Here’s Misu being adorable as usual.  All the loud power tools don’t bother her a bit.

E is busy working on final carpentry and painting touches to the bathroom, and other jobs.  In between, she found time to bake the weekly challot, and mow the whole property.

I planted some of my many tomato seedlings in the veg annex, and hope to complete that soon.  Then I have to find room for the peppers and eggplants in the main veg bed.  (Photos later, when it’s done.)

Lots more flowers keep appearing after all the rain.  I’m constantly amazed at some of the plants that survived and thrived.  I might as well enjoy them now, before I’m out of here.

Once again it seemed to rain for 40 days and nights, so there was nothing for it but to get more files sorted.  I think I managed to reduce the mountains of old papers by half.  I still have to finish refiling/disposing of, but the end is in sight(?).  What was I thinking, all these decades of saving crap?!  Still, better downsizing now, while I still can.  I learned that the hard way from my parents, sorting through their lifetime of papers alone.

When the deluge paused long enough to go outside, this is what I found: a plague of cicadas literally covering almost everything.  They just sit there, completing their 17-year cycle of dormancy, reproduction, and death.  It’s the creepiest thing.  I’m not sure even the other critters want to eat them.  But the plants appear to be none the worse for wear.

Of course, the raging rivulets washed rows of newly sown seeds downstream, but that was to be expected.  It’s an uphill battle (not to mix metaphors) growing anything in this concrete clay, but I’ve given it my best shot.  You’d think this land was cursed or something!  But it won’t be my problem soon.

Still, we managed to avoid the latest unprecedented wave of tornadoes in the south.  And the inches of rain didn’t hurt all the weeds and flowers.  Here are some, amazingly not covered in cicadas.

Two days after our second shots, E is feeling the effects more than I am, but all in all, not too bad.  I decided to just ignore mine and work in the garden.  Skunkbunny was back, just mowing clover a few feet away from me, without a care in the world.  I got the next section of fence bed sown with miscellaneous leftover veg and flower seeds and seedlings.  I’m getting closer to finishing off the main garden jobs, so I can turn my attention to sorting files and belongings.

As of yesterday evening, we are now fully vaccinated!  Yay!!  Such a relief.

The bad news is that TN is ranked one of the worst states as far as people getting vaccinated, whether through refusal or lack of access, while vaccines are actually being sent back unused.  I know how challenging it was to even find available vaccines and appointments, and I’m fairly savvy and mobile.  Those who missed out will be screwed.  There’s no excuse for a state enabling such negligence or intentional disinformation.

Today we feel a little under the weather, but nothing major.  It didn’t stop me from my usual nature photography, including lots of bees lined up for a drink at the birdbath.

The suspense is killing me.  Our second vax appointments are this evening.  Until then, here is a cicada basking, and some shots of the more flowery kind.

One more day until we get our second Moderna doses!  Then two weeks until we’re safe (with precautions) to “come out”.  And then I’ll finally get to see my son (with his two Pfizer shots behind him) when he visits.

Speaking of which, he gave me a lovely in-depth virtual tour of his new garden, which the previous owners lovingly planted with natives and other excellent plants.  They obviously succeeded.  Garden envy!

Today, I sowed most of my herb seeds in the herb beds.  I just have a few more to go.  Then the back porch will be completely surrounded by herbs.

This is definitely the year of the bearded iris.  There are masses of them around the house, in at least a half-dozen colors.  I guess conditions were finally right (now that we’re moving).

The brilliant orange poppies continue to fill the CA rock garden and overflow.  They’re mesmerizing.  At least I got to see them in all their glory.  Likewise with the native red columbines.  I must have done something right!

Other perennials (and even veggies) are starting to bloom in rainbow colors.

The work goes on.  The goal is to bring this place up to speed for selling, without killing ourselves (or our budget).

Sadly, I’m starting to view my landscaping in hindsight, as a buyer might see it.  Hey, I’d buy it!  (Oh wait we did.)  So more of my shots will look like real estate photos, emphasizing selling points.

Today I created my flower cutting garden, including perennials, annuals, and even flowering herbs and veggies.  It should look spectacular if it comes up.  I hope I’ll get to see it bloom.

E has been making progress on the porch project.  It looks really improved.  She’s also been packing up and storing large items in the cleaned-up shed.

As always, here are more flowers.  My peas finally started blooming–the ones the rabbits didn’t snip with their evil rabbit scissors.  My poppies continue to amaze me.

It’s been very industrious, here at the Almanac.

Yesterday I weeded and cleaned up the bed around the front maple tree, so it can fill in with ground covers and flowers.

Skunkbunny did his (?) part mowing the lawn.

Today E cut and installed wood latticework around the bottom of the porch, and it’s already looking more porch-like.  Here are some shots of the first stage.

Meanwhile, I weed-whacked and mowed, and then she came behind me with the rider.  Later, I brought all the rest of my plants (mostly tropicals and succulents) outside, and turned off the grow lights, probably for the last time in TN.

This seems to be the year of the irises.  I’ll miss being surrounded by them, and by the poppies, columbines, and other flowers that took so long to establish.

I think my evil plan to attract wildlife is working…too well!  It seems our house has become a wayward pets shelter.

Skunkbunny and wild relations lounging companionably outside the shed or carport is strange enough.  Last night I looked out the front door and did a double take.  At first glance I thought Skunkbunny had made a new cat friend!?  Two stray cats, one black and white, one gray and white, were parked next to each other on the front porch!  They just looked at us.  I guess they were sheltering from the rain (and the fish scraps I left outside probably didn’t hurt.)

This morning, sure enough, there was Skunkbunny following a wild rabbit around near the carport, probably taking culinary lessons.  What a poser!  Then s/he returned to under the car, where it was dry.  It seems s/he lives here now.  The other rabbits must think s/he’s a freak.

In the more natural world, here’s sunrise after all the rain.  I could almost make out the mountains far in the distance, too far to get a good shot.  Speaking of which, my son was saying goodbye to his foothills home for the last time this past weekend.  (He returned to take care of some last minute business.)  Because of COVID, I never got to say my last farewells myself.  Many bittersweet, momentous changes took place in that house over the years.  Soon, the same will be true of ours.

This “Skunkbunny” is the weirdest rabbit I’ve ever encountered.  Here she is, just sitting side-by-side with a wild rabbit in the rain, in front of the shed where they apparently live.  She must think she’s a real rabbit!  Or a lawn ornament.  When I got too close, the wild one ducked under the shed, while Skunkbunny just sat there like a blob.  Laughing my ass off.

Here are some flowers in and out of the rain.