Late Summer

So I have not written lately because I have been running around with the fam and thoroughly enjoying this cooler, late summer weather we've been having. It is so beautiful around here now and the fields have that delicious fresh-hay and goldenrod scent, the frilly purple grass seed as a backdrop for the yellow goldenrod spikes. The pokeberries are also getting to be quite colorful. It's prime porch-sittin' weather. I went to Poplar Forest with Mom on Labour day, and on an outing on the parkway with Grandma Tuesday afternoon. Also on Tuesday I had some of the worst cramps on record, with the internet recommended "post-operative" dose of aleve barely denting the pain, which was only stopped with extra-strength tylenol on top of it.

Tomorrow I am going to begin making bat houses. That means it is now time for my report on bats. Bats are awesome for many reasons. First, they are cute and fuzzy, especially the little brown ones that live around here. Second, they eat TONS of bugs. How awesome is natural pest control? Third, they come in 'family' and 'bachelor' varieties. The bat house plans I was reading said that larger boxes with multiple sized 'slots' for the bats to hang in are occupied by breeding bats, which like to live in warmer spots. Bachelor bats like to live in smaller, one-slot boxes in cooler roosts. How awesome is that?
I am going to mark the wood and texture it (and perhaps get some screen to cover the wood with for the bats to hang onto) as they need a good foot (claw? nail?) hold to climb up in the box and stuff. All of the plans have a little hang-down 'landing pad' for them, so cute!
We know there are bats around because they have been known to roost in the garage if they get lost, and you can see them flying between the barn and the house. One time the cousins found one sleeping in dad's nasty shinguard that was hanging from a doorknob to dry. It wasn't too happy when we woke it up (it was around noon). It made hissing noises and then sonar chirps as it flew around the garage in circles. Way cool! Anyway, I'm guessing it was a 'bachelor bat' since it was alone. I am excited about the possibility of having more of them around!
I also have woodpecker house and bluebird house plans, both of which live around here. If I have extra time I will draw them out on the scrap wood as well.



On my newsfeed today.

Tim Burton in ~*romantic*~ Venice

Mental Health and South India, (not so romantic)

Mental Health in Developing Countries in General

Maybe *This* is why I'm so ADD:
(on food additives causing hyperactivity)