Mystery solved

Ah, 'tis definitely the season. The chickadees are gathering dog fuzzies and other nesting materials. Sayre was on the right track and Jena narrowed it down.

Monday Morning Mystery

Southron Sunday - quotes from the WoNA

'I think we should deport them all.'

~ Abraham Lincoln, in response to General Benjamin Butler,

who asked what he was going to do with all the recently free Southern Blacks

PhotoHunt: Hands

It's been a while since I PhotoHunted, but this week's topic grabbed me. The other day, we had a tree cut down out front. The nice young man who took on the job arrived before the sun was up on a VERY cold morning. He quite sensibly climbed way up and chain sawed off the top, then worked his way down, cutting large sections on the way. About halfway down, he stopped to catch his breath. Shooting conditions were poor, but I love these shots, anyhow.

Many thanks to tnchick for hosting PhotoHunt. Check it out:

PhotoHunt

happiness

The Constitution only guarantees the American people

the right to pursue happiness.

You have to catch it yourself.

~Benjamin Franklin

Florida Factoid Friday

In 1839, when a U.S. Army supply depot and hospital were established on Atsena Otie Key, it's name was changed to Depot Key. Later, the name was changed back. In 1843, Augustus Steele began work on a resort hotel for wealthy Florida and Georgia planters. Steele served as the first postmaster when the post office was established in 1845. The post office moved from Atsena-Otie to Way Key, present-day Cedar Key, on March 29, 1852.

Sorry I'm late today. We had some bodacious storms, and tornado warnings, all morning. Best laid plans... 8-/

Mystery solved

Hey-hey, KellyRae! Yep, it's a thistle. Another attractive invasive.

One thistle plant can produce at least 4,000 seeds, so it's best to yank them out before they flower. But the butterflies do love them. And no, goldfinches don't eat the seeds. The 'thistle' seeds they love are actually from the niger plant from Ethiopia. And those that are sold for bird feeders are heated to prevent germination.

Monday Morning Mystery

Southron Sunday - quotes from the WoNA

'From this time forth I consecrate

the labor of my life to the dissolution of the Union,

and I care not whether the bolt that rends it

shall come from heaven or from hell.'

- Frederick Douglas

Florida Factoid Friday

Florida is the only state to designate two fish as state symbols -

- the largemouth bass and the sailfish (1975)

Pictures courtesy University of Florida IFAS Extension

At the feeder

Mystery solved

Rich was quick to recognize this beautiful spider.

It was doing a fair job of blending in with the sand in our driveway when my evening walk nearly ended his existence. I didn't want to get too close, as I've seen some pretty nasty bite results. But he graciously posed, in the quickly fading light, for a few zooms. Had it been earlier, I would've gotten down on his level and tried for a nice portrait. However, the beautiful pre-spring weather has brought out, along with the hog plum and dogwood blossoms, a swarm of hungry sand gnats. I need to track down a new bottle of Burt's Bees repellent before I spend too much time out there. 8-}

Monday Morning Mystery

Quick Lessons

Back in high school, I was placed in some 'accelerated' classes. It was the first time I had to actually work at keeping up. I reckon it was good for me and I thought I was pretty hot stuff. (Yeah, back in those days, the smart kids were the cool kids - and no, it didn't increase my coolocity one iota). And I LOVED learning. Anyhow, one life lesson that is indelibly engraved in my brain is that no matter how good you are at something, there's always somebody better.

I managed to do well in several college classes during my junior and senior HS years. But I never dreamed of doing so well that I would have my own parking space. Nor imagined finishing college quite so fast.

Trouble reading the designation?

Home Invasion!

So there I was, reclining in bed with my laptop... I had set up the doggie gate and opened the front door to let some wonderful 80° fresh air flow through the house.

This is the little ledge over the door from the entryway
into the office, which is adjacent to my bedroom.

While waiting for some page to load, I glanced up toward the door just at the right moment to catch an intruder in the act. Realizing immediately that I outweighed the perpetrator, I jumped up and strode calmly toward him. I wanted to make sure I put him to flight OUT of the house, not further in. He caught sight of me and knew he was no match for my relative amplitude and made a hasty retreat. I walked to the other end of the house where DS was working on the desktop and told him what had happened. Then back to the living room to make sure he was gone. As I stood about 6 feet inside the door, the persistent little beggar let me know he was determined to do what he had come to do. He came right back in, just as before. Taking one step forward, I quietly ordered him to get out and he backed away again. I reckoned the only way to get my message across was to close the door. He stayed on the deck for a while, trying to find another way into my home. I grabbed my camera to make sure I had solid evidence of trepass, but each time I opened the door just a tiny bit, he boldly moved closer, looking for his chance. Finally, I just locked the door and snapped his mug shot through the patterned glass. It's a little fuzzy, but recognizable.

Looks like I'll have to keep the doors closed for a while. These little guys will nest just about anywhere and aren't much bothered by casual human traffic. When I spotted him, he was sitting on the top of the front door. Assuming that ledge was his prospective homesite, I'll get out a ladder this weekend and see if he managed to sneak anything in before I caught him.

Y'all have a JESUS-filled weekend! ^i^

Florida Factoid Friday

The Territorial Legislative Council chartered Jacksonville on 11 February 1832. The charter provided for a mayor and four aldermen. It empowered the aldermen to repel disease, abate nuisance, regulate wharfage, provide drainage, regulate markets, gauge liquors, tax hawkers, peddlers, taverns and boarding houses and restrain lotteries, tippling houses, gaming houses, houses of ill fame and unseemly theatrical productions, and to suppress riots and disorderly assemblies.

The council must have had high hopes, because the town had nothing much of the above in 1832.

Mystery solved

Y'all are getting too good at this! Yep, they're P-cans. Cathy was first, so she gets the brownie button this week. 8-]

I didn't have any extra cash on me when I spotted these, but I'll be back next weekend. Ever shell pecans? Just wrap your fist around two and squeeze. The tricky part is getting the nut out in one piece. Well worth the effort, even if it breaks into bits.

Check out the National Pecan Shellers Association to learn everything you wanted to know about pecans, but were afraid to ask... and some great recipes.

Monday Morning Mystery

Florida Factoid Friday

Extending from Key Biscayne to the Dry Tortugas (200 miles),

the Florida reef tract is the most extensive living coral barrier reef system

in North American waters and the third largest system in the world.

Mystery solved

Good job, Cathy! The G's have it. Fresh from the farmers market.


While I was wheels-deprived, Extreme Makeover Home Edition was building a new home in Tallahassee. The reveal was last Friday, the day I finally got my car back. On Saturday afternoon, I thought I'd see if I could sneak a peek at the place. Unfortunately, the road was still blocked. Apparently, they were having a big party that night.

Just a few blocks away is one of my favourite 'snack stops'. Ali's Strawberry Shakes & Farmers Market. The pics, the last one in particular, might give you an idea why I like it. 8-]

Monday Morning Mystery