Thursday Doors…insect doors

Here comes Thursday again and that means it’s time for Thursday Doors. Hurrah! A few days ago I met Donna from Wind Kisses at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. I did a very brave thing–I didn’t take my camera along, only my phone, and vowed not to stop constantly to take photos, just enjoy the time with a friend. It went better than I expected although I admit to taking a few shots with my phone. But we not only saw the beauty of the desert but had an tasty lunch and lots of good friend time.

The three insect houses have sections that look like doors although every opening actually is a door when it’s in an insect house. I had to include this quote because it made me laugh and can be so true:

“Insect life was so loud that when you parked the car and got out it sounded as if you had suddenly tuned into a radio frequency from another planet.”
― David Samuels

“We don’t give a damn to the insects on our Earth, but if we could find even a single insect on Mars, the whole world would cherish it like crazy!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“If it were illegal to kill insects, I’d be in the clink for three million years.”
― Foster Kinn, Freedom’s Rush II: More Tales from the Biker and the Beast

“Every being devotes and dedicates itself to some innate purpose. Single cells, microbes, plants, insects, animals—every being makes its own unique contribution.”
― Julie J. Morley, Future Sacred: The Connected Creativity of Nature

Thursday doors…open doors

“You should expect visitors when you leave the door open.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

If you don’t have hands, traditional doors are difficult to open, so you must leave your door open all the times as in this rustic birdhouse in the Preserve, which is just waiting for visitors.

“Unusual doors often take you to the unusual worlds!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

I first saw insect houses in France but you can find them in the U.S. as well. This one in Tohono Chul made me wonder once again what sort of insects live here and would I want them around my house. I imagine birds might love insect houses but not for the same reason as the insects!

“Doors to beautiful things do not remain open forever. Be fast to enter inside!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Monday Lisa from Micro of the Macro drove down from Flagstaff to visit the Riparian Preserve with me and just generally hang out, a return trip for the one I took to Flag months ago. We’d only met once and I was afraid I wouldn’t recognize her or she me so I made sure to text her where I was sitting at the coffee shop where we planned to meet. After coffee and talk, we spent a long time enjoy spring at the Preserve. Near one lake, I turned to see this soft, lovely little nest made of found material right at eye level. While it might be true that feathering your own nest is not necessarily considered good for humans, it’s obviously a great idea for birds.

Yes, we did have a great time as well as a delicious and healthy lunch at a new restaurant called Flower Child. Now I’m looking forward to my next trip “up north” to Flag.

Thursday Doors 3.31.22

Monday walk…the green fairy garden

While in or near Fougerolles, we kept seeing signs for le jardin de la fée verte (the garden of the green fairy).  Hmmm, didn’t really sound like our style.  However, having almost missed several other wonderful places because we thought they might be a bit twee, we finally decide to stop at Distillerie Paul Devoille and see the green fairy garden for ourselves.

And we saw…

Monday musings…CoffeeCon and insect houses

It’s Sunday night and I’m really glad to finally be sitting down!  Originally I was going to have the entire weekend off from work.  However, my boss needed another person to work our table at CoffeeCon and I said I’d work.  That was Saturday 8-4 (almost the entire time on my feet).  Then today after church, I whipped out, ate lunch on the drive over, arrived at noon, headed back to church at 4:40 for our Spook-ghetti Dinner (which I was helping with) and arrived back home about 8 pm.  Phew!

CoffeeCon was fun.  Although I don’t really drink coffee except as a mocha or cappuccino, I flogged a lot of chocolate for our shop.  I’ll also tell you that Grey Goose vodka mixed with cold brew coffee makes an awesome drink that’s not a bad way to start the morning!!  (Table across from us.)  🙂

What does this have to do with insect houses?  Nothing other than the fact that I need a blog post and the insect house is it.  I’ve never seen one of these in the US, but I’ve seen a number while in France and I find them fascinating.  Here’s what one looks like.