Five Photos, Five Stories: In the morning

In the morning.

In the morning, before I go for a walk, I have to gear up.  I normally associate gearing up with winter walks, but when you live near water and are practically surrounded by marshes, the insects can be formidable.  I put on long trousers and tuck the bottoms of the pant legs into my socks and boots.  I wear a tight t-shirt that is tucked in the waistband of my trousers, and over that goes a long-sleeved t-shirt.  All the tucking in keeps out the ticks.  A hat and my sunglasses go on next, and then I can head out the door with netting in my pocket in case the deer flies are so bad that I need to cover my face.  Once outside, I spray with insect repellent, usually just those areas where it might be possible for bugs to get in or bite.

Heading out the door soon.  Yes, that t-shirt is far too big for me.  It’s an old t-shirt (a Race For the Cure shirt from when I participated in a 5K up in Cleveland), and it’s good for gardening on hot days because it is loose and lightweight.  I am standing in the newly remodeled laundry/mud room where we have hooks for our jackets and hats, and a bench to sit on when you’re tying your shoes.

This morning was not one of those mornings in which netting was needed.  M and I have been regularly, at least twice daily, trolling for deer flies and that has cut down their population considerably.  Every now and then one will come along, but they are slow and clumsy and easy to kill by slapping once they land.  I usually do not like to kill other creatures, but deer flies, ticks, mosquitoes, and black flies are exceptions.

A small bit of trivia about where I live:  In 1659/1660, the Province of Virginia passed a law that required Quakers to either convert to Anglicanism or leave the colony.  A group of Quakers living in Virginia on the Delmarva peninsula* asked the third Lord Baltimore, Charles Calvert, if they could migrate and settle further north in what is now Maryland.  Lord Baltimore granted their request because it would benefit him by fortifying his borders against the incursion of the Virginians who were trying to take up more of the land on the Eastern Shore.

*Delmarva:  Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia all share land on what was once a peninsula but is now technically an island because the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal cuts across the isthmus.

Trolling for flies this morning.

Woodland Gnome from The Forest Garden invited me to play along with the latest photo challenge making the rounds.  It is called Five Photos, Five Stories, and it is a very simple challenge.  If you wish to participate, post a photo each day for five consecutive days, and tell a story about each photo.  The story can be truth or fiction, poetry or prose.

The rules also state that each day you should nominate another blogger to participate in the challenge, but we all know how I feel about rules and blog challenges.  Most of my blog friends have either already participated or been invited so, for today, I will not specify anyone in particular.  If you would like to join in the fun, please consider yourself nominated and let me know that you will be participating so I can link to and share your first photo and story in one of my next Five Photos post.  (There is only one left so now is the time to speak up.)

Oh, and I did not follow the consecutive days rule or confine it to one photo.  Because I’m contrary that way.

I think there might be a few stories within this post, but that’s okay.  There often are stories within stories within stories when it comes to life, even the everyday, mundane parts of life.

If you read my Fair Margaret and Sweet William story and are interested in the ballad from which it was, in part, based, I found this.  Go and have a listen.  It’s a good song, and rather short so it won’t take up too much of your time.

Thank you for stopping by.  Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂