Close to Home

Tuesday night about 7:30 the Thunder started. Our dogs are not that thrilled with thunder. It incites much whining and whimpering, especially from Sally. I went to bed just before 9, as someone who gets up in the 4 AM hour is want to do. Then, at 9:22 I was shaken by a good jolt, as the whole house vibrated from a loud booming, very close to home Lightning Strike. From the bright flash through the Master Bedroom window, I'd wager a good guess that the strike happened in the swamp/retention pond on the other side of the railroad spur behind the house.

I was pleasantly surprised that we never lost power, and I count my blessings on that one.
This much I know for sure: I am going to have to bring down that 60 foot plus Walnut tree behind the house before it comes down ON THE HOUSE. I had one come down and do damage and destroy a rain gutter back in February during the Ice Storm, and unless I want a repeat, and want to spend several hundred more dollars on more rain gutters, I better get to it before Thanksgiving.

There wasn't only one nearby lightning strike last night, though, I think there may have been at least two more over the space of 40 minutes between 9:22 and 10 PM. I fell into a deep sleep shortly after the last, and didn't wake until Mr. Alarm started its damnable beeping.
If I get a chance before the weekend I'll head over the Railroad tracks and take a glance at the swamp for any sign of where any of them hit. Earlier this summer there was a tree split in 3 pieces, and dozens of dead birds on the ground, thereby proving that nature is indiscriminate in unleashing her fury.

The First Butterfly of the Summer at our House

We have a Butterfly Bush planted at the Corner of our garage, and as I was returning home from work today, I spotted this beauty feeding from it. it's the first I have seen this summer. We have two other bushes much closer to the swamp out back from which I believe they come, but it came to the street side of the property, attracted by the many colorful blooms. Mrs. C could probably sit on her new hammock and take pictures of them coming and going all day if the timing was right.

I'm not big on using a net to capture butterflies, then pinning them to a piece of wood and mounting them somewhere. I think that is just plain cruel. How would we humans feel if another species did that to us? now there's a future Tales of Terror, don't you think?



Something that really amazed me as I took this was that as I was standing there it was exceptionally windy, yet the beautiful little thing hung on, gathering the precious nectar with all its might.



I took this picture with my camera less than a foot away, as the wind was gusting. It flitted to another branch in the wind, and continued gathering nectar. By the time I let the dogs out, you would have thought it finished, but it was still there. It flitted away, with crazy Sally Dog in pursuit of it, the butterfly oblivious to her barking and yapping at it. It was out of the yard, over the railroad and into the Swamp before I could get another picture of it. I hope I see more of them this weekend, I will be ready with the camera if I do. Anybody know what kind of Butterfly it is? I know what a Monarch is, They are mostly Orange and I see many of those each year, but this one I am unfamiliar with. Leave a comment if you know!