A Day of Many Birthdays (2nd Pfizer Shot Update)

It's so strange to me how many people in my family have a birthday today. My daddy's heavenly birthday, my birth mama's, my cousin Ceara, My uncle Donald's and another distant cousin on my great grandpa's side. That's a lot! I think I'm missing someone, but I can't be too sure. 

I can't believe how little I've blogged lately. I've wanted to, but every day that I'm not at work, I'm busy. The heat has been unbearable lately, so the only time it's safe to go outside is at sunset, so I can't really take any pics. I did manage to get some pictures yesterday, but they were all taken before 3PM if you can believe it. 

Oh, I almost forgot. LaVaughn and I got our second Pfizer shot Monday evening as well. I wasn't half as nervous this time, thank God. Don't get me wrong, I was still very nervous, but since the first shot went okay, I was hoping and praying this would be the same. LaVaughn and I both were incredibly tired Monday night and last night, like so much so that I couldn't keep my eyes open an hour before I normally go to bed, which is incredibly unusual for me. I wasn't as sleepy last night, but I was still very fatigued.

I feel better today, but there's still a little something there. Did I mention in my last Pfizer shot post that I got 'Covid Arm'? Well I did, lol. It's more common with the Moderna vaccine, but there's a chance with the Pfizer too, it's just extremely rare... go figure. It was a pretty decent sized knot and an almost perfectly round red circle that itched terribly. It only lasted a few days, but it was annoying af. So far so good with this one. It was really, really sore yesterday, but seems to be subsiding today. 

Hopefully that's all that will happen with this second dose, fingers crossed. With the Delta variant going around it makes me even more happy to have my shot. I'm so terrified of catching Covid and giving it to my aunt or brother. I'm just hoping and praying that this vaccine protects me and those around me from it and its variants.

I guess that's all for now. I do a have a few pics to share from yesterday, but it's nothing special.

Some of the many, many cucumbers.

Baby bell peppers.

Tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers and zucchini.

Home grown potatoes.

Small onion bulbs.

Two of my precious pepper plants that are taking forever to get strong - almost there!

And lastly, tomatoes ripening in the window.

Garden Update (4th of July Edition)

Happy 4th of July everyone!

It feels like it's been ages since I've talked about the garden. A lot of that has to do with me not taking any photos of the garden, which is my own doing because it's usually too hot in the evenings to even worry about. There's lots going on, lots of blooming and some new sprouts. Forgive me if I've talked about this in a previous post, but I did recently plant 20+ yellow watermelon seeds. Well, not recently cause I don't remember exactly when I did and if I'm being honest I'm posting this blog super late and just backdating.

Anyways, we have LOADS of tomatoes growing, but only some of the orange cherry tomatoes actually ripening up. We also have lots of different pepper varieties that are ripe for the picking and even eggplants! Yes, those tiny little plants that I rescued from Rozier's are finally getting eggplants on them, which is super exciting. Not sure how I'm gonna cook them or if I even like them anymore, but I'm excited none the less.

Our okra plants are also getting HUGE! Like I wasn't expecting them to be this tall and have such a thick stalk, but they really do look awesome. I'm not sure when they'll start getting okra, but it should be any day now.

I took all these pics Friday and then went for a walk later that evening and took several photos after I was done. It was really hot and I was kind of rushing, but I didn't manage to get a few decent photos I think. It's been so long since I've just walked around the yard and taken photos. I can't wait until the weather cools off some and I'm able to do that daily. 

Aside from gardening and photo taking, we've also started canning. We've already got several zucchini and cucumbers, so canning is a must. We plants a literal wall of cucumber and an almost equal amount of zucchini. Canned zucchini are the absolute best, at least to me, lol.

Well, it is the 4th and there's lots of BBQ to be made, so I'm going to stop for now. I hope everyone has a happy and save holiday!

Some canning aesthetic for your enjoyment. 

The pepper plant that I've been babying for months now, lol.

Two of the eggplants!! I'm SO proud of them, lol.

Kinda awkward angle, but at least you can see them.

Eggplant blossoms are beautiful - there's also a tiny bug if you want to view it large.

The beautifully blossomed cabbage.

Corn stalks.

One of the giant okra leaves.

Delicious banana peppers.

These are giant marconi. They're supposed to eventually turn red.

Orange cherry tomatoes - delish!

Several green tomatoes.

More tomato sprouts.

And tiny tomato hairs.

Some beautiful Queen Anne's Lace overlooking the lake.

I know Queen Anne's Lace is a weed, but they're a stunning weed.

Yes, this is two beetles mating.

I really wish they weren't mating because they're so beautiful, but I couldn't waste the photo-op.

I get real close to these Chrysochus Auratus beetles, aka Dogbane beetles.

Last closeup of the iridescent bettles.

An old wooden gate up the road from us.

Of course, I found a spider.

Sickening spiders.

I'm not sure if this is an ant or not, but I love this macro picture of this bug in a flower.

More Queen Anne's Lace.

More Dogbane beetles mating.

I swear it's only cause they're beautiful, lol.

Purple weeds.

And lastly, our nations flag. Happy Birthday, America!

Random Walkabout Photos

 I took these photos last week, but had already posted a blog that same day so it seemed like overkill. It was so humid and miserable last week, I'm surprised I got any photos. By the time I made it to the mail box I was completely covered in sweat and felt like I needed to rip the outer layers of my skin off.

I'm so ready for fall...

I saw a meme the other day where someone described an amazing fall day and wished that it was that time already. Then the response (which was part of the meme) was someone bitching about people basically not enjoying the season that we're in now. I'm sorry, but I'm one of those people. I always want it to be fall, even if it's just turned winter or spring - I literally always want the weather to be like it is in the fall. 

Don't get me wrong, I love winter and snow, but I also love spring when the flowers are starting to bloom and everything smells amazing. If you know me personally or know anyone that does, they will attest to the fact that as soon as spring rolls around I start wishing for fall. I know I'm not alone here, lol.

I got wayyyy sidetracked. I'll stop myself now before I got into a manic ranting episode. Hopefully you enjoy these photos that I nearly had a heatstroke getting. 

Orange cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen up! I can't wait!

Beautiful Black Eyed Susan,

There's also a bug in the center.

Black Eyed Susan's have to be some of the prettiest wildflowers.

Pretty purple weed.

Beautiful Bishop's Flower.

Bishop's Flowers are beautiful, but usually tick city.

Bishop's Flowers make for pretty photos.

Especially when you take photos from behind.

Or super tight macro shots of Bishop's flowers.

Found this tiny little green cricket.

Even though I grabbed the weed that he was on and pulled it closer, he never moved.

I'm sure he was terrified.

More of those pretty purple wildflower/weeds.

And lastly, this tiny little black beetle on a weed.