It’s been quite the summer for mosquitoes. A wet spring assured a robust early hatch, and we haven’t run low on them since. As prey animals, we find ourselves speculating that the sheer numbers of mosquitoes have sharpened their hunting skills and the speed of their attacks: there are just not enough of us to… Continue reading Mosquitoes, Moth, and Mourning
Month: August 2021
Sadness
Doing the right thing with “items of no significance” from my late aunt’s estate has been a major focus this week. First, there was washing whatever needed washing. Next came the listing of items going to nonprofits: pen refills, 20; swim goggles nose-piece replacement kit, 1; shoehorns, 4; and so on. Then came the delivering. … Continue reading Sadness
Raucous Ruckus
There are three birdbaths in the back yard, and we hadn’t seen much action at any of them this summer. That changed Tuesday afternoon, when the big one with the Water Wiggler suddenly became the place to be. It was robin versus starling out there. Also, starling versus starling and, apparently, starling versus birdbath. … Continue reading Raucous Ruckus
Death of a Grande Dame
My aunt died this week. She and her three sons and two daughters-in-law had gathered for birthday-eve dinner at the yacht club. They’d been having a lovely time until it became clear Aunt Norah was becoming unwell. There followed the Heimlich manoeuver, CPR, paramedics, ambulance, ER, ICU, the EEG that offered no hope at all,… Continue reading Death of a Grande Dame