Martha's Backyard Blog - August 16, 2026

Here we are - August 16, 2026! Has it been a long week or a short one for you? Well, let's take a look at what has gone on this week in Albion, Michigan. The weather wasn't bad for this time of year here. No overwhelming heat, no really bad storms, just about as average as you can get, and that's a good!

I suppose it would be all right to start off telling you that it was probably the most nearly uneventful week possible for weather. Also for new creatures arriving. I don't even think the mosquitoes were so bad as usual for this time of year! I don't go out much at night (or even twilight) so I may just be missing their visits.

Here are some little critters that landed on the O'Kennon finger the other day. Anyone with a clue as to what they might be, please let me know! They don't SEEM to bite, but other than being careful as usual with anything you don't recognize, they shouldn't hurt you either.

Here are some of my neighbors, Dustin and Nicole Vaughn, on a visit the other day. Nicole is holding a jar with a new critter in it.Let me see if I can't find a better picture of the contents. It is so good to have compatible neighbors. During the summer and fall, I visit their house many afternoons a week to hear the news of the neighborhood and of course accept an iced coffee from their mom! Thanks again, Vaughns, for being my friends!

Here is that White Fish you saw here last year. She/he is larger but otherwise unchanged. Let's hope to see him/her for many years to come!

Alert: Here is a picture of an Evening Primrose that bloomed a little bit after this date last year. Keep an eye out for it and please tell me if you see one! Picture 2 shows a bee that loves this flower. You may see the bee first and follow it to the flower!

I've been doing my fall sewing. I don't even use my sewing machine any more as I find it so therapeutic to do almost everything by hand. Here are some of my favorite colors! Just if you see me speaking before Congress, please refrain from announcing that you recognize my trouser or shirt colors!

Have a great week!

love,

Martha