Spot died last night, at the veterinarian’s. We said goodbye this morning, and will bring home his ashes tomorrow.
Sep22
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Jul29
Lightning flashes
An old story that needs retelling. One of the highlights of my life.
I was reminded tonight of something that happened to me once. Something that might fill most people with immense fear. I suppose I technically could add it to the list of times that I’ve almost died, but for me (and one complete stranger), I don’t think of it that way at all – and it was one of the most incredible mornings of my life.
I lived in Florida at the time. I grew up there, but had gone away for many years. I came back, helped a bit, and screwed up a bit. I was still trying to find a place to fit back in, in the place that used to be my home, and I had found a job at a horse stable – the kind of place that keeps stalls that other people rent to keep their horses. It was rather far away from where I lived…
View original post 1,054 more words
Jun12
Because I Can’t Deal With The Pain in the World Today
Flowers.
Mar21
Not Merely Boys with Vaginas
This! Perfectly said.
My will is as strong, and my kingdom as great.
I’ve been a feminist from way back, and I have watched the evolution of the movement with interest. The spotlight is upon us, especially in light of the rise of women candidates for public office, including the most powerful position in the country, if not the world. Of course, other countries have had female leaders for decades. Iceland is a particularly interesting example. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became Iceland’s first female Prime Minister and the world’s first openly lesbian head of government. With a presidency of exactly sixteen years, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is the longest-serving, elected female head of state of any country to date. It has been argued that the power of women in Iceland has had a profound effect. After all, they arrested and jailed their bankers when their economy collapsed; they didn’t bail them out and perpetuate the criminal travesty.
View original post 611 more words
Jan13
More Dead Birds – Redpoll
Well, hell. This time he wasn’t dead yet.
Again I was at at work, but this time out the front of the building – right outside the main doors, actually. Which is a large glass-fronted lobby. I’m still doubtful that Mr Redpoll was injured from flying into the glass, as it was dark out.
Still, it was wonderful that the girls in the office came to get me, as I’m the “one who is good with birds and whatnot.” So, I went out, and there he was. Alive, but not for long. Gasping and having spasms. I scooped him up – so tiny – and held him close, hoping the warmth of me would help, as it was so very cold on the stones outside.
It didn’t help. He didn’t last more than 20 minutes, and was gone. I expected it, of course.
In any case, I brought him home for identification and photographs. As I do.
Dec16
Bollocks to my Internet Connection
I was going to do a post, but it took 20 minutes for one picture to upload. And then of course all that I wrote before that failed upload went bye bye when I gave up and closed the WP app.
I don’t want to do a post without photos. So, no post.
Oct30
Sedlec Ossuary, Prague – an All Hallow’s Eve Gift
What better for Halloween eve, than a post about bones?
Human bones. Lots and lots of them.
Don’t touch, please? No problem. Can you imagine if all that collapsed?
Especially when you get an idea of how very deep the pile of bones is.
That is an awful lot of femurs. Impresses me more than the skulls, actually. For every two you see, one person gone.
And there is art.
That’s me that is! Nine years ago, when I used to still dye my hair red (mom was a redhead, I have to have some sort of ginger-provenance).
You could touch some of the work – evidenced by the shiny patina on this skull.
So much going on here, it is hard to comprehend. This is a massive chandelier.
Amazingly beautiful nonetheless.
Every artist should sign their work.
Apologies for photo quality – this was 2006 and we had a serviceable but lacking camera back then. I also have to say that the smell of the place really struck me – I’m a “super smeller” and it was an odd, cold but dry smell. Like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t unpleasant, but distinctly odd.
Oct3
Colour
My sister took this photo of her daughter playing in a puddle. I think it is one of the best pictures ever.
I’m not tagging this with anything, so it doesn’t get used and abused. This is just for my friends online, to see if you love it as much as I do!
Jun19
Cats or Plants? First commenter makes the choice…
I have pics of both to post, can’t decide!
Apr21
A Galaxy of Growing
I’m going to experiment. I know a lot of you have been having issues with WordPress. The only problem I’ve had, using the app on my iPad, is that when I save a post to finish later, the date is totally wonky. I’ve done a few updates since last I tried to save a post, so we will see if it behaves or misbehaves.
It is officially spring because I have my rainbow toes back! 
Might be actually our first and only Irish summer – it’s been very sunny and dry, but annoyingly windy.
I don’t have blooms on anything but dandelions at the moment, but the lilies out back have gotten a lot larger since I last shared a picture.
March 6…
Today! I tried to take the same pic from the same angle… As you can see, they have gotten away from me very fast!
Whoa, where did all that come from?
Gorgeous from above! Eventually they will be nearly as tall as I am, which is 5ft8in or almost 173cm, so I won’t get many more chances to take pictures from above.
Of course, I have bought more plants. Because, you know, you can never have enough! (Dammit, the app just crashed. Now if it goes all weird I won’t know exactly why.)
“Toad lilies”. Aren’t they the coolest? Little Babylon 5 spaceships. I’ve planted these inbetween my hostas, and they are coming up the tiniest bit. I’m very excited about them.
Also bought some new lilies.
And some more of the same ones I already have. The peace rose was €1.99. I couldn’t resist. As to the pixels mix – I have a bunch of the dark red ones but SFA of the other colours, so I’m hoping I have something new anyway.
Another new plant – zantedeschia rehmanni – wish it luck! I have to stop going to Aldi, I go a bit crazy.
Seed-wise, I’m starting both of these again. I didn’t get any zinnia last year. I also never shared pictures of the godetia, even though it lasted all the winter in bloom before it croaked.
I also uprooted my daisy-like weeds and am growing shasta daisies for iDJ instead. A new type of rudbeckia, too.
Three more new ones – iDJ wanted the nicotania and the odd-looking gazania. I am desperate for Gerbera daisies – they cost so much as an established plant that I was thrilled to get them as seeds.
I think that is enough for now!
