What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.

This has been a fabulous day off – I’ve done absolutely NOTHING but eat, watch movies and surf. Oh yeah, I took a nap too – I can’t even REMEMBER the last time I slept during daylight hours unless I was sick. I hope it has been as pleasant for everyone else.

I owe Myclette  an apology. She said her daughter had never seen a firefly, so I posted her a pic of a beetle that’s related to them. I’d erroneously labeled it a lightning bug before I realized that it wasn’t one, but posted it instead of the correct one because it was still labeled as the lightning bug. My dear Myclette , please forgive my error, and rest assured that THIS is a lightning bug…for real – I know because it glowed at me! I hope one day before she’s grown, your daughter can see a yard full of nature’s own fireworks in the form of these fascinating little gems!



On another note, for all those who are greatly entertained by stories about my masturbating parrot, here she is, in all her perverted glory, with her love toy, making fireworks of her own this evening.



Here’s an updated pic of my humble pond. I had planted some gorgeous ferns from the creek side to cover the hose on the far side, but Thumper has considered them very tasty and has now eaten all but about one frond. The Elephant Ear may have the entire back yard taken over by end of summer…it’s awesome! Slugs had just about eaten all my flowers that start with an S (sorry, I can’t spell it and am too lazy to get up and look it up) but are now enjoying their regular doses of Budweiser in jar lids, instead of my flowers. For those who’ve never tried it, believe me, it works! Cheap beer in shallow pans or lids – draws slugs like crap draws flies, is not harmful to other forms of wildlife and is cheap. Plus your conscience has the advantage of knowing the vile creatures died with a smile on their slimy faces. I think the chipmunks may also be partaking of some of it, as they seem to party an awful lot. If you look closely, you can see a chipmunk hole in the lower right corner. Birds have been sitting on the sticks I have placed across the water and drinking, and some hop around in the greenery looking for bugs.





I’ve been trying ever since I put the fish in the pond, to get a shot of them, but am afraid this is the best I’m going to get. All 4 of them are in here, though discerning the black one will take quite an eye for detail (he’s swimming right beside the calico – he IS there, I SWEAR!). I’m planning on getting some light colored river rocks for the bottom so we can see them all better from above. As it is now, the black one looks more like a ghost drifting around in the water than a fish.



Well, it’s about time to stuff my face again, so we can get done in time to grab our lawn chairs and go out to find a good spot to watch the show. Country folks love fireworks as much as they do Christmas lights. All we have to do is find a clear spot with a good view in all directions, park the truck, set up our lawn chairs in the truck bed and enjoy the views! Is that redneck or what?! YEEHAW!!!! Happy 4th everybody!