Weather Report – Page 19 – The Hermits' Rest

Work Hard. Get Rewarded.

It’s not often that your hard work gets tangibly rewarded. For my paying work, knowing I’ve done my best and that what I’ve done may help someone is enough. This week I’ve been quite satisfied to get a lot of that kind of work done.

Some hard work feels very unrewarding, but must be done. I’ve suffered through a lot of financial work this week, which may explain while I’m still having anxiety chest pains. But I’ve trimmed some expenses and added money to my 401K. That’s the direction where I want to go!

But tonight I did get a reward. Last week I attained 1,000 volunteer hours with Texas Master Naturalists, which was not easy while working full time and owning horses. My friend who also got the achievement took two fewer years than me! I’m proud of Eric, though. He does great work.

My reward was a gold dragonfly pin. I got bronze for 250 hours and silver for 500. It will be years before I get another one!

So many pins. The colored dragonfly is for initial certification. The enamel pins are for at least 40 volunteer hours and 8 training hours each year. The bottom pins we got for sticking with the program through COVID.

It was nice seeing a full house at tonight’s meeting, with three visitors, even. We enjoyed a great presentation on lichen, where I learned a LOT. I apparently knew very little about lichen. Did you know they are a symbiotic combo of a fungus and algae? And they have a fascinating structure. Now I want to buy a black light flashlight and go out and see which ones glow.

We are getting good rain again tonight. That’s so good for the ponds. It will probably knock those few autumnal orange leaves I found today down. It’s ok. I see birds better that way.

Rolling Off to Bastrop County Again

The weather should be glorious for the next few days, so we’ve decided to spend longer than usual out in the motorhome. That’s made possible by the fact that we also brought my car so Lee can attend a meeting back home and we both can explore this area a bit.

We barely fit both vehicles in, but we did it!

This shady woodland is in Buescher State Park, which is a weirdly shaped area full of trails and scenery. It connects to Bastrop State Park vía a scenic road that I hope to go down tomorrow.

I had fun because I arrived first and got to be the only person in the camping area for a while. It let me really hear the pileated woodpecker singing and pecking away. They are quite noisy birds!

I did a preliminary survey of the plants around the campground. Lots of yaupon and oak, but there are some famous Bastrop County pine trees and others. Not much is blooming after the light frost we had, but I was delighted to find a couple of interesting plants.

This shiny vine is lanceleaf greenbrier, which I’ve looked for often. (*Smilax smallii*)

After my walk, I helped my friend Jen get her trailer unhooked, because her site was too short to fit her camper and her car in without unhooking. We got it done in a fit of woman power and grit. When Lee arrived, I hooked the water up with no dripping, so I’m feeling like a mighty camper.

But I’m not sure if I should go in the restroom. Am I both a woman AND a lady?

Jen and I had nice times chatting and trying to plan a potluck location (none of the cute cabins were available). Then Lee and I spent time with my other favorite co-camper, Mike, with whom I intend to do some good hiking. I earned a lot about AI from him as a bonus.

I’ll enjoy working tomorrow with a view of trees (and no barking dogs to interrupt my recording of myself talking), then get in some exploring. in the meantime, back to knitting by the fake fireplace.

A Different Me

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?

Here’s a prompt I was interested in. I was really stuck on a career path until I was about 26 and realized I didn’t want to write about little syllables at the ends of Japanese words the rest of my life. But I loved the teaching of linguistics. I love teaching anything.

Todays illustrations are cool cloud formations from today.

The first path I should have considered was getting a degree in music education so I could teach choral music and sing in choruses. That seems more likely than making a living in folk-rock.

Another path would have been to switch my college major to biology once I realized how good I was at it. I could have gotten to do field research and written marginally more interesting scientific papers…or taught biology. Still, I’d get to hang out in nature for a living. But I’d have ended up specializing in maggots or something, knowing my luck.

I could have done forestry and become a park ranger? Right now that’s my vote, especially if I could ride horses in the forest.

I seriously considered a career change in mid life to work in a yarn shop and teach knitting and design patterns. I enjoy doing that still, but I’m not creative or driven enough to actually make a living at it. I sure admire my friends who do it, though.

Someday I’d like to write a book that’s got a plot. Obviously I have a lot of words in me. They just need more structure than a blog! I do write for my job, but honestly, I’d be writing every day no matter what. Maybe I’d write letters. Maybe I’d write poems or songs. Who knows? I just enjoy making sentences. That’s not a different me; the writer is the real me.

I don’t think photography is a potential career path.

So…what are your alternative careers?

It’s the Most Water-full Time of the Year

Yessir. These days we tend to have a few months of drought, a couple of dribbles, then WHOOSH! A big ole flood comes along. Today was Flood Day. We got four inches or more, three of them very fast.

Even the backup culvert was called into use.

It was about time that our poor ponds (tanks in Texan) got refilled, because the drizzles we’ve had earlier in the month didn’t stop them from continuing to dry up.

Still, it is probably too much to ask of Mother Nature, but a few days of an inch or two a day would be a lot better for our plants and trees, because this much water just runs off into the creek, into the Little Elm, then into the Little River, then into the Brazos, and on to the sea. Or something like that.

For a while there around noon today it looked like we were in a lake, because it was raining so hard nothing could absorb. It was fun to watch, as it was fun to see the creek slowly fill up as more rain went into Walker’s Creek up north from here.

You normally can’t see water from our back yard.

After the rain, I had a lot of fun in my rubber boots looking at the aftermath. Drew was enjoying the water running in from the arroyo and across the road. I hope there wasn’t too much fertilizer runoff, because now it’s all in our front pond.

Mabel, on the other hand, changed colors from rolling in the mud. That gal likes her dirt.

The minute the sun came out, out came all the birds, butterflies, and bugs. The birds had a feast, I’m sure. And I finally got a picture of one of the beautiful blue butterflies with its wings open! That was a personal goal.

You can see how high the water got during the hard rain

I also made all my work goals, even publishing my training video successfully after it breaking repeatedly. For the first time ever, I found the answer in one of those ancient user forums on the software’s site. Turns out you can’t have any of that fancy chart stuff from PowerPoint in your presentation for it to work with my add-on software. I converted the charts to images and everything was fine. I tell you what, it makes me feel smart.

More rain is in store for a few days. There goes my plan to ride my horses every single day. Ya can’t have everything.

A Prickly Day

Today would have been prickly, no matter what. I am still a bit hung over from all the traveling and activities. Conferences and numerous nature stops are a lot more busy than our usual relaxed and leisurely camping or condo trips.

I had a ton of fun, but I was extra tired. Too bad, because I’d scheduled the farrier for today and Sara had scheduled Jackie to come do bodywork on her horses, so I had to take this day, too, so Jackie only had to come out here once. That’s fine, but sure made me feel prickly and testy by the end of the afternoon!

I was happy to spend time with the horses, though. I’d missed them so much. They’d been busy while I was gone, though. Each and every one of them had been into the evil cockleburs.

Trying to get those out was the source of the rest of my prickles. Getting them out really eats at your fingers. Drew was the worst culprit. I bet he had 20 in his forelock. Jackie thought it was so funny she had to take pictures.

I finally got all the horses cleaned up in between body work and the hoof trimming. Everybody got their manes and tails cleaned up, which some enjoyed more than others. The best part was seeing how happy Mabel was to get all brushed and prettified. She’s come so far.

I was too tired to take more pictures, but here’s Vlassic, who was enjoying Hoof Treats.

Speaking of progress, absolutely zero of my horses nor Fiona was problematic getting trimmed. It was great. Apache and Dusty were perfect angels. So was Fifi. She picked up her little feet and just leaned on me to be petted. That sure pleased Terry, who works with some challenging donkeys.

I was pleased with Drew, too. He had some leg soreness worked on, but even so he only complained a little. And Mabel lost her balance a couple of times, but got through her trim the best she ever has. I know I didn’t cause all that good behavior, but I was proud of my little herd.

But my hands are all torn up. I even tore an edge off a fingernail that I’d just manicured. I fixed it, though. Ugh. It’s just the beginning of the bur season.

I cleverly used black tops to cover the damaged nail edges. (The polish is called Coffin Break.)

But even though I’m super grumpy and tired, I enjoyed the beautiful day. It was incredibly pleasant, though very windy. I’m glad the shipping container blocks the wind so well. We’re all relieved about the weather.

Change of Mind, Change of Weather

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

I was going to be flip and answer this one with “golf.” I thought it was boring and elitist when I was young, and getting my head cracked open by a golf club in bad ole 8th grade didn’t help (when I mentioned this earlier I forgot to add that as I stumbled my way alone and bleeding to the school nurse, I rubbed blood all over the exterior of Plantation Middle School, to express my disgust with my situation. They never did golf again in middle school PE. However, I’ve come to enjoy watching golf on television and have fun at Top Golf.

No golf photos, but here’s a painted lady.

My more serious answer is that I’ve changed my mind about Christianity. I have gradually come to realize that I am not fond of institutional religion in general, not just Christianity. Also, I realized that what upsets me most about certain Christian sects is how bizarrely they’ve distorted the message of peace, kindness, and caring that the historical Christ preached into a war-mongering, cruel, and disdainful way of enforcing power over the masses in favor of a privileged few.

It turns out that there are Christians with whom I agree very much and whose ideas I’m happy to incorporate into my life, along with wise people from other traditions. So, I am still quite unimpressed with many versions of Christianity, but I’m very comfortable with the teachings of Christ (not Paul’s version).

A bee I’d never seen before. ID not confirmed.

Enough of that. Huzzah! Today was the day! Pleasant weather arrived! I even had to wear a sweatshirt getting Drew ready to go to a horse clinic. I just basked all day and couldn’t make myself stay inside even after I got home. I wandered around taking pictures for the pollinator BioBlitz that’s going on.

Texas nightshade (*Solanum triquetrum*) is a pretty plant that only grows in one spot on our property.

The nice weather made the clinic lots of fun, even though Drew was not on his best behavior much of the time, because he was very distracted by a beautiful mare (I don’t know what makes a mare beautiful to a hormonal gelding, but she is very pretty.

Eventually he settled down, but not after I had to trot him in a circle so many times I was getting dizzy. He was distracted. Once we switched to obstacles, he did better. We jumped! And we went around a corner backwards. There were challenges due to my lack of skill, but I got through the day.

It was funny that all three horses in my group were gray. Drew’s the tiny one that doesn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars. But he is just fine.

Brilliantly, we separated Drew from Luna for the photo.

Hanging out with the horse gang again was just great. I’m glad summer is over so we can have fun and learn more. There’s lots to learn!

Sara got this picture of Drew not grasping the concept of sharing space with Aragorn.

Life without a Computer Is Like Snow White in the Forest

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

Now, y’all may be surprised by my answer to this question, given that I have made my career in online activities and teaching folks about software. I made websites when there were no images in them, after all (1993).

First, I’d still be outside a very often, hiking, playing with horses and dogs, and observing plants, birds and other wildlife.

You can see my house way down this hill.

Second, I’d still be knitting, crocheting, doing needlepoint and all that. I’d just have books to learn from and go to the library a lot, just like I did in the blissful 70s and 80s.

I think I’d do many of the same things in person that I now do online. I’m a writer, so nothing will stop me from writing. I used to be a great typist, too. I typed a book on Catalan using three different IBM Selectric type balls, which you young folks have never even heard of, probably. I also have excellent handwriting in cursive, that ancient indecipherable script.

I could also still teach adults. I guess I’d teach at a community college or vocational school. From books. Books are good.

Book I’m reading. I prefer real books, but use the Kindle when traveling. I’m not an auditory learner by preference, so I’m not as fond of listening to them.

I’d create communities, too, just like I used to do with email groups and chat software, but (gasp) in person. I do that now, anyway, or try to. I love being with like-minded people to learn and support each other. Who needs Zoom?

But mostly I’d wander around listening to birds and watching butterflies, just like Snow White or whoever it was that had all the forest creatures flocking around her in a cartoon. Ah, it was Sleeping Beauty.

I think I’d be very happy. I was certainly happy outdoors among nature today. It rained 1.5” overnight, so all the living beings were happy. I even recorded two new birds on the Merlin app, a gray catbird and house wren (both birds I’ve seen before but never recorded). And it was only up to 84° today!

I didn’t hear these vultures, but I saw them, along with a crested caracara and a red-shouldered hawk.

The only sad part was finding a beautiful leopard frog that had gotten caught in the shredder last night when all the front field got all smooth and pretty. But that means there are probably more of these beauties!

Yes, autumn is actually here. It’s even going to be chilly this weekend! Enjoy my nature photos from my pleasant nature walk today.

A Skill I Need

What skill would you like to learn?

I’m so tired that I don’t have much in me tonight. I had a earache all last night, for no reason I can discern. I’m not someone who gets ear infections and there’s no water in my ears. Anyway, short blog today.

Also, no exciting photos. I was trying to get good pictures of my horses. I didn’t really.

I thought about skills I’d like to learn, like painting, machine sewing, spinning yarn, or playing piano. They are all artsy skills.

The skill I NEED to learn, though, is hitching a horse trailer to a vehicle and safely conveying said horses to their destination. Oh, and parking competently. I think what’s stopping me is that I could probably drive fine, but I’m not strong enough to change tires or deal with mechanical issues, so I like having a companion.

Lee points out that two hours of horse lessons usually wipe me out mentally and physically, which is why he doesn’t mind taking me to Tarrin’s. After getting the horses and their equipment ready, the ride over lets me recover enough to do the lesson, and the ride back home gets me cooled off enough to unpack and feed everyone without keeling over.

I’m running out of hay. Not good. Need rain. Hoping for tonight.

I’m more athletic than I once was, but now age is creeping up on me. It’s better than the alternative. My financial planner says I will have enough money to make it to 2051. That should do, though I did want to live to the age of 100, if human civilization makes it to 2058.

I’m rambling.

Temperature Blanket Update

I had to re-do the key and description of the temperature blanket project I’m working on, because I’d submitted it to the Master Naturalist annual meeting, which is next week, because you’re not supposed to have your name on it. I was actually glad, since I’ve now finished two thirds of the project, and it’s a lot more interesting to look at how the winter temperatures lead into the killer summer. I thought I’d share it with you readers, in case you wanted to try something like it (but smaller) for some location and some year.

The segments are just so dang big that it’s hard to photograph them. I plan to make my squares much smaller next year! So, forgive me for taking such a weird picture. I couldn’t get up any higher in the air without hitting the ceiling fan!

The darker red and pink are the days over 100 degrees. There are a lot of them. If you could see a little closer, you’d notice no rain for most of this segment, too. That’s just a blanket of misery, Just that last week of April there at the bottom was sort of nice.

Those of you who aren’t familiar enough with knitting to figure out how I did the blanket just by looking at it deserve an explanation. Each square is a mitered square, made by casting on some number of stitches and decreasing in the center. There are lots of ways to do it and lots of instructions online. You just connect them together as you go along by picking up stitches on each side. It’s a really fun technique that I use over and over, mainly because it’s fun and easy to do while watching television or riding in the car.

I’ll write out instructions in December for the one I’ll make next year, which will be more manageable. I may tweak the colors, too, because two of the yellows and two of the reds are too close, I think.

Those poor color choices make me swish my tail in annoyance.

There’s good news, though. It looks like the weather’s going to break this week and cool down to more seasonable temperatures, just in time for a horse clinic (which I could not have handled this summer).

Maybe by December I’ll get to use some of the colors for colder weather. It only got down to dark blue last January and February. We need some purple!

Do I Have Energy?

What things give you energy?

This question made me laugh. I’m not the most energetic person on earth. But I’m more energetic than I was when younger, thanks to developing outdoor hobbies.

Wood sorrel gives natural energy! Maybe?

Admittedly, one thing that’s giving me energy these days is thyroid pills. Now that I have a dose that doesn’t annoy my gland, I do have more energy and I burn more calories during the day. I feel much more “normal” now in that respect.

Just thought this false foxglove was pretty.

Other things that give me energy are working on fun projects, at work or home. I’m enjoying my current work project and the temperature blanket.

First row of Part 3. Start of September.

When it’s not too hot (it was 104 today) I get energized working with the horses. I just don’t want to stop. Today was another overheating day, though.

And going into natural areas makes me extra energetic. I had so much fun running around identifying plants at the watercolor place yesterday! I get almost giddy at times like that.

However, I’m sort of slug-like much of the time. I enjoy reading, knitting, watching nature and home renovation shows, and pool lounging, quite a bit. But that’s fine. I have an energy balance!