DH is happy as a clam with his new tractor. The old one died after 27 years of being a workhorse. The new one is Swedish, a Husqvarna, so of course we named him Leif.

Friend and I went for a drive and lunch on Friday. Patio overlooking the river, and ginormous fish and chips! (we brought half the fish home, I dare anyone to finish it).

I offered to take my car, but she said I can drive in the winter! :-)

While riding by "the lighthouse" yesterday....

This year's Cleomes

Roxy. She was such a sweet old girl:

A very small butterfly I found in the yard yesterday. Identified it as a Least Skipper.

I like to save the pods to use in arrangements.

Elephant ears !!

Introducing Worms Mackenzie, Jr.

Awwwww!!! Marilyn!

Roxie just jumped on the chair and settled in for a nap. It's been raining steadily all night and so far this morning, badly needed. She's got the right idea!

Love those kitties !! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

My son kiteboarding. Someone else took the picture and he sent it to me.

Lgmd, I have almost the exact same photo and was trying to ID it a couple of days ago.

Annie, glad your DH finally got his tractor!

A Luna moth that lived on our back porch for a few days.

Here is the skipper. I think it may be a Zabulon Skipper.

View from rooftop restaurant this morning where we had a wonderful breakfast In Portsmouth, NH.

At a nursery I visited.

OutsidePlaying, I tried to compare your Skipper and mine in the Bug Guide and became more confused than ever as to their identity. Since I found mine in a dense area of white clover matching what I read to be a common place to find them, I went with 'Least' Skipper, but your identity of 'Zabulon' looks just as likely.

Edited to add: Then there is the 'Hobomok' Skipper that should be considered too.

Marilyn, what is the story of your kitten?

My 99 year old friend carrying the flag on his favorite horse in the July 4th parade at my old home town! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

The luna is so beautiful...have always wanted to see one in person and haven't yet. When I was a little girl, someone gave me a box of cards that each had a picture and description of a butterfly or moth. I still remember seeing the luna moth on the card and being fascinated by it.

Jtc, he is the son of my cat, Worms Mackenzie. I named him Worms because he looked so pitiful when I got him....remember the dog in commercials some years back.... Spuds Mackenzie? Worms, Jr's mother is a Manx cat. He has just a little puff of a tail. He has 2 brothers....one has a very short tail and the other has a shorter tail than normal. There was a 4th kitten, but he had Spina bifida, which I understand can happen with Manx cats. He was paralyzed in his back legs and had an open spine and died about an hour after being born.

Sunset Friday night.

From a little hike at a new to me park, Wetlands Park East. Two separate ponds of pink lilies.

Lgmd, I agree with you. It’s confusing, and the Hobomok was another one I thought it could be. Mine was hanging out among the zinnias.

Summer, it looks like you are growing opium poppies, which are very beautiful, and you could also harvest opium from them. This is rather labor intensive, however, and I have not done it although I have also grown opium poppies.

They make lots of seeds, and I have used the seeds in cooking, which will not have a narcotic effect, although opium will show up if you happen to have a drug blood test.

Lars, when I was young, I had a friend whose mom made babka topped with poppy seeds. She always insisted I try some, and I soon realized every time I ate some, I ended up with a horrible headache. To this day, I avoid any thing (such as Everything bagels) with poppy seeds as I still get a headache from them.

lgmd_gaz, here's my photo of a Fiery Skipper butterfly: