Out and about with those pesky neighbors last week visiting a greenhouse of their choosing, I saw a large vining plant. It was looking a bit rough and the lady working said she’d sell it to me for $5 bucks. Alright… sounded like a deal.
Fleeting beauty and deceptively dangerous.
It’s a morning glory, and yes, the blooms close at night and open in the daytime. What I didn’t know is that their seeds harbor toxic compounds that can cause hallucinations or gastrointestinal distress. I won’t be eating them.
Reading more about the plant, I’m not sure if it’s different than field bindweed — which is invasive and aggressive. Is my $5 purchase disrupting rural Crothersville’s ecosystem?
At this point, I don’t even want to know.
What I am for sure of is that the plant in the photo below is in a pot. It loved the rain we got overnight. It isn’t going to push out other plants or do anything to harm the environment. I’ve kept it alive for years now (which means it’s hella hearty), and maybe I should just stick with what I know.
Now you know: In 2016, an Oregon man essentially dissolved inside a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming after he accidentally fell into it.
I always feel accomplished when the yard has been mowed and everything has been trimmed. It’s quite a bit more work here than in Seymour, that’s for sure.
My first iris plant has finally bloomed and it’s a beautiful purple!
The previous owners of the barndo evidently loved irises — the ones without beards. They planted them all along the west side of the house, as well as on the south side. I’m guessing there are at least 25 of those suckers. The good news is they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. 🦋
Is this the year that I’ll actually finish at least some of the landscaping?
Today I’m going to pull weeds. There’s an area between the sidewalk and barndo that’s long and wide — and it’s a pain to keep up with. I’m considering rubber mulch and know it will be expensive, but what I’ve read says it doesn’t have to be refreshed every year, and the color doesn’t fade in the sun.
While I refreshed the regular mulch last year, it’s already gone. Spring is the time to landscape — but spring is also the time to pay income and property taxes. I may just go one more year without the bigger investment, and instead support our local mulch business, Sim’s Bark.
Now you know: WW2 caused some 70-85 million deaths. On average, that totals 1 life every 3 seconds — constantly — for 6 years.
Crothersville is in the path of totality for the solar eclipse today. Mark Weinberg, WDRB’s Chief Meteorologist, will be observing from Seymour, Indiana.
Expect deep twilight as the moon hides the sun.
I’m guessing there will be a gazillion people trying to get an amazing photo of the occurrence — and I’m also guessing we’ll see most of them on Facebook later today. Photos of the eclipse taken with a phone’s camera won’t likely produce anything spectacular. 😎
Locally, our bank is closed for the day and a bar in Seymour is offering eclipse margarita’s for $6 bucks (and they look so nasty I’d have to take a hard pass). Versailles State Park has been full for a month and there’s not a hotel room nearby to be had.
Now you know: Experts say pet owners shouldn’t worry about the eclipse because animals do not naturally look at the sun.
We’re in the transitional season here in Tornado Alley US — where rainfall increases along with the wind and chance of tornadoes. After today, our temps are forecasted to drop by around 30°F. 🙄
At least the trees are budding!
In Indiana, tornadoes are most likely to occur in the late afternoon or evening, but they can happen at any time of day. It’s essential to stay informed about weather conditions and to have a plan in place in case of severe weather warnings.
I stay informed, but my plan is sketchy.
I’d LOVE to have a storm shelter with access in the garage part of this structure. I even priced installation finding that costs vary from $4K – $15K. I’ve never stood in the bathtub (the safest place in every home I’ve owned) for safety in all my years on earth. I figure a storm shelter would likely be the same… I wouldn’t know if I should actually get in until after I’d already blown away.
Now you know: Leonard Skinner is the namesake of Jacksonville rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skinner was the high school basketball coach who sent band members to the principal’s office because their hair didn’t comply with the school’s dress code. (Read more here.)
Most important thing first — happy birthday to Alisa Lou! She’s 39 with a few practice years. If she would run for Mayor of Crothersville, she would have my vote. 🙂
And more in local news…
Jackson County, Indiana — and especially Seymour — is in an uproar over a proposed inclusive economic agenda. You can view the agenda by clicking here. Monday night’s city council meeting location was filled to capacity with community members voicing their opinions — but not everyone that wanted to attend was able to get in. Another meeting will be held at Seymour High School at a date to be determined.
It’s a PR nightmare.
First, the person that chose to call the proposed building “Immigration Welcome Center” instead of “Resource Center” should be out of a job. When you include the word “immigration” with “economic development” you should expect pushback and powerful feelings of opposition.
When focus groups are listed (both verbally and in writing) as resources for the agenda’s data, it looks bad when those serving on those boards and are members of those groups — including city council members — publicly state they were neither approached nor received any type of communication. Thoughtful planning? I think not.
I watched the meeting on a live feed from start to finish. Sadly, I don’t think opinions matter at this point — and I’ll be surprised if a compromise is reached.
Choose your residential housing location carefully!
No one can predict the future. But all of us can consider the impact certain changes might have on our chosen residential location with forward thinking. It doesn’t matter where on God’s earth you plan to live.
You already know to check tax rates, quality of education, available services, etc. when you decide where to live. But what you might not consider is how deeply you should anticipate the unknown factors.
Play out long-term scenarios in your head and the likelihood of them happening.
Are you in an established neighborhood where there’s no room for unwanted development? If your setting is rural, what are the chances property near you will be sold off for something you don’t want to live beside?
It’s an investment of time to reflect on the possibilities that might impact what’s important to YOU. Personal… not political.
For example, before purchasing this property I asked myself this question: What’s the likelihood that the Kovert farm will be sold for commercial development or apartments to be built in my lifetime? Not likely, me thinks. While not an important consideration for some, it was paramount for me.
Now you know: In 2022, James Earl Jones officially retired from voicing Darth Vader, but signed permission for Lucasfilm to use archive recordings and AI to continue using his voice for the character.
