Look who flew in my window!

Liked where he landed, too. All comfy-fied.

 And who didn't fly in my window. 

 Yep, another rose. I like my roses.

Passionflowers are blooming! They smell so amazing,

like rose and honeysuckle having a ball together. 

Some people think they take over. Which is sort of true. But they are native.

And too fabulous to complain about.

If you really are over stressed about it, just eat some of the leaves in a salad or tea.

Then you will be nice and calm.

Goats

Family unit.... plus very dramatic early morning woods.

New addition! Poor little guy, ripped from his Mom at 5 weeks, which is how the breeder said she always does it but that seems a bit young to me, particularly cold turkey. Quite a shift for his stomach! And in the trauma of tattooing he ripped his disbudding scars open. So don't worry, I brought him in to go all "Civil War Soldier," as Dad said, with a poultice and a natural electrolyte and mineral solution to drink, since he wouldn't eat or drink on his own. I mean, the breeder would have done this anyway regardless of whether I bought him, and he is a good buckling. And very sweet!

What ya think, Whisper?

3 days later........

Look how well his head is doing! 

He has lost weight of course after all the changes, but is doing great

and really starting to settle in and make himself known. 

I.E., show some sass to his new and quite bossy family.

Sibling love.... Jello (Buckling) left, Whisper (doeling) right.

Foodie Bugs

Four fellows here, the black spot to the left of Mr. Snazzy is the center of the flower.

He didn't care to open his wings, but I can assure you, they are spectacular.

Per the usual.

Alternately called "Find the ants"

Walking Back

Horseflies were really having a party at the creek today. 101 degrees, who knows what the heat index was, and they were just out on the town.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.

How Lovely to Meet You

Finally!! I have wanted a Red Hibiscus for so long.

Isn't she lovely? Just perfect, my friend, just perfect.

So many buds, and lots and lots of new green growth along branches. 

Pot is chock full and exploding roots, too, so ready to replant, yay!

She is going in the extra sunny window in my bedroom with my baby orange.

Who is no longer a baby orange. Clearly. Bout as tall as I am!

Plus the rapidly exploding Tea Camellias and teensy boxwood cuttings on the bookshelf.

Ode to Queen Anne's Lace

Always one of my favorite wildflowers. Seeing it blooming now made me think of two videos I saw on PBS.org- The Curious Adventures of Kirk Lombard- when he discusses Queen Anne's Lace. I hadn't heard that it had a hairy stem and Water Hemlock did not, although I have never had trouble telling them apart anyway. But now it is forever stuck in my head that Queen Anne doesn't shave her legs. Which is pretty funny.

This part is the Ode.

Oh- Stately Queen on a Rainy Day

Always Abounding- Common yet here some Originality

Puffs of White make a Dance Floor of my Dreams to thee.

Yep. That jis bout covers it. 

Pretty Snippy. And yes, today is a funny day. I'm enjoying it.

Bits

Squashy fellow that has taken up residence in the shadier side bed.

Skink from the basement door

First of the Mexican Sunflowers!

Trees to the Creek

Hawkweed

Pretty dinner, just shelled!

Company for Tea

We enjoyed prim conversation and our own posh selves.

Look How the Kids are Growing!

But first, I am pretty sure everyone needs some major rose love.

Yep, she's pretty spectacular.

Little Miss, getting her tan. 

I'm thinkin she has got jis a teensy bit more to go.

But it is relaxing, so relaxing.

Sir Buck, eating, as usual.

He thinks he is really something special.

Chrysanthemum spent the whole time I was taking pictures of the kids reaching her head through the fence and sticking it up my skirt. You wear a long skirt, and she eats it; but short ones don't exist in her world. 

So to make up for ignoring my dearest puppy-goat however briefly, I took her picture using

the "extra special special" portrait setting on the camera. According to the booklet, it makes skin appear softer and hair flowy-er. That is a quote.

I am pretty sure even to the untrained eye this picture perfectly exemplifies that amazingness.

Hollyhocks from front porch, with Amelia just visible in the hen house.

One of the little apple trees coming along!

Bits

Saw a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird this morning, considering whether or not to sup on a bit of hollyhock for breakfast. Rested on the fence there for a bit, flitting intermittently before leaving. I am pretty sure it was recently fledged, though, because of the size and general appearance. Hummingbirds are small, but this guy was teeny-tiny and so skinny, and for lack of a better term "fresh", like other fledglings. Very very shiny deeply pigmented feathers, quite dark, and more time watching the world than interacting. Very cute!

Privet in bloom. Guaranteed to make you sneeze, with its delicious fragrance 

reminiscent of burnt rubber on asphalt on a hot summer day. 

Mmmm, smell that rubber!

Baby bunny Hope brought me- they have a very loud squeak, goodness!

The nest

Chickies are growing- but they still like sitting on Mom.

White rugosa rose that is pale pink this year.

Hot pink blossom on the glorious un-named pink-to-red bloomer out front.