REFLECTIONS

I added more soil to top off the garden from last year. I have a plastic net over the top to keep the deer and birds away.  The front, back and side wooden frames make it a cube to keep the rabbits and squirrels away. I put a plastic sheet over the soil to prevent the weeds from growing. But it looks ugly and Lynette said it may encourage mold so I'm removing it as soon as I get a chance.  The garden is so small that weeding it should be easy.

While I was clearing away some weeds I found two or maybe three toads.  I must have wrecked their home.  One was larger so he must be the male. The smaller toad must be his mate.  I'm not sure if I saw a third toad. One went under a concrete square.  The other watched me for a while, then moved away.  I blocked his path making him go in the opposite direction. But I decided to leave him alone to go back to weeding.   They lined up their bodies against the brick wall as if posing.  It must be a defense mechanism.  Last year a toad made its home in one of my flower pots and it stayed all summer.  I messed up their home while weeding so I want to make them another. They sell "toad abodes" but the prices are high: I decided to make my own, something like the flowerpot a toad used last year. Here is an article from the National Wildlife Federation. I'm sure I can make a better looking home than this one.  Lynette seems interested in making a few t

I played around with this photo because it just fascinated me.  It was for an article about schizophrenia. It's a bit scary. Up Close!

Now I want a pretzel but the only thing in the house is Lynette's frozen gluten free pretzels.  Not what I had in mind.  Here are some interesting facts I found. NATIONAL PRETZEL DAY National Pretzel Day is observed annually on April 26.  A bag of nice crunchy, salty pretzels or a big, warm, soft, cinnamon pretzel is the question of the day.  Either one is an excellent choice. There are a few different accounts of the origin of the pretzel.  Most people agree that it does have a Christian background, and they were developed by the monks.  According to  The History of Science and Technology , in 610 AD, “an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers.  He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest,  pretiola  (little rewards).” Another source puts the invention in a monastery in southern France. The looped pretzel may also be related to a Greek Ring bread from the communion bread used in monasteries a th