Last of August

 

Our bird calendar for August has a photo of the Painted Bunting. (I hope to see that bird one day!) For me, that has been one of the best things about this month.  Someone said that we have been suffering from "Post Parton Depression" after Dolly Parton's passing.  It is sad, but I have been truly surprised at the outpouring of love and respect for her. I thought she might be just not quite "edgy" enough for our society, just too nice. I am pleased to be wrong.  Therefore, I feel a bit more positive about the world if there are more people with a "Dolly" mentality! Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments on my last post.

Remember me telling you that I had poison ivy? Well, it got pretty bad and I went to the doctor.  I am on steroids AND an antibiotic AND a steroid cream and for good measure, was told to take antihistamines also.  So, here is a link for you:   Poison ivy rash: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention - Harvard Health     

Poison ivy is in every state in this country except Hawaii and Alaska. (So, all across Mainland USA!)  Hopefully, I am getting better though, but I am on enough medication to make me sleepy and dizzy and sometimes (oh, just sometimes) irritable!

We have been able to enjoy a few butterflies and birds though, so that has been nice for August....

We had this little visitor that we had never seen before!  According to my research, it is a Northern Parula warbler.  Richard did a very good job getting this photo, warblers are very quick. They don't often come to feeders in back yards but as you can see, the water is very attractive.

It has been so hot. Our glass hummingbird feeder looked as if it needed to be in the shade. We can't put it under the tree, as the squirrels will knock it down. So, I found a plastic bowl and put a hook right in the middle of it, and then, hung the bowl by a string.  Can you see? Guess what, it works like a charm!  

Wait, here is another shot, it shows the glass in the shade better!

Yay! A butterfly in our garden!  It is the beautiful Gulf Fritillary. 

It is on a native plant that is truly a wonder!  Elephantopus tomentosus (Common Elephant's Foot, Devil's Grandmother, Elephant's Foot) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The common name is Elephant Foot, due to the size of the large leaves at the base of the plant. The flowers are a delicate lavender color and bees and butterflies love them.  Whenever they come up in our yard, Richard leaves them there for the pollinators.  

Wildflowers!  You know I love them!  

Oh, I love rainbows too!

When we walk at the Monastery, I like to walk past this window into the shop and see this statue.  I always say "Hang on, baby Jesus!".

It just seems right to say so. 

The quote with the calendar says, " Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark". 

Hope all of you are doing well in your part of the world. Take care!

Dolly Parton

 

Queen Elizabeth died on Sept. 8, 2022.  Dolly Parton died today on August 25, 2026.  It truly saddened me to learn of the Queen's passing, much as Dolly's has today.  Dolly Parton was Southern and proud of it. For me, Dolly was MY queen. How many songs did she write in her lifetime? That number is believed to be 5000.  How many books has she given away to children in her Imagination Library? I have read different numbers, but it seems to be over 300 million books worldwide. Oh, and remember the Covid vaccine? If you got the Moderna one, Dolly gave a million dollars to Vanderbilt University for developing that one.  Admirable? Yes, indeed.

 I have several videos here for you. I hope they will stay on my post so you can see them.  The first one is her singing with Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn.  The second one is a song that she wrote that I remember we had on an album, "Me and Little Andy".  She called it the most pitiful song! And yet, it shows her sweetness, I think and I can listen to it and be astounded at her songwriting ability and her singing and doing the little girl's voice too. If anyone wants to make fun of it, go somewhere else to say so!  And the third one is from her film "9 to 5" with some great lines! How much I love that movie! So funny and the song that she wrote and sang in that film!   Just perfect.

Dolly loved butterflies, they were really like her signature. 🦋 

I hope you all know that this is the Monarch butterfly.

Language, Language

 

 Don't let that photo of the beach fool you.  I have not been anywhere NEAR a beach but hey, I can always remember the cool breeze along the seafront in Eastbourne and the sound of the waves crashing against the pebbles.  I have read that folks that live in southeast England are recalling the coolness itself too, there have been record breaking temps this summer. In years past, I recall visiting and having to turn the heat on in August! It is hot this summer, in Georgia as it always is but it seems to be so just about everywhere. 

I love watching TV shows and movies from the UK.  One of my favorites is "Antique Road Show".  The last two that I watched were from Crystal Palace Park and also from Swanage in Dorset.  Both locations were so beautiful! Now, one of the objects that they showed us was an album of old letters from the 1870's.  You know I had to hit the pause button and jot down a line or two....

A slight sprinkle is just moistening the face of earth as if with teardrops of silent unaffected sorrow at my departure....". 

The above was written by a gentleman to his hosts after he had been with them for a visit.  He ended with this:  "We bear thee in most kind remembrance.". Ah, the language of long ago, isn't it nice to read that? It just so happened that I saw this on the same day that I learned that "birb" is now used for the word "bird".  I am assured that it is an affectionate term much like the word "doggo" is for "dog".  Well. I never!  We all know that new words are added to languages all the time and that some words become obsolete and are no longer used but what is wrong with the word "bird"? 

The brown thrasher is the state bird of Georgia and is a really pretty bird. It is quite large with a very long tail. In the first photo, something has happened to its tail. In the second photo, you can see one with how it normally looks. 

Hey! What words or expressions were added to the English language when you were born? Do you know? Here is a fun site for you - Time Traveler by Merriam-Webster: Search Words by First Known Use Date

There! If you click on the above you should be able to type in your birth year and it will give you a list of words that came about the year you were born. For myself, the words "disco, leaf blower and happy camper".  For my son, "chat room, GMO and man up"! Let me know if you check that out!

 

In the English language, we say "Pardon my French" before we let out a few "choice" words! I wonder is there anything similar like this in other languages? We say it because we actually get this from England.  Oh, it has a long, convoluted explanation but it boils down to some severe bad feelings between England and France. You are welcome to look it up!

Even that quaint expression, "pardon my French", makes me feel a bit wistful.  I just read that at a local government meeting they are considering fining the representatives for using foul language!  Tsk, tsk.  (And that is ANOTHER phrase that I miss these days.)

It is my job to inform you that the photo of above is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and what is more, it is FEMALE. We know this because of the pretty blue spots on the wings! Now, remember this! You will be tested!

Hope you are all doing well, my friends!  I managed to have a close encounter with POISON IVY. When I discovered that I had touched it, you might think I let out some rough language of my own. Alas, it was more of a low mournful intake of breath, very animal like, I should think. I have had it before you see, so I knew what I was in for.  I would not wish that on my worst enemy. (A well-worn phrase, I know but trust me, I am sincere.)  It is on my left hand and arm and even though I am right-handed, you just don't know how much you use both hands.  It is getting better, so if you ever need any advice about it, ask me.