#it's no more of a weed than the flowers we are taking pictures in right now? it just doesnt look as pretty. i just held it aside for the pi

[quaranmine]

my biggest pet peeve is how many people in my life (knowing i know things about Plants and Science) ask me if things are weeds are not. stop asking me if that's a weed! weeds do not exist! there are no weeds! it's only a weed if you don't want it there! are you trying to make a pristine flower bed or growing crops? okay, then that might be a weed if you don't want it to be growing there. is it just growing in a random place? is it just growing in a field? then leave it alone, it's just a little guy! it might even be a beneficial little guy, you just don't like how it looks! now in some circumstance it might be a (harmful) invasive plant we should be eradicating, but most of the time i get asked this it is literally just some innocuous plant or flower

i'm for real gonna cry if one more person points to a native wildflower and asks me if that is a weed or not

[xo-adeline]

Alexis Ness and Reo Mikage x Reader: "You Remembered?"

Alexis Ness

- It was already dark outside when you had walked over to close the curtain of the window that was right next to the couch you had been sitting on, as you were waiting for Ness to get back from practice. As you were about to close the curtain you noticed some of the stars starting to peek out from behind the shadows of the night. You stayed there, hands still lingering on the curtains as you watched as more started appearing in the sky, illuminating the darkness that was once there. You didn’t even notice the squeaking of the door hinges as your boyfriend, Ness, made his way into your shared apartment. He looked over at you, softly closing the door behind him, placing his bag down just as quietly and making his way over towards you, careful to not step on any of the squeaky floorboards. Within a few seconds he was standing behind you, gently placing his hands on the sides of your hips, startling you as you turned around to face him. Luckily, you had realized it was him before you accidentally punched him thinking he was an intruder. He could only smile at the scared look you had on your face before letting out a sigh of relief knowing today wasn’t gonna be the day you got murdered. Ness turned his attention out towards the window, watching the stars you had just been looking at.

“Oh the stars, hmm? I remember you saying something about when the weather was nicer you wanted to go over to that field we found the other day and stargaze."

You looked at him shocked for a couple seconds, he actually remembered? You only mentioned that in passing when you two were getting ready for bed, and he didn’t even seem like he was paying all that much attention. With a smile you nodded.

“Yeah, that would be nice…”

Reo Mikage

- The ceiling was more boring than it normally was, or so it seemed; or maybe it was just the fact that you were stuck in class and instead of actually paying attention you had averted your gaze towards the plain white ceiling instead. Finally the bell rang signaling that school was out for the day and you couldn’t pack up any faster. Heading out to meet up with Reo to head back to his house to hang out or study for a couple hours before you had to head home. It wasn’t long until you spotted the purple headed man from across the front of the school, even with all the people. It only took a couple minutes before you started walking back to his house, even if he normally had somebody pick him up it wasn’t too bad to take a walk every now and then. On the way you had passed by this really pretty park, it had just been in the spring season and all the flowers were starting to bloom again, to which over the winter you had been talking to Reo about how you had seen this really pretty flower last spring when you came over to his house and you hadn’t been able to find it since, which you had figured he’d forgotten all about. I mean with school, and soccer, I mean for heaven’s sake you didn’t even remember it until you saw a picture of it on your recommended feed the other day! The conversation had been switching between topic and topic, until he stopped and handed you his bag, heading into the park. Coming back a couple minutes later holding the same flower that you had just remembered about. He came back with a smile and him holding it out towards you, a couple leaves weeded in his hair. You could only laugh and accept it, placing his bag down as you tried to get some of the leaves that were sticking out of his hair in all different directions. As you were busy with that he slowly took it out of your hand and placed it behind your ear and placed a kiss on your cheek, grabbing his bag as you grabbed the last leaf.

“It’s not that bad! A couple of leaves in my hair is so worth seeing you smile like that”

You could see it out of the corner of your eye if you tried looking up towards it.

“What? Did you think I’d forget? You seemed so excited talking about it, I even had to research it for a while to see where it grew around here. Why do you think we always walk when you come with me? I’ve been trying to find it everytime we come this way.”

A/N: Small Drabble for today just because I'm so burnt out when it comes to writing! (Had to write about 4/5 paragraphs and a thesis for a research paper in less then 30 minutes, and that's including the reading... We love AP Seminar.)

[mapofthemazeinthemirror]

BTS playing Animal Crossing with you

do not repost my work in any form

Warnings: none! enjoy :)

☆ gender neutral reader

Jin

Jin isn’t interested in playing when you first start. He says it’s not really his kind of game. But pretty soon, he has a copy of his own and is parked next to you on the couch, arguing aloud with Tom Nook, that tyrant. Jin is king of his island, chasing villagers he doesn’t like with nets - maybe they’ll take a hint and leave. Mainly enjoys collecting, trying to finish his museum, and flower breeding.

Yoongi

The places you play the most are in bed and on the couch in Yoongi’s studio. Many nights Yoongi comes home after a long day, crawls into bed alongside you and says he’s going to sleep, but ends up watching you play until his mind is quiet and he drifts off. You often hear him humming the game’s background music as he potters around the house, not even aware that he’s doing it.

Hoseok

Once you introduce Hobi to Animal Crossing, you can’t pull him away for days on end. “But my flowers need watering and I need to check my shops and I have to talk to my favourite neighbours so they don’t think I’m abandoning them!” What about abandoning me, you point out. “We can play together! Just don’t run through my flowers.” He’s dead serious.

Namjoon

Your boyfriend Namjoon comes in very handy when Redd comes around. Who needs to search up a guide on which paintings are real or fake when you have an art enthusiast in the house? He doesn’t mind either, he enjoys the challenge and is proud that you think he’s so smart. He thinks the game is cute and sometimes watches you play when he doesn’t feel like doing anything.

Jimin

Jimin would play only because you do. When he has a lot of downtime the two of you squish together on the bed and play, visiting each other’s islands and taking pictures of your characters doing silly things together, swimming and watching the shooting stars. When he hasn’t played for a while because he is busy, he complains and pouts about the amount of weeds covering his island.

Taehyung

Tae thinks all the ugly villagers are cute. You look up how to get rid of the ones you don’t want on your island, and he is offended. How could you plot the removal of his new best friend Barold? He hates shaking trees because he is constantly being stung by bees. Always asking you for emergency Bells to buy furniture that he wants before it disappears from the store.

Jungkook

Spends more time playing Happy Home than he spends on his own island. He gets so into designing elaborate interiors for his pixel friends - every detail from lighting to ambience, it all has to be just right. Honestly, he’s racked up more hours than you have, and when you’re not playing yourself you’re more than likely watching him and trying not to be jealous of his digital decorating talents.

written by mapofthemazeinthemirror - do not repost my work in any form

[bethanythebogwitch]

Native Wildflowers collection

Native wildflowers from my previous job. All pics by me. Not an exhaustive list. Split into multiple posts due to the image limit.

Starting off with everyone's (read: monarch butterflies') favorite: milkweed. Common milkweed is on the left. I think what we called common milkweed was actually 2 closely-related species. On the right is swam milkweed, which likes wetter soil. Butterfly weed in the bottom is a milkweed, but its sap is clear instead of white so some people don't realize that. It's also much shorter than most milkweeds.

We have 2 main gentian species. These flowers don't open all the way and only larger insects like bees can force their way in. These bees then seek out gentians as an exclusive food source, making it more likely for them to pollinate the gentians. Cream gentian (left) is white and can get very tall on good years. Bottle gentian (right) is a small, low-lying plant that hides under other plants. This picture was taken early in the season so they're pretty pale. They turn bright blue when they're in bloom.

Yellow (left) and purple (right) coneflower

Mountain mint (right) and downy wood mint (left)

Wild raspberry (left) and dewberry (right). My personal nemeses when I was moving through the prairie. Thorns are not my friend

Foxglove beardtongue, which comes in a common white color (right) and a rarer purple variant (left). Below is false foxglove, which is a hemiparasite (plant that gains nutrition through parasitism and photosynthesis) that leaches off of oak roots

Bee balm, this one has a lot of ornamental cultivars

Rattlesnake master, a badass name for a weird and spiky plant

Ironweed. We have a few species and I don't know how to tell them apart

Wild quinine. In the 3 growth seasons I worked here, this one became much more common.

Prairie coreopsis (left) and tall coreopsis (right). Guess what the difference between these two is

Rosinweed (left) and cup plant (right). Two closely related species.

Maryland senna (left) and partridge pea (right). Similar (but not closely related) species that grow pods full of seeds. As they dry, the pods peel open and send the seeds flying out.

Prairie dock. These grow very tall and have huge leaves that are cool because the roots bring up water from deep underground

Ashy sunflower, a hemiparasite that kills goldenrod and tall grasses. As those two are very aggressive plants that can take over whole fields. ashy sunflower seeds are a great way to fight back against them and help increase biodiversity.

Cardinal flower. This one is endangered so its great that it's doing well and even spreading where I worked.

Common thistle. This one is unfortunately losing ground to invasive Canada thistle (not actually from Canada) and isn't very popular, but bugs love it.

Black-eyed Susan (left) and sweet black-eyed Susan (right). The latter is larger and doesn't tolerate shade as well.

Continued in part 2

[thelinguisticpoet]

365 Days Without You

I always thought grief would be black and white, monotonous for the most part. Then I thought it would be grey, like the clouds, right before it rained, holding onto as much as you can till you fall apart. But the past year has taught me that grief has colors, colors no one stops to notice or understand, colors I never thought I’d see again...

Sometimes grief would be blue, like the sky that goes on without an end, it was quiet and calm, maybe a little long yet soothing despite the sorrow deep within. Grief was green, like the trees, grass, and weeds that grew on the side of your grave, grief was growth and life despite the life lost. Grief was red, like the million flowers we arranged atop your grave in hopes you could smell them the way we could, red like the anger that kept seething despite all the rational thoughts and beliefs, a little faulty and unpredictable. Then, grief was yellow, it was funny with a little drop of sunshine where you could only think to find darkness, it was proof you could smile despite adversities. Grief is anything but the gloomy, grey picture we often paint in our heads.

I still vividly remember the day I received the call at work. I had only imagined what pain and sorrow would feel like until that moment, and despite knowing the worst has happened, all I felt was complete numbness. I could have sworn I held my breath on the ride home, wishing the car to speed past traffic lights, but also praying not to reach, not to ever find out what was awaiting me at the end of the journey. I was not prepared for this goodbye despite knowing and feeling its lingering presence for months. I was not ready to let you go… 

I had so much to say and yet silence engulfed me whole for months. I could never quite put my thoughts into words the way I wanted to, I could not speak to a wall thinking your presence filled the room or think of you as an angel living in the heavens above, looking down on me. I could not simply pretend you still were here, yet I could not completely fathom your absence long enough to understand that you were gone forever.

Maybe I was a little mad, but more than anger, it was sadness in a way I had never felt before. It was in knowing nothing would ever come close to having spent decades with you ever again. It was in knowing I could never again hold your hand as we walked through the park, never again drink the coffees that you make or share your favorite strawberry ice creams with you, it was in knowing I could never again hear your voice calling me out as I walked past your room, never again having your presence in celebrations and festivities that you dearly looked forward to. It was in knowing you’d never again sing along to the songs that played on the radio, never again waking up in the wee hours to catch World Cup matches, listening to your commentary and supporting Brazil because that was your favorite team. It was in knowing you’d never be the one who takes up the spot right next to me in family portraits and birthday photographs, it was in knowing I have kissed you goodbye for the last time and put you six feet deep where I could not quite reach you the way I wanted to. My sorrow was tied to never having you again, and knowing that there is still much I needed you for in life. It is tied to the absence and void that I now have to live and make peace with because there isn’t much else to do…

I expected myself to feel lost, to go through tons of emotions, behave irrationally, throw tantrums, and spend most of my days and nights in complete solitude. Life was a far cry from what I’d imagined, I spent most of my days after your loss swamped with work and I was surprisingly good at it. And when I couldn’t breathe, I found myself locked in a toilet or curled up on the bed, holding myself together on the brink of losing it, praying to keep it together for just a bit longer. This was a huge loss for the entire family, and with the emotional rollercoaster we all rode those months, I found it necessary to keep all my pain and sorrow hidden. I made the most jokes, recalled your time with us animatedly and did what I could to make sure everyone was okay. Most days, I kept myself mentally and physically busy to the point when I hit the bed, there was no room for thinking, let alone overthinking. All I did for a good six months or so, was work, exhaust myself and sleep.

Life took a complete turn overnight and I was nowhere near prepared for a death I knew was coming and would completely shatter me.

Tell me, how does one prepare for the complete absence of a loved one for the rest of whatever forever we have left…

I am grateful for photographs and videos of you; they bring you back whole to me for a split second every time I catch a glimpse of them. Sometimes, with my eyes closed, I could swear I feel you right here with me. In the moments I spend most alone, most broken and find myself hurting and longing for your comforting hug and presence, I feel myself break in a way I could never explain. But in those very moments, I think you’re somewhere nearby, holding my hands, silently sitting with me, the way you always did. I know you are right here. 

You’re in every flower that blooms in my garden, in every innocent smile and laughter of every child I meet on the streets, in the black coffees I drink every morning now, and in your favorite songs that play constantly on my playlist. You’re everywhere I turn, and it is not painful anymore. It’s comforting to know the things you’ve left behind in the form of objects, routines, and habits help hold me together in knowing you’re just as much here as you were before when I feel a little abandoned in life.

It still feels like you’re asleep in an unknown, unfindable room in this house, I still wait to see if you’d come walking down the hall whenever we gather for family time like you always do, I still think you’re here whenever I turn another corner or sit on your couch waiting for you to magically appear again as though nothing went amiss, like the past year didn't happen. I wonder if I prayed long and hard enough, if you'd come right back and life would resume playing out the way it was supposed to.

Sitting here, I could tell you I did not believe I’d make it past the first 24 hours, let alone a whole year. It feels surreal, like a never-ending dream I hope to awaken from and find you laughing with me as I recall every little detail, but it all feels less probable and more an unchanged reality as time passes by. With every day that begins and ends without you, know that I carry you in my heart, know that every step I take and every single thing I do, will embody you, and it will be something I hope makes you proud.

Tell me what I missed when I see you again, tell me how much you missed me and hold me till I feel whole again, tell me all your wonderful adventures from when you were young again even though I remember every story, every word, by heart, the way I do you.

I will always hold you in my heart for whatever life and eternity there is left to live,

with eternal love,

Rose.

In loving memory of my most beloved grandfather♥️

© Raina Rose 

[lady-wallace]

Whumptober Day 16: Necrosis

More Obey Me! for today's @whumptober prompt. Picnics gone wrong.

Prompt: Necrosis, swamp, wound cleaning Fandom: Obey Me! Nightbringer Character: Barbatos

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Read on Ao3

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Day 16: Necrosis

Helena accompanies Barbatos on an errand to pick a special flower from the swamp. However, a strange bite leaves the butler in a very bad way. (Protagonist POV)

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It was actually a really lovely day, despite the fact we were currently trekking through marshland deep in the woods. The castle grounds and the city were a mere thought this far out. I’ll admit that when Barbatos asked if I’d accompany him on an errand I hadn’t exactly pictured getting up at the crack of dawn and driving out to the woods and then proceeding to hike for another two hours, but now that we were settled in, I was actually enjoying it. It was nice to get away from the city, especially to spend some time with Barbatos where his attentions weren’t first and foremost devoted to his young master.

“What exactly are we looking for again?” I asked as my boots squelched in the moist ground.

“Marsh hell lilies,” Barbatos replied over his shoulder. “They only bloom this time of year and they can be used for various recipes when dried. Prince Diavolo particularly enjoys them steeped in tea so I always like to collect a large quantity of them when I can.”

I nodded as I followed him. “They sound interesting.”

“I’ll make you a cup sometime.” He smiled at me. “They also make a fantastic addition to tea cakes.”

“I’d love to try some.”

He turned around with a pleased sound, pointing ahead. “Looks like we’ve arrived.”

We stepped into a clearing that held a large swamp in the center of it. The croak of frogs and the buzz of insects could be heard flitting among the lily pads. Flowers that bloomed a deep fiery red covered the area and I stood in awe.

“It’s beautiful!”

“They make quite a sight, don’t they?” Barbatos replied as he slid the backpack he was carrying off his shoulder, opening it to retrieve two pairs of clippers. “Let’s get to work then. Cut as many as you can and tie them in bundles—it will make them easier to carry and allow us to hang them to dry as soon as we get back.”

I nodded and took one of the pairs of clippers as I stepped toward the edge of the pond.

“And be careful, Helena, there’s some less than savory creatures in these parts. Watch where you step.”

“Right,” I replied, gingerly making my way through the weeds as I approached the first patch of the lilies. They really were beautiful; deep red and orange in color and the smell was sweet and spicy at the same time. I could see why they would make good tea if they tasted half as good as they smelled.

I cut the bunch and tied them together before moving on to the next one, piling the bundles into the basket I had brought.

“How are you doing?” Barbatos asked a little further down the way, cutting several of the flowers.

“Good,” I replied.

He smiled. “When we get tired, we can break for lunch, I packed a little picnic—ah!”

He pulled his hands back from the bunch of flowers he had been cutting, looking into the weeds around it.

“Barbatos?” I asked, straightening up. “Is something wrong?”

He rubbed at the back of his wrist briefly and shook his head. “Just a bug bite, I believe. There’s quite a few of them flying around.”

“Maybe you should take your own advice and be careful?” I teased.

He gave me a longsuffering, yet fond look. “Perhaps you’re right.”

We went back to cutting, building up a sizable pile of the flowers.

I finally sat back on my heels, rubbing my forehead with the back of my hand, peeling my silver curls away from my sweaty forehead. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to carry any more than this back,” I called to Barbatos.

He had moved around the pond toward me as he worked and finally glanced over at the pile we’d cut, kneeling as he tied up the last of the flowers.

“I think you’re right,” he said and made to stand.

I was surprised to see him stagger slightly, teetering so much he had to steady himself on the trunk of a tree. I reached out instinctively to grab his arm.

“Are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask. It was rare to see him do so much as misstep. He was always so put together.

Barbatos gave a light laugh. “Quite fine, thank you. The ground is rather soft here.”

I nodded but could have sworn his unsteadiness continued as he made his way back up to where we had left our stuff. We bundled the flowers into the bags to carry them back.

“Ready for a little lunch?” the butler asked.

“Please! That was a lot of work,” I admitted.

“Hopefully rewarding work, though.” He chuckled and knelt to pull a blanket out of his bag.

I helped him spread it on the ground and we sat down as he pulled out sandwiches and thermoses of iced tea and cordial.

“This looks delicious, thank you so much for bringing lunch,” I said sincerely as I selected one of the perfectly made sandwiches.

“My pleasure,” Barbatos replied fondly and started to remove the gloves he had been wearing to collect the flowers.

As he set them aside and reached for one of the thermoses, I caught sight of a dark spot on the back of his wrist and couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped me.

“Barbatos, what is that?”

He stopped and glanced down at his arm, his own face confused. “I believe that’s where I got the bug bite.”

“Let me see,” I insisted and took his hand before I realized what I was doing. I started to flush before my worry overcame my embarrassment. There was a swollen spot on his wrist nearly the same color as his nail polish, dark veins stretching outward from it.

“This looks bad,” I said. “Are you sure it was just a bug bite?”

He studied it with a frown before pulling his sleeve down and gently slipping his hand from mine. “I’ll treat it once we get home.”

I pressed my lips together, more worried than I probably should be. It did look bad, but maybe it wasn’t actually as bad as it appeared to be.

“Please don’t worry over me,” Barbatos said. “It’s just a little inconvenience. Let’s enjoy our lunch.”

I nodded and let him pour me a cup of cold cordial. I didn’t mention the slight tremor in his hand. It might have just been my imagination.

The hike and the work had made me hungry and I ate several of the sandwiches before I noticed that Barbatos had barely finished one, mostly focusing on drinking tea. There was a sheen of sweat on his brow that was persistent despite our immobility and the pleasant breeze.

“Are you not hungry?” I asked.

“I had a large breakfast,” Barbatos replied dismissively.

My worry growing, I set my empty cup aside. “We should probably start to head back, don’t you think? Then we can get your bite tended to.”

Barbatos gave me a tired smile. “I told you I was fine, Helena…”

I ignored him and started packing everything up. He reached for the thermoses to help but knocked one over, cherry red cordial spreading over the cloth.

“Oh my, that was unforgivably clumsy of me,” he muttered, clicking his tongue.

“It’s all right, we’re just on a picnic,” I assured him. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

His hands were definitely shaking as he attempted to pick up the thermos again and I reached out to grab his hand, stopping him.

“Barbatos, you…”

He gave my hand a brief squeeze. “I’ll be all right,” he said softly, reaching up with his other hand to wipe a drop of sweat from his brow. “But you’re right, let’s get back before those flowers wilt. It’s rather warm out here today.”

I frowned. It really wasn’t that warm, and I was only growing more worried about Barbatos as we picked everything up and started back on the long hike to the car.

It didn’t take long for me to notice Barbatos lagging behind me slightly, his breathing sounding labored.

I stopped and turned to him. “Do you need to take a break?”

He frowned, slightly indignant. “No. I’m fine.”

Even as he said it, he swayed slightly, and his free hand came up to rest against his stomach, face paling.

“Barbatos, don’t lie to me,” I snapped suddenly, fist clenching around the handle of the basket I carried. “I think that bite was worse than you’re letting on.”

He looked like he was about to protest, but his shoulders slumped slightly, the hand against his stomach curling into his shirt. “Perhaps you’re right. I seem to be…experiencing several undesirable symptoms.”

“Like that?” I demanded.

He cocked his head to one side. “Fatigue, nausea, sweating.”

“Does it hurt?”

“A bit around the bite, yet.”

I nodded firmly. “Okay, thank you for being honest with me. Do you think you can make it back to the car?”

“There’s not really another option,” he admitted and I knew that was unfortunately true. He smiled though. “Unless, of course, you plan to carry me and all of these flowers.”

“I will if I have to,” I snapped, then stepped up beside him, grabbing hold of the basket handle with him. “At least let me help you.”

He sighed, but didn’t protest. “I’ll accept that.”

We continued, but I noticed with increasing worry that Barbatos’ steps grew more and more clumsy as we went along until he was nearly tripping over his feet.

“Here, lean on me,” I coaxed, ducking in.

He shook his head. “We’ll have to lose one of the baskets if we do that. I can manage…”

But even as he spoke, he let out a soft sound of pain and doubled over slightly, clutching his stomach.

“Barbatos!” I cried, instantly dropping my basket and grabbing his arms to steady him.

He gasped at my touch and flinched away. He staggered back against a tree, eyes squeezed in pain as he breathed heavily.

“What’s wrong?!” I demanded.

He gave a soft groan, forcing himself to straighten up. “It’s…I’m experiencing some muscle spasms and cramping.”

“Barbatos that’s not good!” I snapped and practically yanked the basket from him. “We need to get back to the car. We can come back for these later.”

“They’ll be past saving by then.”

“Better them than you!” I snapped.

Barbatos stared at me in surprise for a long second before he slumped in acquiescence. “Very well. I apologize for my foolishness.”

I pulled his arm around my shoulders and wrapped my other arm around his waist. He rested a lot of his weight on me, telling me just how much he was struggling.

We made it a few feet before Barbatos’ feet got tangled together and he stumbled, taking me down with him.

He caught himself with a gasp of pain and I looked down to see the hand he had steadied himself with.

Dark lines covered it, stretching from under his sleeve.

“Let me look at that,” I coaxed.

He sat back against a large stone, catching his breath as I grabbed his hand and pushed up his sleeve.

I gasped, genuinely shocked at how much worse the bite looked.

It had turned purple with a ring of red around it, the flesh slightly sunken and sickeningly discolored around it. The dark veins of poison continued up Barbatos’ arm as well, disappearing under his sleeve.

I swallowed hard. “Barbatos, I think something is very wrong with this.”

He blinked and glanced down, his own eyes widening. “Yes…I…I believe you’re right.”

“What could do this?”

He leaned further back against the rock, sweat practically pouring from his face now. “It…might be a swamp spider bite. Their bites are known to have severe symptoms and the venom can sometimes cause necrosis.”

My eyes widened in horror. “The venom is spreading! How do we stop it?”

He lolled his head, looking around. “We may be able to…draw it out. If you can find some skunk weed and…moss…”

I got up immediately, and began searching the area. Thankfully I was able to find what I needed and ran back.

Barbatos was clumsily trying to loosen his collar and I swiftly knelt beside him and reached out to help.

“Here, I’ll get you some more to drink in a minute…” I trailed off as I noticed a few faint black tendrils creeping up his neck. I peeled the collar of his shirt aside and saw that they extended from his shoulder.

“Barbatos…” I hesitated. “I need you to take your shirt off.”

He blinked at me, slightly shocked. “I’m sorry?”

I flushed, but continued. “I need to see how far this had gone.”

He complied and I helped him with the buttons, my cheeks flushing hotter as I pulled one side of his shirt open and eased his arm out of the sleeve. I would have been extremely flustered to be this close to him in his half-undressed state if I wasn’t so worried by what I had uncovered.

The black veins had traveled all the way from the suppurating wound on his wrist up to his shoulder where they were starting to spread over his neck and right pectoral.

“Barbatos,” I whispered, terror washing over me.

He tilted his head to see the extent of the damage and shut his eyes briefly. “We’ll try to draw it out with the poultice,” he said quietly.

I nodded, snapping myself into gear and crushed the plants up in my hands, pressing them against the bite and tying a kerchief around his arm to hold it there. He winced, the flesh obviously tender to the touch.

“Thank you,” he murmured, briefly pressing his hand over mine. His touch was so weak, it made me even more frantic to get him home.

“Hopefully that slows it down a little,” I said. “But we…we need to get back to the car, Barbatos. Can you make it?”

He nodded tiredly.

“Okay, I’ll help you up. On three—one, two…”

He staggered and I barely kept us both from falling. Despite his slim frame, Barbatos was solid, all lithe muscles that were currently trembling from the effects of the poison tearing its way through his veins.

My fear lent me strength, somehow keeping Barbatos upright and heading forward as we went as quickly as possible down the path.

I almost sobbed when we got to the edge of the forest and I saw the car. I got Barbatos into the passenger seat, situating him as carefully as possible before I grabbed the keys from his bag.

I drove as fast as I could while still obeying the laws of the road to get back to the palace. Barbatos was slumped in the seat, unresponsive by then and I wasn’t sure I had ever felt so much terror for anyone in my life. To think that a day that had started out so pleasant could have changed so drastically in a matter of hours. All because of a spider bite.

I skidded the car to a stop in front of the palace and hurried inside to call for help.

Amidst the hubbub Diavolo showed up.

“What’s going on?”

I swallowed hard. “Barbatos was bitten by a swamp spider…he’s…he’s really sick.” I bit the inside of my cheek but I couldn’t keep my voice from wavering.

Diavolo’s eyes widened and he hurried out to the car. “Barbatos?”

The butler didn’t respond and Diavolo waved the milling guards aside. “I’ll take him.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

He smiled at me as he reached into the car. “I’m sure. Just promise me you won’t tell him? He’d never forgive himself.”

I gave the prince a wavering smile and hurried after him as he brought Barbatos to the butler’s room, laying him on the bed.

“I called the physician, my lord,” one of the guards said.

“Thank you,” Diavolo said.

I hurried to the bathroom to grab a wet cloth. I returned to Barbatos’ bedside, and started to wipe the sweat from his face and neck, worried about the fact that the veins still seemed to be spreading, if not quite as rapidly as before.

The doctor came quickly and inspected the wound, peeling back the poultice I had put on it earlier.

“You did good putting this on,” he told me. “It kept it from getting much worse. Unfortunately, the only way to stop the spread of the venom is to cut out the infected flesh around the wound. Once we do that, we can draw the rest of the poison from his system.”

I swallowed, pale and horrified at the notion, but if that was the only way there was nothing else for it.

“I’ll get my supplies and be back shortly.” The doctor left, leaving me alone in the room with Diavolo and the unconscious Barbatos. I tried to distract myself by continuing to dab his forehead.

“I’m sure Barbatos would apologize to you for not bringing back the marsh lilies,” I said quietly.

Diavolo snorted. “Of course he would. But it’s all right. He’s a lot more invaluable to me than some specialty tea.” He gave me a soft look. “To you too, I’m sure.”

I blushed, brushing Barbatos’ bangs back from his clammy forehead. “I hate seeing him like this,” I admitted. “It’s just…wrong.”

Diavolo nodded solemnly. “I feel the same. But I genuinely appreciate how you helped him, Helena. I’m not sure Barbatos would have been so willing to be open around anyone else.”

The doctor returned, setting a tray of sterile instruments onto the bedside table.

“This should be simple enough,” he commented, taking a folded towel and placing Barbatos’ injured arm on top of it. “If you could perhaps hold him still, though? This will not be a pleasant procedure and I don’t want him moving around.”

I swallowed hard but nodded. Diavolo cleared his throat and stepped over to the bed, positioning himself to hold down Barbatos’ legs.

I took I took Barbatos’ free hand, holding it tightly in some attempt at comfort as I pressed my other hand against his shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll do this as quickly as possible,” the doctor said and took up a scalpel.

Diavolo turned aside sickly and I glanced down at Barbatos’ hand clutched in mine, holding onto him tightly.

As soon as the doctor started, Barbatos let out a soft sound of pain, tossing his head weakly. Diavolo and I leaned our weight against him, making sure he didn’t move. He tried to kick once, letting out a strangled cry, but I soothed him softly, rubbing his knuckles.

The doctor finished quickly as promised and flushed the wound over a bowl before bandaging a fresh poultice over the wound. Barbatos lay limp on the bed, sweat glistening against his brow and chest.

“There. This should start the healing process. We’ll change the poultice out a few more times until we can’t see the veins anymore.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Diavolo said.

The doctor bowed. “I’ll be back to check on him later.”

I went back to washing the sweat from Barbatos before he started to shiver and I paused to reach down and pull the blanket over him.

“I have duties that I need to see to,” Diavolo said reluctantly. “Would you watch over him for me?”

“Of course,” I said instantly.

Diavolo smiled. “Thank you. Please let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded and he left the room.

I pulled a chair over to the side of the bed and took up my vigil. I reached under the blankets and took Barbatos’ hand again, squeezing gently.

“I know you’ll get better but you scared the hell out of me,” I whispered. “Please don’t do that again.”

He didn’t reply, deeply asleep. I laid my head down on the bed at his shoulder and finally allowed my eyes to fall shut, my constant worry over the last couple hours finally dragging me into exhaustion.

I woke later to a shifting beside me and a soft moan. I started awake, my hand clenching around something as I pushed myself up, realizing where I was and whose hand I was holding.

Barbatos shifted on the bed, eyes squeezed briefly before they fluttered open, his green eyes staring out blearily before they landed on mine.

“Hey,” I said softly, offering a smile. “How are you feeling?”

He cringed, starting to pick his injured arm up before he seemed to regret the movement, letting it fall back to his side. “Not at my best, regrettably.”

I squeezed his hand and he stared up at me again, a soft expression on his face. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember much after getting back to the car, but I assume I have you to thank for getting us home.”

I shrugged a bit self-conscious. “You were sick, I had to get you help.”

I finally released his hand and reached out to adjust his blankets, checking to see how the venom was progressing. I was relieved to see that the dark veins had faded to almost nothing, only visible right around the area of the wound itself.

“Helena…” Barbatos called softly, reaching up to brush his fingers over my cheek. I reached up and pressed my hand over his, leaning into his touch with a shuddering breath.

“Please don’t scare me like that again,” I blurted.

He looked slightly surprised, but also chastened. “I deeply apologize for worrying you. I shouldn’t have ignored the bite for as long as I did. It was careless.”

I nodded silently. “Yes, it was. But I’m glad you’re okay now. And you had better stay in bed until you feel well because if you even think of getting up before you’re completely recovered…”

“Hmm, but who will see to duties while I’m convalescing?” he asked.

“I’m sure Diavolo has already lined something up. He would agree with me about your recovery.”

“And what about you?” he asked, raising his eyebrow.

I gave him a firm look. “I will be here looking after you to make sure you stay in bed and recover swiftly.”

“Is that so?” he asked with a slightly teasing look, pulling my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles, making me blush. “I suppose I can endure that.”

I smiled back. “How about some tea to start?”

He leaned back against his pillows with a sigh. “That sounds perfect.”

[knyinfinity]

Gentle Introductions

A gift for both myself and @risingscorchingsuns and also proofread by him as well. Hikaru and Amari's friendship is precious to us 🥰

Word Count: 1032

~~

The wind gently whistled through the trees that created a barrier around the meadow, blocking the two small bodied people from the rest of the world.

“I can’t help but feel as though we’ve forgotten something.” Muichiro said into the calm air as a bird flew overhead. Amari smiled slightly as she felt the crown of her and Muichiro’s heads rub against each other while both sets of their eyes were fixed skywards. There definitely couldn’t be a more picture perfect setting in her mind,

It was quiet in this slice of heaven that she’d found for the two of them. She had the one she loved most closest and he was safe, she couldn’t understand how she could be forgetting anything.

“Hikaru! Watch out!” A familiar voice rang through the silent air as the peaceful white clouds above her disappeared. And the air left her lungs.

“Ohmygoshimsosorry!” Amari heard a flurry of words thrown together but could hardly understand any of them as the mass of a purple human being made its way off of her and stood. She sat up to catch her breath, her eyes adjusting to the new person, ‘Hikaru’, now standing in front of her as Rengoku, the one who’s shout she’d heard before, caught up to the unfamiliar corps member.

She turned to see Muichiro had also sat up and was staring at her, his expression as unblinking as ever, as if watching to see how she would approach this. She merely sighed and tapped the top of his hand, slowly intertwining their fingers as they stood together. She still wasn't used to being allowed to touch him this way. She gave the Flame Hashira a suspicious look and placed her other hand on top of the hilt of her sword.

“Who's your pet?” Muichiro almost passed out. Even he knew to ask with a bit more grace than the way she just had. Hikaru’s face turned a deep shade of red, out of embarrassment or anger she wasn't really sure, as Rengoku merely laughed and wrapped his arm around Hikaru's waist.

“Pet? No, girl, this is my boyfriend!” It was at that moment she remembered the letter from Rengoku that morning proposing the idea of a double date, an introduction and celebration. Hikaru had just made rank Kinoto and Rengoku wanted to celebrate their relationship.

“I said sorry too.” Hikaru grumbled into Rengokus side. Amari hummed as the memories slowly drifted in and out with her, not really minding the presence of the violet haired boy anymore.

“So…Beetle Breathing?” She asked awkwardly. She honestly didn't know how else to start a conversation. Hikaru and Amari stared at each other for a moment.

“Smoke Breathing?” She rolled her eyes before pulling Muichiro back to the ground, laying his head in her lap as she leaned against a tree.

“I just wanted to get to know you, since you’ll be around Rengoku. It’s a self taught style, right?” He nodded hesitantly, unsure if he was being made fun of. “That’s really impressive. It takes a strong spirit and willpower to master a self taught breathing technique.” Amari flashed him a relaxed smile before returning to her usual plain look. Should he give her a hug? They’d only just met…

“I mean, I only really learned it because I couldn’t master Insect Breathing…so it’s not really that impressive…” He gave himself an awkward laugh before dropping his hands in his lap.

“He’s too hard on himself!” Kyojuro spoke up suddenly, and loudly, startling the two younger ones, but if he noticed he didn’t pause. “The more intricate that the breathing styles become, the more difficult they are to master. That means that you are well on your way to becoming a formidable opponent! To a demon anyways.” He finished with a reassuring thigh rub while Muichiro and Amari both sat nodding.

“We should make flower crowns.” Amari said suddenly. Muichiro began picking random flowers and weeds without argument while Hikaru looked at her with a confused expression.

“It sounds cute, but why? Oooo dragonfly!” He shouted, causing Rengoku to smile with a shake of his head as he wached his beautiful partner take off after the winged creature. He couldn’t help but admire him in the fading sunset light.

As he and Hikaru began to chase each other around, laughing and playing some random game of tag, Amari merely began to hum a quiet lullaby to herself as she watched them play. She watched Muichiro lie back down as he relaxed into her warmth and watched her hands intricately twine the flowers stems together.

“So what do you think of him?” He asked her as she held the crown out towards him. He nodded and sat up a bit, allowing her to place it on his head while she shrugged in response to his question.

“Why does it matter what I think?” Laughter rang in the background as Hikaru tackled Rengoku to the ground. They watched the two roll around for a minute before Mui answered again with a more insistent tone in his voice.

“Amari…” She sighed as she began weaving flower stems again. She didn’t want to admit it to herself but in the short time she’s seen and known him, she’s actually grown quite fond of Hikaru.

“I think that he’s a wonderful match for Rengoku and I think that his breathing style is a beautiful reflection of that. I think that he’s sweet…” She held the second unfinished crown, comparing it to her head for a moment before continuing. “I think it’ll be fun learning to be friends.” A soft smile crossed her face as the words left her lips before it was her normal flat expression as she went back to focusing on her crown and threading the stems.

“Kyo, can you cut this side of the forest in half with your Total Concentration Breathing?”

“I’m not sure, shall we find out?” Muichiro met her gaze for a long moment before hurrying over to where they were standing facing the forest that hid their sanctuary.

Things would be a bit more interesting for the four of you from here on out at least.

[greatcometcas]

Hi!! i'm asking a bunch of people but do you have any destiel au best friend to lovers fic recs???? pleaseeeeee (no abo) thank youuuuu!!!! oh also as an aside I loveeeeeee your message "make your voice. a mail." to ask you something

Hello and thank you for the ask! Sorry for taking ages to answer 💖

Here are some fics that aren't specifically best friend to lovers but hopefully still fit what you're looking for. I wanted to do somewhat detailed thoughts on why i picked each one but also my memory is terrible so it's a lot of. listen. they're best friends. they're in love. i did cry.

drive, darling by @goldenboydean (E, 44k)

It's the last day of July and the air is thick with heat and road dust. Dean Winchester is waiting for his new lodger, some photographer from Chicago coming down to take pictures of the famous covered bridges in the area. And when Castiel Novak arrives at the Winchester farm both men develop a bond that grows stronger as the days go by. But Cas is only here for a short stay and Dean fears that falling for him would only end in a heartbreak. Some things, however, are inevitable. Summer is in full bloom in Madison County, Iowa. Hot, cloudless and ripe with possibilities.

This fic is such a comfort to me. Dean and Cas strike up a instant connection and then watching them get to know each other and build that connection into something more is really beautiful. It's also very lovingly portrays the community that dean has found for himself with his friends and has great little brother Sammy stuff.

A Weed in Any Other Place by @scones-and-texting-and-murder (E, 63K)

When Cas Novak’s car breaks down after a meeting with his agent about his overdue second novel, he heads to the nearest garage. Stuck there with his laptop as he waits for repairs, he finds himself unusually productive. The next day he sheepishly returns to the garage in hopes that they’ll let him sit and write and magic will strike again. This time he meets Dean, the son in Winchester & Son, who is doing his best to run the family business on his own. As the two of them get to know each other, little details–-like a vase with a single flower by the register–-show Cas that there is more to Dean Winchester than meets the eye.

A dreamy, delightful, romcom fic. I was hooked right from the start and read it all in basically one sitting. There was a lot of blushing and being unable to control my face in public. The budding friendship turned romance between dean and cas is so sweet.

Lonesome Town by @green-eyes-and-classic-rock (E, 113K)

In the Spring of 1958, Castiel drops out of West Point to go back to NYC and pursue his dream of being a pianist. Tragedy strikes, and soon he finds himself having to take care of his 8 year old niece, Claire. His gig at a local bar is his only solace...well that and the owner of the bar who he quickly finds he can't live without.

Been a while since I read this one but my bestie and i still talk about it on the regular. I'm a sucker for a period AU and the delicious angst here is definitely a bonus. Pianist!Cas lives in my heart always.

Sleepless in Lawrence, Kansas by @princemalice

Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental.

A Sleepless in Seattle AU (ish). Cas hosts a call-in radio show and Dean becomes one of his regular callers, so their friendship is built in this beautiful on-air bubble. Seeing them get to know each other and become comfortable with one another, even while anyone could be listening, is lovely and Dean and Cas having the time to just talk is something that will always be so special to me. It's also got a really great Sam and Dean dynamic.

spirit of the west by @urne-buriall (M 140k)

Dean grew up on a horse farm and can't imagine any other life. There are drawbacks to working for his father, but they're worth it if it means remaining with his beloved horses. Besides, between his broken arm and his lack of prospects, he hasn't got much else. Something of an outsider, Dean always feels like there's something he's missing. But this tense summer brings back a figure from his past: years ago, a teenaged Cas worked for a season at the Winchester ranch. His return could change everything. If you ever wanted a 90s horse girl book, but starring a young Dean Winchester, this is your fic.

When I first read this one, I had to keep putting my kindle down and do a lap around my apartment because of the pure surge of emotions it gave me. There's also a fantastic playlist to accompany it.

--

Some of these are definitely fics that I found through other blogs/rec lists so maybe they've already popped up in your ask adventure? in that case, consider my recommendation a further endorsement. And if you find any new faves from anyone else please share!

[nancypullen]

Friday Evening

I’ve ranted, raved, and cried.  You probably don’t want to hear it anymore. I know we’re all saturated with bad news and you didn’t come here for that. SO...although I will continue to rant and rave to my elected officials and donate to candidates who will work for change, back to our regularly schedule programming.   I have a bird.  Well, I had a bird.  I named him Jeffrey, but the call of the wild was stronger than his love for me.  Let me start at the beginning. Yesterday I was in the front yard prepping the flower bed for spring planting.  It had gotten weedy and ugly because we really didn’t have much of a winter.  Earlier this week I was thrilled that iris bulbs that a dear friend sent to me last year were blooming.  There’s a very sweet story behind them and I’ll get to that too.

Oh, happy day! This made my heart so light! Thank you, Dina. Anywhoooo, I was on my hands and knees, pulling weeds and singing along to Three Dog Night when I heard a loud THUNK!  I turned just in time to see a bird bounce off the basketball goal of the house across the street. Poor fella hit the street and fluttered around a bit before getting still. I felt awful for him and sort of kept one eye on him while I continued weeding.  I battled with my urge to rush over and save him and the dread of seeing a dead bird.  Then I realized that if he was alive I couldn’t just leave him there for a car to hit or a cat to torture.  I walked into the street and saw that he was very much alive, so I scooped him up and assured him I wouldn’t hurt him.  He thanked me by pooping in my hand.

I didn’t mind. I figured it was either the poop of death, the poop was scared out of him, or he’d just enjoyed a nice lunch at my bird feeder.  He didn’t seem embarrassed, but that might be the effects of the concussion.  I sat in the sunshine with him and we talked.  He was a good listener, but seemed to have some short term memory issues.  He slowly started to perk up and his little chirps became more inquisitive.  I stroked him and kind of checked his wings and legs and everything seemed to be in working order.  This was when Stanley, the tabby from down the street (I don’t know his real name, he’s Stanley to me) strolled onto the porch.  Interesting timing, Stanley.  I have a little video that I’ll try to post.  Moving right along, Jeffrey showed steady improvement and over time hopped from my hand to my leg, then to my shoulder.  We bonded.

Don��t judge me, I was working in the garden. I sent this picture to my boys.

Then I sent it to my sister.

I was seeing a delightful trend in the responses.  What granny doesn’t want to feel like a princess for a day?  Then I sent it to MIckey.

He does not think I’m a princess, he assumed that I had somehow lured or tricked that bird.  I have to admit, he’s merely judging from past experience. Of course, I later told him the truth about the poor bird with the traumatic brain injury that I saved from certain death.

After quite a while porch sitting with Jeffrey he hopped to the back of my chair, and then to the porch railing before flying away.

I don’t regret one minute of our brief but meaningful relationship and I’m sure that he feels the same.  I’m hoping he’ll spread the word about the nice lady on Kathryn Court and tell the other birdies not to poop on my car. Other than acting as an avian EMT, I’ve been finishing up the changes to the downstairs powder room.  It’s nearly ready for a reveal and I’m so tickled with the results. The new faucet arrives tomorrow and I’ve got .a piece of art to hang over the commode yet. Almost finished! I probably won’t post for two or three days - the Edgewater gang is coming for the weekend, we’ll celebrate Mickey’s birthday on Sunday (even though it’s not until the 4th), and we’re spending the day in D.C. on Monday.  We’ll take in the cherry blossoms, visit the African-American Museum, and  hopefully take a turn in the National Gallery.    Might not post until Monday night or Tuesday morning.  Until then, stay safe, stay well, keep your chin up. Sending out loads of love-

Nancy

[crackedmarrow]

Eventually I will flow with the wind but that’s for later now I’m confused and anxious

Feeling sheltered and safe but still cold I feel like maybe I’m missing the whole meaning

I feel internal sadness it pierces me constantly

I want to be free I must free myself

I feel like I’m in a prison a world with boarders edges

There is an end

When I was little I never knew the world to feel like a cage

But here I am in the cage in a cell inside a maximum security prison

Where I try and grow flowers out of the concrete

Weeds but no flowers just living and stuck in a world with no comfort no real protection no shelter everything has to be questioned but for how long must I wait and see the good

My story my life feels like it’s a slow burn

It may ignite it may not it feels like I am in a cage and I want to free myself from this cage

I’m locked with mates of grief and codependency to an extent.

I never saw my life like this I never pictured that it would make me feel this way

There is no saving me that’s all I see but I still have hope for something better something new something to believe in.

I will put my faith in whatever that is idc what it is a simple piece of lint a seed off a dandelion.

I use to wish all the time and I feel like my wishes are just empty confessions of what I really want what I feel I need and deserve.

I don’t understand why I feel the way I do

I feel distanced creeping in through the floor boards of the old wooden house no blanket just taking it.

I’m tired of taking it I’m tired of going with the flow I’m tired of this uneasy feeling I just want to be let go and not consumed as some fucking accessory some object some being to fill the void.

I want to be whole again I want to be free again I want to live with no regrets I want to be the love of someone’s life with no questions no being stuck on what could of been just me I asked for that I always ask for that. I only hope the person I envision all of this with feels the same way as me.

I can’t keep living this lie though this lie of feeling like everything is alright I don’t know why I worry the way I do but I worry and I cry I cry all the time even when I try and smile I don’t feel like I love myself anymore because I feel this shadow of being betrayed following me I hate this feeling of not being understood or not understanding what I thought I understood.

I don’t like being lied to because I know it’s all for some twisted plot or some climax in another persons story but what about me what about the fact that I never ever really wanted to have a story alone.

I’ve always wanted to share a story and it just be that and then from there we become a tale but true… how no matter what nothing stopped us and it was a time where two beings controlled the universe and they shaped it.

I don’t understand why I feel the way I do but distance only ever made me want to be more distant.

I feel that right now in this time I have a cruel winter approaching but I still wish for all the good in the world to happen even if it is not for me.

Honestly people don’t realize how much I’ve given up of myself to make sure they felt a way I’ve given up my dignity my sanity my breath my own connection to self.

I wanted to be there for someone and all I ever feel is cold.

I don’t feel good right now it’s taking all I have not to sit in this chair and cry and it’s not that I do it to myself it’s just what I know what I’ve seen and what I’ve seen doesn’t look good.

All my examples are faulty

The wiring was wrong the connection was never there everything I see it all

The need to run away and find the better but when it’s far far and when life is already limited.

I mean I can take it for the lesson the best love is better than no love and I think sometimes people settle because they don’t realize what there could be and what should be

They just settle for some ordinary ordained love and they settle to appease the masses but never themselves and then wonder why they wonder around with others I don’t want that I want to be certain about my choice and my decision for it may be one of the only few decisions I’ve made in my whole life.

Nobody really knows anything about anyone but the one time I felt that I had given it to the right person I still felt this feeling of not being able to be consumed in my full entirety.

I no longer weep about anything I just watch with dry eyes I don’t say hell I don’t say goodbye I just sit and I don’t even think I don’t even feel that nothing deserves an emotion out of me anymore and that’s how I know I’ve grown but not for the better I want to be able to feel I know there is something or someone out there for everyone

My brain is more so trying to fit in to this 3D plane and I’m not even fully there.

I feel that there is something I’m doing wrong maybe I have to go to a place and randomly talk to folks and that be the answer to my problems but then again it also leaves me hallow and empty I don’t wish to be chased and I don’t wish to be at peace if it is a lie.

I don’t think that I will ever understand the way I feel myself but I know this feeling is not right

Like an ejected tape.

Same kindred spirits just in different forms and body’s come out.

I ignore them all though because that same spirit has not yet learned it’s wrong doings

I have and I accept mine but does that take away from the fact of being wrong but the thing is I don’t know if I can ever forgive because I feel with forgiveness it must be learned and earned I feel like I can learn to forgive someone when they have learned what they’ve done is wrong.

Everyday I feel like I’m in a rat race with invisible creatures and reptiles and that one ray of light

[pockymun]

2024 Garden - Week 9 (8/4-8/9)

The green bean plants have gotten more aggressive towards the cucumbers. Their flowers are taking some time to blossom.

There's plenty of big tomatoes on the plants, enough that they're starting to topple over the side of the raised bed.

The cucumber plants decided to put on more foliage than fruits this week. I thought they'd only have to be pruned once. There were only three cucumbers ready on Monday morning. I guess after last week's haul, the plants are a little tired!

Still waiting on the dill heads for pickling. The smaller dill don't seem to be going anywhere. The carrot leaves are getting longer, but I don't really know what's going on underground.

After work on Wednesday, I went to the garden with the intention of doing my monthly volunteer work. I was going to weed around the apple trees. But I took the pruners with me. After 45 minutes of pruning my own plants, I decided that was enough work and I needed to leave before I did more damage.

The tomato plants are naked. Just about all the leaves were yellow with brown spots! It didn't help with the weight. I twisted some branches onto each other to support one another, and so they would stop hanging in the aisle so much. I cut off all the branches that didn't have fruit on them, and a couple that did.

A lot of leaves on the cucumber plants were yellowing or had spots on them. I think it's just a common leaf spot problem, but they aren't exactly healthy so I cut them off. At least I can see into the plants now, right?

There's plenty of baby cucumbers on the plants. Next week should be a big haul.

Even the green bean plants were pruned slightly. I cut away the stems that were crowding the tomatoes and cucumbers. I don't see the cucumber plants growing much taller, so the green bean plants can take the top of the trellis. I think I saw some little pods near the flowers!

With all this pruning, the plants on the other side of the raised bed are left alone. The leaves of the carrots are getting bigger. The dill are just there. The jalapenos are making a couple fruit at a time.

We got hit with the remains of Tropical Storm Debby today. There was standing water around my raised bed. The plants were thoroughly drenched, but about an hour before I arrived, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. We had a good breeze going to start drying stuff off.

We've gotten a lot of rain in the past couple weeks. I think even the cucumber plants need some dry time. Luckily, it's not supposed to rain all next week.

This week's harvest wasn't much. Five regular sized cucumbers and two jalapenos. I could make a small batch of pickles, but I think I'll just make a salad this week. I took a better picture of the green bean plants on the cucumber trellis.

[dazzlingfantasiesblogs]

You Decided This

WOW.. Been a bit!!! So, I finished The Walking Dead (Finally) and Daryl Dixon and decided to start writing for TWD too.

Here is a new one!

Warning: Sexual Themes, Vioulence, Abuse, Cursing

“It has been some time Y/N” Aaron spoke quietly, careful to not push your fight response. “Looking at the one armed man you smiled lightly. “Long time no see stranger. How are you?” Looking up from your garden, he looked around carefully to not step in any traps. “Follow the blue stones” Nodding he made his way to you. Sitting down, he watched as you picked vegetables and removed weeds. “Aaron, I know you didn’t come to watch me garden. What is going on?” He took a deep breath nodding. “We need you.. I need you..” Sighing slightly you took off your gardening gloves. “I can’t. Not if HE is around.” “I wouldn’t ask unless with was.. important..” Looking into his eyes you nodded once.

Giving the lowdown on the whisperers and the multiple people who died you didn’t know how to react. Jesus and Tara and you had been very close. Jesus coming to visit every so often to get away from the Hilltop. He often told you everything he knew about the surrounding areas.

Staring at the flowers, you didn’t know what to say. “I heard of the whisperers and seen them about a week ago. Judith told me about them too.” “Judith told you..?” looking back at him you nodded. “She sometimes sends a letter on Sawyer and he runs it back to me.”.  Aaron nodded, picking at his zipper, trying to rip off the band aid of what his request was. “There is a girl,, named Lydia..” Aaron continued to tell you her struggles within the community. Everything that happened with her and how everyone treats her poorly. “I get that pain…” you spoke out looking to him. “What does she have to do with me Aaron?” “She would be safer with you.. You can relate to her in more ways than one..” “What would you tell everyone? Hey I dropped Lydia off at Y/N house?” Aaron chuckled. “No.. no one knows you live here beside Jesus and  I . Plus you have it so blocked off and tapped up, if anyone did go looking for this place, they are long dead before the reach this cottage. “I can’t risk seeing him Aaron..” “He is at the Hilltop right now.. Lydia is in Alexandria… Gabriel, Rosita, Eugene.. we all miss you..” Putting your hand up you stopped him from talking anymore about it. “Fine.. Let me get my gear and we can head to get this poor girl..”

“Come on Buck!” getting on your horse, your white dog following by your side. “Sawyer, Scout!” The dog ran ahead of you and Aaron as you made your way to Alexandria.

Walking through the gate, you sucked in your teeth looking around. Memories flashing back to all the times with him. The stinging pain in your heart making its way to your stomach. The feeling making you want to vomit the lunch you had before leaving. Walking through the field of crops you saw a young girl picking weeds. Seeing her arms, you could tell instantly this is the girl Aarron told you about. “Lydia, can I speak to you?” Lydia stood up walking towards you. She looked nervous, looking you up and down. “Lydia this is Y/N. She is a trusted friend, amazing warrior and knows what it is like to be an outcast..” Aaron spoke sadly at the words. Lydias interest was peaked and her anxiety showed the way she wobbled back and forth. “Hello Lydia. As Aaron said my name is Y/N.. This is Sawyer..” nodding to your dog. “I live in a cottage about an hours ride from here. It is safe, secure and sustainable. I built it with my own two hands. I have a spare bedroom. I can teach you how to properly hunt, take care of yourself. Without relying on others..” You nodded to the rest of Alexandria. “Not to mention, you will be away from.. those who look down on you.. I won’t force you since you just met me. I am only staying the night. It will be up to you.” Speaking calmly to her you handed her a picture of your home. She looked it over and smiled lightly. “It is beautiful..” “It is home..” smiling to her. “Y/N?!” Hearing your name you looked behind Lydia. Gabriel and Rosita running over. “It has been years since we have seen you!!” Gabriel hugged you tightly, Rosita next. “Nice to see you two.” “What are you doing here?!” Rosita asked looking to Lydia than you. “I going to live with Y/N!” Lydia spoke before you could. “What? That is a council decision..” Gabriel spoke sternly, his demeanor changing quickly. “Fuck your council. This girl has been through hell. Instead of protecting her, you allow others to harm her. Because you think she is the result of the others death.” You stood in front of Lydia, putting and arm in front of her and placing her behind you swiftly. “It was a matter of time before you ran in with the Whisperers. Especially since they are on your doorstep. She is not to be at fault for the others death. Just like you Rosita are not the fault of Sashas. It was going to happen either way..” Rositas eyes went wide when you put it into perspective. Gabriel took one step forward. Drawing your swords quickly you held them to his neck. “ This isn’t up for discussion Gabriel.” Aaron chuckled silently. He know the council would try to intervene and you would not have it if someone was in danger.

Gabriel nodded once. Sliding your swords back in their holsters, you turned away from them , Sawyer and Lydia following you.. “You can sleep..” “I will sleep on the roof.” Speaking you cut off Gabriel. “I was just going to give her another hug.. she was ready to behead me..” he shook his head watching you lead Lydia away.

“Why are you helping me..?” Lydia spoke quietly. “Because, I know how it is.. I don’t know.. Just..  figured I could help you.” “You don’t know me though..” chuckling you looked back at her “You don’t know me either. But, I can sense you are a good kid.” “I can sense you can keep me safe” both of you chuckling staring at the night sky. “Why did you leave..?” “A man I loved.. crushed me to nothing..”

Waking up you felt a shoulder nudge. “Y/N you gotta go!” Aaron spoke out, worry in his eyes. “He is here. .I didn’t know he was coming back, I swear!” “Fuck..” Getting up, you slid your swords on your back. Lydia awoke seeing pull your hair to side noticing a tattoo she had seen before. It was a small skull on your neck, with X’s for eyes. “It is Daryl who broke… your heart.” Lydia spoke quietly. “Yeah..”

“It is fucking like  you like puttin yahself in danger!” Daryl hollered at you. The fight was over with the saviors. Everyone was exhausted beyond reason. You had done a lot during the savior wars. Even getting asked to marry Negan to save Daryl. While Negan tried time and time again to kiss you, have sex with you.. you always had a quip or pushed him away. The sole reason you agreed, was to make sure Daryl stayed alive in lockup.  “Putting myself in danger? Who the fuck are you talking too?!” Getting toe to toe with the archer you looked him in the eyes. “I fuckin saved your ass. Like I always fucking do. You were pinned down by all of them.. You really thought I was just going to let that happen?!” “You are a dumb bitch.. just go. I am so fucking sick of you always bitching and moaning. No one needs you here! Hell no one wants you here! Always going against Rick.. Just fucking go Y/N.. I am done with you.. with this relationship.. Fuck you..” Daryl didn’t break stride once as he said those words to you. Daryl and you had been jointed to the hip for years keeping each other safe. Not getting into a situationship till the prison. “GO!” He hollered shoving you, pushing a finger into your bullet wound on your right shoulder. Wincing, you stepped back. Never did you think Daryl would intentionally hurt you. Leaving the house, you walked to the park in Alexandria, looking over the water. Everyone was having a party, happy for everything to be done. When you started to walk back to your shared home, you saw Daryl putting his tongue down another woman’s throat. You packed a bag, and headed for the gate. That is when Tera tried to stop you.

You told Lydia some of the story. Not mentioning everything to save yourself new heartbreak. Getting into the house you walked down the stairs. Pulling a cloak over your head,  you grabbed Lydia's hand. “Aaron get Buck and meet me at the gate..” Aaron nodded heading out the front door. You and Lydia headed out the back. The south side of the gate was the opposite where Daryl was last seen. “Sawyer!” calling to the dog, he quickly made way to you. Getting close to the gate, you saw Buck and Aaron standing there. Helping Lydia up first, you got on behind her. Aaron opened the gate quickly. Not even a minute after closing the door, Daryl walked by looking over Aaron who seemed out of breath. “You ok man?” Raising an eyebrow he looked him over. “YUP! Gracie just had me running around with her this morning!” Aaron mentally kicked himself for the lame excuse. The archer nodded slowly walking away from Aaron. Turning back to see the one handed man standing there looking past the gate.

[savetooru]

where the blue-moon weed grows

something something went out for discount okonomiyaki and overpriced iced coffee and it was sweltering this morning. the sky bled a little bit earlier so everything's glassy and yellow 'round the edges now; mom's taking a nap on the couch and the electric fan and i are best friends again. our phones are so high tech these days that photos don't really look like photos anymore: for anybody lucky enough to remember those kitschy sepia instagram filters circa 2014— i'm living it as we speak. there's something restless thrumming under my skin. picture a body inside of a body. like a set of matryoshka dolls, except the smallest one is glowing something blinding. curled up in fetal position and weeping a bit, kicking out at its seven-inch sandbox. (you've got a ticket burning a hole in your pocket, so tell me where we go from here. didn't you say anywhere would be fine? as long as you could connect people and come closer to understanding them, anywhere would have been fine.) this time last year i wrote a poem about how hollow summer left me so it's crazy i have the opposite problem now. hah. i started this blog in february touting i've a lot to say but none of the right words to say it. another june come and i dunno that i'm any better than i was before. all this light and nowhere to put it. all this light and i'm crumbling under the weight of it. ma, i wish i could hear you talk about what it takes to grow orchids one more time. i read somewhere they can be difficult to care for. don't think about 'em too much was the advice, if i remember right. figures it's something i'm terrible at. (if i could make up the rest of the story, i'd want a something short and sweet for the road: the flowers grow while you aren't watching. they're shy and slow to face the sun. the flowers grow when you aren't looking, whether you will them to or not.) — on that note: my head aches. i've missed a session of exercise and will have to space out double sets to compensate for it later. my body officially checked out just past four-thirty and there are worse things in the world than going to bed early, but i'll try to hold out a little longer. i'm convinced missing sunset saps the soul of its texture, or something.

[nathank77]

4/19/24

5:30 a.m edited/added to 5:44 a.m

I feel like the cbd gummies have crack in them or something addictive. I keep thinking take 100mg a day. And then I'm like bro... this 40$ monthly cost that's with 20% off... it's like 50$ with shipping and no discount a month for 50MG... will become like weed then I'll have no disposable income....

I mean but I keep thinking take more. Just do 100mg a day. I didn't feel like this on the tinctures...but I was only taking 15MG.

The gummy wasn't that good but it wasn't bad tasting... but it wasn't like idk let's say candy. I can't think of a candy I really like atm...

Idk if my brain is like omg SWEETS even if it's not that great tasting. Or if my brain is like WOAH this cbd is doing something and more of it could do more.

Idk, I don't want to spend hundreds on cbd. I've been looking at flower and this can turn into a very high monthly cost... I would buy a vape if they were sold anywhere. They are cleaner and smooth and I like them.

I really want to vape my weed cartridges... I'm starting to think Maybe- at some point I got to accept that I'm not going to get any better than this. Like if I start to smoke some weed, and it gets worse it will very slowly and marginally get worse over time, it won't go full swing. And it was getting better slowly over time when I was smoking.

Also I know the warning signs- mental pictures and the voice getting more intelligent, louder, more creative, etc.

So I've got to figure out when I think the benefits outweigh the risks... I won't be one of those guys who drops hundreds on cbd even though research shows people with schizophrenia who took 1500mg a day had a significant reduction in positive symptoms.... if I took 1500mg a day I'd have to eat all those gummies in one day... I can't afford that kind of cost.

I mean tbh I've accepted that this is my new life. I'll hallucinate until the day I die even if I turn 100. I don't expect to recover. I don't think I'll ever hear silence again....

So when is the right time to try weed again and try to sleep without Xanax? Cause I want a semblance of my old life back. Weed made everything more enjoyable. Video games. Sex. Everything. Even ocd. Even anxiety. It made psychosis more tolerable when I was at my worst.

And that day I tried it March 7th. I was so scared of getting schizophrenia but my brain was like THANK YOU. I felt more calm and like everything was aligning again. Like I needed it but the anxiety wasn't worth it. Worrying about schizophrenia wasn't worth it.

When is the right time to say, this is my new life, it would be great to not be on benzodiazepines just to sleep and maybe just maybe I'll recover anyways? Or maybe I'll never recover regardless?

A year? 2 years? We are at 6 month already. I mean when makes sense to say this one substance really helped and I could sleep without benzodiazepines again?

And if it starts to get worst I could just stop and then I'd just have more Xanax stocked up... when is the right time to give it a shot?

I won't get schizophrenia I would have in October if the vaping was going to Tedder totter me over the edge. I don't want it to get worse but I don't relax anymore. I can't relax without my benzodiazepines. I'm like a busy bee. I have to keep myself busy or stare blankly at the tv I'm not the guy I used to be in a lot of good ways but every bad way is I'm always stressed and trying to overcompenstate for it...

When is the right time to say this is truly forever and taking maybe 3 steps back and noticing my mental pictures change back a little and stopping is worth the risk?

When will my life go back to what it was in some sort of way? I don't want it to get worse. However weed was truly medicinal. And I've been without for months and now I'm having panic attacks. Everything it worse.

Idk. I truly don't think i will ever not hallucinate. I think my brain is permanently broken. So is it worth it now to try it?

Improvement is so marginal. And I mean so fucking marginal it's not even worth mentioning. In feb was when my mental pictures went into motion. Thats about as monumental as it gotten. I still hallucinate 24/7.........

I haven't seen much of a change in anything except mental pictures, since let's say February which oddly enough was when the last of the thc left my system and I feel it's flat lined since.

[bestbudscolorado]

Glow in the Dark Cannabis- More than Fiction

Glow in the Dark Cannabis: Lighting Up the Future

By Laura Ohman #bestbudsco

www.bestbudsco.com

In the shadowy corners of the gardening and biotech industries, a luminescent revolution is brewing, sparked by the development of glow-in-the-dark petunias. Yes, you heard that right—petunias that double as natural nightlights for your garden parties. But let’s be real, as groundbreaking as illuminated flowers are, the world (and all the #bestbudsco clients) is holding their breath for the next big glow-up. Enter the idea of glow-in-the-dark cannabis, an innovation that promises to illuminate the path to a brighter, more colorful future.

High Visibility

Imagine navigating your way through a dimly lit room, guided only by the soft, ethereal glow of your cannabis plant. This isn't just your average nightlight; this is functional decor with a twist. With glow-in-the-dark cannabis, gone are the days of clumsily knocking over your plant in the dark. Now, it stands as a beacon of green (or blue, or pink) light, guiding you safely on your midnight snack raids.

Cultivating Conversation

The social implications are as vibrant as the plants themselves. Picture hosting a party where your glowing greenery becomes the center of conversation, outshining even the most exquisitely mixed cocktails. "Did you see Jeff's glowing weed?" will become the new "Did you catch that ludicrous display last night?" These botanical beauties are not just plants; they're conversation starters, party enhancers, and possibly the future of home decor.

Practical Applications

Beyond the aesthetic appeal and social cachet, glow-in-the-dark cannabis could have practical applications as well. For cultivators, these glowing plants could serve as a living status indicator, perhaps changing colors to signal nutrient needs or water levels, turning the cultivation process into a visually interactive experience. The possibilities are as endless as they are colorful. And our Best Buds cultivation growers are drooling at the possibilities.

A Bright Future... With Some Caveats

Before we get too carried away with visions of bioluminescent bouquets from #bestbudsco, it’s worth considering the practicalities. The creation of glow-in-the-dark petunias, as reported, involves sophisticated genetic engineering techniques. Applying similar technology to cannabis would involve navigating a labyrinth of legal and ethical considerations, not to mention the technical challenges. And let's not forget the debates about GMOs; if people are concerned about genetically modified tomatoes, imagine the uproar over genetically modified cannabis.

Moreover, while the thought of a softly glowing stash may light up our imaginations, the impact on the plants’ THC levels, growth patterns, and overall health remains a hazy area of speculation. Will glowing in the dark come at the expense of potency? Or could it perhaps enhance it, leading to a new era of "enlightened" cultivation?

Conclusion: A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

As we stand on the brink of this glowing frontier, it's clear that glow-in-the-dark cannabis, while still a twinkle in the eye of science, holds the potential to transform not just gardens, but social gatherings, cultivation practices, and even interior design. Whether these radiant revelations will bloom into reality or remain the pipe dreams of imaginative enthusiasts, one thing is certain: the future looks bright (pun fully intended).

So, let’s keep our eyes peeled and our grow lights dimmed in anticipation of what could be the next big glow-up in the cannabis industry. After all, in a world where we’ve already made petunias that can light up the night, is glow-in-the-dark cannabis so far out of reach? Only time, science, and perhaps a bit of regulatory flexibility will tell. Until then, check out www.bestbudsco.com for all your Colorado cannabis needs, and dream of a world where "getting lit" takes on a whole new meaning.

[bethestaryouareradio]

2024 Garden Goals

Hope and faith flower from the cheerful seeds of the old year to the sprouting garden of the new year's dawn. ~Terri Guillemets

By February, most of the resolutions made on January 1st have been waylaid. Our dreams of losing weight, becoming more organized, and being better might have already turned into nightmares. If we want to be triumphant in life, we need to make conscientious changes, or else we are doomed to stagnation. February is the perfect month to create our year’s gardening goals. If we do a little at a time, step by step, and commit to success, we will achieve our landscaping goals. There is a saying, “By the inch, it’s a cinch.” Choose one or two goals per month and make it happen. The only way to predict the future is to create it. To become a better gardener, we need to be flexible, adopt innovative ideas, and learn from our mistakes. Whatever your level of gardening expertise, you will benefit from several of these suggestions. Get going, get growing.

Keep Track

Whether you write in a notebook or create a digital diary, journaling about what’s happening in your landscape will be a valuable resource.

Be Inquisitive

Don’t be afraid to go to your local nursery to ask questions. Talk to gardeners you admire: your grandmother, a neighbor, or even a total stranger. There are no dumb questions. Gardeners are flattered to share their knowledge.

Grow the world.

Whether it’s planting an emerging specimen or experimenting with garden art, try something new. Go global and experience a specimen from another part of the planet.

Keep on Learning

To educate means to draw forth. Take a class, read a book, join a garden club, attend a lecture, watch a documentary, or surf the internet. Whatever gives you pleasure in learning, go to a place of discovery and growth. Educate yourself.

Be a mentor

Many gardeners developed their passion for the earth (including myself) by following a parent, friend, or relative through the garden. Share your knowledge through example and offer your insights to neighbors and friends, and especially to inquisitive children.

Take a Stroll

Walk through your garden every day to witness the changes. You don’t have to necessarily do anything more than enjoy the serenity. By actively seeing and listening to your garden, you’ll be able to spot problems, find the perfect location for the new birdhouse, and receive the benefits of natural exercise.

Embrace Composting

Nothing will enhance your garden more than regularly adding organic matter to your soil. Composting is so simple once you get in the habit. I keep a five-gallon bucket inside my garage and right outside my kitchen. Add coffee grinds, eggshells, tea bags, shredded newsprint, wood ashes, vegetable scraps, and anything biodegradable. Lawn clippings, leaves, wood shavings, and weeds can all be mixed into a compost pile or bin. Don’t include meat, dog and cat excrement, or diseased plants. If you have chickens or rabbits, their droppings are gold for the garden. Chicken manure needs to be aged for two to three years or it will burn your plants. Turn your compost pile every few months and when it smells earthy and crumbles like chocolate cake, spread it around your plants.

Make a list

When you make a weekly to-do list of what you need to do in your garden, you can do a little each day, and check off the tasks as you have the time. You’ll feel exhilarated by accomplishing one or two small chores in an hour here and an hour there. No need to spend the entire weekend laboring in the yard. Instead, take time for a barbeque or sit under a tree with a good book to relax and enjoy nature.

Mulch for Garden Health

By maintaining a three-inch covering of mulch, you’ll reduce erosion, maintain ground temperature, suppress weeds, conserve water, and prevent disease. Leaves, pine needles, shredded bark, wood chips, and even gravel offer these benefits while beautifying and unifying the look of your landscape.

Take Pictures

Having the advanced cameras in our smartphones, it is easy to photograph our gardens. Take photos in every season for better record keeping as well as to document the years. It’s amazing how quickly our gardens change and evolve. My library now holds over 40,000 photos from my garden!

       11. Treasure Trees

In 2023, the U.S. Forest Service reported that 36.3 million trees died in California in 2022 from drought, insects, and disease. Care for the trees you already have and if you have the space, plant a tree that you’ve always wanted. Trees combat global warming, absorb CO2, provide oxygen, clean our air, cool our environments, conserve energy, prevent erosion, supply nourishment, offer play spaces, grant shade, and increase the value of our land.

       12. Bee Friendly

Make your garden attractive to birds, bees, butterflies, and bats and you’ll enjoy a healthy, happy landscape. Provide pollen-rich food, shelter, water, and landing places for beneficial visitors.

 Forget Perfection

My motto has always been “failure is fertilizer’. There are no mistakes in the garden. If you plant something and it doesn’t grow, don’t lament. Throw the plant on the compost pile and grow a new garden. Keep in mind that Mother Nature is always in charge. The birds, bees, wind, and wildlife will always be introducing something to your design that you did not plan. Strive for excellence but deep six the idea of ‘perfection’ or you’ll be deeply disappointed.

Gardening is good for you. Gardening boosts morale, lowers your grocery bill, and is a free fitness center. Sprout a new year’s garden with hope, faith, and garden goals. A garden’s best crop is happiness. Plant some today.

And don’t forget to the give the gift of flowers or plants on Love Day, February 14th!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy Valentine’s Day!

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardenerat https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Family Forever, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available now at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com 

Reading Digging Deep with the Goddess Gardener:https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1725/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Garden-goals-for-2024.html

Photos on Substack: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/2024-garden-goals?