A couple of days ago, I commented on how we can all do good things for others if we just stop and see what's going on. I've always believed that random acts of kindness and quick responses to the needs of others is important. Has anyone done anything to help others lately ? I'd really like to know.

We've had very erratic weather here in upstate NY. For the most part, we've escaped the worst of the climate crisis here. But after a couple of weeks without rain our gardens, flowers and streams are stressed. Oddly, I worry about the fish. Water is the air they breath, and it's disappearing.

This is a new wildflower to my area, the Hibiscus trionum. It opens once in the morning for an hour or two, never opens again, then forms its seeds. It's commonly known as the "flower of an hour". I'm very fond of it.

I'm pretty much a dim bulb (is that one word or two ?) but I think Bluesky is a pretty well curated and organized place to participate in. I'd like to see it prosper. What can I (we) do to support it ? I feel like I'm getting a free ride here.

I've just made my annual support donation to Wikipedia. I depend on it for a lot of information, especially about the natural world (bugs/birds/plants etc.) I strongly encourage folks to think about supporting Wikipedia. It's like a library in your own home.

Here's my lupins. I gathered some seeds from wild ones I found in Maine and have had them for over thirty years.

Since it's still Terrier Tuesday, I finally have a real picture of my rescue Airedale, Lucy. She's five years old and lived outside most of her life in a horsebarn and only came inside when she had her puppies. Now, she sleeps upstairs with us and is very much an inside girl. She's beautiful.

Josh Simons has reigned his place in the Parliament in order to allow Andy Burnham an opportunity to replace him and seek the position of Prime Minister. This is a big deal. This is a chance to do the right thing. I hope that voters realize the significance of this. Starmer was in over his head.

If anyone out there believes in he power of prayer, think tonight, or right now, of the suffering of the surviving 1500 beagles at Rigland Farms. We don't think of these terrible things until very motivated people call our attention to them. No more "experiments" on live animals !!!

This Israeli soldier sledge-hammering a statue of Jesus shouldn't surprise any but the naivest among us. Israel wants Israel for the Jewish people in the same way that the US wants the US for Christian people. Each is serious about it and support each other. Most of us don't want either of them.

I read this morning the post election remarks of Mark Carney: "We will build a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair; not just for some, most of the time, but for all, all of the time,”. The torch has been passed from the US to Canada. Good government for all.

I'm probably pretty late to the party, but I recently discovered a musical group, The Tiger Lillies, whose music has been occupying my mind for the last week. Martyn Jacques sings a wonderful solo in Alone with the Moon.

All of are aware of the Epstein scandal. But, in case you are not aware of how deeply entrenched he was, and how callous he was in his actions, read this article in todays' NYT. All the "important" people always knew what was going on. I'm glad he hung himself. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/u...

There seems to be a lot of angry venting going on today. I confess that succumbed to my own worst aspects of myself in participating in it. But it only makes the frustrations of this headache less for a few moments. As they say, it is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.

Yesterday, I read an essay about Robert Prevost, known to his fans as Pope Leo XIV. What he does is actually what he preaches. If you don't have a role model and a roadmap out of the mess we're in, read the essay which is in the January 12 issue of the New Yorker.

We're all busy being here, and we need to see what the world is doing, reacting to the evil that is spreading in our country. But we can do something about it, by emulating the direct action of Congressman Joaquin Castro, and by doing all we can to heal those who need it, right here, right now.

This is a still from a play being shown in Europe, It's The Monster's Paradise. This is how we're seen by the world. And there's about a third of our country that feels no shame about it. Our enemies can do no worse to us.

I don't read much modern fiction. I read old books. I just finished a short story by Algernon Blackwood, detailing a man who lost his sense of humor due to the use of the dreaded drug Cannabis indica. This was written at least one hundred years ago. Very well told ghost story.

I live around Kinderhook and my portulacas usually overwinter too if my Airedale doesn't scratch around them too much. I grow a lot of dill too. Some for our use and the rest for the Swallowtails. It will self-seed or you can manually spread the seeds at the end of the season.

Don't mistake my disdain for the ultra-rich for jealousy. I don’t want your yacht, mansion, or your gold-leaf dinner. I want roads that don't crumble, hospitals that heal, schools that teach, & people who can afford to live. I’m just pissed that you’d rather hoard than have a functioning society.

Nobody is worth that kind of money. Nobody. Stuff like that in all sports is why I'm generally disinterested in sports. Sports and gambling, and the combination of the two is just as toxic as fentanyl.

Has anyone beside me seen the report of the firing of a Campbell's exec who admitted that Campbell's soups were made for poor people from substandard ingredients by workers from India who didn't know what they were doing? he would never eat it. Campbell's soups are actually very awful though.

Soup firm Campbell’s dismisses executive over alleged ‘poor people’ comments

Senior figure allegedly referred to customers buying ‘highly processed food’ and denigrated Indian employees

theguardian.com

The nephew must really hate his mother to get her disinvited to dinner like that. They should all see mental health specialists.

One of my favourite books is Every Man Dies Alone ( Jeder Mann Stirbt Allein) by Hans Fallada,the subject matter of which has to do with a couple's resistance to the Nazis during World War II. I recommend it to all who despair today. Our resistance today must continue and grow. Even if we die.

I envy you your sharp eye and draftsmanship. I take a a lot of work and still wind up with something I might charitably deem abstract art. Nice !

Were all caught up in enjoying life. And it's a good thing to experience life . But I'm stuck right now in empathizing with what life has become for so many of us during the last year. There is so much want, disease, and violence, and war that I can hardly think of anything else. I feel very down.

If you have extra food in your pantry or cellar donate now. If you have money, fund those food pantries. Please give if you haven't already. Our neighbours who might not have as much as we do, and their children are suffering NOW. This morning I donated here in Valatie NY. Winter is coming.

For all my Airedale friends, I am sad to tell you that my Jiggs passed away yesterday of a long term illness. While we're all feeling very low in our house, we are glad that her suffering has ceased and that she's where all good dogs go and will wait for us there. We miss her very much.

I've noticed some suspect posts here. As if I were being baited to say something which might be interpreted in a bad way. My advice is to avoid getting wrapped up in your dialogues. If it smells bad, it IS bad. This is just common sense. Be aware of your chats.