Nikki's Photography

This yellow pepper started rotting in just the right place so I cut eyes and made a Halloween Pepper.

3-toed Sloth at the Dallas World Aquarium

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When the few remaining grapes in the bowl are staring at you, it’s time to throw them out.

Here is our sweet Truly, sadly no longer with us, as she was a few years into her rehabilitation after being bitten through the pituitary gland by a large dog when she was only 5 weeks old. She was never quite a normal dog, always looked like a perpetual puppy, and she was quirky but she was Truly Sweet for nine years longer than others might have allowed her to live. In this 1999 photo she and George Xarchos, who is now about 13 years old, are checking each other out with the same curious postures.

Propane tank made in the USA.
Anole made in the USA. Valve may be imported.

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We were away for two weeks and forgot to turn the sprinkler system on before leaving, so I thought the Green Anoles might have moved to greener pastures. Fortunately they are still thriving; here one is staying cool and safe inside a large Canna Lily leaf, a leaf that I nearly cut off while clearing out dead and dying plants.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly…The Good: A beautiful orange flowering plant called a Sun Star. All the little unexpected surprises, like this toad that I never would have seen if it had not popped out of the hole at the exact moment I happened to be looking there. The clay container with a hole in the center is designed to coil and contain garden hose, but being used as a plant pot. The Bad: having no choice about mowing the lawn on a 98*F day, and keeping edges formally trimmed because the neighbors have it that way. Also Bad: Fire ants that bite before you know you’re standing on a nest with bare feet……but Good: Fire ants keep the tough Texas soil aerated. The Ugly: me with ant-bite blisters, taking photos, mowing and edging the lawn on a 98*F day.

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A Photo Smoothie

The Black Sheep Grape

Sombra, my visiting sister-in-law’s dog, found a nest of 5 baby rabbits in our back yard. I never would have found them otherwise, even though the nest was buried in a busy spot in the garden. The nest of fur and straw was a perfect bowl shape, covered by perennials. The little bunnies squealed and shrieked so loudly, it was hard to believe that sound came from such tiny 4 inch-long creatures. I didn’t want to handle them much because I was afraid the mother might not return to care for them if they were human-scented, but they had to be protected from Sombra, who would not leave them alone. I put them in a box, then when Suzanne and I left with Sombra to drive to Alberta, Alain put them back in the nest, covered them up again, and put celery, lettuce and carrots out every evening to entice the mama bunny back. At least one did survive because I saw it later that year in the back yard, along with the older bunnies who venture in year-round.

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