Wow!!! "Toadally" captured my attention this morning... I love toads.... And I will now become a more observant fan... Just now I returned on this early morning Wednesday from my vegetable garden... Did not see a single toad.... But after scratching around in my beans I did see an unusually strange jumping-like worm... I looked it up and was told by a worm authority on AI that it's possibly one that would damage my crop... I wonder if everyone else knows about this worm.... Maybe it could become the Barry worm... But then again I would only wanna be a nice worm..namesake 😁
Toadally -- hahah! I would likely have missed this friend had she not made herself so visible.
That jumping worm sounds terrifying. Was it earthworm-like, or more caterpillar? I'm so curious. Let's not name it after you until we're sure it deserves the honor, eh?
Your share at end sparked me to write …. Well that and your reminder at the beginning to acknowledge your audience of readers. At the end you suggested focusing on nature like you found in the frog. I’ve been vested in two - a Muscovy drake and a houseful of Purple Martens i know have babies. A week ago the duck was found wandering our property as if in search of food. Our bird seed was not a protein-rich diet so of course I rushed off to Chesapeake Feed and Seed! And the wind shear storm of the Fourth of July brought my attention to the Martens because unfortunately the house blew down. The following morning we found eight baby birds had survived the night (or appeared to have) on the ground. With speed the house was repaired enough and relifted and with gloved hands we placed them in the house as adult Martens made their return. We won’t know for sure, but I hope one flying soon will be one of the babies. And hope that they trust us enough to return next year.
Patricia this is such a thoughtful and through-provoking comment. Will you be keeping and caring for the Muscovy then? They are such interesting looking birds, and so powerful. Do you assume it wandered away from a nearby property? They aren't all that common, in my experience, though we did raise them for some years.
As for the martin house -- how sad! I'm glad you were there to intervene. It sounds like you did everything you could to help. I'll be holding out hope on your and the birds' behalf.
I have always had a deep fondness and affection for toads and I found this both lyrical and informative. (Samuel Fowler! Who knew?) We also have a backyard pond and every May the "peepers" begin shouting with their "Hey Baby!" chorus that lasts for days till we see them languidly floating around - many still literally coupled - sharing a cigarette. (Sorry that last part is my own, ha!) Then there are the telltale toad necklaces festooned in the water, full of eggs. So lovely, all of this. To add to my own eccentricities, I have also fashioned a sign that says "TOAD HALL" and placed by the damp crease in the garage wall where I'll sometimes see them exiting. Beautiful, this was.
Peepers floating aimlessly with cigarettes is laugh out loud hilarious, Sue!
I'd love to see a picture of your Toad Hall sign. You've got me wanting to create and install one somewhere on our property, too. Or maybe I need to attach it to the side of my Community Garden bed! So appreciate you spending some time with me and these little amphibian pals today.
Well, those peepers are *shameless* lol. My 'Toad Hall' sign was originally written on a smooth flat stone but misplaced it over the winter somehow so another more primitive sign has since been made on a small scrap of wood. It is ... very rustic haha but just as you might expect a Toad Sign to be. I applaud you for even considering making one of your own. xo
I can’t remember the last time, or any time, I calmed down after being told to do so....this is a classic Elizabeth and resounding true in my case too.
As a child I picked up all breeds of these and found them fascinating. I imagine they held the expression of your final photo as yet another child swept them from their habitat.
Thanks for the memories and your last paragraph is WONDERFUL...
Thanks, Janice. Much appreciated. Toads are the OG of the grumpy-faced characters. Long before Grumpy Cat there were the Frog and Toad books. Toad was so grumpy!
I *love* imagining you laughing at that, Eileen. Thank you for saying so.
I hope you found an attention-deserving someone/thing or other. In the absence of Stella, you've got a backlog of affection to give! Thank you, friend.
What an enjoyable interlude. I read it slowly and with so much pleasure, taking in every word, savoring the images of gardens and frogs and life in summer. Just lovely, Elizabeth. ❤️
I feel sorry for people who don't stop to look for toads in the grass and other such delights. There's a whole rich world all around them and they miss it all. I had two cousins, one from each side, who could sit in a car as we were sight-seeing and never see anything but the road ahead. They talked the whole time, and if I tried to point something out they barely acknowledged it before going on with whatever they were saying. I endured because I loved them both, but it felt so sad.
Yes, I remember times when I wanted to scream at them. It ruined those trips we'd planned to show them the things we thought were wonderful. We finally got the message and stopped trying.
This is the ultimate for human relationships, isn't it, Darrell? Beyond physical attraction and the need to procreate, and as part of being appreciated, we want understanding. Yes! Thank you.
A day before I read this, I paused from clearing patch full of thistles and other weeds to say, “Hello, hop-toad!” I had disturbed it, and now I watched it find a new spot to feel safe in.
I can practically hear you saying the words! I'm glad to meet someone else who has conversations with non-human friends. Thanks so much for sharing this with me, and that with the toad.
If I could have any wild garden friend, I would choose a crow..of course you don't choose crows, they choose you. I do keep a jar of unsalted peanuts in the pantry in case a crow ever visits my suburban yard.
Elizabeth Beggins and William Carlos Williams in toadish conversation! Glad I stopped by for a meander with you through love, need and nature. Your words have just turned me a bright color. Not being much into yellow, I pick red.
We have groundhog. Several actually. Do they count? I ask because they seem to NOT want our attention - they only crave the leaves of certain of our plants.
Thanks, as always, for sharing what you see. I have an image of your thirsty readers who, like me, love every drop.
Wow!!! "Toadally" captured my attention this morning... I love toads.... And I will now become a more observant fan... Just now I returned on this early morning Wednesday from my vegetable garden... Did not see a single toad.... But after scratching around in my beans I did see an unusually strange jumping-like worm... I looked it up and was told by a worm authority on AI that it's possibly one that would damage my crop... I wonder if everyone else knows about this worm.... Maybe it could become the Barry worm... But then again I would only wanna be a nice worm..namesake 😁
Toadally -- hahah! I would likely have missed this friend had she not made herself so visible.
That jumping worm sounds terrifying. Was it earthworm-like, or more caterpillar? I'm so curious. Let's not name it after you until we're sure it deserves the honor, eh?
Thanks for the fun comment, my friend.
Toads mate, mansplain, croak.
Thirsty for attention all.
Some just need water.
I just love this, Marisol! Thank you!
I'm going out to find some toads. Thanks so much!!Tom Norris
I hope you did, Tom! Or, as in my case, I hope a toad found you. It's great to see you here, and I'm grateful for the restack as well.
Your share at end sparked me to write …. Well that and your reminder at the beginning to acknowledge your audience of readers. At the end you suggested focusing on nature like you found in the frog. I’ve been vested in two - a Muscovy drake and a houseful of Purple Martens i know have babies. A week ago the duck was found wandering our property as if in search of food. Our bird seed was not a protein-rich diet so of course I rushed off to Chesapeake Feed and Seed! And the wind shear storm of the Fourth of July brought my attention to the Martens because unfortunately the house blew down. The following morning we found eight baby birds had survived the night (or appeared to have) on the ground. With speed the house was repaired enough and relifted and with gloved hands we placed them in the house as adult Martens made their return. We won’t know for sure, but I hope one flying soon will be one of the babies. And hope that they trust us enough to return next year.
Patricia this is such a thoughtful and through-provoking comment. Will you be keeping and caring for the Muscovy then? They are such interesting looking birds, and so powerful. Do you assume it wandered away from a nearby property? They aren't all that common, in my experience, though we did raise them for some years.
As for the martin house -- how sad! I'm glad you were there to intervene. It sounds like you did everything you could to help. I'll be holding out hope on your and the birds' behalf.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
What a beautiful love story ! It makes me smile with delight for you !
Ah, thank you, Susan. Grateful for the joy you're willing and able to share with us.
I have always had a deep fondness and affection for toads and I found this both lyrical and informative. (Samuel Fowler! Who knew?) We also have a backyard pond and every May the "peepers" begin shouting with their "Hey Baby!" chorus that lasts for days till we see them languidly floating around - many still literally coupled - sharing a cigarette. (Sorry that last part is my own, ha!) Then there are the telltale toad necklaces festooned in the water, full of eggs. So lovely, all of this. To add to my own eccentricities, I have also fashioned a sign that says "TOAD HALL" and placed by the damp crease in the garage wall where I'll sometimes see them exiting. Beautiful, this was.
Peepers floating aimlessly with cigarettes is laugh out loud hilarious, Sue!
I'd love to see a picture of your Toad Hall sign. You've got me wanting to create and install one somewhere on our property, too. Or maybe I need to attach it to the side of my Community Garden bed! So appreciate you spending some time with me and these little amphibian pals today.
Well, those peepers are *shameless* lol. My 'Toad Hall' sign was originally written on a smooth flat stone but misplaced it over the winter somehow so another more primitive sign has since been made on a small scrap of wood. It is ... very rustic haha but just as you might expect a Toad Sign to be. I applaud you for even considering making one of your own. xo
I can’t remember the last time, or any time, I calmed down after being told to do so....this is a classic Elizabeth and resounding true in my case too.
As a child I picked up all breeds of these and found them fascinating. I imagine they held the expression of your final photo as yet another child swept them from their habitat.
Thanks for the memories and your last paragraph is WONDERFUL...
~J
Thanks, Janice. Much appreciated. Toads are the OG of the grumpy-faced characters. Long before Grumpy Cat there were the Frog and Toad books. Toad was so grumpy!
Tender and lovely and loving, your essay is a cool balm on a hot summer day.
Thank you, Kim. I'm so glad our heatwave has moderated a bit. Last week's 100° temps were cooking my brain!
Yuck!!! I lived in Tucson for 23 years. Heat is hard!!!
You certainly don't need regular tv...you have the wonder of Toad Vision. I shall look for someone/thing to give my full attention.
I did get a good laugh at the phrase CALM DOWN never working on you, or possibly anyone. :)
I *love* imagining you laughing at that, Eileen. Thank you for saying so.
I hope you found an attention-deserving someone/thing or other. In the absence of Stella, you've got a backlog of affection to give! Thank you, friend.
What an enjoyable interlude. I read it slowly and with so much pleasure, taking in every word, savoring the images of gardens and frogs and life in summer. Just lovely, Elizabeth. ❤️
Can't tell you how happy it makes me to think of you thinking of toads. 🐸
Truly, Mona, thank you for spending some time here, you fellow noticer of humanness, you.
I feel sorry for people who don't stop to look for toads in the grass and other such delights. There's a whole rich world all around them and they miss it all. I had two cousins, one from each side, who could sit in a car as we were sight-seeing and never see anything but the road ahead. They talked the whole time, and if I tried to point something out they barely acknowledged it before going on with whatever they were saying. I endured because I loved them both, but it felt so sad.
So sad…if I could get past it being insufferable. 😩
Yes, I remember times when I wanted to scream at them. It ruined those trips we'd planned to show them the things we thought were wonderful. We finally got the message and stopped trying.
I thirst most for understanding. To understand, and to be understood.
This is the ultimate for human relationships, isn't it, Darrell? Beyond physical attraction and the need to procreate, and as part of being appreciated, we want understanding. Yes! Thank you.
A day before I read this, I paused from clearing patch full of thistles and other weeds to say, “Hello, hop-toad!” I had disturbed it, and now I watched it find a new spot to feel safe in.
I can practically hear you saying the words! I'm glad to meet someone else who has conversations with non-human friends. Thanks so much for sharing this with me, and that with the toad.
Heat... thirst/thirsty... toads... an aging love story.
I tried to excuse that "calm down" as a sort of typical "aging" voice that writes in the way it speaks... but digging around nixed that excuse. Lol.
Hope you weren't delayed too much by the frog reverie and still made it home with time to spare and share.
We know how fortunate we are to be able to say our story has aged well. And we both love toads, so maybe there's something to that. :)
If there's an excuse for Mr. Calm Down, I haven't found it yet.
Thank you, Amy!
If I could have any wild garden friend, I would choose a crow..of course you don't choose crows, they choose you. I do keep a jar of unsalted peanuts in the pantry in case a crow ever visits my suburban yard.
Love that, Kelli! Jim wants a crow, too, one that brings him shiny objects. 🐦⬛
Have you seen this project? (I hear it's in the redesign phase now and not yet deployed.)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/01/swedish-crows-pick-up-cigarette-butts-litter
And I've been recommending this all over the place. You can find it without ads on Amazon, I think. Not crows, but so fascinating!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RGmh_C3Kyg
Elizabeth Beggins and William Carlos Williams in toadish conversation! Glad I stopped by for a meander with you through love, need and nature. Your words have just turned me a bright color. Not being much into yellow, I pick red.
You are such a fan of red, Rona, and you wear it well. I'm reminding myself of that rather than construe your blush as embarrassment! 🐸
We have groundhog. Several actually. Do they count? I ask because they seem to NOT want our attention - they only crave the leaves of certain of our plants.
Thanks, as always, for sharing what you see. I have an image of your thirsty readers who, like me, love every drop.