This lovely spiny Io caterpillar was on a cherry branch as I was pruning a path this morning. I love the lime green bristles, though I wouldn't want to touch them!

Fluffy would like you to know that being awake is overrated. But we are delighted that you are back

If Fluffy had his way, this is where I would be 23 hours a day. Apparently I make a good cat bed.

Mr Fluffy, in his favorite place: asleep on my lap.

Getting started on the pie.

I'm taking these lovely things to electronics recycling, and feeling old. They were once the height of sleek, useful design, now they're just doorstops. Facing the fact that I will never do props for a play needing early 2000s computers, and giving up my stash.

Here's the fully open stapelia gigantea. These are also known as carrion flowers, and rely on flies for pollination. The dead meat odor is mild so far, mercifully. It's 9 inches tip to tip.

I guess today is the day!

The stapelia gigantea is about to bloom. In a day or two there should be a 6 inch hairy flesh colored flower that smells like dead meat in my spare room.

Something solid amidst the awfulness: the first November peas are ready! Covered up four times already against frost, but they're loving the mild late fall.

The world looks a bit dark and scary these days, so here's a few seconds of Mr Fluffy asleep on my lap. May we all find some of his peace.

The first fall snap peas are blooming and the first sub-freezing temperatures are arriving tonight, alas. Time to start rigging up the shelters for peas and greens I had hoped not to need until November.