And I would like to thank Melissa Etheridge for recording "Come to My Window". I had my earbuds in, it was blaring in my ears, and that's how I focused on taking each step. Now I finally understand how true every word of the first verse is.

Surviving a traumatic experience as a couple, you'd think you've always got someone to talk to because they KNOW. The reality for me is that I won't run the risk of hitting a trigger for him. I just won't. But he knows anyway.

I was in great pain in the wrong part of my body. I screamed at him for being there. How could I hide it if he was right there? And I apologized for even being in pain. And he held me. He helped me stand and didn't flinch when I twisted his hand. He just gave me love.

I laid out in my yard today and listened to Jimmy Buffett. The breeze was warm, my eyes were closed, and every now and then my mind could forget how far inland I am and almost smell the ocean.

Figuring out how to knit a heart went a lot easier than I thought it would! I just modified a hexagon. #CoSoKnitting

A family friend's small child is having terrible nightmares. I'm knitting a special stuffed animal for them. I remember how my dad used to smile and reassure me about my "wild night horses". (It was years later that I got the joke.) I love making personalized comfort items for children. I want them to feel safe and loved.

Our little friends in the nest near the front door. One of them was getting flying lessons today! They flew back and forth with Mom and Dad, a little slower and staying lower while the parents delivered insects to the ones in the nest. We've seen four young birds sticking their open beaks out to get beetles and grasshoppers delivered.

A couple of sparrows let me watch them feed their young today. I thanked them for trusting me. It was a beautiful experience. I'm a big, loud human. They are fast with sharp, tiny talons and beaks. We have reasons to be scared of each other. But the only thing that mattered was that the little birds were fed.

I'm soliciting opinions on my quest to become some kind of forest cryptid.

If you're walking in the woods and cannot figure out where that disturbing banjo music is coming from, which song makes it more disturbing?

I 🪕 HAVE 🪕 A 🪕 BANJO 🪕! 🎶

And a low fever, which made learning how to put on a floating bridge interesting, but...

🪕BANJO🪕

My banjo will be here tomorrow! The autistic joy has already started, so it's like I'm vibrating with autistic pre-autistic-joy joy!

I grew up on the Gulf Coast. I know hurricanes. Please remember there's a reason they are categorized by the wind, and the eye isn't as big as you think. The wind comes back after the eye passes over.

My banjo uke is going to be here Monday! I have a little less than a week to decide what the first song I will play on it will be!
I make whole rituals out of bonding with new instruments.

I have a Progress Pride flag flying on the pole outside of our house. Some of the people in town... let's just say they don't like it.

Neighbor across the street was talking with me about it today and making sure I'm not going to give in and take it down. He said, "I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your stuff, but if people have a problem with it I'd say get a bigger one."

We have at least one good neighbor. 💜

Good news! I'm getting a banjo uke! In my early teen years, I decided I someday want to be a source of banjo music in the woods. I finally get to do it! I bet I can also sit out front and play while glaring at people when they drive by.

Something I do love about the area where we live is the variety of birds. The pair of wrens who live next to the front porch have been blessing me with beautiful ariel ballets in the evenings! The hummingbird who feeds on my lantana is a delightful visitor. A cardinal and blue jay fly through now and then. A tufted titmouse checks in a couple of times a day.

Cat keeps going back and forth between us, kneading at our flesh...makin' biscuits. No amount of "Stop! Here, I'll pet you!" will stop her.

Me: Dw i ddim eisiau bisgedi!

Cat looks shocked/offended and walks away.

Husband: What did you tell her???

Me: "I don't want biscuits."