So I ended going to the doctor because of my nasty tick bite, and now I'm on antibiotics for two weeks. First step was to go to the pharmacist, he sold me an antibiotic dose for one day, but since the bite was looking different this time and not in the best way, I consulted the doc. I won't put up a pic, no one needs to see that. The doc was really ugly anyway. Just kidding, he's not that bad. Good thing Daisy found that gosh awful bug on my side Tuesday night, I had not felt it yet and by the time she saw it, the blood-sucking parasite appeared to be 3/4 in me and I looked like someone had stabbed me with a pen. She had a hard time taking it out. We have special tick removal tools, can you imagine that. 30 years ago these arachnids were not even present in our corner of the world. Now kids can't even play outside without having to be checked all the time during fall and spring, and our dogs get them every year too. Die, ticks!

This morning was special. For the longest time, I don't know, at least 20 years, I've been wanting to decently capture in photo what I call our Fabled Red Cardinal. For all I know the one in the pic below might be fourth or fifth generation.

These birds have a distinctive chirp, and I know when they're around. However, they are so sensitive, prudent and attuned to their surroundings, that I had never been able to photograph one except for a few blurry shots where he is flying away. This morning he was out there again chirping, and for the hundreth time I grabbed my camera and quietly slinked outside with my hopes up. But he took off before I could get into position.

But...half an hour later he was back, and this time would be different. He perched in the vine, and I looked at him through the screen door, figuring that he'd vamoose as usual as soon as I would touch the door handle. Camera in hand I stared at the bird and slowly moved the screen door to get a clear shot. Oh my, he's staying! I zoomed in and fired away, taking around fifteen photos as fast as I could. At least half of my images came out to my satisfaction. Both dogs wasted no time and sauntered outside because the door was just enough open, and I thought for sure that this would spoil the experience. But luck would be with me. There are times when I feel animals are conscious enough of what is happening, they choose to let their guard down if feeling not threatened, and willingly accept to pose. Hard to explain, but when I'm looking into their eyes and they look back, it feels like a moment of communion.

This photo is not even one of the best I was able to take. I'll be posting some over time in the nature group. Please bear with me if you are a nature group member, as this bird is a special one for yours truly. The male is all red, and the female, mate for life and never far away, is greenish in color. I saw her this morning but she stayed half-hidden in the hedge a few feet away.

Made some more maple syrup today from the old trees in the back. Possibly the last production this year, sap appears to have stopped leaking in my buckets. Syrup was still piping hot at the moment of taking this pic. It's cooling off now, and thickening a bit.

Last week the subject of making maple syrup came up in status, and it reminded me how I used to make some at home, for several years. It's work, and a lot of patience as it takes tens of gallons of sap to produce a single gallon of pure maple syrup. But I still have all my equipment, so I decided to give it a go again this year. I only put up four buckets but this will be enough to have some fun. The taste of warm, fresh maple syrup straight out of the pot is still an euphoric experience for me, and family members love it too.

Here are some pics from today, of white peonies. They are in absolute full bloom right now , and their scent is divine. Not ashamed to say that I truly love flowers, plants, and trees, and Daisy has me in charge of everything botanical around the home. Don't know if anyone enjoys seeing this on a human sexuality site, but if it helps to make just one person's day a little bit better, then it will have been worth the time.