There's No Place Like Home

Maurice likes to help me with the distribution of the crows' mealworms most days. She follows me from stump to stump to supervise. The crows don't seem to be the least bit worried about her presence. 
They've been acting a bit weird recently. As I said, only four of the five have been showing up while there has been at least one, if not more, who stays in the trees and yells something in Crow language that I certainly don't understand. 
This morning, however, the fifth crow returned to eat with the others and I could hear another one in the tree above them. Now my story-telling brain is thinking that perhaps yes, the fifth crow did indeed find a mate and has been trying to teach and encourage that bird to join the others for the daily mealworms. If a sixth crow shows up, that may show the truth of my theory. 
Or not. I am fond of a good theory and I have a million of them. 
When Glen fed them on Wednesday because I was at pottery, he found another red berry-like object in the very center of a stump, just as I had found a few weeks ago. We have determined that it is indeed a seed from a magnolia cone, but one that has been aged a bit and has lost its shine and hard shell. Perhaps these more mature seeds are the ones that are good to eat and so they are gifting us with something special. 
Who knows? 
Certainly not me but I do feel fairly certain that both seeds were left purposefully. Now, as to what that purpose is- I have no idea. 

Here's another thing I have no clue about as to why, but I found myself with another fairly long list of things we needed at Publix and Costco today. How this could possibly be true is a complete mystery. I think it's probably NOT true, it's just that I have a bit of a disorder when it comes to making sure I have all the things I need to make all the meals which is so funny because at this moment, I am completely out of ideas for meals. 
Or so it seems. 
Disorder or not, I did go to town where I met Glen for lunch. He was already there, having had errands to run. We met at the Cuban place. I have become a regular there. Today's server was the darling, smallest woman with the inordinately long and black eyelashes. I'm pretty sure they are not original equipment but are after-market accessories. Whatever. They are lovely and she has great skill in applying them. 
Lunch was fine but getting to the restaurant almost did me in. The traffic in Tallahassee is becoming untenable. For me, at least. 
Here I am, about to sound like a very old woman which is fine, because I am a pretty old woman, at least, but I can remember when that part of Tallahassee was nothing but a two-lane road through woods and pastures and now there are six lanes in some parts of it with businesses and office buildings lining both sides of the that road. Even getting into the little strip mall where the restaurant is can use up every bit of patience I have. Add to that the small-ish parking spaces and the absolutely obscene and insane size of the trucks so many of the urban cowboys around here drive and finding a parking place and then actually getting your car into it is far more stressful than it should be. 
I know this is nothing at all compared to the situation in Atlanta or LA or even Tampa or Orlando or Jacksonville but my god, this is Tallahassee. 
Whine, whine, whine, bitch, bitch, bitch. 
Quit going to town so often, Mary! 
Okay, OKAY.

But I did at least get to see Lily as I shopped at her Publix which is always a sweetness. She looked FABULOUS today. Even more fabulous than usual. She got her hair cut yesterday and then colored the front of it a sort of purplish-blue. I really love watching Lily interact with her customers. I know I've said this so many times but she's just such a very kind and respectful human being and I can tell that so many of the people she serves really appreciate her. 
The Publix shopping wasn't so bad but Costco was absolutely packed. Costco is always absolutely packed. Or at least it is every time I go. I did not see Brenda. 
Sigh.
In fact, I really didn't see but a few of the regular employees I generally see. So that was a disappointment. But hey- you know. I was there for Cheerios and cucumbers and coffee and raisins, not socialization. 
Theoretically. 
I honestly considered buying a Shark vacuum cleaner so you know I wasn't in my right mind. Suddenly, though, it seemed like a good idea. They were on sale. I have no functioning vacuum cleaner. This is because I hate vacuuming. I will sweep and dust mop but please don't make me vacuum. Of course vacuums have come a long way from the days when I hauled around my grandmother's Electrolux canister vacuum cleaner which the kids used to call The Dead Pig. 
So maybe I would LOVE to vacuum now! 
I doubt it. 

And that's about it. Mr. Moon just came in from mowing and is taking a shower before he makes us martinis. 
Tonight is extra-special because not only are the sheets clean, they are NEW! And these are really lovely sheets, bought from Garnet Hill, not Costco (although there's nothing wrong with Costco sheets) because Glen encouraged me to buy some just like a set of other Garnet Hill sheets that we've had for a very long time which are still quite luxurious. 
I am excited. I tried to do a particularly good job making the bed up with them.

The color of the new sheets is supposed to be some sort of green and although I'm not excited about it, the color doesn't offend me. Besides, it's dark when we're in bed so it really doesn't matter. 

So that's it. Here we are, all the way to another Friday. Still hot. Still dry. The forecast says once again that it will rain tomorrow which is what it always says. Promises, promises. 
As always, we'll see. Whatever the weather I hope to be right here, watching the crows, being awed and amazed at the rapid growth of the arugula, watering my porch plants, and happy. Or at least content. 

I feel incredibly fortunate tonight which is a fine way to feel. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon