It’s time to sit down once again with a beverage of your choice and chat – I’ll remind you that I don’t like coffee or tea so my drink of choice today will be water. Let’s chat about things other than just running, cycling, training, and complaining about our most recent injuries. Sound good? I’ll go first…
If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that I mentioned on one of my Weekly RunDowns that I’d transplanted three peonies from my mom’s garden, but had learned with a little research that peonies don’t transplant well. You can imagine how thrilled I was when not only are all three peonies thriving, but they all have buds and one started blooming yesterday.
If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that I’m getting closer to finishing my basement wall collage. For Christmas 2019 both of my sons gave me a gift card to Board & Brush, but the pandemic hit before I scheduled my first workshop. Once two-weeks post my second Covid vaccination, I felt comfortable going to the studio on Sunday and made the sign in the center bottom. I’m having the last sign on the far right made by a college art student who has done several other projects for me.
I have my second Board & Brush workshop scheduled for this evening and I’ll be making a sign for our master bath.
If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that cicadas are on their way! This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m quite excited. I actually don’t mind bugs and think cicadas are pretty cute as bugs go and I remember playing with them when I was a little kid. Our back yard is half wooded and the dirt hasn’t been disturbed in years so we once again expect a bumper crop. I’ve seen holes throughout our yard and beds, but so far, no little friends.
I’m not so fond of how loud they are, though, and I remember seventeen years ago they were so loud that I could hear them over my lawnmower! With 1.5 million cicadas per acre, and roughly half of them male, that’s a lot of mating calls as the males trying to outdo each other as they compete for the attention of a girlfriend.
If we were having coffee…..
I’d mention that, speaking of a mating frenzy in our backyard, in early April we were entertained by the amorous calls of toads in the creek behind our house. The sound was so loud we could hear it at night even with our windows closed. One day while doing yard work next to the creek, I was surprised by what I saw. There were dozens of couples right next to each other, all getting a little action.
If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that I’ll spare you the story of what two raccoons were doing on the doormat on our upper deck about eight years ago, but I bet you can guess!
And finally, if we were having coffee…..
I’d ask if you have any real or virtual races coming up, and if you do, I’d wish you good luck and remind you to have fun!
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Today I’m joining Deborah at Confessions Of A Mother Runner and Coco at Running With Perseverance for their monthly Ultimate Coffee Date linkup which goes live the first Friday of every month. Be sure to stop by their blogs for a cup of coffee and to say hello; and while you’re there, be sure to check out some of the other bloggers who are participating in the linkup.
- Questions:
- • Have you done any of the artsy type workshops?
- • Do you plant annuals? Do you have perennial gardens?
- • If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?
Lots of nature popping right now! Everyone is talking about the cicadas–we have them every year, so will this year be different? Even louder? My dog loves to eat them, lol. We’re always entertained when she picks one up in her mouth and it comes to life, scaring the you know what out of her!!!
Your wall collage looks nice!
Looks like you have Brood XIII in the Chicago area so you have until 2024 when they fully reemerge. Parts of our county has Brood II which emerged in 2013, and every so often we have a few confused cicadas who show up when they’re not supposed to. LOL
And thanks, I’m very pleased with how the wall collage turned out.
I’m not really much of a gardener. I enjoy other people’s gardens. We did plant peonies when we moved here, and it took years before I got any flowers!
The Cicadas (the 17 year ones) do not make it up here. Thank God. I’m sure they’d freak me out.
Speaking of freaky, all those toads . . .
I wasn’t expecting blooms this year and got lucky. Or was it my farm upbringing that gave me a green thumb?
I love how your wall came out! Nice job. We also hear the frogs all summer but they don’t bother me or come near me. You know I am not a fan of the cicadas but sounds like I have another week to get out there before they do!
Yes, it sounds like we’ve got one more week until the noise begins. I just learned that parts of Loudoun County had Brood II which emerged in 2013. I don’t remember them as much as the ones in 2004 (Brood X).
Awww…I love your transplanted peonies from your mom’s garden. I have forsythia and lilac bushes from my mom’s garden and I treasure them.
I am excited about the cicadas too. I remember them from 17 years ago and I can’t wait! They are so cool!
Laurie recently posted…May Coffee -(For Real This Time)
Thanks, Laurie! Mom and I have always regretted not transplanting my grandmother’s peonies so when I decided to add some to my garden, Mom was more that happy to let me divide hers. I love that you have forsythia and lilac bushes from your mom’s garden.
Oh, wow on the peonies! How lovely they will be. I haven’t seen any cicada burrows. I am worried about Scooby eating them and then regurgitating them in the house. 😛
Your collage wall looks great!
Thanks, Coco! I’m happy with how the wall collage turned out, too!
And yeah, I’m not so sure I’ll love seeing Pablo eating cicadas, but I hear that animals love them. Bleh!
Those peonies are so pretty!
We do not have cicadas, and for that I am glad. We DO have frogs and toads, and they never quit making noise.
I love your new sign. We have the same “family” piece in our wall collage.
Thanks, Jenn! And yes, I remember commenting on your “family” sign when I was looking for one for our wall. I found ours at Hobby Lobby.
I love your wall collage! I’ve been meaning to make one but haven’t gotten around to it yet (one o’ these days…)! :]
Best of luck to those cicadas, hahaha. I only recently read an article about them and definitely didn’t realize that the cycle was every 17 years!
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: May 2021
Since you love southern Utah as much as I do, I’ll have to share this with you… When we were in Bryce Canyon in 2019, we kept hearing a soft insect sound (very different than our cicadas’ sound). We saw a sign identifying the noice as cicadas. I just scrolled through my photos to see if I could find a picture of the sign and what brood they were, but couldn’t find anything other than a picture of the cicada that landed on my husband’s shirt.
OMG, I am laughing at the action the frogs are getting. 🙂 Your wall looks fabulous! I am not an artsy person. Once I did one of those paint and wine classes and it was OK. Don’t think I will do it again.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Fit Five Friday and May Ultimate Coffee Date
Yep, those are some lucky toads! LOL
Thanks, I’m very happy with the way the wall collage turned out. I never tried one of those paint on canvas classes, but have enjoyed the two Board & Brush classes (making wooden signs) I’ve attended (I did another one last night).
The sign came out great! I like the bike too.
I love peonies, so pretty. I’m glad you were able to keep them alive.
I’m happy to say we don’t have cicadas, they creep me out.
Denise recently posted…Coffee Talk: May 2021
Thanks, Denise!