Alice of the Chalice

a small tree with bright red leaves, many trees and green / yellow leaves in the background

This glorious tree, holding onto its red cape

A dark nut on a wooden fence

Found this in the woods. Maybe a hickory nut?

Red saffron

Saffron crocuses

Saffron grows in my neighbor's yard.

Pink Cosmos flowers

Purple aster flowers

Blooms in my neighborhood

A young rat snake turning the corner. He has pretty markings and notices me at the same time I notice him. He is lifting his head to see what I am.

The rat snake was released next to the stream, shown here as he crosses over a branch and many leaves in the water.

Yesterday a bit of excitement for me and a young rat snake. We both wanted to use my bathroom at the same time. I'm very grateful to my friend who was willing to come up and help me capture and release young snake. Here are before and after pictures:

a smoked cigarette in a dish

I smoked my last cigarette two years ago.

About to fly

I feel lucky to live in a place where I can avoid shopping at Wmart.

Yellow frond flowers

Pink Dahlia with bumble bee

Splendid weather today

I just cannot hit the heart icon for this, but wow, it's stunning.

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” Led by Na'Zir McFadden and Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson

"...we, even we here, hold the power, and bear the responsibility."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL2z...

A handful of "spoon" tomatoes

A handful of tomatoes, summer perfect.

paper pods of cherries in a blue bowl

thin brown paper on the counter with yellow cherries in a blue bowl

Ground cherries, new to me. I think they're pretty and a sweet little treat.

Purple gladiola blooms against a wood fence

Purple Gladiola 💜

Here is a shot of the blue sky through the green leaves. I took this picture back on July 22. The sky has not been blue here in quite some time. The sky is white, and I understand it's full of smoke from Canada.

It's okay to VagueSky! lol

I prefer my ketchup room temperature. These days I only eat ketchup with fries, so not too often. Maybe I like it room temp, because I like the fries to be hot?

Sliced tomatoes, sliced mozzarella cheese, ripped basil leaves with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzle

Summertime!

The leaves look like an iris, the bloom looks like an orchid. The bloom is small, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and really beautiful.

I noticed this recently. I've never seen a photo of him smiling.

a small yellow flower with red spots against a background of greenery

This is a spotted lantern fly, in the nymph stage. I think it's a beautiful bug, and it has a unique little walk. I have read that these invasive bugs will destroy many trees. 🙁 My deck is thick with them, and they're very hard to catch.

A lovely monarch sits on a purple buhdleia bloom

This blueberry is huge, and so sweet

Orange blooms surrounded by greenery

a bumble bee rests on a leaf

In the meadow

Zoom in to meadow in bloom

In the meadow

Thank you for this post. 💚

(about making the phone calls) I call after hours, so I know I'm going to be leaving a message. It's easier for me that way. I call both of my senators and my representative every week day, and I use a script from 5calls or Chop Wood, Carry Water.

a young goose grazes in a suburban yard

A sweet young couple in my neighborhood have adopted a goose! This goose is living with a cat. They get along great. The couple know they cannot keep the goose for long, and they have a plan.

A cardinal in flight