The Kiss

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  “Ryabovitch pulled the bed-clothes over his head, curled himself up in bed, and tried to gather together the floating images in his mind and to combine them into one whole. But nothing came of it. He soon fell asleep, and his last thought was that someone had caressed him and made him happy—that something extraordinary, foolish, but joyful and delightful, had come into his life. The thought did not leave him even in his sleep. When he woke up the sensations of oil on his neck and the chill of peppermint about his lips had gone, but joy flooded his heart just as the day before.” The Kiss By Anton Chekhov (1860–1904)

Backyard Battle Birds

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Don't let these little guys fool ya. They are either very playful or very territorial. 

So far we've been able to identify three distinct hummingbirds. Two are male (one Ruby Throat Hummingbird and one White Throat) and one female--can't tell which variety. There may be four: one juvenile. One is always guarding the feeder, chasing off another while a third swoops in for a drink. Fun to watch, especially when they buzz your head and chirp as they whiz by. They remind of tiny T.I.E Fighters from Star Wars. Playtime increases when it rains. These little guys (and gals) love the rain!
Here's one standing guard, making certain nobody's partaking of the precious nectar.


Here's some of the T.I.E. Fighter action: 

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