Mailbox Monday: Pictograms

The knob is a polished stone.

Blue-Stripe Ribbon Snake

Down at the lighthouse at St. Marks, we stopped to look at this snake that was dead in the road. Back home, we identified it as a blue-stripe ribbon snake.

We read that it in Florida, it has a rather small area where it may be found, and where we found it was just right. Well, except of course in the road was not the best place, since it had been run over!

The 900th Post: Monarchs on the Move

On Sunday afternoon, we went down to the St. Marks lighthouse again to check on the migrating butterflies. The last time we went, it was very windy and there were next to no butterflies at all. The Monarch Festival was this past Saturday, but we were tied up with other commitments. Anyway, since we go so frequently, we usually avoid the crowded days.

Sunday was just about perfect, weather-wise, and the butterflies were out feeding themselves silly on the wildflowers along the dikes. While the one above was visiting the horsemint, most were found on the saltbushes. The honey-like fragrance of the saltbush flowers was carried by the breeze, adding to our enjoyment. The butterflies seek the sunshine, so the harsh light can make photography tricky but I got a few shots worth sharing.

The blue in the picture above was actually the sky reflecting off the pond water, while the blue in the one below is the sky.

There were dozens and dozens of monarchs by the shoreline, having one last meal before they began the long flight across the Gulf to Mexico. We counted 35 in this one bush--- and that was not likely all of them.

We even saw one monarch that had been tagged for tracking it. There were also sulfurs and skippers and fritillaries.

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It has been almost four years since our kids came to us and said they thought we were "interesting enough" that we should write a blog. It would be hard to imagine higher praise from your young adult children! They set us up on Blogspot and so it began. This post, as titled, is the 900th published one. 

Who knew a quiet girl would have so much to say?

Mailbox Monday: Tin Roof and Tin Man

This nice, home-made mailbox has its own tinman standing guard.

Disoriented

I went home to see my dad and brother last weekend. It is close to 300 miles from here.

Sometimes it seems even further.

Sunday morning, I woke up in the bedroom where I spent most of my childhood nights, to the sound of sandhill cranes. They do not even visit Tallahassee and  I do not recall them ever being a part of my childhood. When did they start wandering through the neighborhood?


As I left for Tallahassee, down the road a couple of houses, I passed a fall display, complete with scarecrows, pumpkins, and hay bales. Somehow, it just doesn't seem to work with the background of tropical palms, hibiscus and banana plants.

Mailbox Monday: Watering Can

Have They No Shame?

B and I were in Wallyworld picking up some turtle food when he noticed this product on the shelf.

Yes, it is a stick. 

(For your pet bird to perch on.)

Pardon me: It is a "natural branch."

For four dollars and sixteen cents, plus tax.

It is also imported from China.

The part that really cracks me up is that it states on the card that no tools are required.