September 21, 2024

Driving miles saved today: 11.5 Total thrivin' miles saved in 859 days: 6407.2

We headed out the door to HEB around 9 am. As I wheeled Trek toward the stairs, I noticed a lime green insect hanging on the wall. I discovered upon research that is was a long-legged katydid.

Katydid

As we rode out, Jim saw Bruce (aka a squirrel) carrying something furry in its mouth; we wondered if it was a baby Bruce. We think it was, as Central Texas squirrels have 2 litters a year. We looked at pictures of a squirrel carrying a baby, and Jim confirmed that’s what he saw.

I drew this on a corner of a sketch book page that has many other drawings on it. The vertical line above the tail is a different drawing. Note: the squirrel above has a very short tail. Artist’s privilege to distort reality.

We rode to HEB around 9 am via the Westcreek Greenway, Yellow Rose Trail, and the Violet Crown Trail North under a mix a clouds and sun, temps in the high 80s and a light breeze. HEB’s pumpkins were on full display.

We returned home around 10:30 and I rode to amoeba around 11; Jim followed 30 minutes later. We had the pool to ourselves for the most part and had good swims. While Jim swam, I picked up acorns and oak gall on the bottom of the pool. The water was a perfect 82.+ degrees.

Acorns and oak gall from the pool's bottom, Jim's kitchen thermometer reads the pool water's temp

P.S. When acorns fell into the pool from overhead oaks, the sound was reminiscent of fresh water fish rising to a lake’s surface to snag a bug or other snack. Plunk! Plop!

Acorn fish falling from an oak tree into the pool

I rode to the library at 1:03 pm via the Westcreek Greenway to return DVDs and pick up three books, one of which was Substacker Anne Byrns new cookbook, Baking in the American South. I’m looking forward to reading it for new ideas of deliciousness.

From the library, I rode to Whole Foods Market to look for a red pepper for Saturday night pizza, as we forgot to buy one at HEB this morning. Say what? A single red pepper cost an arm and a leg. Instead, I bought a reasonable facsimile on clearance.

Red peppers cost an arm and a leg, the perfect red pepper substitute: oat milk chocolate minis. We will not put the oat milk ice cream on the pizza, btw.