Not Quite Fledglings

Yesterday, I watched cardinals eating these American Beautyberries.  The cardinals were also introducing them to their fledglings.  This brings me to the topic of peanut butter toast.

This little fledgling has been showing interest in my toast.  He is actually totally amused and amazed that I take objects, put them in my mouth, and swallow them.  I explain that he is far too young for toast and when he seems frustrated with that I take him for a walk around the field.  The cool mornings have made walks much easier; no longer do we have sweaty babies stuck to our sweaty chests.

Every morning our field is blanketed in countless dew-covered webs.  I tell the boys that if they want to get their PhD's in one of the life sciences then they need to start thinking about a specific area of study and a thesis.  I've discussed with them the possibility of being twin arachnologists and that I'm convinced that there are undiscovered species of spiders in our backyard.

Tummy time...

We took an early morning trip to Alligator Lake.  Giles and Moss decided it was a perfect time to nap which gave us a much needed return to one of our old routines (taking a walk...oh, the freedom).  They woke occasionally and seemed to enjoy the outing.  We are getting better at this, but on the calendar for next week is the start of our vacation which has been given the title 'fool's errand'.  We shall see... 

Resurrection Fern

Our Live Oaks support a thriving community of Pleopeltis polypodiodies (Resurrection fern) which is an epiphyte.  They are able to lose 95% of their free water during times of drought and are then able to rehydrated during a rainstorm (and resurrect).  Typical plants die after losing only 10% of their free water.  Part of their magic apparently involves proteins called dehydrins that allow the cell walls to fold in a reversible way.  It has been estimated that they could live up to 100 years without water and still rehydrate to their seemingly youthful state.  

Early September

Cymande and Giles on an early morning walk.  Please note Cymande deftly managing a baby, a stroller and a cup of coffee.  

Mister Moss being plain silly.

One of many boletes that have been popping up lately under the live oaks.

Signs of impending nervous breakdown:  8pm on a Friday decide to pull down your entire home library and arrange it properly by author and category.  Oh, Dewey Decimal System...   

And twenty four hours later it seems there was never a sweaty-toothed father of twins trying to establish a shred of order in a world trying to rapidly unravel itself.  My psychology is too transparent.

Anthony with Moss and Cymande with Giles.

Portrayal of Calm and Peace (a fictional entry)

We decided to take Moss and Giles for an early morning stroll at O'Leno State Park.  It was incredibly hot and Cymande and I in our de-conditioned state barely survived the two hour walk.  The boys slept through the entire ordeal.  Sleep.  Must be nice.

Before my brain was replaced by the circuit board from a vending machine I would have looked up the species and given everyone a glorious tale about this mushroom's lifecycle.  Instead:  Orange Things on an Old Stinky Log.  

Rapids.

Duckweeds languorously rotate as the Santa Fe disappears under the earth.  

Storm clouds approached and I thought 'My body can't take much more. Great Gods of the Sky have mercy on me and my family.  We are weak and tired and really not too far from home, but it is still a hike to the car and all I have is about 500 calories worth of energy bars to get me through the next 20 minutes."  

North Florida is lousy with sinkholes.

Again, this photo's caption would typically be full of useful and entertaining information about this insect's abilities to build this cocoon.  Instead we have: a bug vomited all over itself, rolled in Cocoa Pebbles and emerged as a big pretty butterfly!  How awesome is Nature?

Kira rubs Giles' head for good luck. 

Lucas soothes Moss as he tries to determine if his hand is better than a binky.  Currently, it is not.

Helena, Erin and James came for a visit and we all got trapped in the barn by a big thunderstorm.  Notice Buckley with his tail between his legs.  

Good Boy.

Late July

Moss and Giles spend a couple hours a day playing on their play mat that has a variety of animals represented abstractly, sort of like little soft totem poles, except that one of them plays high pitched electronic' Mary Had a Little Lamb'.  Sometimes, I worry about exposing them to this version of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', but then I shake the roundish pig with his inner clunky bell and that cheers me up.

    

Sadly, Nana has left Old Wire Road and is back in Ajo.  She was in charge of soothing Moss for most of July.  He can be one tough character, but she figured him out.

Tutita, Mark and Sasha stopped by to meet the babies.  They came bearing vegetables and gifts.  For Mark and Sasha, I estimate that Tutita was born in November 1997 (near the airport on Culebra, Puerto Rico).  Thanks to Amy and Tu for her rescue and early care.  

  

Mark, Moss and Sasha.

Sasha and Mark enjoy the balmy environs of the studio in late July.

For the past week Moss and Giles have been babbling reciprocally to each other.  We're just hoping that it doesn't lead to reciprocal crying.  

In late Summer the spider population not only multiplies exponentially, the individuals get very large.  This is a smaller species (tropical orb weaver? I'm not sure) that has caught a broad winged katydid. 

Giles unhappy, but not to fear, happiness soon followed.

Mid-Summer brings out the Eastern Hercules Beetles and their corresponding foul odor.  They have a powerful and unique odor that reminds me of carrion and an electrical fire. Lovely.

    

Moss and Grandpop.

Sleepless with Fenn and Chantal

Everyone takes a morning lap around the field.  Chantal and Fenn visited from SanFran and we attempted to keep everyone happy, well-fed, entertained, stimulated, but not overstimulated, at the right temperature with dry diapers.  This equilibrium was sometimes successful and at other times less so.  Fenn seemed to enjoy the entire experience though.  

Giles considers his ability to move his left hand.  It works, and my what a cute hand it is.

Our pool.  Yes, we broke down and erected the backyard insta-pool.  The look on my face while selecting this pool from the variety on display at 'the walmart' was apparently worth the price of said pool.  Between diaper changes, I spend my days skimming it.

Fenn and Chantal.  It appears that I applied some sort of photoshop filter to this shot.   That is actual lens fog.  77 degrees indoors, 98 degrees outside.

Moss taking a bath in the kitchen sink.

 Chantal and Giles.  Giles is wearing his 'safety pants' that Chantal generously lent us.  Nothing says love like sharing diapers.

Giles, Moss, Chantal, Fenn, Nana, Cymande and I went out on a date to The Top in Gainesville.  It sounded ambitious and it was.  Everything went well though.  Fenn played submarine with his ice water. 

One afternoon we decided Fenn should get out and enjoy the local flavor.  We went to the Ichetucknee head spring to people watch.  There was plenty to see, but Fenn seemed as content playing in the tailgate of the rental car.  Fenn confided in me that he too is naturally opposed to the Ichetucknee during the Summer, preferring the serenity of a Winter kayak trip.  Damn that kid is smart. 

Moss and Giles comforted by their Grandmothers.

The First Three Weeks

Lula and Buckley have accepted their new friends.  If a baby cries they often are the first to arrive.  Here, Moss sleeps under their supervision.

A morning stroll with Giles and Lula.  Some days the twins wake early and demand their needs be met.  Food, diaper change, and sometimes only a long bumpy ride in the field will keep them content.

Giles.

We are periodically visited by gopher tortoises that wander from the field. 

Faye and Anthony meet their new grandchildren.

Sleep time on the couch.

It's often stated that anyone that heard the Velvet Underground went on to start a band.  Here, Moss and Giles, after hearing my VU cover tune consider never picking up an instrument.  Actually, they seem to enjoy the guitar.

Connie, Lee and Giles hang out by their 1967 Scotty.  My mother has been the designated baby holder for a week straight.  

Papa, Moss and Giles.