Hot weather, especially heat index temperatures, soared during this reporting period. Despite the oppressive heat, Kay continues playing pickleball and golf, while I remain on the “injured reserve” list. There were a couple of times where I could play pickleball and one 9-hole round of golf before suffering another injury—a rib fracture, #7 on the left side—caused by losing my balance making a short turn on the e-bike. This one is going to take 8-12 weeks to heal.

The highlights of the two weeks were a visit by Karyn, Matt, Ridge and Aker for a weekend, and a follow-up “working” visit by Ridge the last week of the month.

He really helped us out digging up an irrigation fitting, trimming a bunch of shrubs, assisting with repairing a loose door hinge, and power washing the deck and the front sidewalk. Regrettably because of the injury, I was not able to assist him much, but we did build him a soccer rebounder.

I did manage to get out a few times to chase butterflies and dragonflies. On Tuesday, June 16, a female Diana Fritillary and an American Lady were photographed.

Additionally, a Variable Dance was present.

However, the star of the day was a nectaring Clearwing Moth, aka Hummingbird Moth.

A few butterflies were flittering about on Saturday, June 20, including a Fiery Skipper, a Southern Cloudywing, and a Red-spotted Purple.

An Eastern Pondhawk was also seen.

And perhaps most interesting was this unusual insect.

On Sunday, June 21, the grandkids were chasing crawfish and frogs in the ditch adjacent to the house,

while I photographed a Horace’s Duskywing, a Byssus Skipper (a first time species visitor to the pollinator garden), and a Silver-spotted Skipper.

And lastly, on Sunday, June 28, a Checkerspot, Fiery Skipper,, a Pearl Crescent, and a Realkirt’s Blue were photographed.

This Blue Dasher was all eyes while being photographed.