I’ve been practicing photography in my yard and in the yards of whomever I happen to be visiting.  With the flowers now in full bloom, my photographer’s eye is busy spotting great shots.  Here are some of my favorites.

Just like the I Can Has Cheezburger, Epic Fail, and the People of Wal Mart, I also love the Epic Win site.  Especially when I saw this amazing photo:

FTW!

With the heat wave that seems to be sweeping much of the country this week, please remember not to overdo it if you’re working in your garden or on the lawn.

What are the signs of heat stroke?  Dr. Weil’s Daily Blog reviews warning signs including:

• A sudden change in your mental status – confusion, hard time speaking
• All sweating stops
• Rapid and shallow breathing
• Racing heart
• Headache
• Red or flushed skin

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 and get inside or in the shade immediately.  Try to cool off including removing your clothing, spray or pour water over yourself (or a person in trouble) and then fan yourself or them.

Before you ever reach that point, though, be sure you have plenty of water with you.  Take frequent breaks … work five or ten minutes and then rest just as long (or longer).  If you don’t have to go outside in the miserable heat, don’t!  The weeds will be there tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.  Get to the yard or garden work when you can, but don’t hurt yourself over it!

Photo from Buncombe County Egov site, June 2008 issue.

Maybe I’m slower than others in my neighborhood, but I finally saw lightning bugs this week. Thousands and thousands of them.  When one accidentally gets in the house – unlike flies, mosquitoes, crane flies, or other bugs – I don’t swat them.  I try to catch and release these winged wonders.  I think they’re beautiful.  But my cat thinks they’re delicious.

Here’s what Aunt B. said about lightning bugs,

Last night, we sat out in the hammocks, catching up, and watching the lightning bugs. I’m still not convinced, completely, that they are lightning bugs. Their lights stayed on for too long and none of them seemed too interested in each other.

But in the end of her post she talks about the loss of a teenaged son of a friend.  Had it not been for the Internet, I would’ve never heard about it.  Instead, we’re connected and share somehow the Mom’s grief across the nation.

I hope a summer night watching lightning bugs will somehow someday someway help bring some peace to his mother.

Photo by DaveDeHetre via flickr creative commons.