SUMMER POSTCARDS

Will be returning soon. I think.

 I see blogger has been a complete bitch, and I missed the drama?

EVERY VERSION OF YOURSELF....

From the garden.

 The iconic thing about life I found is in a way, you'll never know yourself, and you certainly can't please everyone all of the time. We are a different person to everyone we meet. To some we are quiet, to others we never shut the hell up. Some remember us for our kindness, some for our humor, others for our insight and advice, for our friendship and others to the time we walked away. You are a villain in some people's story, a hero in another's. And to most you're just a passing thought, a name they once knew, you don't exist as one person., but as countless versions as yourself, shaped by fleeting moments and personal conceptions. And here's what's unsettling. You will never truly know yourself the way other's do. You will never hear your own laughter the way someone else hears it. You will never see the way your absence lingers in a room you used to fill. You will never feel the anticipation someone has waiting for you. To yourself you are just you. But in reality, we are all a thousand different stories none of which we will ever get to read.

WORLD ELEPHANT DAY

Yes kids, today is indeed World Elephant Day! It is an annual global event dedicated to protecting and supporting these magnificent and intelligent creatures that face threats like poaching and habitat loss. Luckily many more are starting to realize just how close we came to these animals being wiped out in number much like rhinos. Elephants have always been a passion of mine, so much so it is what spurred on my trip to the stunning Nairobi back in 2024 to see them. It was a memory I won't soon forget being at the Sheldrick Trust conservancy to view the place and see these creatures up closer than a zoo even. After that I became a member. They are a well-known conservation charity based in Kenya. It protects elephants and wild animals in general. They also have a rhino, giraffes, a few zebra, warthog hogs, which are actually very comical, and most recently rescued a baby hippo, Bumpy who is coming along very nice and adorable. Not to mention very much a ham and has befriended a elephant, which is very rare. Not a day goes by I don't view there Instagram, where Angela Sheldrick often does live feeds, and shares beautiful posts, several times a day. They are famous for rescuing and raising orphaned baby elephants mostly, and to great success than anyone else. It was founded in 1977 by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick and created to honor her late husband who was warden of the Tsavo East National Park. It is since led by their daughter Angela Sheldrick, who does an amazing newsletter each month. Their project includes orphan's project, which rescues milk dependent baby elephants and rhinos left alone by poaching or human wildlife conflict. They are then raised by a mid-wife or hubby to be with them almost 24/7. Dame Daphne was the only person ever to perfect the milk formula to have the orphaned creatures accept it, raise them, and release them back in the wild one day to join existing herds. They also have anti-poaching teams to find and stop illegal traps and hunting, have a mobile veterinary unit, and perform habitat and water conservation projects to protect the wild lands. Not to mention educate the community on their beautiful creatures and how to live life along with them. I have such passion then I even said I would sell everything one day and move to the trust and do the work for free for lodging and meals, just to work with these elephants. They are amazing. On my tour we were told they have raised and released over 350 elephants back into the wild, and many years later those orphans come back, remember all their handlers, and bring along, in some cases, their new baby to show it off...others return as if just saying hello. And Ms. Agnes one year even sent me a gift of an adopted elephant, Hildona, which she is now almost 8 years old!!! Between the adoption and donations through the year, I can't think of a better way to spend some doe. If anyone wants to have fun and do a donation if the will kicks in, feel free to do so here. Can't think of a better way to honor the day myself. To see my day there you can click here.

MIDSUMMER GARDEN

 
What a simply beautiful weekend! It was nice to have a weekend at home and before the next vacation in ensues. While I had a handyman at the Casa installing a new exhaust fan and light in the bathroom and then he repainted the ceiling and did wallpapering, and not bad on the eyes I may add, I spent the time outdoors in the garden, pottering and dead heading. I was a good host though and offered up some refreshing beverages. New stars of the Mexican sunflowers, coneflower, salvia, hellebore, and the Datura Ballerinas, Justicia Carnea or flamingo flower now all in bloom. I know it is August now. I also have a family of cardinals take up residence in the moss bird house, which I didn't know about till I saw the fledglings popping out of the hole and all over that backyard. Which meant the murderous Sophie  has been monitored while outdoors. She did attempt to make some carnage but luckily her plan was foiled. I haven't seen them lately. I just hope the neighborhood cat didn't get them, who sometimes sneaks into the garden at night. It is simply amazing how the garden still to grow and change almost overnight, I swear.

The Mexican sunflowers are now up over my head and over the white fence behind it!!! Over 6ft! To think in May I just planted them as seeds! And it you look close, you spot the surprise I finally captured!!!

I also spent some time getting the seed from spent Hollyhocks. We will have many more next spring to plant.

The perfect toadstool.

Double bumbles!

A passionflower gift to me from a friend.

Dalhia and zinnias are coming in to take center stage next.

The Justicia Carnea

The murderess 

Sitting and waiting. Don't let the demure, cute face fool you.

And if you don't spot what it was in the above picture at the start of the post...it was indeed one of the hummingbirds!

BUMBLE BATH

 Yes, call me nuts! As most of you saw, my wildflower garden has taken wonderfully and quickly, which also meant I am getting far more bees and bumbles to the garden these days. Now I have several bird baths around the house, so of course the bees like to enjoy them too to get some water, which many don't know. The problem was some would go to far down, slip in, and sadly drown. Of course, I saved a few before they got to waterlogged and smothered. I would place them in the garden to dry out. So, before my last vacation I was on Instagram and caught a video of a lady who made this elaborate bee bath. Well, I'm not Marth Stewart, but she did give me an idea. To go with the growing bee habitat, I made my own bee bath.

Bees drown because once suck in the water they have nothing to cling to get out. So,I went to the garden center, got a medium terra cotta pot, turned the pot upside-down, and placed the water dish on top. Then filled the dish with little filler peddles to make raised places out of the water with a few larger stones from the garden I found or on walks, and added a twig to make a bridge of sorts and then filled with water. I placed it in the shaded rose garden so they can drink and bee out of the sun. Get it, bee out of the sun. lol! I have seen many using it already, but if you do try this just make sure to add water daily, as in the heat, it can evaporate quickly. I'm happy to report I have not seen a dead one yet this year in any of the birdbaths.

Of course I wanted all bees to feel welcome, so I added in this pride rock my mother gave me that she painted this year at a craft event at her work, and I also added in a few seas shells I found on the beach from my last jaunt for more platforms for bees to cling too.