We got/had Wasps

Avispa nest in my palapa

I've never seen a large nest like this. Usually they are small and round. Lorena said she saw it when it was small but just noticed this, this morning, I sprayed it with poison and a bunch left. We were going to cut it down but Lorena got stung once. We called Hugo and he put a bag around it and pulled it down. It was about a foot and a half long. Yikes

Chicharra or Cicada or Rainbird

I've never seen one - only heard them. We were out checking my lime trees for fruit and Nahima found one and Lorena looked at the main trunk and there were two more. I'm going to check for more in a few minutes. I don't think they harm a tree ..... I just never knew they shed their exoskeleton. According to Wikipedia the young ones shed after being in the ground for many months - graduating to adulthood.

 

Here's their song up by Guadalajara

Cicada - Wikipedia

No mas Palm

Juan starting his chainsaw

Had to drop it in the street

It was just getting too big. It was lifting my sidewalk and with a summer full of rain it might have reached the power lines. Also, it was making it impossible for me to paint and repair the wall behind.  It has huge sharp spines on the branches so very difficult to trim. It was given to me by one of the guys that built my house when it was only about 3 feet tall.

Juan is my neighbor and the only guy with a chainsaw I know. He only wanted 300 pesos so it was time. The guy in back wanted the fronds to make a shade palapa so he helped cut off the branches and then the fronds. When it was cleaned up enough to roll I towed it to the side of the road with my car. It's still in its almost original size because it was too heavy to raise high enough to get his saw under it. It also had sand and gravel in the bark (kids) and he didn't want to ruin the chain. Another neighbor came over and offered to help in exchange for some beer. Worked out well because it was definitely a 3 man job.nes. 

My pain in the cat

He looks so peaceful

But he is anything but peaceful. I've never met a more demanding animal. Every time I open the front door he comes running wanting in. Three minutes later he wants out. Food in his plate is not enough, he wants it refreshed. I used to feed him outside but the neighbors cats would get it, And he can't shut up.

He catches and eats part of a lizard and then vomits. Sometimes he vomits after eating his Whiskers, I have no idea why. Iguanas like to sun themselves on my back wall so lies in wait. A few weeks ago he brought one into the yard that was about half as big as he is. I was able to separate them and Tomas lost his play thing.

My pain in the cat ....

The Zero Electricity Air Cooler - Eco Cooler

The Eco Cooler is reportedly the world’s first-ever ‘zero electricity’ air conditioner, and its inventor wanted to get the concept out there to help as many people as possible. The Grey Group stepped in to help, using its position as a multinational advertising firm to put the plans online, at no cost, so that anyone can build their own Eco Cooler system. Volunteers from Grameen Intel Social Business helped build and install the units, as well as teach locals how to make them, so the wisdom can be passed on

The Zero Electricity Air Cooler - Eco Cooler

Equilibrium

I believe it's a sign of age and I'm certainly not as strong as I used to be .... but balance? About a week ago I was helping unload a truck full of tiles. The kid handed me a box, I took one step backward and was quickly on the ground with a heavy box of tiles on my chest. No broken tiles or broken bones but that was the end of my work for the day.

Yesterday I was going to be playful with Nahima and pretend I was going to put her in the pool. Picked her up and almost immediately went over backward with her on my chest. She was fine but scared and I got no bruises.  

Gonna have to reevaluate my strength and balance moves.

Another day in the pool

Crazy girls but a lot of fun. They almost emptied the pool making waves by jumping up and down. Lorena and I just watched under the fan in the palapa. 

First year for cattails

Many areas north of Melaque still have enough moisture to maintain green cattails. Much of the land is dry and being cultivated but thet other half is still water logged. The seeds must go dormant because in 8 years I've never seen any in this area. Thry used to grow along the highways in Northern California and the women in the faamily would want them for flower arrangments. 

The swallows are back

They haven't been around for months - maybe last year at this time. They are supposed to migrate but from where to where. Maybe our area is an end destination because they definitely nest here. A couple of years ago they built a nest in my upstairs open laundry room. Neighbors used to not have a back door and they built inside the house and rear bathroom. They got tired of the mess and put up a curtain. The photo is of young birds sitting waiting to be fed.