Miscellany Monday

1. Pulmonaria.

 This is Lungwort.

It is called this because it was used for medicinal purposes:

an herb for lung ailments

in days of yore.

I love this plant,

not for my lungs though.

My eyes love it.

It's a favorite of mine.

It loves shade or semi-shade.

 Look at the colors and variety on these

tiny 

sweet flowers.

 The leaves are lovely and vibrantly two-toned

all summer long. 

2. Wasp

(Yes, I am dumb enough to go back to the crime scene

and try to take a picture of my assailant.)

 While admiring said Lungwort,

I felt a pinch.

On the soft part under my arm,

(you know,

the part that's super tender,

and feels extra soft like great-granny skin

even when one is two years old).

Yes,

on this part of my arm,

there stood a wasp,

stinging me.

The admiration and love that had been mine

as I squatted gazing at lungwort

turned into

mad mother running and screaming

across the porch and into the kitchen.

Children,

in amazement,

curiosity,

followed,

asking,

"What?!

What?!"

"Ouch!!

Ouch!!

It hurts!!

Wasp sting!!"

I answered as I pulled the baking soda off the shelf,

slung some in a dish, 

added water, 

and slapped some on my now reddened under arm.

Children proceeded with laughter;

laughing,

at me in my pain.

Do I hear a violin playing for me

SOMEWHERE?

Please?

3. Papa Goose

 They have decided to nest here this year.

My Farmer saw the Mrs. sitting on her nest out in the pasture.

The Mr. has decided to hang out by our sandbox while waiting.

I hope he's not offeneded when I pick up some sand box sand this afternoon.

 "I'm just preparing you for a life with children,

Papa Goose."

4. Feminine Kiwi Possibility.

 I finally found a female kiwi plant at the nursery a couple weeks ago.

I just planted her today.

I have tried 3 times to get a female,

and they've all proven to be male.

This is an Anna Arctic Kiwi:

supposed to be female.

If she is not,

I hereby pledge I will give up my attempt at having kiwi berries.

It will take about 5 years for me to find out.

Yes, lovely waiting all that time to find out you've got yourself another male.

I've got problems with knowing when to call it quits.

 5. A Pretty Prison.

 This child has proven herself a handful this spring.

She won't stay in one place.

Levi would sit in a wagon all day long

and never moved a muscle.

Not so with this girl.

I have grown quite a few gray hairs keeping up with this one.

This has become her temporary holding area.

Temporary because I have decided to make a purchase.

I have decided to buy one of those

outside fenced play areas for her.

I am going to go buy it

today

so that I can keep an eye on her at all times.

Yes, I'm one of those moms.

It's called,

"Any expense to keep my sanity."

"Yes, child, I am talking about you."

 Her older sister has been so helpful as the pen guard.

She seems quite happy with these arrangements for now:

 she's singing to her doll in this picture.

It's unfortunate that one of the only tunes she know is

the theme to 

"Daniel Boone."

But who could frown upon a pen enclosed by flowers?

Which reminds me,

I better get back to work.