All phlebotomists are not created equal. A good one is a wonderful thing.

In historical Buffista birthday news, three members were born on this day. Katerina Bee, high plains grifter, and Ms. Havisham. Sending wishes that they are well and enjoying their day.

Yikes Atropa, glad it worked out.

Dog escape artists are not good, though at least he knows his way home?

Yesterday I noticed a hawk in a tree across the street, calling to another nearby hawk who wasn't visible. Then I saw a squirrel charge at the hawk and chase it off the branch it had been perched on. I assume a mama squirrel defending a nest with kits, though this is late in the year for them.

Urban wildlife report: the mourning doves who nest above our back door have one baby who, I think is about to fledge (just heard a crow out there squawking so I hope the dove baby is still ok…circle of life). And I have a bunch of black swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley plant!

Baby dove is fine and there are now 9 caterpillars on the parsley!

Mountain wildlife report. Rotten deer ate all the flowers my sister and I put in the cemetery last week. We have multiple pictures of bears around and about, so we are being diligent about not leaving any trash around. Additionally, coyote spotting means the cat isn't allowed outside after dark. Alas, no moose sightings despite our constant surveying of appropriate locations. The bell I put on the cat has saved the lives of the birds, as she hasn't caught any this year, although the mice and chipmunks are not so clever. Scully does love the four months a year she gets to spend playing in the woods.

eta: Skinner is foolish enough to think he can catch birds\squirrels\chipmunks, but he is mistaken.

I have no wildlife to report upon this morning!

Although on Wednesday, while I was getting my manicure, the shop had its doors open because of the recent sunny days, and a beautiful, large (almost 4 inches), purplescent dragonfly swooped in and hovered next to us, knee-high for several seconds, before dramatically exiting.

As with hummingbird sightings, I consider dragonflies to be a sign of good fortune.

My manicurist said she'd never seen a dragonfly in the states before (though they aren't uncommon in SF), but grew up with them everywhere in Vietnam, where they swoop over the rice paddies.

Dragonflies are indeed an indicator of good fortune. And often super pretty.

a sign of good fortune

Anything that reduces the mosquito population is a welcome part of my environment.

On the topic of dragonflies, I'm in the middle of making this: [link]

Love to see dragonflies. And hummingbirds. And coyotes. I did see a coyote ambling along the side of the road a couple of weeks ago. No wildlife sightings for me today, but I haven't even been outside so that's probably a good thing.

Then I saw a squirrel charge at the hawk and chase it off the branch it had been perched on

Wow! I've seen jays and crows and maybe other small birds mobbing hawks but a squirrel is a whole new idea for me

I came here to report my extremely goofy problem. I am wearing a dress with a ruffle along the neckline. It's a hot day so I have a fan pointed directly at me (although it is not super hot yet, but I aim to begin as I mean to go on). The breeze from the fan lifts the ruffle just enough to block my sight of the keyboard I am trying to type on.