October 11th

The ancient Greeks believed that opals gave their 

owners the gift of prophecy and guarded them

from diseases. The Europeans considered the stone

unlucky for anyone to wear if they weren't born

in October, and they thought the stone had the

power to preserve life and the color of blond hair.

Which brings me to the subject of today's post.

Today is my sister's birthday.

Just look at that little face!

She's such a cutie.

She is the only person who has been through

the same highs and lows as I have since

our beginning.

She has been my rock when I faltered.

She is the one who will always be there for me

even when I can't be there for myself.

She forgives my silliness and

champions my causes.

She would cheer me on to my greatest

heights and console me when I've fallen.

(But she'd laugh her butt off first!)

She bites her tongue when I've done 

something stupid when she could easily

say, "I told you so."

So, my earnest hope is that I die

before her because I never want to live 

in a world without her in it.

So, today I'm grateful because it means

another year of happiness and joy

for her.

(Yes, even in 2020!)

Happy Birthday to my sweet sister.

I love you!!! 💗

This could be us....

but no hats!

We have abnormally small heads.

Ha!

😂

**************************************

The veggie garden

is only producing bell peppers

these days.

We have a few tomato plants

but they haven't produced any fruit yet.

We are starting some celery in yogurt cups.

The older celery died off in the heat,

so hopefully these will do well

once we plant them.

(I'm trying out a new font)

This is tarragon and Thai Basil

that I cut yesterday.

*****************************

The CEO bought a bag of crickets

as a snack for the girls.

They are searching for them.

The crickets were very silent

so not to get caught and eaten,

but a couple seconds after they were

released they were chirping.

I came across this interesting snippet...

Here's a "did you know?" 

So, I looked it up...

On the NOAA weather site,

they actually have a 

Cricket Chirp Converter.

How freakin' cool is that?

Oh, and to chirp, they rub a specialized 

body part on the top of their wings

with their legs - but generally

only the males do this.

**************************

I got a new toy.

My Medicare supplement insurance

company gives us each a $50 dollar

quarterly stipend  for over the counter items.

This thermometer was calling out to me.

I think it was $9.

I had noticed it in the list of health

and wellness items and I grabbed it.

It takes a forehead, ear and ambient temperature.

It also speaks!

Oooh!

It made me as happy as a seagull

with a mouth full of french fries!!

I was taking the temperature of everything!

(The CEO wasn't too happy about

me taking his temperature several

different times 😁)

We comply with CDC guidelines

and wear masks!

******************************

This was the only casualty

from Hurricane Delta

at our house.

Thankfully.

***********************************

The other day as I was coming home from

dropping the kids off at school in the morning,

I was driving parallel with the canal on 

West Esplanade Ave, between

Transcontinental Drive and David Drive.

I was startled by a large bird swooping into the canal

and quickly coming back out with 

something in it's mouth.

When I say large, it easily had a 5 foot wing span.

Anyway, I turned the car around and got these pictures.

It was 2 bald eagles!

The one leaning down is the one with 

something in it's mouth.

I've seen them in the cypress trees

west of Kenner, in their huge nests,

but not hunting in a well traveled

area like this.

Beautiful animals!

I went home to check on the girls,

there are predators out and about.

******************************

And this from Lewis Carroll......

🐔