Get up and go...

What do you do when it is 90+ F outside with humidity that chokes you? Well, first off, chores have to get done when the sun is coming up. 

Later in the day any sane person would retreat from the heat, there is mowing and yard work still to do with breaks in between.

To enjoy some mindless quiet time, I get out the crafty stuff and start to imagine what I'd do with mushrooms, mosses, glue, paint, and soda bottle tops.

How about little 'flat' pretty marbles? I imagine them to be like Lily pads with little micro flowers on them. Perhaps a butterfly or two would be fun too.

So all these ideas came about when I was at the Farmer's Market a couple of weeks ago and saw a lady who took pieces of wood and had glued mosses to it. She had some tiny mushrooms she'd made and painted that she attached to the little logs.

I studied it and thought it would be cute to have this for my own. Until I saw her price tag. $68 for little 12 inch 'stick' that was about 3 inches in diameter with a few bits of moss and two tiny mushrooms.

She had different sizes and prices. But I couldn't spend even the $28 for one of them. I studied it. Then I decided to use her wonderful idea and make my own decorations. 

My own decorations turned into scenes for my Lego minifigs. 
 

The morning light was too good to pass up. So I took my camera out on the porch to let it acclimate to the heat and humidity while I grabbed my old cookie sheet and made a pond.

Arranging things on a cookie sheet to do a tiny scene was so engaging.

I put it on a plastic crate for easier photographing.

I tried both my Lensbaby SOL 22 lens and my 25mm prime lens. I ended up liking the softness of the Lensbaby best.

Shooting on the porch concrete proved a bit harder to get 'the look' I wanted. But this will give you an idea of why I moved it.

I find the little cookie sheets very helpful in 'setting' up a scene. It keeps me focused on a small area which is what shooting tiny figures is all about. The porch garden provides a perfect backdrop to the items on the tray.

I needed to make this shot look as if it was in a swamp. So I picked some weeds and quack grass out of the garden and dropped it into the water on the sheet.

Glenda meets Alli along with Alli's friends. 

Most Legos are not evil...Glenda and her new found friends decide to take a tour of the swamp.

I haven't quite worked out the best angles to really do a great job, but I am enjoying the process. I can also hear Rich when he rings the bell inside the house for assistance. 

I get a bit of down time along with a bit of play-->distraction time.

What will I do with all my bits and pieces? I don't know. When I am done using them for now, I'll keep some bits out to decorate my flower table with and I'll store the rest in a tote.

I will have one tote full of bits and pieces from junk I repurposed two summers ago for scenes about space or exploring other avenues. 

Example:

[the bits and pieces are script containers and bits of CPAP tubing]

Now I can add these bits and pieces for 'natural' settings without going out into the woods and finding them.

[I'd rather be in the woods, but that is too far away from watching over hubby.]

I can't wait for another decent morning to try out some more tricks on the porch with my cookie tray.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for the 4th? We didn't do anything but we had a wonderful visit with Ariel. We heard fireworks going off on Thursday night in the surrounding area. We enjoyed a simple cookout and a lot of visiting.

Ariel and I took evening walks together after supper while hubby watched Death in Paradise. 

The yard is mowed, the laundry is hanging out to dry until the rains come again. The next two days are going to be quiet too.

Astra says...

"If you were able to fall a hundred times as a child and rise, 

you were able to fall a thousand times as an adult and soar."

~~Matshona Dhliwayo

Uffdah

I was hoping to keep it simple this week... Hmmm.

Monday was hubby's annual wellness checkup and nothing has really changed from last year. His legs are swelling up so she had some hints for him to help him with that. Time was of the essence for the appointment as the highway department was getting ready to close a bridge because the Kickapoo River was rising rapidly.

Monday afternoon we got a visit from the Oxygen folks.

We received a portable oxygen concentrator which should give Rich more mobility. It is easier to carry a satchel type item than to drag around a tank. The VA Home Oxygen lady was a great educator. Much better than the person they had previously.

This afternoon, I'm getting a visit from a fellow named Dunnum. He runs a company that does tree trimming, brush hogging, landscaping, cleaning up old junk piles,...delivering hay...

well.... 
you name it, and his folks will do it apparently.

I'm looking to have some trees taken down and two pastures brush hogged along with some other clean up if the prices are right. IF I like his work, I'm gong to have him come twice a summer to brush hog down the weeds in my main pastures. It would save me so much time, frustration, and sweat!

The weather hasn't been conducive for activities outside for even healthy folks. I can get chores done easily, but I am wringing wet by the time I get inside. If I have to do anything for a length of time, I have to wear a gnat net over my hat.

By Wednesday the heat and humidity will come down enough for hubby to enjoy getting on his zero turn and do some mowing.

In other news, our gym now offers a class called Legends. It is for those over 50. The workouts are more personalized and less intense. I love the folks I am working out with. We have a range of ages and abilities. Plus, it is great to meet new people. [most of the folks are wayyy over the 50+ mark!]

One of the ladies just finished up her chemo and radiation, and is gently easing back into fitness and mobility. I have to hand it to her. She makes me feel as if anything is possible. 
We do the same workouts as the regular classes, but with more adjustments. I switched to this class because the scheduling works out much better for me.

I can monitor Rich's morning routine and go to class while he naps.

I still do a regular class once a week so I get 3 days in. It is a win win for me right now. Come winter, I may just stick with the smaller class for us older folks. I think none of us would come when we are sick? Fingers crossed.

Below:
Hummingbird Moth 

on Bee Balm.

Below:

Little Richard

doing yard work on

the hillside.

 If this Dunnum fella is easy to work with. I'll take some shots of what needs to get done so I can have some before and after shots for comparison. 

So many things have been let go since my husband's cancer and stroke that I feel I need to make an effort to get things back on track.

Wish me luck!

HOT Afternoon

After mowing the hill and sweating out buckets [yeah, the little mower is self propelled but it doesn't propel well UP a steep hill], I decided to chill out and sit on the back step in the shade.

I could have gone inside and cooled off in the AC but I don't like spending summer days in the house.

I reserve days indoors for rainy days and frigid frightful snow days.

I noticed a lot of activity near the old outhouse. The Bumbles were very active along with tiny bees.

I decided to go grab my mega zoom lens and set it on a tripod. I pointed it at the plants and simply watched. 

I don't know what this butterfly is. Maybe someone will recognize it. I noticed that it seemed quite battered. 

I'd heard a segment on the radio regarding hot weather and insects. Apparently Hot Weather makes the insects' metabolism speed up and thus they are very active during hot spells.

This butterfly is caught with a downward wing stroke which I thought was pretty cool. I used what is called a High speed setting which takes 11 shots per second. Wow! Imagine that!
Usually I toss all but one of the shots taken that way. 

It is cool to get an unusual shot like this. I always imagined butterflies with their wings up.

I've been lucky enough more than once to catch a Bumble coming in for a landing. 

Let's play Where's Waldo with the Hummingbird!
This bird kept resting inside the plants. It was hard to spot him/her.

Learning to be patient is paying off.  

Here is a Ruby Throated Hummer tasting the bee balm. 
I think I will let the Bee Balm take over this section around the outhouse and move other plants this fall.

I grabbed two plants last year from my neighbor who has a huge disdain for flower beds and gardens.

Lucky for me, the former neighbor had planted so many beautiful plants around the house. I have been able to dig some up and add to my collection.

Here is the Hummer playing hide 'n go seek again!

Some Tweety Birds I caught while watching the patch of Bee Balm:

Goldfinch

House Finch?
Purple Finch?

Not sure!

A huge surprise! The Orioles

have not left yet!

Fledgling and Parent?

C130 skimming the tree tops. 

Not a bird in the wild sense!

The C130's from Fort McCoy fly low over head just skimming the tree tops. 

I bet you are wondering about what the mules think of it.

Not much. They rarely even lift their heads. They will look up when choppers come through doing the same thing. 

Charlie is not so calm about it. He thinks we are being invaded by 100's of UPS trucks or perhaps the world is ending.

Today looks like another muggy and hot day. That means I get my outdoor work done early and do more very late. 

Looks like we will have rounds of heavy and possibly dangerous storms tonight. Oh goody! Not.

Stay cool and comfortable.