Being outside this morning felt as if I was on the set of some 1980’s horror flick with fog creating a visually striking and unsettling atmosphere. It was like the Shining with the barndo as the Overlook Hotel — isolated by thick foreboding fog.
It’s ominous!
I’m wondering what psychological torment I’ll experience before the fog burns off and the landscape returns to normal. In this rendition of The Shining, Merida will be playing Jack Nicholson.
The big warm-up is incoming… but in the meantime…
Now you know: The famous “Here’s Johnny!” scene in The Shining took three days to film and used 60 doors.
Yesterday, I looked out to see an amazing site — Mr. Farmer in the field next to the barndo.
I love seeing the crops grow.
The downside: my A/C guys were back.
It’s stupid to feel guilty for wasting someone’s time when you’re paying for it — but still, I do. Roger and Brandon spent the ENTIRE DAY working on my downstairs mini-split unit and it’s no different than it was when they arrived. I didn’t buy the darned thing — and I can’t help what I’ve got — but I wanted a win so badly. For me… and for them.
They promised to be back with a few new things to try as soon as possible, but I’m preparing myself for a costly purchase to go along with the costly repairs on a dying unit.
Now you know: Japan has more pets than children, and some companies offer pet bereavement leave. There are more cats and dogs in Japan than children under the age of 15, largely due to the country’s declining birth rate.
I’ve seen people posting photos of their peonies in bloom while I’m still in a no-bloom holding pattern. I LOVE peonies and have been waiting — no so patiently — to see something more than green with a few balls on top.
Seeing those ants on the buds I figured something was bad wrong! I was off to Google to find out what I needed to spray those suckers with. From what I’ve read, my plants must just be slow to bloom because ants aren’t a problem.
They are a fine example of biological mutualism. 🤢
Peony flowers provide food for ants and in turn, the ants protect the blossoms from other floral-feeding insects. They are mutually beneficial to one another. It looks like my peonies called for reinforcements.
Who knew that peonies have a mushroom stage? Not me!
Evidently, my peonies are at the mushroom stage — where the buds are closed but show some color, and they’re soft when gently squeezed. The source I read explained that if you cut them at the mushroom stage, you can store them in the refrigerator to produce blooms later. Full bloom will occur in 8-48 hours once the stems are placed in water.
Not sure I believe that because this mushroom stage has already lasted at least 3 days on the outside plant. Time will tell I guess… I’m trying to exercise patience while not freaking out about ants and their biological mutualism thing.
At least I have other flowers that are colorful to keep me happy in the meantime…
Now you know: In 1953, Ringo Starr developed tuberculosis and was admitted to a sanatorium, where he stayed for two years. While there, the medical staff attempted to alleviate boredom by encouraging patients to participate in the hospital band, resulting in his initial encounter with a drum set.
I don’t know how many days in a row we’ve had rain here in southern Indiana, but my yard has gotten ahead of me. I saw a meme that made me laugh — but then I realized how true it was when I fired up the lawnmower today.
My trusty (but aging) Cub Cadet had to be driven slow with the deck as high as it would go just to get through the front yard’s growth. The back yard is in a lower area so it remains wet. It’s a job for tomorrow.
Along with the grass, the flowers are growing!
Even the newly planted hostas that Hugo dug up and I replanted are thriving.
Although I’m not a fan of irises, the previous barndo owners certainly were. They’re starting to bloom and I don’t hate them. The upside is where they grow is one less area I have to worry about planting. Refreshing the mulch is the only attention those suckers will get this year.
It’s true that April showers (AND MAY SHOWERS TOO) bring May flowers.
Mr. Pesky has been busy in the garden and I don’t know how many thousand tomato plants he’s set out so far this year. Whatever is already in the ground probably still isn’t enough. I LOVE home-grown tomatoes and can’t wait until I can steal them for my dinner table!
Now you know: In 1912, a boy named Bobby Dunbar went missing. Eight months later, he was found with another family who claimed that he was their son, Bruce Anderson. The Andersons didn’t have the money to fight in court, so they lost custody. In 2004, DNA testing confirmed that the boy wasn’t Bobby.
When I saw the shooter’s name, Emiliano Cuevas Bravo, I figured it would get ugly on social media. It did. I’m sure with all the national news coverage on immigration and deportations — and because Indiana Attorney General, Rokita, issued Seymour a Civil Litigation Demand with questions on whether it is a so-called Sanctuary City, in violation of state law — many want to know if the dude was an illegal immigrant.
Seymour Police Department: Investigators contacted the Department of Homeland Security and learned that Cuevas-Bravo is an American citizen.
Incident release below, but first, interesting data:
Per Indiana Public Media, Seymour’s Hispanic and Latino population was less than 1% in 1990. According to census data in 2025, nearly ONE QUARTER (25% for those playing along at home) of its population are Hispanic or Latino. According to the Brookings Institute, the number of immigrant and Latino people in Seymour increased by 174% from 2010 to 2020. Since the shooter resides in Seymour, I guess there was a 1 in 4 chance that he/she would be Hispanic/Latino.
And on a happier note…
I saw 3 hummingbirds on the feeder today… and one chipmunk on the deck.
Today was the first sighting for me here at the barndo of a hummingbird. I simply LOVE watching them… and living here. Even better? Not one single snake slithered in my field of vision. 🙂
*** INCIDENT RELEASE ***
On April 30, 2025, at approximately 11:59am, Seymour City Communications received a 911 call from within the Jackson County Public Library located at 303 W 2nd St, Seymour, IN, in reference to an active shooter. Seymour Police Officers, along with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, and Indiana Excise Police, immediately responded to the scene.
Within moments of the 911 dispatch, officers surged into the building and searched for the active shooter. Just prior to law enforcement’s arrival, a patron of the library was able to subdue the suspect, identified as Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo (18 years of age), and was actively holding him down when officers entered the building. After taking Cuevas-Bravo into custody, officers then cleared the building to ensure there were no other threats, and escorted patrons and employees outside.
Investigators with the Seymour Police Department, Indiana State Police – Versailles Post, and the FBI– Indianapolis Field Office, arrived on scene and conducted the investigation. Investigators contacted the Department of Homeland Security and learned that Cuevas-Bravo is an American citizen.
Investigators determined that Cuevas-Bravo is a Seymour High School student. Investigators furthermore determined that Cuevas-Bravo went to Seymour High School earlier in the morning to target the School Resource Officer(SRO). Cuevas-Bravo was unable to locate the SRO and left the school. Cuevas-Bravo then went to the Jackson County Library where he entered the main lobby and fired a single round toward an employee at the checkout desk. An employee received non-life threatening injuries.
An item of concern was found in the library near where Cuevas-Bravo was taken into custody. Members of the FBI’s Explosive Disposal Unit, Indiana State Police – Special Operations Section, and Columbus Police Department responded, then conducted operations on the concerned item.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Cuevas-Bravo’s vehicle which was subsequently searched. Numerous items of evidentiary value were located and collected from the vehicle, in addition to items located inside the library.
Although the investigation is ongoing, it appears that Cuevas-Bravo acted alone. Out of an abundance of caution, the Seymour Police Department will have additional officers stationed at the Seymour Community Schools ahead.
The Seymour Police Department would like to thank our many partners, to include the Seymour Fire Department, Jackson County EMS, Jackson County Sheriff, Indiana State Police, Indiana Excise Police, Columbus Police, FBI, DHS, Jackson County Emergency Management, and Seymour City Department of Public Works.
CuevasBravo was charged with 2 counts of Attempted Murder, 1 count of Criminal Recklessness with a deadly weapon, and 1 count of Intimidation.
* All parties herein depicted or described are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law. *
Now you know: Indiana law requires proof of lawful presence to obtain a driver’s license, and undocumented immigrants do not have this status.
