Closed. Shut. Defunct. Boarded Up.

I would say, with no new posts for a year and a half, that this blog is effectively closed. I would like to start a new blog. So I will leave this collection here, and link it to the newer one when that happens. This blog will not be updated any longer, however, so enjoy browsing the past and look forward to the future. Somewhere. --Kris

At Last.

Everything In Between

So, everything else from the first half of August. I want to say that on August 2 in my back yard I saw a monarch butterfly floating serenely on the breeze. I took a deep breath, and felt the wheel turn. The season is definitely in change now, and I am so thankful. We've had not only cool nights but some really cool days, and though there will probably be a hot day or two (like today) I know that the back of the heat has been broken and we are enroute to my favorite season of them all.

Leaf-cutter bee.

Monarda seed heads. She's always beautiful.

No rain for us. Just clouds.

Hybrid flock. The mallards on the ponds at 6th & Gage have made friends with some yellow-billed white ducks.

I did.

Mighty clouds the evening of August 8. Still no rain for us.

12-Spotted Skimmer, perched on the radio antenna of my car.

More great clouds, but still no rain.

Western Ironweed, in the native plant area near the Discovery Center in Gage Park.

So finally, and unexpectedly, a tiny bit of rain fell on Ms. Monarda the late night and morning of August 14. And the day was another wonderfully cool one. Love to the coming dark and cool!

Moon When Everything Ripens

I was looking up names for the Full Moons and found that the moon of August was called by some native people "The Moon When Everything Ripens." That is fitting, as there is a glut of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs all around us now.

This Moon of July/August was in the sky the evening of July 31. With birds!

Lake Shawnee is down, way down. There is some kind of weed all over in the shallow parts, making the water and reflections look gnarly. But I took pictures anyway, and here are the ones from August 1.

Why so Long?

Between posts, that is. I dilly, I dally. I am a born procrastinator. And then there is Facebook. Where I am not limited to talking to myself. So, sure, there are some pictures.

Gage Park is always a cool oasis. There are all these little places to glimpse. This one on July 27. And then, horror!

A monster ate about a quarter of my Sungold tomato plant before I caught and evicted him. 'Tis the tobacco hornworm, cousin of the tomato hornworm, but apparently there were not enough tobacco plants around to eat. They are the larva of one of the Sphinx moths, which I had just remarked seeing a few days ago. Who knew it had left its dreadful offspring on my produce production?

But the Moon was great. For several nights in a row. I'll switch to a different post now.

Aha! We Got Some

Rain, that is. Officially, rainfall in Topeka since yesterday afternoon ranged from 0.19 in. at Forbes Field to 0.65 in. at Billard Airport. Since I live a lot closer to Billard than to Forbes, I'm guessing we got about 0.50 in. I really need to get that rain gauge put up. It's not measuring anything in the house. I suppose that is a good thing.

This was the part of the storm we were out in, which started right as I picked Kathy up from work at 11 p.m. We stopped at a Kwik Shop, so I decided to make that my rain picture. I am thankful for every little bit, but please, could we have some more?

Another Batch of Ketchup, er, Catch-Up

No, I'm not making catsup, or ketchup either. Even if I had that many tomatoes, it would still be too hot. July 22. Hanging around Gage Park looking for cool pictures. The guy fishing here must have been hot, I didn't even want to get out of the car.

Whew. Well, there were some pictures not of Topeka, so...onward. Sweatily.

Moon Looks Cool

If all else fails, the Moon is always cool. That's my theory. July 21.

Another Batch of Catching Up and It's Still Too Hot

Oh, Sun. July 18.

Too much of a good thing is more than enough.

Hmm. Same day, new stuff? Will it mean anything?

Well, in any case, this little dill plant is happy, if somewhat lonely. July 20 by now.

Well, Look!

I was awakened by thunder and sprinkles this morning. Later it rained steadily for about an hour. I think we might have gotten about half an inch in Topeka.

It made me and the lemon balm very happy!

Dry. Bright.

Hey, it's dry out there.

But because I water them, the Sungold tomatoes are lovely and juicy and bright. That fresh pop of flavor, there's nothing like it!

Come, little friends, I'd like to have you in for dinner. :)

Is That All There Is?

On the 9th, enough rain to make me have to use the wipers, wow! But...that's all there was to it.

There was a nice sunset, though.

And I cooked some wonderful summer squash with onions, and fresh herbs from my own little garden of wonder.

So Close!

Is this going to give us rain?

Not yet!

It Must Be July

At the car wash, baby. I tried to make it rain, but it didn't.

Mama Moon, July 2.

Moon Lake.

Local holiday color!

The rockets' red glare.

Boom!

Fun with Neon.

What will be the seed head of the Monarda is filled with tiny jewels.

Oh, Sun. I'm done.