I want to include Wonkers' original art in all its forms as the header pic for Saturdays' Nice Times.(was Nice Things, name change incoming! that is what everyone calls it.)
Please DM me or find me here, I am working on getting an email address specifically for NT. Please be patient with me. I want to pull all of you into this project of hope. I will figure out a system for this to work for everyone no matter what bullshit the Substack app throws at us.
Ms. Lefty dove deep into native plants and herpetology during COVID. She loves BkackForager. "Happy snacking, don't die!"
My little bit of good news: a kitten wandered up to my Dad's house a few weeks ago. He's been feeding her but he isn't able to give her the care she'll need, so we decided to adopt her. I'm taking Lefty Jr to pick her up today. I don't know who's more excited, me or Lefty Jr.
Alexis is a local treasure!!! There’s also a no cull goat farm in the area - no triplets but I’ve found no lie in their claim that they make the best soap in the world.
Ok I'll bite. We live on a 16th of an acre in a suburb with about half the lot taken with a ranch house and garage. The garage burnt down three years ago from downed electrical wires after a storm. It's been a journey I can tell you.
Last year I read the book Bringing Nature Home as a text for a Naturalist course run by my state through the ag university.
This year I worked with a lovely company called New Leaf Natives to put in a clover lawn (not native but very pollinator friendly), and native plantings in the front bed and the whole back yard. We now have 26 native species growing on our property. The bees are active all day long, it's lovely. We have monarchs and cabbage butterflies visiting. We have a planting of milkweed, half of which is being eaten by an invasive insect called Oleander Aphids. The other half is blooming like crazy with no aphids, so we're leaving that to seed for next year.
We have a small rain garden taking the overflow from our back gutter, planning another for the runoff from the garage. We have two rain barrels on the garage already, using that for watering.
It has been a lot of work, because the old yard was overrun by creeping charlie and bindweed which is still trying to take hold again. I go out nearly every day weeding. I found an herbicide I'm willing to use, which is called Spruce and is made out of essential oils from cornmint and geraniums.
I love it so much and when I hear the buzzing bugs and the singing birds and see the flowers it gives me joy.
Thanks Ziggywiggy! Bringing Nature Home inspired me so much. It basically says we've broken up the natural habitats in the US to such an extent that people in the suburbs can make a measurable difference with native and pollinator-focused plantings. The idea is that these plantings function as stopovers and oases for the pollinators and wildlife that once thrived here, everywhere.
I can't change the climate back but can try to provide something more than barrenness in my yard at least. The joy is for this reason even moreso than the beauty of it.
Thanks for the reply, it prompted me to explain a little more about it and thanks for that opportunity.
I will have an upcoming interview on my Nice Times post with an elderly couple who spend their energy, time and money caring for a section of a local Cleveland Heights park, planting native plants and removing invasive species. It is the same thinking and I will include your story.
Not sure who is going to read this, but my surgeon just came in to talk. The abscess in my stump is…bad. Like, really bad. What started out as a toe amputation evolved into a below-knee amputation, and now it’s going above my knee. Today, my surgeon will unfortunately remove my right knee.
And when he said that I cried. I panicked. I felt my stomach in my throat. I feel like hot garbage but somehow worse.
They want to get me prepped for 10am. I’m sure I won’t be conscious again until 8pm tonight.
This is very hard news for you to process, Cajun Kid. I hope that the surgery goes well and that this time the healing will take hold. All my good thoughts for you this morning 🫂
1:30am on a Sunday. I’m upstairs after being admitted to a room. In the morning, my surgeon will come see me about surgically draining the abscess in my stump, and the good news is if all goes well they might release me in the afternoon. Until then, I’m just laying back and trying not to go to the worst case scenario.
Doctor just came in. CT showed an abscess in my stump that needs to be surgically drained. That will happen tomorrow. I’m being admitted for tonight and probably tomorrow night as well.
Sleep won’t be happening tonight. Not comfortable sleep, anyway. I’m just scared and anxious now.
But hey—maybe if everything goes well tomorrow they can discharge me late in the afternoon? Maybe?
Just got back from a CT scan with contrast. (And if you’ve ever had a CT with contrast you know the fun warm down below. 2nd round of IV antibiotics is going in now, but for now things seem to be just wait and see. And hell the way things are going, I have a feeling that unless something pops up with a major infection, I’ll be discharged in the early morning hours.
My parents have passed and I miss foraging with them. After Dad died, Mom kept a collection of barks and dried leaves he picked in a freezer bag.. It was a sentimental keepsake. Damn he could make great sassafras tea. His leftover debris remained in the freezer until Mom passed 15 years later. Another sibling stole them out of the freezer and I don’t know where they are now.
I haven't been able to find my go-to coffee, Lavazza, at an affordable price lately. Yesterday I broke down and bought some cheap-ass store brand at Grocery Outlet, Sumatra blend. Made a pot this morning and it's surprisingly drinkable. $6 for an 11 oz bag, and that's my Nice Things for today.
Hey artsy Wonkers I need your help.
I want to include Wonkers' original art in all its forms as the header pic for Saturdays' Nice Times.(was Nice Things, name change incoming! that is what everyone calls it.)
Please DM me or find me here, I am working on getting an email address specifically for NT. Please be patient with me. I want to pull all of you into this project of hope. I will figure out a system for this to work for everyone no matter what bullshit the Substack app throws at us.
Thank you!
All plants are edible. Some only once.
Ms. Lefty dove deep into native plants and herpetology during COVID. She loves BkackForager. "Happy snacking, don't die!"
My little bit of good news: a kitten wandered up to my Dad's house a few weeks ago. He's been feeding her but he isn't able to give her the care she'll need, so we decided to adopt her. I'm taking Lefty Jr to pick her up today. I don't know who's more excited, me or Lefty Jr.
Yay for kitten!!
Alexis is a local treasure!!! There’s also a no cull goat farm in the area - no triplets but I’ve found no lie in their claim that they make the best soap in the world.
https://www.instagram.com/tiltonhollow
Ok I'll bite. We live on a 16th of an acre in a suburb with about half the lot taken with a ranch house and garage. The garage burnt down three years ago from downed electrical wires after a storm. It's been a journey I can tell you.
Last year I read the book Bringing Nature Home as a text for a Naturalist course run by my state through the ag university.
This year I worked with a lovely company called New Leaf Natives to put in a clover lawn (not native but very pollinator friendly), and native plantings in the front bed and the whole back yard. We now have 26 native species growing on our property. The bees are active all day long, it's lovely. We have monarchs and cabbage butterflies visiting. We have a planting of milkweed, half of which is being eaten by an invasive insect called Oleander Aphids. The other half is blooming like crazy with no aphids, so we're leaving that to seed for next year.
We have a small rain garden taking the overflow from our back gutter, planning another for the runoff from the garage. We have two rain barrels on the garage already, using that for watering.
It has been a lot of work, because the old yard was overrun by creeping charlie and bindweed which is still trying to take hold again. I go out nearly every day weeding. I found an herbicide I'm willing to use, which is called Spruce and is made out of essential oils from cornmint and geraniums.
I love it so much and when I hear the buzzing bugs and the singing birds and see the flowers it gives me joy.
This is wonderful!
Thanks Ziggywiggy! Bringing Nature Home inspired me so much. It basically says we've broken up the natural habitats in the US to such an extent that people in the suburbs can make a measurable difference with native and pollinator-focused plantings. The idea is that these plantings function as stopovers and oases for the pollinators and wildlife that once thrived here, everywhere.
I can't change the climate back but can try to provide something more than barrenness in my yard at least. The joy is for this reason even moreso than the beauty of it.
Thanks for the reply, it prompted me to explain a little more about it and thanks for that opportunity.
I will have an upcoming interview on my Nice Times post with an elderly couple who spend their energy, time and money caring for a section of a local Cleveland Heights park, planting native plants and removing invasive species. It is the same thinking and I will include your story.
Fantastic post! WLPWC!
(WLPWC - Wonderfully Long, Perfect With Coffee).
Not sure who is going to read this, but my surgeon just came in to talk. The abscess in my stump is…bad. Like, really bad. What started out as a toe amputation evolved into a below-knee amputation, and now it’s going above my knee. Today, my surgeon will unfortunately remove my right knee.
And when he said that I cried. I panicked. I felt my stomach in my throat. I feel like hot garbage but somehow worse.
They want to get me prepped for 10am. I’m sure I won’t be conscious again until 8pm tonight.
Oh, damn. Hate to hear that.
"See" ya when you wake up...
Best wishes.
Oh my. I'm so very sorry to hear this.
Sending healing thoughts and vibes, as well as a big warm virtual hug!
You're in my heart. I will light a candle for you at our UU fellowship today.
This is very hard news for you to process, Cajun Kid. I hope that the surgery goes well and that this time the healing will take hold. All my good thoughts for you this morning 🫂
Well said.
omg Ziggy, I love black forester! She is so happy and in turn makes me happy! I do not forage but it is good to know these things anyway <3
1:30am on a Sunday. I’m upstairs after being admitted to a room. In the morning, my surgeon will come see me about surgically draining the abscess in my stump, and the good news is if all goes well they might release me in the afternoon. Until then, I’m just laying back and trying not to go to the worst case scenario.
Doctor just came in. CT showed an abscess in my stump that needs to be surgically drained. That will happen tomorrow. I’m being admitted for tonight and probably tomorrow night as well.
Sleep won’t be happening tonight. Not comfortable sleep, anyway. I’m just scared and anxious now.
But hey—maybe if everything goes well tomorrow they can discharge me late in the afternoon? Maybe?
Just got back from a CT scan with contrast. (And if you’ve ever had a CT with contrast you know the fun warm down below. 2nd round of IV antibiotics is going in now, but for now things seem to be just wait and see. And hell the way things are going, I have a feeling that unless something pops up with a major infection, I’ll be discharged in the early morning hours.
Yep, that weird feeling that you just wet your pants without actually voiding your bladder.
It is most certainly an interesting feeling.
My parents have passed and I miss foraging with them. After Dad died, Mom kept a collection of barks and dried leaves he picked in a freezer bag.. It was a sentimental keepsake. Damn he could make great sassafras tea. His leftover debris remained in the freezer until Mom passed 15 years later. Another sibling stole them out of the freezer and I don’t know where they are now.
Time fuckin flies.
This is ‘Nice Things’. You may be sanctioned. But, seriously, reality is something many try to avoid. It’s still reality, speak it loud!
Sorry Marty - I love The Black Forager, a huge fan, and her Sassafras song slaps. She reminded me of the good stuff.
it really does. faster, the older you get.
https://youtu.be/U1n9QTkrkP0?si=YS531WTr4UWTTbQ_
Me And My Arrow
Love that song!
Love that whole album!
Have you seen the movie, "The Point", that the album was based on? I think it's available on YouTube.
Yes! Loved it!
The movie is over if you'd like to join us there for OT.
Is the Devil still around ?
Asking for a friend . . .
Executes a hammerhead turn and dive bombs the new OT.
Whoa-tea.
There is a minor concern that I have an infection, but that is likely the worst of it. Far less drainage now, but I’m getting IV antibiotics next
Yay antibiotics!
Infections are nothing extra-ordinary in your current condition. The important thing is that you have been keeping an eye on things.
Any infection can of course be bad. But the ER staff don’t seem terribly worried, so I’m counting that as good.
so glad to hear this. pls continue to be well, okay?
If you are looking for packaged foods to boycott
https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6a80e8eb2300007b1b7c970b.jpeg?ops=scalefit_1440&format=webp
That was easy; I'd already never eat those things.
like HE'S ever been near those things. certainly not in a grocery store.
gonna be pretty damn hard to give up Folger's Black Silk given coffee prices these days.
I haven't been able to find my go-to coffee, Lavazza, at an affordable price lately. Yesterday I broke down and bought some cheap-ass store brand at Grocery Outlet, Sumatra blend. Made a pot this morning and it's surprisingly drinkable. $6 for an 11 oz bag, and that's my Nice Things for today.
What's that? 'Grocery'?
It's not the fault of Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, etc. that he used their products as props.
Anyway, those companies have enough problems already.
It becomes their fault if they don't publicly object.
Harsh.
There are times in life when you have pick a side. This is one of those times. There is no being neutral because that is being complicit.
easier to boycott the packaged fool