country life

The Infamous Japanese Lady Beetle

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After ten years of Japanese Lady Beetles invasions, I should be used to these, kind of cute, little critters; cute in small numbers that is, but not so cute when in the thousands and all at once. It is the one thing that makes me cringe at the thought of Autumn arriving. For a week or two, depending on the weather, and starting by the second or third week in October, waves of thousands of lady bugs look-alike critters fly to take refuge in buildings before the cold season arrives. This year, they arrived later than expected, two weeks ago, due to the on and off weather patterns we had. We had a week and a half of arrivals, starting in the hundreds and increasing in numbers to the thousands in several waves. The critters attempt to take refuge inside homes or wherever they can. Most of them die upon arrival but many survive. During these waves, I cannot go outdoors because they will land on top of me and crawl all over. Imagine hundreds of lady beetles landing on you at once; it is just like a horror movie, seriously. My husband knows this well after attempting to step outside during a heavy wave of Japanese Lady Beetles. After all this time, I decided to write a post about them, now that we know each other better.

The Japanese Lady Bettle looks like a ladybug, except that they make its appearance in numbers in the fall season, and the ladybugs usually appear during spring. Its color varies from light orange to reddish, some are black, or variegated black and orange, and they have black spots all over. Their head is more elongated than the head of a ladybug. They have the mark of an M or a W behind the head. They are a bit larger than the ladybug; however, I see them in all sizes, from tiny to larger ones. They were introduced to the USA for agricultural purposes, as they are beneficial by eating pests that damage crops. Soon, they became invasive, and now, they multiply in large numbers. However, if you don’t mind their arrival and your house is well sealed, it should not be a huge problem, as they do not harm people or pets. I have learned to time their arrival during the day, usually after ten in the morning and ending around six thirty in the evening, so I know when I can do my errands before they arrive, and during the one or two weeks they arrive. After that time, I do not see them outdoors. The JLB is also called Asian Lady Beetle, and its scientific name is Harmonia Axyridis. They seem to like light color buildings, which I know is true because my neighbor’s home is painted a pale green and they hardly land on her house, but mine, a white farmhouse, becomes a landing haven. My theory is that the pale green becomes like grass or trees on their vision field and they bypass it. They seem to dislike dark colors as well.

When these critters arrive, they emit a distinctive light scent; it is pheromones that attract others and guide them to where they are to land and winter. I am susceptible to this scent, and it triggers my asthma, so I have learned to be ready and on top as far as my meds are. These pheromones are left where they land to signal other lady beetles, “Hey, come over; the party is here.” After a couple of years of JLB invasions, I started noticing two intertwined circles all over the home siding. One day, I saw a lady beetle leaving the distinctive mark, which always looks the same. It is the pheromone-scented invitation for other lady beetles to find. Here is a picture of two different markings, one at the window siding and another at the side entrance storm door glass. I took the pictures this morning, and because the temperature dropped to the twenties last night, the glass is foggy, but you can see the two circles.

It took me a while to realize that these were love letters. I find this fact so interesting. By now, I think their arrival is complete, and if there are a few stragglers, they will arrive at the first warm day we have before winter sets. After ten years living in the area, I don’t think I will ever get used to these critters and certainly will never step a foot outside when they are arriving, but I have learned to understand their life cycle and have been amazed on a few occasions by their survival skills. If anything, I have learned to accept their very short presence and nuance because I live in an agricultural area. I hope I inspired you to learn a bit more about these lady bugs look-alikes.

Virginia’s Equestrian Heritage

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Photo by M.A.D.

I love horses, all my life. Horses are majestic and formidable, a beauty that commands admiration and respect. One thing I regret is not learning how to ride in my younger years. Virginia has a rich equestrian heritage. This is due to the English settlers. Although it is more prevalent in the north of Virginia, our area to the south is also fond of these lovely creatures. Middleburg is called the nation’s horse and hunt capital. Known as a charming town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Warrenton is also known as having a growing equestrian community, and so is Charlottesville and Albermarle County where you can find lovely horse estates. Chincoteague Island in VA is known for its feral ponies, ingrained in its rich culture. Lexington is also known for its equestrian facilities. In our area, Chatham Hall, our town’s girls boarding school has extensive equestrian facilities and program. Girls from around the world attend the boarding school. Chatham is home to the Hargrave Military Academy for boys as well, although it does not offer an equestrian program. On a funny note, the movie Crazy People (1990) was filmed in Chatham Hall. The Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex, which has a capacity for 3,000 people offers many events including rodeos and shows for the horse enthusiast. Although our little town might not be the horse capital it definitely shows its love of horses, and they certainly make their presence known in the parades.

Although I will not be learning how to ride anytime soon, I am more than happy to call this charming town Home Sweet Home and display my love of horses throughout my indoor and outdoor home decor.

Victory, Our Community Celebrates

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This Independence Day celebration will certainly be sweeter for the residents of our little town, Chatham, VA, and also our neighbors throughout Pittsylvania County. Our hearts rejoice as one as we realized that as a community, we have defeated a proposed power plant and data center of enormous proportions. I am sharing this article found on SELC (Southern Environmental Law Center) which highlights our fight and victory as a community, and also their valuable research about the great environmental and health damage that such proposal would have caused, not only to our community but to extended areas, as far as North Carolina. You can find the article here .

As AI continues to grow and develop, the need for data centers will increase, and small rural communities will be targeted. It is up to the residents of these communities to weigh the pros and cons of these proposed projects, and the benefits, if any, and make their voices heard, whether they welcome this industry with open arms or not. It is important for leaders of a community to listen to the residents and place these issues on a balance, for a just and satisfactory resolution.

I hope you enjoy reading the SELC’s article referred above.

Nature Treat

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When I moved from the Jersey shore to southern Virginia, I knew that two of the things I would miss most (besides my friends of course) would be being close to the waterfront, and the bird sightings we had. The area I used to lived in was classified as a bird sanctuary, and I enjoyed watching these gorgeous creatures very much. Years ago, I wrote a post that included many pictures of the birds around the area. When I moved here I didn’t know that this area was considered a bird sanctuary as well, and I rejoiced when I saw the marking signs in town. As spring approaches, the little ones are flying in numbers, and I took some pictures which I will share on this post. Here is where I experienced for the first time what is called a mixed flock. It happened during late fall of last year, and I had no idea of what it was. I saw many types of birds flying together, some circling a dead tree covered in honeysuckle vine, and other birds landing on it. They flew in together and they were very loud, and before I had the chance to grab the camera they all left at once (flying together). I researched this and found out that some birds do that to guarantee food and protection from predators during the winter. I thought it was too early, but we had a few early cold days; however, later on we ended up having a mild winter. None the less, it was a magnificent experience that I will cherish forever. This is the picture of the tree minus the birds. I call this tree my monster tree. It is charmingly spooky in a good way. It serves well many critters, and when the honeysuckle blooms I can smell its sweet scent coming through the kitchen window. It is simply delightful.

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Photo by M.A.D.

I see crows all the time, one of my favorite birds. I named this place Mill Creek Little Trees because of the many tiny pine trees surrounding it, however, those pines have grown tall since we bought the place in 2010, and the place seems to have outgrown its name. I thought of a new name, and decided to rename it Black Crow Cottage in honor of the many crows that wander around and my love for these birds. I have many plans for gardens in this place, but that will take some time to put in place, many years that is. A couple weeks ago, hundreds of robins started to arrive, and along with crows and sandpipers ( I will miss them much) they are a favorite as well. This year, for some reason they seem skinnier.

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Photo by M.A.D.

There is a giant old tree near the kitchen entrance, and I was delighted by the sight of these birds because I had never seen them before. Their color detail is beautiful. It looks as if God had taken a small brush and painted a bit of red and yellow on them. They stayed for a while and drank water from a hole in the old tree.

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Photo by M.A.D.

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Photo by M,A,D,

One more pic of these gorgeous creatures.

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Photo by M.A.D.

These birds have been coming around more and more, and they are beautiful as well. They seem to enjoy being on the ground like the robins, and along side them as well.

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Photo by M.A.D.

Enjoying a well deserved lunch.

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Photo by M.A.D.

A few blue birds have been arriving, but they are so fast and aloof that I have not been able to take a picture of them. In the meantime, this little fake blue bird will have to do for now. It would be just wonderful if one day a real blue bird would pose next to him and I was able to take the picture.

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Photo by M.A.D.

Well, this is all I have for now. I hope you enjoy these photos. I am not a photographer and I don’t know the names of most birds, but I enjoy watching and taking pictures of them.

 

 

 

What is a Tamarind? Oh, Sweet Tamarind!

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It had to be more than twenty plus years since I ate a tamarind.  Last weekend I was presented with a sweet surprise.  My sister in law brought me a box of sweet tamarinds.  Now, these are hard to come by, so I knew this was a most precious gift.  If you are not familiar with tamarinds this post will help you appreciate them. 

Tamarinds grow on a tree mostly in tropical climates.  I have memories of eating tamarinds as a kid and climbing on tamarind trees, and just hanging out and eating them atop a tree.  When they are not ripen the shell is hard and kind of greenish, once they are ready to eat the shell turns brownish and is easy to crack, similar to the way you would crack an egg shell.  Most tamarinds that are ready will fall to the floor, as the shell dries.  Here are some pictures,to give you an idea.

Box of Tamarinds
Nutritional value – not much, but they are delicious! Mostly carbs, sugar, and fiber.  They are also high in calories as you can see in the box.
I like the fact that they are harvested in a way that is environmentally friendly and the box is recyclable.
Here is what a tamarind looks like
The shape varies and so does the size.
To eat it, just crack it open with your hands.
This is what you will find inside the shell.  Yeah, I know what you are thinking … but I assure you, it does not taste like that.
Close-up of the shell
Each section of the tamarind will contain a large seed.  To eat it, you separate a section and suck on it until you just have the seed.  The pulp is sweet and you must chew on it as well.  The seeds are very hard.
Here’s the whole thing.  The fibers hold the pieces of tamarind together.
Once you eat the whole tamarind you have an empty frame.  For the sake of this post I had to eat one.  Oh, the sacrifices we make for blogging!
Here’s a close shot of the empty frame.
And there you have it; this is how you it a tamarind.  Hope you enjoy this post, I did. 

Emergency Kit Must Have

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Recently, I gave my husband an emergency radio – a model by the American Red Cross that I think should be in every household.  This radio is well made, has an attractive look, is compact, and works great.  It has three ways for power – battery, solar, and cranking handle.  You can switch between the three power sources.  I like this features because you cannot always count on batteries.  In addition, it has a flashlight and flasher built in, and you can switch to the weather band in several areas.  It has the radio, of course, but what I like about it is that it sounds clear, loud enough. 

The American Red Cross radio also has a clock and alarm.  I am pleased with the radio and Eddie loves it too.  I got it at the local Home Depot but you can probably found it online too.  With all the craziness in the weather these days, you never know when you would need this gadget.  Here are pictures of the radio in case you want one too.

Simple Abundance – Always a Great Read

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More than a decade has gone by since the book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach came out and became a bestseller. I had this book sitting in my library for almost two years and recently I got to read it.  I loved it!  The principles on this book are true now more than ever.  Eddie and I have embarked in a journey to live the simple life and this book, although written with a feminine point of reference, is a source of inspiration, as many of the principles apply to men as well.  

Many families and individuals are simplifying their way of living, for many, this way of thinking has come after the effects of the current economy;for others, it has been brewing for quite some time. In a way, living the simple life is living mindfully, and has nothing to do with economic status.  Rich or Poor, both can live the simple abundance life, as it is more about spiritual connection and appreciation of the everyday blessings.

Living the Simple Life

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Learning to live the simple life is more than pairing down some of your stuff.  Although it starts at that point, it develops into a spiritual quest, and appreciation of what every day brings.  Most people think that living simple is living without; this is not the case.  You might start clearing out things that you don’t need or feel are necessary for your happiness and daily comforts of living, but soon you start realizing all the blessings you have, and all the money you wasted in so much extra stuff that was far from being needed.  That is not to say that you turn into an extreme cheap and frugal person; it is far from that.  You will learn to be frugal, but out of not being wasteful and out of gratitude for the blessings in your life; it is more like a natural state of frugality, and not imposed by the lack of something.  You learn to be frugal because you recognize the abundance in your life.  This is hardly being cheap.  At the same time you will want to give more to others, and this is not being cheap either.
Living the simple life is surrounding your environment with healthy and simple things that have a functionality, as well as a purpose.  You also like and love these few things.  It is returning to simple forms and appreciating the job that these objects do.

For decorating the farmhouse, we will use the necessary furniture that we already have, and we are getting rid of extras.  We will choose simple materials, basic in form and purpose.  Some of these we already have, some we will scout for at a bargain price or recycled.  It will depend on what we need and when – and availability.

We have decided to forgo the central air or air conditioning which we have grown so accustomed to and instead, learn to open the windows, and use ceiling fans in some rooms for when it gets too hot.  We have selected a basic white ceiling fan with one center light.  We also selected a simple design portch light made of aluminum, that will last for many years.  The total cost for these two portch lights and two ceiling fans was $80.00.  Before buying them, I scouted around for these items to see if I could get them for free, but most fans available were too big or required four or more bulbs.  Since these were 19.99 a piece it was worth it to get them brand new plus it served the purpose in form, design, and simplicity.  The lighting could not be more simple and durable too.

Here are some pics.

Simple Aluminum Portch light
Simple one bulb four-blade ceiling fan
My advice here is that you try to find what you need – free first or recycled – and give it a second life, but if you cannot find it, then go with something simple at a reasonable price.  There is no sense in getting something for free if it does not serve the purpose.  I could have gotten many ceiling fans for free but they were either too big or had too many light bulbs, a waste in my opinion.  If you can wait for it to materialize in the future that is fine too, we are doing things in stages, so we decided to fit them in now.
Living simple is about saving money, but also about less excess, and the right form and function for the purpose.  And of course, loving it too.

   

Flipping the Switch

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Starting to live a simple life has not been easy.  Mostly, because it has been a slow process and one that has been the result of some good and not so good events.  It has been ticking, and finally the pieces are starting to fall in place, slowly, one by one.  It is a process of shedding, not only the material, but of the feelings attached to those material things.  It’s been a time to shed emotions, and of retrospection; a time of discovery, and of realization.  It has also been a time to do just the opposite of what had been expected and go against the current, of letting go.  That has been the spiritual side of it, although the material part has had its own challenges.  

Once you see the material for what it is, it becomes less important, little by little, step by step.  What used to be hard to get rid of, one day becomes easy, the feelings attached are still there, but you realize that the feelings will always be there, and they don’t need the physicality of an object to be brought to memory.  Most of it is crap, from shoppaholic days, or the result of some old empty void being filled at the time.  Once acknowledged, it is free to let go, and so is all the stuff that goes with it.

There are catalysts in our lives that act as switches, to turn us on to achieve our next level as evolving human and spiritual beings.  These catalysts can take the form of persons (even the ones that may hurt you), events, and things.  So however we have arrived to the start of living a simple life – I thank the persons (good and bad), the events, and the things, which have made it possible.  

Once the switch has been flipped, the rest of our life – the simple life – follows.

Flip the Switch