While I Was Gone

While I was gone, the blueberries' ovaries began to swell, promising future sweetness for my morning cereal. The bees are still frantically working the bushes, as the number of fresh blossoms dwindle. It looks to be a good blueberry year with even my yearling bushes blossoming.

While I was gone, the bunch muscadine grapevine (UF variety "SweetHome") unfolded fresh tendrils and leaves of pink and green. These were met by the aphids and their ant cowboys. The ants have been working pretty hard milking honey dew and managing their tiny cattle. Apparently aphids stand on their heads to drink sap, something I had never noticed before the picture above. Just one more thing my garden has taught me.

While I was gone, the squash, watermelon, and bean seeds sprouted. The deer are still befuddled by the Rube Goldberg "deer hazard" I rigged up to protect them. (Would y'all please stop what your doing and knock on wood for me? If by chance, you were already knocking on wood, please continue.)

While I was gone, I had another amazing encounter with the gopher ... an encounter I engineered by digging a substantial hole and then messing with his little mind. I got some pretty amazing (to me at least) video that I can't show you because I'm still on dialup. My fascination with the gopher has caused the smart and interesting people I live with to begin calling me Bill Murray. Just for the record, I am NOT obsessed with the gopher, despite what you may hear.

While I was gone I had an encounter with the most magnificent Diamondback Rattler I have ever seen ... and I've seen a bunch. Sorry no pics.

While I was gone, I wrote every day, rewrote every day, and have arrived at a point where there's so little left to do on my National Boards, that I can come home to Pure Florida a day earlier than my Monday forecast. The portfolio is not in the mail yet, but Wednesday is my target day for that. I am down to final editing and double checking the requirements. I should be back to daily posting from now on.

While I was gone, you visitors and commenters left me beaucoup kind, encouraging comments and I thank you for that. While I was gone, I missed Deb's 40th birthday, Vicki's caterpillar, Pablo's mystery turtle points of light, Sophiemae's lovely new profile pic, the Bums seagull remnant, Wayne's adventure, POP's wit, Zanne's photos, ThreeCollie's cows, Rurality's Jasmine game pic, Laura's humor ... the list goes on and on.

While I was gone, I missed you.