sense of indolence

 Summer is really here!  We've been seeing an uptick in many animals, like deer...

(there's never just one)

still molting from the cold winter!

...snakes...

(Eastern milk snake...and I saw a small black rat snake, dead...Todd saw another unidentified snake, large, but he slithered off before I could get my camera gear)

...daily rabbits, including the occasional victims of predation...

...and many other creatures!

Eastern box turtle

Carolina wren

female red-winged blackbird, grumpy that I'm so close to her nest

Speaking of nests, I've found quite a few eggs lately!

mourning dove egg

chipping sparrow egg

Some interesting insects too!

pearly wood-nymph moth

spring fishfly

tachinid fly

chrystopilus flies

melon aphids, feeding on milkweed

Rain has threatened...

asperitas clouds

...but it's mostly been hot and dry.  I'm trying to muster up some summer enthusiasm.  I'm determined not to despise an entire season! The work continues.  Meanwhile Pepita, like me, is not a fan of summer.  She's starting to refuse to walk.

She plants her feet, ducks her head, and resists.  Todd has to carry her forward a few feet to let her know that the walk WILL continue.  Most of the time she grudgingly obliges, but it's a daily battle.  She's much more comfortable in her main habitat...the bed.  

She has plenty of company.

Maybe we'll all be lazy together this summer...inside, with a good book!