Dodo Au Go-Go

Some recent 30+ degree Celsius days meant we got out the paddle pool out for LittleOne. This also meant me checking the water every few minutes all day in case bugs needed rescuing. (As I get older, I'm becoming more and more fascinated with the natural world and by extension, more and more obsessed with trying to help lil bugs if and when I can.) There were lots of rescues from the paddle pool - flying ants, orange bugs, flies, mozzies and ladybirds.  I spotted two ladybirds in quick succession. One was frantically paddling, and the other still, and to all intents and purposes, drowned. I fished them both out, popped them onto a recovery paper towel, and left Mulberry leaves for shade. I was going to pop the drowned one in a garden bed but just left it on the paper towel instead. And to my astonishment, 2-3 hours later, it woke up! It clung tight to the blue beaker in the pic. I checked on both ladybirds regularly and gave them Mulberries and Mulberry leaves. Mainly be...

I like noticing and appreciating the small, beautiful details in the world around me. Mundane, everyday, amazing things. So if I'm doing something ordinary like sitting in the garden with a cuppa, daydreaming, and ruminating on all the family, life, work, and creativity things, I will be simultaneously drifting in and out of the moment, and noticing the ways grass blades sit side by side, or ants grooving by, or the different shades of green a single tree can hold, or the different ways in which bees collect their nectar. I don't think this is a unique thing in any way.  I imagine most introspective types would do this. But. If I settle into watching a bug for long enough, I'll also tend to start anthropomorphising said bug. I do this a lot. I'm not sure if this is as common! I used to think this was a relatively recent development for me - dating back to becoming a fur-parent to Bodie and Indi. But then Hubs kindly reminded me of a jokey song he wrote about me well bef...