Salamanders and A Well Loved Bunny Rabbit

It's raining here today.  The kind of day I love, rainy but not too cold.  A good day to be cozy indoors.

Unless, of course, you are a salamander hunter.  If you are an amateur naturalist, you are very excited right now because it is salamander breeding season and in the night and early hours of the morning salamanders are crossing the roads to their breeding locations.  So! If you cruise along the roads at midnight or get up very early in the morning, you will see them!!

I know this, because I am related to a young naturalist.  A few weeks ago, when it wasn't raining, he and I went salamander hunting.  We found a lot of salamanders, except for the elusive spring salamander which looks like a hotdog.
I always think I am bad luck on these trips.  He found many of those when I wasn't with him--and always seems to find the best of things when I'm not there.

As you see, my son has a much better camera than I, and his salamander pictures come out waaaay better than the one I took with my phone.

And then, there is Pippin.

We lost our little tan rabbit Pippin early this week.  She has not been well for months, and recently took a turn for the worse, so her passing was not unexpected.  These two little rabbits lived together for ten years.  The healthier of the two continued to huddle against Pippin as she died.  So sad.

We have a little boy rabbit to keep our old girl company, but he is only a pest to her right now.  When he gets calmed down, I think he will be a comfort to her.--Maybe.

Mid-summer Catch Up!

So, here we are in the smack middle of summer.  The heat is upon us.  Rain sweeps in almost daily and sweltering steam rises from the visibly from the asphalt, and tangibly from the grasses and plants. Magnolia leaves hold water like sorry inverted boats, homes for mosquito larvae.  Cicadas buzz.

The garden loves the rain, of course.  We had magnificent pea towers early on, but of course, they succumb to the heat, so we've replaced them with cowpeas. We've got loads of shishito peppers which when roasted and salted make a fantastic snack.  Our cucumbers are doing well too even though some are bulbous and yellow and we joke that they could be confused for limes.

A wild rabbit has been exploring our yard and eating the petunias and green bean leaves.  I put my rabbit playpen up around the garden and it seems to have stopped him.  That or he became someone's lunch.  Sad!!

One of my little old bunnies (9 years old) has a lump in her abdomen.  Her fur is a constant shabby mess.  I was embarrassed to take her to the vet.  She is old for a rabbit and happy enough so operating to remove the lump would be too much for her.  I thought about bringing her into the house and pampering her, but being inside freaks her out.  She'd rather be in the place she knows with her bunny friend.

These unstructured summer days are passing too quickly.  I wanted to read more, to knit more, to have time for more writing and some lesson planning.  In 3 weeks school starts up again, and I have at least 3 more books I want to read--at least!!  Here's what I've read so far, not including the audio books by Elena Ferrante.

And I would like to finish knitting a Nevis sweater I started.  But I doubt I'll get through all those rows with thread-like yarn before school starts, though I may get it done so I can wear it in August of September.  However, I did crochet this shrug which really turned out a little bit too big, though not terribly so. It was fun to make!

Well, that's enough for now.  I hope to write more soon.  Really.  I don't mean to neglect this blog. It's fun to put together.  I so enjoy reading and seeing other people's blogs that I like to join in.  Hope you all have a great day!

Rabbits and Knitting Zen

Unfortunately, I have been suffering from frozen shoulder.  This means a constant low to moderate pain  in my whole arm that hinders me all day every day, and occasional electric like zaps of debilitating pain.  So terrible.  Worse yet, I had this before in the opposite arm some years ago.  Some people never get this--and here I am with it twice!!  It is amazing all the little things we do every day that involve our shoulder muscles.--But enough on the complaints.

Today was warm, though mostly overcast, and I gave the rabbit hutch a nice clean-out. After skipping the chore last weekend because of snow and freezing temps (hard to believe now), it was ready.  Then I sat out and knitted while my little bunnies frolicked in the yard.  (I can't leave them out alone, even with a cover on the run.  The hawks here pay no mind to covers). I am working on a long plain-ish sweater jacket that is reminding me of a dog bed right now (!).  Funny how knitting is Zen like.  I was able to forget my pain for awhile and think straight and not worry.

I worry because I am going to have my arm manipulated and will miss school for a few days.  I worry about the procedure and what I will have to leave to occupy my wily students so they don't drive a sub out of his/her mind. Honestly, I don't know which of these worries me more!

It was good to be outdoors today, even though the yard is the usual winter mess.  No daffodils yet, and the camilla blossoms are all singed from blooming early and then freezing, but I'm okay with that.  Winter here is brief and I don't mind it.

A few weeks ago, I made a new pair of fingerless mitts.  I've decided I really like making mitts.  They are a little challenging and they finish up quickly.  These were made using self-striping yarn like these
on Ravelry.  I ran out of yarn right at the last picot hem and didn't have enough for the second the thumb (the purply-blue one).  I mean, honestly!  Luckily, I had something that matched enough to finish the task.  They don't look too bad.--And certainly are more fun to look at than my dog-bed sweater-jack! Hahah!