WTF-Beta

They also like the seeds of evening primrose if you leave the dried flower heads on. But we don't see them regularly like Mik does.

I didn't get a picture, but today we had dinner al fresco at an out-of-the-way lobster place in New Hampshire, and we had a concert from Mr. and Mrs. House Finch on a nearby fence.

Of course I couldn't see a thing because I forgot to take off my computer glasses and put on my regular glasses when I left the house. I didn't realize I had done this and was thinking that suddenly my cataracts had gotten a whole lot worse. Duh.

Here instead are pictures of a different couple from home.

The called it "an operational error." I think that means somebody left the gate open.

Very not good

Ah. I learned something new!

@AndyD I like the Diplomat a lot.

Ours bloom but they have never fruited.

Eastern Prickly pear, native to New England believe it or not

@Steve-Miller my grandmother had one too

Finished The Left Hand of Darkness in time to return it to the library. Slow start due to world building. It picked up half-way through. Use of anthropological artifacts throughout.

Starting Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong.

Was at a family birthday party in a park in Connecticut yesterday--temps in the 90s F. A man not of our party collapsed from the heat and was taken away by ambulance. I myself wore a hat and stayed out of the sun but after a few hours of supervising kids from the side of the pool I was done for and had to cool off with an ice pack to the back of the neck.

Be careful out there.

I am kind of wondering if I can get reimbursed for the rental car expense from the other driver's insurance. I don't carry rental car coverage because until recently we had a "swing car".

I use the Merlin app, which also uses Cornell data. Love it.

Oh yuck, I'm so sorry to hear that. I really am ok, but it could easily have gone another way for me like it did for my sister last year who is still recovering from getting tboned.

The insurance was seamless. They took care of everything so I didn't have to deal with the other driver or his insurance at all. They even waived my deductible since it was clearly the other driver's fault. They may raise our insurance because we had another car totaled this year--not in an accident--moonroof switch didn't work, car got drenched, and the electrical system was hosed. A few years ago, we had a catalytic converter stolen. It is what it is. We'd gone for many years before that without any accidents or incidents.

I hope you get some relief. Totally understand about the anxiety driving AND the flashbacks.

Happy anniversary!

Finally got the car back. Almost $8k all told. No hassles with insurance. Did pay for a rental out of pocket for three weeks. There were a couple of tweaks I asked the shop to make before I drove off--sensors were at an uneven depth and there was tape residue on a trim piece they masked off during painting. Looks good though. Less than 2300 miles on it and it looks new again.

Still very wary of pickup trucks driving behind me though.

Chipmunk amongst the wild strawberries

I feel the same way about bunnies

Lovely.

@wtg so good. I like the cherry and marionberry best. We only recently starting getting it here.