I do mean friends. I haven't said much recently because I've tried to take a break from some of the political discourse.
I've disengaged in general for a bit.
Some of it is I am exposed to a deluge of 'content' when I engage online in any capacity.
I feel I am at my wit's end with every headline I read. And every MEME shared. It's so crazy I watch Trolls Feed on Trolls and blame a new boogey-man according to their online lore.
I want you all to know this If you ask for help about something I know about I will assist.
My neighborhood has close/near neighbors. But even if you have an acre++ between (I know both). WE all want a place for our stuff and we don't want it messed with.
If your personal drama intrudes, regardless of proximity, I will have a conversation and escalation if needed. If you come at it as true respect rather than entitlement you can launch fireworks. ...
Freedom isn't actually free. Let's try to make it the best we can. live long and prosper as best you can Jacque
Well, hello friend back to you
Posted by Sia on July 20, 2025, 2:22 am, in reply to "Hello Friends." ADMIN
I totally don't know what to make of your full message, but do understand the need to withdraw from too much political noise in this loony toons era. It can be incredibly depressing. I find it often assaults me even while in my comfort zone, causing me to avoid the news and screeching headlines.
I've been planting things to attract pollinators for a while. I've seen more butterflies and hummingbirds. I've also had some random new plants show up in my landscaping that are pollinator/butterfly favorites.
I know life always works to find a way. I'm no different.
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 21, 2025, 2:13 am, in reply to "I think...." ADMIN
It has a six inch wingspan. Atlides has a two inch wingspan, and the shape can look different depending how it holds its wings. Usually the tailed portion of wing is missing, broken off.
Morpho peleides appeared in south Texas for the first time in August 2023. They are not strong fliers, and their wings are easily ripped and torn.
Atlides is the biggest of our "blue" butterflies. Most "blues" the Lycaenidae are tiny. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
It wasn't that big... but not that small, either.
Posted by Skye on July 21, 2025, 2:12 pm, in reply to "That's Morpho peleides" Valued Poster
It's possible it could be a reared and released Morpho
There are no blue butterflies in between size of Atlides and Morpho that could possibly occur in US. In fact there aren't that many anywhere. Not blue.
Atlas moths have appeared in the Pacific Northwest due to that exact practice, and they have naturalized.
I have reared atlas moths.
You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
These are extraordinary times
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 19, 2025, 4:36 pm, in reply to "Hello Friends."
Our democracy and freedom are threatened, and under assault. These are not the typical political discussions, and we need to have them. This is not a time to be silent, or sweep it all under one dirty rug.
Instead of making it political, make it historcial, or a current event.
My league bowling partner is a plumber. He serves an apartment complex managed by a 70 year old Iranian man, now a US citizen. Three weeks ago he was arrested by ICE and immediately deported without due process or notice. Residents were told he will never be seen again. Allegations of being a terrorist. Nobody knows where he is or what happened to him.
We won't fight you. We are fighting for our freedom.
We volley other topics and interests too. If you want to discuss one, launch it. Not long ago I asked SJW if he sang Wagner.
You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
I'm not ignoring it. We all have a hill/trench to defend. I see so many battle fronts in my life day to day and I want to fight every single one if I could. I have friends and family that are political opposites and my nature is to be diplomatic. It's exhausting.
What I have found in my life is being consistent in loving others as they are is more effective in allowing them to love others as they are.
WE ALL do better when we all do better.
And I'm a better person by being able to be in the company of very considerate and thoughtful persons too.
I can recognize a symphony but right now the cacophony is louder in my life. And Tinnitus doesn't help.
The ICE situation you mentioned is something that came through multiple news-feeds that I see. I'm glad to know that others have insight or direct information about things like this. I believe you.
I have so many other things I scour for 'INTEL' It's nice to have non-media info.
live long and prosper as best you can Jacque
I just posted this blog yesterday - it seems pertinent.
I have mom ears. I hear things in passing, some of which stick with me. One lately has been, “but what can I do. I’m just a little guy.”
It’s a hard habit to break, but as magical people (and humans as a whole) we have the opportunity to think past that. The energy you put into the world is not based on whether or not you are a “little” guy. Even a tiny pebble can make ripples in a pond.
I have been thinking a lot about what I can do, which of course is dependent on the situation. As a Kitchen Witch, I can certainly whip up something to ease the stress in my home or support healing. Beyond that, there are simple spells and rituals that can have a big impact. The key is patience.
There’s an old saying, “god grant me patience and give it to me now.” When, where, and how your efforts manifest may not be immediately noticeable. That’s where self-trust comes in. I’ve experienced times when a magical focus didn’t come home to roost for a year or more. The Universe has a sense of timing, and it’s sometimes frustrating.
Today I want to give you ideas about things you can do anytime you have a free moment:
Make calls: to an old friend, to family, to your congressional representatives, to companies (to offer praise or complaints), to potential business partners and clients (for follow-up matters), etc.
Emails: These follow the same principle, but the internet provides a wider range of options. You can contact a group to find out about community activities and efforts, for example. Or, find a charity you can support even with a buck or two. Everything that holds true for calling also applies to emails. Oh, and don’t forget Op-eds.
Letters: Old-fashioned but valuable. When someone gets a handwritten note, somehow, there’s a greater impact. Unfortunately, my handwriting sucks, so I usually type my letters (sometimes with an apology about my physician scribbles).
Community involvement: Every community has groups and events. Look at your city or town’s website and find out what’s happening in your own backyard. Add your one voice to many to create a harmonious choir. If you can’t get out of the house, explore the various online avenues available for group communication.
I would add to this - get to know your neighbors. When I grew up, we talked and shared across the fence. When I moved here, we had two neighbors with whom we would share homegrown or homemade items, as they would. Our children played with theirs. It is sad to see more and more people shuttering, so to speak. Fortunately, our neighborhood is changing again, returning to a more interactive atmosphere. We love it.
Self-development: Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Once again, the wonders of the internet open that possibility to you. Or, practice the arts and hobbies you already have to master them fully. Art is a language that anyone can understand without words. Dance, sing, make music, and merry. Share your gifts. It may be just what the doctor ordered for someone.
Prayer and Positivity: When I think of prayer, it doesn’t have to be directed toward a Deity. It can be a conversation between you and your higher self or you and the universe. As for positivity, try using affirmations and be mindful of how you speak about yourself. Some days it’s hard to find the good, but try. Even if you just like the socks you picked out.
Use Your Words: Don’t always swallow your insights and opinions. Yes, there are some things you shouldn’t bring up at weddings, like politics, for example. However, sometimes we just stop talking out of fear and lack of self-confidence. This is me. I have a full conversation planned in my head and just step away. I’m working on it.
It’s okay to feel yucky, sad, or angry. Your emotions matter. It’s how you handle them that makes all the difference. Work through them, try to understand them, and endeavor to find a way to harness that energy in more effective ways.
Don’t spread yourself too thin: I am one of those “ooh shiny” people who are working on one thing, then see another. There’s a temptation to jump in with both feet, but it’s important to pause and evaluate priorities. The things you value, your goals, can’t be achieved if you have no energy left for them.
Maintain your spiritual practices and path. It gets easy to let them slide. You’re busy, you’re tired, you’re apathetic… all normal. Take a break, but limit it to a reasonable amount of time. If you don’t use those proverbial magic muscles, they lose tone and strength.
Lastly, stop being so hard on yourself. All of us want to leave the world a better place, but it’s not always “bigger is better.” The little, everyday things make an impact, and sometimes change another person’s life for the better.
Smile. Say hello. Compliment strangers on their shirt, tie, shoes…whatever catches your eye. Be polite to everyone, including (if not most importantly) folks like those who bag your food at the store or clean your office.
I hear in my head Horton Hears a Who, “People are people, no matter how small.” No one is truly small.
on July 19, 2025, 2:02 am
