.
Speaking of trees, tree Doc says “maybe” recoverable, but only about a 40% chance of that. But since the treatment would cost way less than taking it down, I’m going to give it a try.
No beetles, he said a number of things could have weakened it including liquids dumped in a nearby backyard pit by house painters/workers back a couple years ago along with too much trimming of bottom branches by gardeners.
He’ll send me a report w/next steps outlined. In the meantime, my homework is to deep water the tree up to 3 times a day before the treatments are set to begin (so the tree will be better able to absorb the products).
Well that is cautiously optimistic. Trees can be amazing in their comeback ability. We thought we had lost our walnut tree to the farmer spraying his crop and overspray caught our raspberries and walnut tree but it came back beautifully.
Michelle, I know we have all been thinking about you and praying for you–and very, very glad to hear the positive update. (Does that mean danger is past for now? Do you still have to stay evacuated?)
We expect to be evacuated through Thursday or so, but this is a lovely place. Biggest concern is the damage that may innocently be inflicted by a child or the puppy.
The puppy, btw, got her first visit to the beach just now and ran wild for quite some time. But she’s happy and may take a nap . . . or not. 🙂
Why don’t we manage the trees by routine burns?
We worship the god of ecology in California and you are not allowed to suggest otherwise.
Some have tried the ingenious “indigenous natives did it,” argument, but even that doesn’t help.
I’m a tree lover myself, but I completely understand that healthy forests need to be managed.
Well, the other god is climate change. No questions are allowed.
Which is not to say I don’t disagree about there being some climate change. But is digging up the entire earth to make batteries really a better solution than natural gas?
Michelle, even the national parks up here do prescribed burns. That’s how the fire got so close to our house a few years ago, but it’s a whole lot safer from that direction now. In the area around the townsite, much clearing and burning has been done in the past and for the past few years, people can come and cut their Christmas tree for free in the “protection area” – It’s a win-win. You get a Christmas tree for free and have fun going with your family, and the park doesn’t have to cut that little tree down in a few years for fire control.
I’m so glad the wind died down and that your home is safe. Thanking God for his mercy and grace.
Around here, the farmers burn their fields after harvest, especially the bluegrass fields. That helps. In your national forests and wilderness areas, there are some prescribed burns, some lightning fires allowed to burn, and some that are fought. Sadly, harvesting of timber is no longer allowed in many areas so there is a lot to burn. But that is okay because we can buy wood for homes and newspapers from China and ship them across the ocean.
A couple times over the weekend, I mentioned the BLM protest march that was in our town this past Saturday. As I said, the protesters behaved themselves well, but it was the counter-protesters who made fools of themselves. They were swearing at the protesters (sometimes in their faces), giving them “the finger”, calling them “libtards”, etc.
One guy was holding and waving a flag pole that had the American flag and a Trump banner on it. But he had the Trump banner above the flag. My nine year old grandson knows you don’t put any flag or banner above the American flag. I’m sure the more level-headed Trump supporters who saw that must have been embarrassed by that guy.
Almost funny, but not really, to see (on a couple Facebook posts) people who support 2nd Amendment rights getting upset about an upcoming armed march in Hartford this coming Saturday for Black people exercising their 2nd Amendment rights.
As for me, it makes me nervous only because I figure there will be armed counter protesters there, too (I read somebody proposing that), and it is too easy for some hothead on one side or the other to start something.
Wandering Views 
Good morning everyone.
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120 pot on yesterday’s thread.
Fortunately, most were one-liners.
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Morning!
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Like Nancy’s…..
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And mine….
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We’ll get to 120 again in no time…. 🙂
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It is morning in Greensboro, NancyJ.
When you reach 90, everything, like a trip out to the mailbox, becomes a project.
ain’t nothing simple no more.
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There is real concern on TV about Elizabeth Barrett on the Supreme Court.
She is a woman of faith.
(I think we’ve never had that before.)
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I was mostly kidding, up there. But really”
In 1960 there was serious concern among some that the Election of John F. Kennedy would make the US subject to the pope.
That was in SC. I don’t know about other states.
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Kim posted on yesterday’s thread at 6:20 a.m., “I saw on FB this morning that Michelle evacuated about 6 hours ago.” Yesterday Michelle asked for prayer that the predicted winds not come, because her area was in danger from the Glass fire. Whatever the details, I’m sure they could use our prayers.
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I saw that scary photo Michelle posted on Facebook in the night. It was dark with the orange glow from approaching fire that could be seen from their front porch. I have been praying. My heart feels heavy for them and others.
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The header photo is a fuzzy little insect maybe half the size of a honeybee called the bee fly. I think it’s a cute insect, but it’s also a skittish one and I’ve had trouble getting good photos. Well, this summer I have a close-up lens for my camera and I’ve learned a lot about photographing insects. One trick is that if you want “lots” of insects, you go out on a warm summer afternoon–the hotter the better. But if you want close-ups of insects, you go out in the morning when insects aren’t warmed up yet and they don’t move as quickly, and some of them won’t move at all because they’re resting until the sun warms them up.
Anyway, this is a bee fly on New England aster. In the spring, fleabane blooms, a tiny little white flower that I have no idea how it’s different from asters. In summer, asters take over and bloom in multiple species. I can’t tell them apart as to species but I can certainly see the differences. For instance, the flowers are different sizes, there are different numbers of petals and some are skinny petals and some are far ones. The plants are different, too. Some are short and straight and some are bush-like, hairy clumps. But all the asters are daisy-like, white white yellow centers. As fall comes on, new species start blooming, and several of them have yellow centers that turn pink after getting pollinated. Then most of the summer flowers die off, the asters start blooming really profusely, goldenrod start blooming . . . and then, as August gives way to September, out comes an aster that is different. It isn’t small and it isn’t white. It’s large, and its flowers are purple or pink. (This is a pink one.) A few other of the smaller asters also begin to bloom in very pale purple. But this one is boldly colored, and ti stands out among mostly yellow and white flowers of fall. (The ironweed is also purple, a different shade, and some of it is still in bloom now, but it’s finishing its blooming time.) And we have a new crop of insects, too, species that can handle slightly cooler weather.
I have now photographed more than 400 insect species this summer. I have no idea how many animal species I’ve photographed in all (adding in spiders, birds, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, and others), but for insects it’s more than 400. (For other creatures it would be more than 100 altogether, but it wouldn’t be hundreds and hundreds.) The bee fly was one I was watching for, since I was hoping for a chance at it with the close-up lens.
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Good morning. Michelle posted this at 2:15am late on yesterday’s prayer thread:
My family has evacuated to son’s house—just like 3 years ago.
Winds have NOT materialized as feared, Thanks be to God.
Unnerving.
But, God is good and we trust Him.
I don’t sleep, anyway.
————
Prayers for sure.
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I posted on today’s prayer thread, adding a bit more detail myself to the general information I had posted yesterday about my parents’ decline. I might slowly add more over time as the situation progresses. Thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated and needed in our family.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Here is your update. There are only 95 days left in 2020. What chapter of Revalations will we be living today. (I am the one on the countdown, the comment is from a FB meme). Seriously, this has been a year! I know that at some point in the future we will look back on it and remember some of it fondly and see where it led to our growth. Just not right now in the middle of it.
I ended up having a busy weekend. I got the Buyer under contract and I put 2 of my listings under contract. I have another listing that is supposed to close tomorrow. I know it is selfish but please pray these all go through. Now that I am looking at a $7,500 insurance deductible or the out of pocket expense of what a roof will cost, plus an electrician, etc. I sure could use what these sales will bring in.
I was also able to give two referrals out to other agents. One in Milledgeville, GA. I don’t think it will be a high enough pricepoint to ask for a referral, so I told her “Merry Christmas”. If it is enough of a listing to pay me a referral great and if it isn’t….don’t worry about it. The potential seller wants to move back to Mobile, so I will get her on the buy side eventually. The other was an agent who submitted an offer on one of my listings. She is in Mobile and someone wanted to see the property Thursday when I was solo with Little Miss. She did me a favor by showing the property to them. Now they have moved on to a different property. Since she did me a favor I told her if it sells to only pay me a 15% referral fee instead of the customary 25 or 30 percent. I wasn’t even going to ask for that but she offered again. If that happens it happens.
Now to go figure out how much I can list a lot for in Perdido Beach.
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Praying for Michelle. I have a friend whose nephew also lives there so they’ve also evacuated, I’m sure.
I’m off to PT early this morning, we’ll see what they say about resuming activity in light of my car accident last week; wondering if they need some sort of dr’s clearance? I never checked in with my GP as it was bruises only from everything I can tell.
I may get word on the jeep today — an arborist also is coming at 11 a.m. to check out my golden-colored pine tree 😦 – At least I’ll know what the problem is after that, then I just need to figure out how to pay to ether “fix” it or take it down (if I also need to buy a replacement car on the fly). Never a dull moment.
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On another note I looked up flights from here to Kuala Lumpur yesterday. That is where the UN flight originates to go to PNG
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I have cone flowers in my garden, but have never noticed bees sleeping on them. A friend told me she has photographed the males sleeping in the early morning right on the flower head. She said only males to that. Females must be too busy. 😉 I can’t vouch for any of that, but Cheyl’s picture reminded me of it.
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Jo, sounds like you are set on heading back to work.
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I often find wasps sleeping on the blackberries. One of the many reasons I wear thick leather gloves when working with them.
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The Glass fire, by Michelle, is at 11,000 acres and 0% contained. They have 1000 firefighters working and I just found a spotter plane circling on my app.
Mumsee, still gathering information. I will ask for permission soon. I am getting no information other than what is on facebook and in the newsletters I get. I am on the denied permission to return so am not in the loop to learn anything.
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PT went fine, they just asked me a number of questions about back, neck or head pain and were careful to check in with me after each of the exercises to make sure all was ok. I think I’ve finally figured out what the likely scenario was that led up to the accident that had a lot of moving parts and one major and simultaneous distraction.
Another work week has launched, meanwhile, and I’m expecting the gardener shortly along with the tree Dr in about an hour, so it’s a busy morning.
Meanwhile, I can’t figure out how to turn off the windshield wipers in the rental. Ugh.
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Maybe it’ll rain.
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Michelle was Live on Facebook about a half hour ago. Everyone is safe, and they’re doing their best to deal with it.
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Wow, Michelle, what an ordeal (again). Praying for everyone’s safety and homes.
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And sleep.
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Now the stories.
One of our elders is a police officer. He put out the fire at a member’s house while waiting for the fire truck to arrive. House was saved.
Head elder’s house:
Apparently, E’s new boyfriend is a firefighter and he and his engine protected the J home while fires raged all around.
I’m giving you a third-hand account. I heard this from G, who heard it from A, who heard it from A. lol
Meanwhile, I’m essentially on vacation. Hardest thing since I arrived here was pulling Tiggerboy out of the rosemary hedge after the dog tripped him into it. Tiggerboy came up smelling like . . . a rosemary!
We’re fine.
And you know? If we lose the house, it just means we need to be ready to pivot to something else. And I won’t have to declutter.
Thanks for prayers. The air is terrible at home.
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I love your attitude Michelle. I gathered what was important the night of the storm and had it ready to go. Everything else was just stuff.
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Great news! Our house came through fine; a friend of our next-door neighbor checked on her house–and of course, saw mine.
Burnt trees, but fine. Very thankful.
Lots of slow burns in the park we walk in, but they need it.
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Michelle, Why don’t they do managed burns to cull out debris so you don’t have huge fires like this? Back when my family had timberland it was quite common.
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Whew.
Kim, probably because this is California? lol
We don’t like to inhibit nature.
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Speaking of trees, tree Doc says “maybe” recoverable, but only about a 40% chance of that. But since the treatment would cost way less than taking it down, I’m going to give it a try.
No beetles, he said a number of things could have weakened it including liquids dumped in a nearby backyard pit by house painters/workers back a couple years ago along with too much trimming of bottom branches by gardeners.
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He’ll send me a report w/next steps outlined. In the meantime, my homework is to deep water the tree up to 3 times a day before the treatments are set to begin (so the tree will be better able to absorb the products).
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Well that is cautiously optimistic. Trees can be amazing in their comeback ability. We thought we had lost our walnut tree to the farmer spraying his crop and overspray caught our raspberries and walnut tree but it came back beautifully.
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Yes, he said he’s CAUTIOUSLY (he emphasized that word) optimistic. He said the trees that are hardest to treat and get to recover are pines.
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Michelle, I know we have all been thinking about you and praying for you–and very, very glad to hear the positive update. (Does that mean danger is past for now? Do you still have to stay evacuated?)
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We expect to be evacuated through Thursday or so, but this is a lovely place. Biggest concern is the damage that may innocently be inflicted by a child or the puppy.
The puppy, btw, got her first visit to the beach just now and ran wild for quite some time. But she’s happy and may take a nap . . . or not. 🙂
Why don’t we manage the trees by routine burns?
We worship the god of ecology in California and you are not allowed to suggest otherwise.
Some have tried the ingenious “indigenous natives did it,” argument, but even that doesn’t help.
I’m a tree lover myself, but I completely understand that healthy forests need to be managed.
Well, the other god is climate change. No questions are allowed.
Which is not to say I don’t disagree about there being some climate change. But is digging up the entire earth to make batteries really a better solution than natural gas?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Michelle, even the national parks up here do prescribed burns. That’s how the fire got so close to our house a few years ago, but it’s a whole lot safer from that direction now. In the area around the townsite, much clearing and burning has been done in the past and for the past few years, people can come and cut their Christmas tree for free in the “protection area” – It’s a win-win. You get a Christmas tree for free and have fun going with your family, and the park doesn’t have to cut that little tree down in a few years for fire control.
I’m so glad the wind died down and that your home is safe. Thanking God for his mercy and grace.
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Here’s the above story. We had dinner at this house Saturday night. This is where the goat Michelle lives. Shocking. Amazing. Grateful.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/off-duty-firefighter-helping-defend-east-santa-rosa-home-recalls-overnight/
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More good news! Michelle the goat survived!
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Around here, the farmers burn their fields after harvest, especially the bluegrass fields. That helps. In your national forests and wilderness areas, there are some prescribed burns, some lightning fires allowed to burn, and some that are fought. Sadly, harvesting of timber is no longer allowed in many areas so there is a lot to burn. But that is okay because we can buy wood for homes and newspapers from China and ship them across the ocean.
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Michelle – I’ve been praying, and was relieved to read that your home is safe.
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A couple times over the weekend, I mentioned the BLM protest march that was in our town this past Saturday. As I said, the protesters behaved themselves well, but it was the counter-protesters who made fools of themselves. They were swearing at the protesters (sometimes in their faces), giving them “the finger”, calling them “libtards”, etc.
One guy was holding and waving a flag pole that had the American flag and a Trump banner on it. But he had the Trump banner above the flag. My nine year old grandson knows you don’t put any flag or banner above the American flag. I’m sure the more level-headed Trump supporters who saw that must have been embarrassed by that guy.
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Almost funny, but not really, to see (on a couple Facebook posts) people who support 2nd Amendment rights getting upset about an upcoming armed march in Hartford this coming Saturday for Black people exercising their 2nd Amendment rights.
As for me, it makes me nervous only because I figure there will be armed counter protesters there, too (I read somebody proposing that), and it is too easy for some hothead on one side or the other to start something.
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First!
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