Happy Independence Day!

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson

Fourth of July Hangover

Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

I'm exhausted. I had a great day yesterday, and it ended with my neighbors setting off what was pretty much a professional fireworks display (that lasted around 45 mins -- absolutely incredible). Dakota (who is oddly unafraid of fireworks) and I sat on the front steps and watched them. But, there were fireworks going off until almost eleven, and I don't get to sleep in (between the cat, the dog and the fact I have to load up the day's pages for the LASR/WC/Aurora site).

So... **YAWN**.

How was your weekend?

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In Pillar Place: Swallowtail, things are STILL very quiet and none of the pupae are getting dark yet (which means they'll hatch). I'm beginning to worry that all ten or so are going to overwinter.

In Pillar Place: Monarch, Xi is growing like a weed -- he's probably 1/2" now. Rho and Pi are no longer microscopic and Omicron's egg has disappeared (which should mean he's hatched) but I can't find a pillar anywhere. I'm beyond puzzled.

Tomorrow, DD and I will probably go on another monarch egg hunt at the library to see about increasing our numbers.

As a side note, I got an email from a gardener out in California who works at a public garden and is creating a monarch garden there. He asked me for lots of milkweed seeds (as I've noted, mine is common milkweed, which is pretty much indigenous all over the country). I'm just tickled pink. In California, especially, there is a need -- they have MASSIVE migrations there and the butterflies need all the help they can get.

And, again, I have thousands of seeds every year, so if anyone wants any, email me at authormariannearkins AT gmail DOT com.

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I got some writing done yesterday -- about 700 words -- on one of my sequels. I intend for it to be as long as the first story (about 20,000 words), so if I can do 700 words a day it should be done (first draft anyway) in less than a month.

I really need to get something completed.

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DH is off this week, which means my days will be full and completely outside routine. Will make life interesting. We're taking my car in for repair tomorrow as well, which means I'll either be driving HIS car or the truck for a week. I hate driving his vehicles ... he's very particular about things. Ah well, at least we're blessed enough to have a spare vehicle and I'm not stranded.

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You Are Red

You are a highly passionate person, and you'd stand up and fight for anything you believe in. You're a lot like the founders of the United States. You are a bit of a revolutionary. Like most modern Americans, you are have things you love and hate about the USA ... and you're not afraid to say what they are. Keep expressing your opinion and acting to fix what's wrong. People like you are what makes the USA great.

Are You Red, White, or Blue?

I'm thinking that should have been yesterday's quiz... and it's pretty much right. You don't see it a lot here, but I'm passionate about politics.

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Happy Independence Day!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. - from The Declaration of Independence

Wishing you a wonderful day of enjoying the freedoms our people and armies have fought for.

Remember this, too:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. - Ronald Reagan

As a daughter, niece and wife of war veterans, I hope you never forget that freedom isn't something to be taken for granted.

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You Make Big Waves

You're type of person who gets carried away from time to time. You tend to think and life big. You believe that there can't be too much of a good thing... until you get too much. You can overwhelm other people with your enthusiasm, but they know that your heart is in the right place. Once you get rolling with an idea or plan, it's hard for you to stop. You can get really caught up in the moment!

The Waves Test

Maybe? ... you'd have to ask other people, I suppose.

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Independence Day

The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson

I remember (being a child of the 80s) the first presidential election that I was really aware of and followed: Ronald Reagan. And I remember Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless the USA" at the convention. Then, and now, the song still chokes me up. It's an amazing tribute to our country.

Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

So, today... while we swim and barbecue and watch fireworks, we need to remember what this day represents. Remember the people who died for us to live the way we do, and the people who are still fighting and dying for us and others, so we can spend the day swimming and barbecuing and watching fireworks.

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

Happy Independence Day!

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Monday Morning Meme

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. ~Carl Zwanzig

I think that guy was trying to be funny, but I heartily believe in duct tape. I love the stuff... Hey, even MacGyver worshipped at the altar of duct tape, right?

I'm exhausted. It's been a busy, busy, busy (not to mention VERY long) weekend and I'm thrilled it's Monday. No, really, I am!

I did get a bit of writing done, but mostly Judy and I worked on planning and executing our HUGE first anniversary bash for The Long and the Short of It. Yep... next month will have been ONE WHOLE YEAR that we've had the website up and running, and what a fun and crazy and interesting year it's been.

In any case, I'm a bit pooped, so, without further ado, I give you:

1. What is your blog about? How long have you been blogging? Why did you begin blogging? Is it the same reason that you continue to blog today? How has your blog changed over the time you’ve had it? In six words, sum up your blog.

I started blogging to promote my writing. When I started, I hadn't even been published yet. In fact, I don't think I'd even submitted anything for publication -- but, hey. I'm forward thinking, what can I say?

Since then, it's morphed a bit. Do I talk about my writing? Sure... but I also gab about anything that strikes me as, well, something to gab about! And, best of all, I've made some great online friends (::waves::).

Six words? Um, um, um... Writer, reader, butterfly raiser & vole catcher. (I didn't count the &, lol...)

I don't know. What six words would YOU use to describe this blog?

2. When you go for a haircut, do you do something drastic? Or are you more of a ‘just a trim’ sort of person? Do you color your hair? If so, how often? Tell us about your best, and worst, hairstyle. What sort of hairstyle do you think looks good on you now?

Drastic or a trim? Depends. Most recently, drastic -- 10" off. But usually, it's just a trim.

Color? Yep... I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair... and I do it whenever my DD mentions my gray is showing again.

Best and worst? Honestly I have no idea. I've never really had a horrible haircut, and I've mostly worn my hair (with the exception of the current short cut) long and not much different my entire life (except with I was desperate to have "feathers" in junior high, damn that Farrah Fawcett).

3. Tell us about your 4th of July celebration. Show us some pictures (if you have them). What did your family do? Did you go and see a big fireworks display? Or did you stay home and have a (semi) quiet family fireworks celebration? On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), how patriotic would you say you are? Do you routinely talk about our country’s issues within your family unit? Do you and your significant other see eye-to-eye on political issues? International friends: tell us how you celebrate your country’s birthday/new year/significant annual event.

The dog and I stayed home. It was wonderful. DD and DH took the boat out with my SILs and swam and ate bad food and watched fireworks. I don't like boating, I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, and I can't stay up late... so their day sounded like pure torture to me.

Patriotic? Quite. Discussing politics? Regularly. It's actually something I'm quite passionate about -- but I don't discuss it here on the blog. It's forbidden (and BOY is it hard to bite my tongue sometimes, but so far, I've managed). My DH and I are pretty well aligned politically, so that's good.

4. If you only had enough time each day to read one section of the newspaper, which section would you read? Why this particular section?

Comics? LOL... either that or the editorials. Because they both make me laugh.

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We hatched another butterfly yesterday. This one fell, too (stupid things!), but I happened to be there about two seconds after he hatched (and, yes, thus far they've ALL been males... how do you tell the difference? Go here to see.) and scooped him up. DD held him, dangling from her finger, for about 45 minuntes and then put him out on the echinacea. He flew off about an hour later. Phew. This butterfly wrangling is hard work!

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Happy Independence Day

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

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No new butterflies. Still catching voles. DD and DH gone again today -- this is a mini-vacation for me. Working on my writing. Played with the dog. Ate what I wanted, when I wanted.

Today will be much the same.

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You Are a Summer Person

You are energetic, outgoing, and active. You love to be out and about... hanging out with friends or getting things done. Summer is the perfect time for you to be as hyper as you want to be. In fact, during the rest of the year you feel half-asleep!

Are You a Winter Person or a Summer Person?

Um.. yes on the summer part, no on the hyper part.