Since moving to the southeast (where summers are described as "the devil's armpit" - this week has been over 90F with "real feel" ~ 105F), linen is a lifesaver. It is lightweight and breathable enough that long sleeves/long trousers are comfortable and it shields from the sun.

Four photos of geocaches in the woods: a blue and yellow birdhouse on a post, a PVC pipe broadsword locked into a plastic stone, a brown birdhouse on a post featuring gears and the name Hephaistos in Greek letters, and an ammo can with the official geocaching label on the forest floor.

Happy Blue Switch Day to those who celebrate!
L-R: A gadget cache by the amazing WVTim (West Virginia), sword in the stone geocache (Iowa), one of a Percy Jackson-themed set of geocaches (Virginia), and an ammo can in the woods ... for geocachers, there's treasure everywhere.

Happiest of birthday to David Suchet, the greatest Poirot (and possibly human) of all time!

Collect five stamps, receive a OBX Books tote bag. Not sure if the tote bags are still available, but visiting all these charming, unique book stores is its own reward.

Front and back of the ocean blue #OBXBOOKS bookmark: the front of the bookmark features a map of North Carolina's Outer Banks with local independent bookstores indicated by stars. The back of the bookmark lists the names and addresses of the bookstores.

In honor of Independent Bookstore Day (isn't that every day?) a reminder that the seven independent bookstores on North Carolina's Outer Banks offer a bookstore crawl: pick up a bookmark with a handy map and get it stamped at each shop.

YouTube video by Eels - Topic I Like Birds

youtu.be/32J5jCP1z9A?...

A red hummingbird feeder, freshly filled with sugar water, hangs above a garden awaiting the first hummingbirds of the season.

If you’re small and on a search
I’ve got a feeder for you to perch on

YouTube video by Joey Lindström Gary Numan & Skaparis Orchestra - Are 'Friends" Electric (live)

"You see, this means everything to me." Brilliant, absolute legend who is still evolving and creating. HBD Gary Numan!

YouTube video by byronsb A Poor Wayfaring Man Of Grief

Post-credits video from the quirky and poignant 2005 documentary "New York Doll" about Arthur Kane. Johansen & Koonin perform Kane's favorite hymn in his honor. RIP David Johansen.

YouTube video by Melodifestivalen KAJ - Bara bada bastu

Allow me to provide a break from the doomscrolling with news of the utmost importance:

Eurovision is months away and Sweden already has the strongest candidates: Finns singing about sauna. Because of course they would.

You can now resume your usual activities.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=28__...

A black and white photo of American author Edward Gorey seated at a paper-strewn desk with some of his cats.

Happy Caturday and happy birthday to Edward Gorey who would have been 100 years old today. 🖤🦇💀

I invented a new hobby today: Rage Birding. When you’re so overwhelmingly furious about what is being done to your country that you drive to three locations in search of peace and some sense of normalcy. I recommend it. #photo #photography #birds #birding

Left photo: a red-bellied woodpecker in profile on a tree trunk. Right photo: a red-headed woodpecker seen from behind on the top of a tree snag. The pair of photos shows the difference between the two types of woodpeckers.

While the red-headed woodpeckers were flying around and feeding, a red-bellied woodpecker joined them. Both have a red head and are similar in size, but these photos show their differences. What a great way to finish off the #GBBC weekend.

Two views of a red-headed woodpecker on a tree snag: the left photo shows the bird in profile, the right photo shows the front view of the bird.

Two weeks ago on this trail we spotted a lifer: a red-headed woodpecker. They are rather rare, but are sometimes spotted on this section of the trail. We were hoping to see one today, and were rewarded with two red-headed woodpeckers! Here are photos of one of them.

A pair of red tailed hawks perching on a tree limb. In the photo on the right, the hawk on the right side is preening itself.

The last day of #GBBC here was sunny and breezy with a chill in the air. Hardly any birds in the yard so we went to a nearby walking and biking trail. After a few tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees, we spotted a pair of red-tailed hawks. #birds

In addition to the black vulture, other birds observed this morning were: blue jays, Northern cardinals, titmice, Carolina chickadees, crows, house finches, and yesterday's red-bellied woodpecker.

A black vulture in horaltic pose perches atop a tree limb, wings spread wide.

After a heavy, near-freezing rainstorm, there was less variety in this morning's bird count, but saw one of our friendly neighborhood black vultures striking a "horaltic pose". Vultures use this fully outstretched pose to warm and dry themselves, and to control ectoparasites. #GBBC #birds

Less frequent visitors observed this morning: red bellied and pileated woodpeckers, cedar waxwing, dark-eyed junco, Eastern towhee, a Northern flicker, and golden-crowned kinglet.

Usual visitors to our yard included: Northern cardinal, Eastern bluebird, blue jay, Carolina wren and Carolina chickadee, robin, tufted titmouse, and three black vultures soaring overhead (a roosting tree is in the neighborhood so we see vultures all day, every day)

Great Backyard Bird Count – Join us each February when the world comes together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. Join us in February!

The Great Backyard Bird Count runs February 14-17! Not a proficient counter yet, but managed to identify about two dozen different types of birds this morning before the next winter storm blew in. Observing in Central Virginia, foothills east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. #GBBC #birds

YouTube video by Buskaid South Africa Buskaid: Symphonie Concertante in G major - Allegro - Chevalier de Saint-George

Allegro from Symphonie Concertante in G major by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George, performed by Buskaid South Africa

To celebrate the start of the Spiers & Boden tour tomorrow ... I'll leave you with one more in my hashtag series:
#PeopleYouNeverKnewPlayedTheSqueezebox #5

This one's a goodie ... it's Benny Andersson out of ABBA!!!

Some full-on Swedish trad stuff as well.

A seal mitted Ragdoll cat is curled up asleep on a rug in front of a fireplace.

it’s nap o’clock

YouTube video by Mia Marine Livsverket - Dearest and Fairest

A Playford English country dance arranged by a Swedish string quartet? Yes, please

It's snow shark season

Same here, it took about a week before those types of posts dropped off my feed.