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balkanradfem · 6 months ago

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How to make gardening easy

If you've grown up watching people garden, it's likely you've seen them working around with a big hoe, digging the soil, tilling it, constantly at the war with the weeds. This is traditionally how people garden, because of simple fact that no matter where you plant something, there's going to be native wild plants growing around it, likely suffocating it, unless you do something about it. So people traditionally, have had to fight a lot of weeds, so their garden plants could have all of the space, nutrients, water and sunlight to grow.

Due to this natural issue, that makes the planet a living space for us, the first problem you hit when you're starting a new garden, is a bed of weeds that need to be dealt with. There's grass, there's dandelions, maybe some tall native plants, and you're standing there sighing, thinking of how to convert this into a garden-friendly space. And the first human instinct is to get the space tilled and leveled. But that's difficult. Here's how you can do it without as much effort, by being super smart.

The smart thing is to start early. If you look at your intended garden space 4-6 months early, and you know you're going to have to deal with all these native plants, you can instead, prevent them from growing, by blocking the sunlight from them, and then letting the time take care of it. This is done by several different ways, but all of the include covering the ground with something that won't let sunlight get trough. The most common way is to get a bunch of cardboard (ideally without print), lay them out over your gardening space, put some rocks or weighty stuff over them, so they don't get blown away, and then you can walk away, get back in 4-6 months, remove them, and fresh and ready soil will be waiting for you. All that plant matter will die without sunlight, some of it will get eaten by bugs and turned into fertilizer for you, and you did maybe 1/20 of the work and invested some old cardboard.

If you don't have/like cardboard, this can also be done with a big tarp! A third way to do this, maybe not 100% efficient, is to cover the ground with mulch instead. This is what I do. I bring bags of dried leaves to the garden, spread them across the beds and cover them this way. It doesn't need to be leaves, you can cover the ground with straw, hay, dried grass, wood chips, pine needles, any organic matter. It's not completely efficient, because this organic matter will fall apart and turn into soil itself, so it might not give you a perfect coverage, and some plants might just grow in that instead, but! This method also makes sure your soil is already somewhat fertilized, and your plants will absolutely love all of the degraded organic matter; it will bring in bugs, it will bring in worms, it will bring life to the soil, your garden will be rich in life.

Now, let's say you've done it, you've gotten your empty garden bed, and you're about to plant in It, do you need to work the soil still? I would say no. Gardeners love to work the soil until it's in tiny little pieces, so the new plants have an easier time pushing the roots trough it, so it's easier to work with. And yeah the worked soil is lighter, fluffier, more filled with air pockets, which new plants do like! But what happens next is, the rain falls, the soil absorbs a lot of moisture, and then condenses and turns into that same hard airless dense matter that it was in the start. Digging the soil can only make it lighter and more filled with air, temporarily. That's why gardeners need to do it often!

Worked soil, especially rich in clay, will also get a very dry top surface, which can get rough and fill with cracks, making it look desert-like. Plants do not love this, and gardeners often have to work the soil just to break that cracked surface and get their plants some air. Soil that is dry and dense will also struggle to absorb a decent amount of water, so rainfall won't give it as much goodness as it could. So, what can you do instead, to make the soil palatable to your plants, and not susceptible to being dried up and dense and difficult for your plants? You can again, add organic matter on top.

If you're sowing your seeds directly, it's good to wait for your plants to grow a little, so they don't have to fight the mulch, but as soon as your plants are taller than a few inches, you are encouraged to cover the ground around them with any organic matter. What this will do is 1. Stop the surface of the soil from drying out, keep it very pleasant, soft and damp for the plant 2. Stop additional weeds from growing, save you from tons of weeding, 3. Protect your soil from erosion and 4. Fertilize your plants.

Soil erosion is a common problem in agriculture, where dried-up top of the soil is eroded by the wind, and ultimately turned into sand, which in a monocrop situation, can turn the entire area into a desert unless there's frequent rain. Now I'm not suggesting you could ever, by growing your little garden, create a desert area – you will not. But keeping your soil safe from both sun and wind will make sure it doesn't lose nutrients, water, and it's own structure, you're keeping it safe! And adding even more richness to it by letting the mulch slowly fall apart on top of it. Whenever it rains, the rainwater will fall into your mulch, take in nutrients from the parts that have composted, and then carry it down to your plant's roots. Your plants will get to eat new food every time it rains.

Generally once my plants outgrow all possible weeds and are not longer in the danger of being suffocated, I forget about weeds and just let them grow, they're not threat to me anymore, and having lots of greenery in times of drought is good for both the plants, and the little critters in your garden. Oh I forgot to tell you about the critters! One thing your garden needs is airy soil, filled with little holes and passages, that gardeners usually make manually with their tools. But what you're doing is luring thousands of little worms, bugs, critters and underground creatures, by all that rich mulch they love eating, so they dig the ground for you. They make holes and passages and air flows through them, making the soil light and fluffy. I've found that keeping the ground covered with mulch during the winter creates the entire different quality of soil than the one that isn't covered; the soil that was covered is so light and easy to work with, you can plant using just your fingers.

Having the quality of your soil improve to the point where you can work it with fingers, will usually happen after 3 years of gardening like this! In the meantime, you might need some tool just to get the seeds underground; I've been using a single spoon to plant everything in the garden. It's the smallest, and thus least-disruptive to the soil type of tool. We want all of the creatures in there to feel safe and undisturbed.

Even though I wrote all this pretending like I can totally garden like a smart person, in the reality I absolutely will completely ignore some parts of my garden all winter, check on it in the spring when it's super weedy, pull the weeds out by hand, and only then mulch and plant, laughing at myself for letting the soil quality go bad – but it still works. As long as I add mulch at some point in time, the garden succeeds. So if you're right now, in the height of spring, considering planting some beans – but you haven't done the whole '6 months earlier' procedure, no worry. I didn't either. I pulled out some weeds and planted beans today with a spoon, I'm gonna add mulch when they come out, and I'm still 100% certain they'll be fine, as long as there's rain. So many of our efforts cannot compare to even one single rainfall.

#gardening #garden advice #no dig garden #no till garden #mulching #garden tips #easy gardening

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milkb0nny · 2 years ago

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could i request platonic arlan headcanons? if possible, with an autistic friend w/ a special interest in botany. (fandom is honkai star rail.)

thanks!!

🤍 𝑨𝒓𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅

notice: Hey Anon! I'm not really familiar with autistic behaviors and I don't have any friends that have autism. I don't want to invade in anyone's comfort zone writing about autism when I have zero experience with it. Still, big thank you! I'll just write your request how I think suits best. I'll write a scenario and some headcanons in the end. <3

characters: Arlan

content: Arlan adores your love towards botany and plants // fluff // gn! reader

warnings: none

"Y/n, what are you doing here?"

Arlan was surprised to see you since yesterday you were all stressed out by an ongoing project you and Herta work on. You carry heavy boxes and are visibly exhausted.

"Oh, Arlan! Didn't expect to meet you today... I'm so busy... Well, Herta asked me to grow some of her favorite flowers so she can see them everywhere in the space station. Now I'm planting them everywhere."

Arlan looked at you with a soft smile, just standing there. You're adorable in your dirtied pants and garden supplies. In your hair sticks a flower and of course there's a helpful bug on your shoulder. As he noticed that you nearly let the box fall he rushes to you and catches it. He laughs awkwardly.

"Didn't know Herta was invested in it that much... Do you mind showing me the area you're working on right now?"

"Sure!" You're glad your best friend is interested in your hobby. You get a lot of compliments for your honest work but rarely someone takes the time to have a conversation about botany.

You walk to an quieter area where you planted a lot of plants already. You smile as you see springtails on the dirt. Arlan puts the boxes on the ground and opens them. A blooming scent flies directly in his face and he blushes. The smell reminds him of you and it warms his heart. You're his best friend after all. Then he looks up to adore your work. Vibrant colors and fresh greens decorate the rather boring looking space station. It's all your work and passion.

"It's beautiful, y/n. I always envy you to have such a calming job. It's... It's like you make paintings of flowers real!"

You reply, shyly laughing "Well, if Asta wouldn't spend all her money so quickly it'd be way greener here. But she promised me to help me with some insects.. I can't pollinate every plant by myself now..."

Arlan nods silently and watches you digging a tiny hole in the dirt. As you pick up one of the purple blooming flowers he comes a little closer to inspect your mission detailed.

"What is this flower called?" He points out the purple flowers in the boxes and in your hand.

"Oh...the Latin name is clematis viticella. It's a similar flower that Herta wears in her hair."

You smile and plant the flower in the flowerbed, covering the roots with dirt and watering them a little bit. Then you dig the next hole for the next flower. The continuing thirty minutes Arlan spends time asking you what species you own. He gets completely dragged in a topic that is usually not his interest at all. He picks the boxes up once you finished and you both walk to get more plants. He's happy you find a way to be fulfilled here and that you're not lonely or bored. The whole day be spends helping you. He's not neglecting is duties and responsibilities, though he wants to adore your friendship. In the end you're the most important person to him.

"You know, Stella told me there's a Guard in Belobog who kinda sucks at taking care of their plants."

"The poor plants..."

"Mhm..."

▫️Arlan is one of the few people that love getting involved with your interest in botany.

▫️He's not afraid to handle some insects that you breed. It's rare to see living species like these so he is rather curious than scared.

▫️When you spend time in your room, he goes through some books and shows you what plants he really likes. It makes you happy whenever you see his bright face.

▫️Asta actually buys flowers from you to decorate her room with. Of course Arlan has to help her setting everything up.

▫️In his mind you're the best smelling person he knows. The strong scent of pollen and greens is soothing to him. To others you may be a nuisance since many people on the spaceship have allergies against pollen.

#hrs x reader #hrs #honkai star rail #hsr arlan

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futurebird · 1 year ago

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My friends all joke about how strict my parents were. But, really mom and dad weren't anything compared to grandma and most of their "strictness" was a bit of an act put on for her benefit as she thought they basically were letting my brother and I "grow up wild like weeds" -- this despite the rules about grades and curfews and dressing properly and all the damn chores.

Two times in my life I had to spend a summer with grandma and neither time went well.

Grandma lived in a small steel town in PA. She raised 5 kids (and raised them right) -- my mom and all her brothers and sisters were the most buttoned up people you could find.

I have still never heard my mother swear. Not even once! I don't think she can. Like it would be physically impossible.

"I will give you $1,000,000 if you whisper the word f*ck."

my mom "f-f----" *blacks out*

Anyway the first time I stay with grandma was when I was about 5 years old. At first it wasn't too bad.

Being a 5 year old I rather liked doing chores and loved to prove that I could learn to do new things quickly and correctly. I weeded the garden, washed the dishes, swept the front and back porch each morning.

Where things started to come apart was the dress code. Grandma wanted me in a skirt and knee socks with a blouse every day! And on Sunday? I had to put on itchy white tights, gloves and a friggin hat! It was basically torture as far as I was concerned.

It did not help that I had not experience sitting or walking in a skirt so I was constantly "unlady like" (which seemed to mean "everyone can see your panties")

Grandma added bloomers under the skirt after the first day. But then I was hot! It was August and we were deep in hills and hollows of western PA.

The whole thing came to a boil that Sunday. Grandma was at her wits end trying to get me dressed for church and I was crying and bawling and unable to even stand.

At last she got me dressed and on my feet and out the door. We walked to church, but the whole time I was being told that I was walking wrong. "Too fast!" now "too slow!" then "stop digging in the dirt!" and "put that beetle down!"

My purse and pockets were full of sticks and interesting stones and bugs by the time we got to the church. Grandma found the contraband and emptied it out in the church garden.

Then the sermon went on FOREVER. In fact I think it must still be going on even now. It's a paradox, but that morning was endless and tedious. And I couldn't flip through the hymnal, couldn't make shapes with my fingers. Had to sit still like a little statue, hands folded ankles crosses no squirming. I wasn't trying to be bad-- I tried to just get through it.

But the last straw came when as we left the church I went over to the garden to try and find my sticks and stones and bugs. I didn't mind that grandma wanted them to stay outside, they would be happy in the garden. But now I wanted to find my treasures.

Grandma might have let it go on another day. But, I'd worn her out. She was grouchy. So she said "No way leave it."

I slapped my arm on my side in frustration.

"I don't want to see that hand go down either." This was the breaking point.

I couldn't even "let my hand go down" -- I didn't even say anything! I knew better than to talk back. Or roll my eyes. Or stomp my foot. But now even the most tiny motion of anger was forbidden.

I had a full blown five alarm melt down. Ended up getting spanked at the church, on the way home, at home again. But I could not stop howling and crying. "I can't do ANYTHING!"

Later when my mom found out about "how things went" she decided that maybe I shouldn't spend time with grandma anymore. And I didn't until I was about 15-- and THAT was a whole other story for another time.

To this day though my mom says "I don't want to see that hand go down." when she's making fun of some really tense restrictive situation when no one is going to get away with anything.

Then I always windmill my arms so that as many hands "go down as possible."

#grandma #strict parents #church #stories

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omies-odd-writing-spot · 5 months ago

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Lifeboat 09 Mirth makes the time go by

[Story also on Ao3] This also was my add to GT july but...day late. good luck it being on time for that <.<

Chapter 09:

It did, in fact, take a longer time to get home for Sesa then she normally would have taken if alone. Talking to someone who she had to keep a sharp ear out for was interesting. As well as challenge to also keep watch over.

Not that Lana was proving to be the kind of person to get into trouble on her own for the sake of it. Or to just bolt with an opening. No, the semi little beach lizards themselves decided that the Bitta smelled tastier than the last scraps from the fish that Sesa gave them.

“Good gods, what's wrong with them?” Sesa demanded, holding Lana against her front, pulling one of the big sailed males off her hip. And gently tossed it into the water off the dock. Knowing it was perfectly safe for it to swim, not the first she dropped off the dock.

“I don't want to be eaten by dinosaurs,” Lana whimpered from where she was within Sesa's hold. Being grabbed and yanked away from gravity, let alone from the sail backed creatures in time was… well, at least Sesa did not seem to care that Lana had been sick. Transferring Lana to Sesa's other hand and just shook off the bit of yuk to her.

Really, Lana sees and meets her second clear dinosaur and they try to eat her with no hesitation. At least the ‘birdies’ were very friendly! To the point of demanding to rest with Lana in her spot on the mast. Lana got to pet the creatures and accidentally triggered the ones sitting on the shelf with her into an intensive grooming session.

Sesa was moving, making sure no other of the lizards were on her before stepping over to her boat. Sail nearly folded up and tied to the dock. The giant reached down to grab and pull the mostly empty crate onto the dock, then stood up. “I hate to say it, but I think you're going to be safer in this while I load the wagon.”

“Yeah…” Lana could only sag against the supporting digits. “I'm… I'm sorry I threw up on your other hand.”

Lana sounded so guilty that Sesa paused to look down at the Bitta. Feeling her own guilt but still glad Lana was safe, “There's nothing to be sorry about Lana. I can wash my hand, but you wouldn't have likely survived missing a limb. I'll get you safe on the wagon here, and you can sit still.”

“Are there a lot of those at your house?” Lana worried as she was carried to the wagon that was just as titanic as Sesa's boat. The tiny human watching with wide eyes as the crate of safety was moved to what looked like the footwell of the riding section.

Lana realized she had no experience with wagons, no idea what parts were called but some basics.

“Thankfully no,” Sesa said as she made sure the crate was secure. In its spot, as well as running her hands over the outside to make sure that none of the beach lizards could get inside. “There's lizards, but not any that eat more than bugs and plants in the garden. They have little sticky feet, but like the outside walls then coming in most times.”

Lana peered over the edge of the big hand, watching as Sesa nudged a few things inside. Mostly making sure the lifeboat was back on the scarf, and nothing spilled other than the water in the lid but that had already drained. None of the berries seemed tossed from in that boat. Sesa double checked that no beach lizards were on the wagon before lowering Lana inside the crate. “I'm going to put a weight on top for now, just to keep anything from knocking the lid open.”

“That seems like a good idea,” Lana wavered as she slid off. Grabbing at the nearest support of Sesa's hand. Took a breath and got her balance coordination back. “they can't dig in or claw in right?”

“Only time they've gotten into a box was when I left the lid off it.” Sesa was still checking outside. “It's not fully sealed, I made these to drain water. I'll hear you for sure if you call out, no more open wind like on the boat. Ready?”

Lana flushed and backed away from the hand she was still partly leaning against. “Right, okay. It's loading and safe, right?”

“Loading, home and safe.” Sesa agreed, not minding that she would have to do all the loading and unloading. She fitted the lid and firmly wedged it down, finding something heavy to put on top before hesitating. Hand touching one of the sides, double checking that the few gaps were not large enough for any aggressive lizard heads. Sesa could have sworn she felt something tap her finger, but was not fully sure so drew back. “Call if you need, I'll get everything up and loaded. Maybe distract these brats.”

Sesa sighed and then moved away, shooing some of the beach lizards. Lana called them…dinosaurs? Something like that. They were almost acting normal now, trilling at her on the way back to the dock. “Rude, all of you, why did you try and eat the Bitta? Lana isn't good, and don't listen to those bad fairytales.”

Did the beach lizards understand her? Likely not so much, but it helped that little bit for relieving some stress. Sesa scrubbed her hands in the sand before stepping back onto the boat. Taking time to just unload everything in the late afternoon-evening light into the dock. Gear and supplies, only talking most care with the dry goods and the bolt of fabric to go put in the wagon. Sesa hesitated in some confusion, as it looked like Asin's handwriting on several crates. Like he had put things into some of the returned crates from others? One crate was definitely not her own and instead something that came.from the store shipments likely. It smelled like…baking things? Was there a mix up? Sesa turned the crate, pretty sure someone put that in her boat instead of by the dock. She was about to open it and saw the paper tacked to the other side. This had her drowning and then lifted the paper.

Not a mistake. Don't think of leaving it. Take what's the real value of the fish in trade, you stubborn woman.

Next time you're in town, Sesa, bring me some fresh and dried mushrooms! I'll find some more mini plants for you.

Loves from Cally.

Yes I told Asin to hide all the goods in your boat.

Sesa stared at the letter, thinking of the woman that did not come up to her chest. A woman she really did not want to be on the bad side of, or even a grumpy angle of her. Sesa opened the crate and took a shakey breath, startled but also understood why some of the crates were so heavy. Cally had stuffed them full.

Going back to the dock, Sesa carefully opened each crate, double checking now, to find what needed to stay dry. A few were filled with goods from others she had traded the fish for. Sesa was noticing a bit more of a generous amount from the others, and stood to squint over where Lana was on the wagon. Wondering to herself if this was the Bitta’s good luck. Normally people from town were a lot more stingy than this in Sesa's experience.

Sesa paused once.the wagon was loaded, walking over to check on said Bitta. “Are you okay Lana?”

“Yeah, it's a lot more stable now.” The little voice spoke up from inside, “how's it going out there?”

“Everything is loaded that's going home.” Sesa assured, picking a onle of the beach lizards off the wheel, giving its own sail like fin a run before gently dropping it off on the ground. “Just going to put the gear away. And Buck should be close enough to hear me.”

“Buck?” Lana asked confused from in the crate. “Who's that?”

“He's the critter that pulls the wagon.” Sesa laughed, “I let him graze around the cove when I'm out fishing, good boy that knows to stay near his wagon.”

“Oh…oooh, that's going to be….big.” Lana realized, and Sesa just barely caught the softer words, “Why is everything so big? Is something in the water?”

Sesa grinned, covering her mouth and chuckling as she walked back to the dock and boat. With everything else moved it was not hard or long for the woman to put away the fishing gear in a shed well up off the shoreline. Then the sails, take the mast down and.pull the boat into the bigger shed that John had helped her make a few years ago.

She paused at finding a note, the other hermit had come down the mountain and stopped by the cove. Leaving a net made bag filled with some good sized nuts inside that she liked. An offering to see when she would be in town next and if he could trade some of his bear hunt for some things. “Pfft, little do you know, you stubborn man.”

There was a low snort that had Sesa smiling more, taking one of the nuts out and offering it in a flat hand. The big creature rumbled happily at the treat, following Sesa back to the wagon. The woman set the bag of nuts on the seat, made sure the brakes were set, “Okay, found Buck. We can get home now.”

“This sounds so weird, but you might want to tie the box?” Lana spome up, and as Sesa looked over the tiny bita was sitting at a corner and peering out of one of the slightly larger gaps. Watching Sesa get the beastie into his gear and lined up.

“I can, had an idea too,” Sesa assured, coming back after judging the weight in the wagon. She paused to pull off the outer layers of shirts, so she just had her sleeveless under shirt, and pulled the vest over top. Checking the pockets. Then finding some line to tie the crate, moving the weight off to open the lid and peer inside, “Didn't spend all my money did you?”

“I thought that was for me?” Lana asked, having been sitting on the coin pouch to look out. “Should only take ...two days to move one thing inside.”

“Well, it shouldn't take more than a few months to move the coins.” Sesa grinned wide at the playful tone. She hesitated a moment before offering a hand near but not beside Lana, “Want to see some of the trip? I promise not to pull you around again if I can help it.”

The little Bitta blinked at the large hand. Then looked up, Sesa could have sworn there was a look like Lana did want to but hesitated. Remembering the beach lizards, the giant woman spoke again.

“You'll be riding with me, out of the reach of the lizards.” She started to pull back but froze as a small hand reached out, catching a finger tip. Sesa smiled again, not as big but delighted that there was some trust shown. The woman just hoped she was not forcing that trust as Sesa carefully lifted Lana out.

“Can we look at some of the local… pla…ants… what is that?” Lana started to ask and then trailed off at seeing the big burden beast now attached to the wagon.

Buck it's name was, he was dosing a bit while standing in the rigging to the wagon. Massive enough that it's, his back came up to Sesa's chest, it had a broad back and hips. It had what looked like plates of natural armor over its back, hips and shoulders going down about half way. The beast had a base color of dart gray and highlights of brown striping down its legs and on its neck.

“This is Buck, he's my bull Parua.” Sesa introduced as she cupped both hands around Lana. Moving to let her see the Parua creature. “He's wagon trained, the cows are back home, they should be giving both here soon in spring.”

“It's amazing,” Lana's soft voice spoke, trying to peek over the edge of Sesa's fingers and look at Buck's legs. It reminded her of something. Something that tickles the back of your mind but just could not be grasped yet. It was almost alike an elephant, the legs and sort of the build but not exactly. Not like any big dinosaurs either.

The big creature's face was surprisingly soft. It had larger lips like a horse or a cow, or other grazers like that. Large ears flicked and he sighed looking back at Sesa. As if asking if they were going yet.

“Para…?”

“Par-oo-ah.” Sesa sounded the word out as clear as she could. “Parua. Good livestock and working animals.”

“Parua…” Lana managed the name. “They, um, don't eat meat right?”

“Only grazers,” Sesa assured, but did not take Lana coae to Buck's head. This seemed close enough for the Bitta. “Never seen them even bother the garden birds, or anything small..but you don't need to worry about them. Like I said you'll be riding with me.”

“How?” Lana asked, still distracted by Buck it took a moment for her to look back. Blinking and then gave a nervous giggle at seeing Sesa messing with a small, high up breast pocket on her vest. “Really?”

“It's not deep,” Sesa offered, reflex using her free hand to poke a finger into the pocket that was indeed shallow.

Lana stared at the spot with an unreadable expression. Enough that Sesa started to deflate a bit, worried that she ended up with a bad idea after all. Then the Bitta dissolved into giggling in her hand.

“I'm… pocket sized?”

Sesa blinked and then gave a relieved sigh, smiling a bit at hearing the giggles. At least she did not seem to be offended by Sesa's idea. “You are, I guess. But if you don't like it we can find a different way of…transport.”

Sesa knew everything was going to get shaken up on the wagon. Thus the extra padding that Asin had done for the small things. She did not want to shake Lana up as well, and was at least sure her own pace was smooth. Lana at least seemed willing to try, and it ended up with her standing in the vest pocket and could fold her arms over the edge of the spot. Looking around, the Bitta notably relaxed a little bit after a few paces of the giant walking to pull the breaks.

Lana felt surprisingly secure there. Then blinked and looked all around now that Sesa was moving and walking alongside Buck. Staring up at the trees, many were well over a good hundred feet tall, old growth trees for sure. Or ancient growth? They were definitely on a cleared path that was wider than the wagon, some smaller shoots of trees on the edges of the path.

Then Lana took in the ‘undergrowth’ between the massive trees, even bigger than Sesa. Who had to easily be between thirty and forty feet herself. The young woman squinted, realizing the grass she was seeing was not, in fact grasses. Lana nudged and pushed at Sesa’s chest, “What’s that?”

“Hmm?” the giant woman rumbled a confused sound. Glancing at Lana and then tried to see what she was looking at. “Stiff grass? It's been going wild the last few years, but they help with erosion.”

“Can I see it?” Lana asked, twisting in the pocket to look up at Sesa’s face, brightened when the giant shrugged lightly with her right shoulder away from Lana.

Sesa queued Buck to slow down before reaching up to help Lana. Really just catching the excited bitta from falling. Sesa was not quite sure how she ended up crouched on the side of the path, holding a tiny human between her hands so that Lana could reach for the ‘grass.’ but watching tiny hands grabbing at the thick grass, and then looked started at the excited yell the followed.

“IT’S CORN!” Lana yelled after unwinding a pod. Buck stopped and turned his head around to try and find the new voice while Lana was tossing up her arms in her own shock, “What. The. Hell. Is this place?”

“Cor-en?” Sesa echoed, baffled, but smiling at the excitement expressed. And at a demand shifted her hands closer to the biggest of the thick grass plants that had a bunch of pods from last fall but were not eaten yet by any wild parua. “Are you going to want to see every plant on the way home?”

Lana looked up, eyes wide, “Yes.”

The instant response and the complete lack of any silliness or sarcasm but the clear want to see all the plants had Sesa laughing. Closing her hands around Lana to both buffer the loud sound and to hold her as steady as possible while Sesa’s shoulders shook. “It’s going to take forever to get home…pffft!”

What normally would take an hour and half, took almost three as after so long Lana demanded to see something she spotted. Amassing a little collection in ‘her’ crate, foodstuffs that she readily recognized mixed into the wild weeds that Sesa knew them as. Even though it took much longer than normal, it did not seem like it. Only all at once realizing it was nearly dark by the time Sesa’s home came into view.

#omie's writing #gtjuly2024 #GT #gt july #lifeboat story #Sesa and Lana #tiny plant nerd getting spoiled

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sixpossumsinatrenchcoat · 2 years ago

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Four More Years

wanted to post this very silly snippet from my Omori timeskip! suntan w/ a ton of platonic sunflower, a real soft cozy time had by all. CW for weed, truancy, & excessive tomfoolery 🌿🏀🔪

Basil sprinkles some balsamic on the veggies and looks at Sunny ruefully. “I’m not going to get any work done today, am I?”

Sunny swipes a cucumber and shakes his head. No. Probably not.

“Ah, well.” Basil doesn’t sound too bothered. He looks down at the platter and sighs. “I want to get high before I eat this, but I’m afraid of what I’ll see.”

“Totally,” Sunny agrees. “...I could text Kel?”

Kel is the ultimate mood hack. He’s so dense that he’s completely immune to other people’s panic. Everyone else just syncs up with him. And he's so grounded in his body that you can always trust him to know what's real. Sunny and Basil are a little more... suggestible.

Basil rolls his eyes. “You just want him to pet you like a little cat.”

Sunny shrugs. Is that so wrong?

Basil looks down at his veggies, and then up toward the windowsill where they keep the bong. Hornet, as she’s named, isn’t one of those towering, multi-chamber affairs. She’s small and unassuming, honey-colored glass with just the faintest swirl of gray. But she gets the job done.

Sunny can pinpoint the exact moment when Basil’s resolve crumbles.

“...Okay, okay. Go ahead and text Kel. I don’t have any classes today, anyway. And— And I won’t bug you about cutting class, but you have to let me dress you up.”

“Deal.”

Sunny will never understand why Basil takes so much pleasure in dressing him up. But he doesn’t really mind. It’s not un-fun to play dress-up for a day. Especially when your roommate dresses like an 18th-century gardener fell through a purikura booth.

Where Sunny favors clean lines and sharp angles and black, always black, Basil lives in shorteralls and culottes and loosely woven cardigans. The only jewelry Sunny owns is the kind you shove through a wound, but Basil has chunky rings and elbow chains and a hundred different hairpins, each one shaped like a specific, taxonomically accurate flower. (Sunny borrows some of the hairpins, sometimes. But only the poisonous ones.)

A half a bowl later, Sunny is dressed in powder blue shorteralls over a cropped yellow tee, and his hair is a tiny plasticine flower garden. Basil bought the rights to do his makeup in exchange for not telling Kel that Sunny's skipping school, so his eyelids are dusted in just the faintest shimmer of pearl.

When Basil reaches for the eyeliner, Sunny’s ready to get in on the action.

“Let me do you, too,” he demands.

Basil can barely hear over his own giggling. “Ehehehe! Ehe, hehehe… Ohhh, Sunny, look at you!! Oh, my gosh… You could look so cute if you wanted!!!”

“You just want everyone to dress like a My Little Pony,” Sunny grumbles. “Come on, it’s my turn.”

By the time Kel raps on the door, Sunny and Basil are elbow-deep in a full-on roleswap. Basil cuts an austere figure in black skinny jeans and Sunny’s favorite Docs, the monochrome florals with the red soles. (“How do you even walk?” Basil asks pitifully, stiff-legged as a colt. "It feels like my legs are in a straitjacket.”)

“Sunnyyy!” Kel shouts through the door. One of these days, Sunny is going to have to introduce himself to the neighbors, just to make sure they don’t call in a noise complaint. Maybe Basil can buy their forgiveness with vegetables. “I’m coming in!!!”

When the door swings open, Kel does a huge, cartoonish double-take. “W-Woah!! Sunny!”

“Yes?” Basil says, as dry as he can manage while still hiding a laugh behind his hands.

“...Basil??”

Sunny clears his throat, digs deep for all the anxious energy he can muster. “Y-Yes???”

“Woah!” Kel yelps. His eyes flick between them, uncertain with an undercurrent of something almost wistful. But it doesn’t take long before his nature wins out. “Hehe… Sunny, you got taller!!”

He scoops Basil up by the armpits, making him squeak, and plunks him down on the kitchen counter so they can see eye to eye. Sunny’s mouth tugs down. Kel used to do that with Sunny, before he started acting all weird.

“Hmph,” Basil huffs. Or at least, he tries to. He keeps breaking character to giggle.

Sunny turns to Kel, stonefaced. “Tee hee,” he says flatly.

Basil laughs so hard he falls off the counter.

For another few minutes, Kel is still carrying that weird, buzzy energy, like he’s playing musical chairs and they’re all out of chairs. Eventually, Sunny gets fed up and kicks Basil in the foot.

“Ow!! Oh—Kel, who do you want? Me or Sunny?”

“Huh???”

Basil, intimately acquainted with choice paralysis, chooses for him. “Here, you can be Sunny. I’d rather be you, anyway.”

Sunny gets it. It does seem more fun, being Kel. He’s so tall and long that he can grab the best snacks off the highest shelves, the ones that Sunny or Basil would have to climb on the counter to reach. His hair is fluffy and his eyes are warm, not black like Sunny’s but a soft sort of brown, sunlight through maple syrup. All the light in the room seems to curl around him, like even the sun loves Kel best.

“O-Oh! Right! Haha, yeah, of course! Yeah, I’ll be Sunny. Um.” He looks down at Sunny. “...I don’t think your pants will fit me, though.”

“Ugh, me neither,” Basil says, with feeling. “I really think we’re going to have to cut them off. S-Seriously, Sunny, this can’t be good for your circulation.”

Sunny huffs dismissively. His pants aren’t that tight. Basil is just spoiled from dressing like an Anthropologie catalog.

The bong circles the room a few more times, until Basil is swimming in a basketball jersey and shorts that go all the way to his ankles and Kel is standing in front of the mirror, breathless with laughter at the way Sunny’s biggest sweater vest cuts off above his belly button.

“Th–This,” he wheezes, gasping for breath. “Oh, guys, I don’t th-thihiheheheee, I don’t know, you guys!! I don’t think it’s supposed to fit like this!!!”

Sunny, splayed out across the couch, smirks at him. “No, no,” he drawls, upside-down and languid. “That’s exactly right.”

He watches with interest as Kel colors violently. Is Kel attracted to him, like Aubrey thinks? He still can’t tell. But he likes thinking about it.

“Come here,” he decides, nodding at Kel. “I’ll do your hair.”

Kel is so pliant in Sunny’s hands. Like a doll, except that Sunny can feel the thrum of his pulse in his throat. When Sunny nudges at his eyelids, Kel closes his eyes easily. Trusting. Like a sacrificial lamb. He stills and lets Sunny pin and brush and tuck his unruly curls into a state of artful disarray.

It makes Sunny feel—afraid. He feels afraid.

He doesn’t like it. Fear is Basil’s domain. Sunny is afraid when his back is to the wall and there are monsters at the gate. He doesn’t look at the people he loves and feel afraid. Mari was fearless and he should be, too. But Kel is so trusting, so loyal. It would be so easy to snap his heart in half.

Sunny has a violent flash of cutting into Mewo. Soft fur and the stretch of sinew. The way she trusted him, until she didn’t. But that wasn’t real. It wasn’t real. It isn’t—

“Sunny?” Kel asks, almost shyly. “Can I open my eyes?”

Sunny thrusts the feeling away. He isn’t afraid. And he isn’t going to hurt Kel. He’ll die before he does.

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “You’re perfect.”

The bong goes around a few more times. Basil remembers about the platter of veggies and, at Kel’s prompting, leads them all on an impromptu food tour, instructing his avid audience on what to look for in the flavor profile, which dressings will complement it best.

Kel keeps darting glances at Sunny-dressed-as-Basil, ineffectively furtive but appealingly bashful. Sunny likes it. He likes Kel looking at him. He likes Kel, probably. Romantically. It’s a little more than he can think about right now, so he won’t, but. It’s. Sort of hard to deny, at this point.

There’s a shifting of beams, a creak in the wood. Someone is coming up the hall.

Basil’s eyes go wide. “S-Someone’s coming!!”

“It’s just Kel,” Sunny yawns.

“Kel is right next to you though??”

Sunny blinks. Right. So he is. There’s only one Kel. A shame, that.

“D-Did you lock the door??”

“Yes?” Sunny guesses, then checks himself. “No. I don’t know. Sorry.”

There’s a click of metal on metal. A key, slipping into the lock. Basil squeaks.

“Don’t worry,” Sunny says darkly, tightening his hold on the steak knife. “I’ll protect you.”

Kel’s eyes bulge. “Why do you have that???”

Ah. Right. He forgot he’s not supposed to do that. “...Habit.”

“That doesn’t—!!”

The doorknob turns, and the door swings inward. All three of them scream and, in the process, scare the living shit out of Hero.

“Jeesuschrist!!!” he squawks, fumbling a bag of something that clatters against the ground. “What the f—ffrick are you guys— Wait, Kel?”

“O-Oh! Haha! Hey, bro!”

“What are you wearing?” Hero asks, starting to snicker. He sniffs the air. “Are you high?”

“Are you a cop?” Sunny shoots back.

“Why do people keep asking me that??”

Sunny shrugs airily, like he wasn’t a half a second away from pissing in Basil’s favorite shorteralls. “Seems like something you should ask yourself.”

“Wh— No!! Why are you even here? Don’t you have class right now?”

Ah. Damn. Sunny bought Basil’s silence, but that sort of subterfuge is useless against Hero, who has Sunny’s entire academic schedule carefully penciled into his own calendar. “...I’m playing hooky.”

“Gasp!!!” Kel shouts.

Hero drops his head into his hands. “God. I’m not here to drag you to school, okay? Though you should really go to school. It’s… really expensive. No, I’m just here to drop off leftovers, you ingrates. I thought you could use a few easy meals.”

All three of them sit up straighter.

“Oh, so that’s the magic word, huh?” Hero shakes his head. “Honestly… Sunny, how often do you cut class?”

“I d-don’t have any classes today!” Basil squeaks.

“That’s good to hear, Basil.”

Sunny shoots him a dirty look.

“A-And Sunny really doesn’t do this very often at all!!” Basil adds hastily. “It’s just a l-lecture today, and they put those online after a few days, so…”

Hero holds up both hands. “Wait. I seriously didn’t come here to give you a hard time. I have to run, anyway. Glad you kids are—” He rolls his eyes. “—having fun. At two in the afternoon. On a school day.”

“Thanks, dad,” Kel mutters.

“You can sass me when you get off your shift at Hot Topic.”

Basil chokes on a laugh. “Y-You can’t say he doesn’t look good, though!!”

“Yeah, yeah. Look, I really do have to run, this was just supposed to be a drive-by. Can you get this stuff in the fridge? You’re not going to forget, and let it all spoil?”

“We’re not kids,” Sunny mutters. He’s still sulking about the truancy thing. He doesn’t like being told what to do, but, if he’s really honest, he also doesn’t like disappointing Hero.

“I know,” Hero tells him, giving him a friendly whack on the arm. “See you guys tomorrow.”

All three of their heads tilt.

“For Kel’s game,” Hero says, exasperated. “Kel, it’s your game.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s not like I was gonna forget!! I’m just—I have a lot on my mind!!”

“I’ll bet. See you, guys.”

The door falls shut behind him.

“Six bucks he’s getting in a van,” Sunny says automatically. Hero's been claiming for weeks that his van-dwelling not-a-girlfriend is on her way out of town, but Sunny's yet to see the proof.

“No one’s going to take that bet, Sunny!!” Basil huffs, at the exact same time as Kel says, “Done!”

Silent, Basil scurries to the window. He looks at Kel. He shakes his head.

“Dammit!!” Kel bursts out. “Why would I take that bet! We don’t even know anyone else with a car!”

Sunny looks smug. “You just want to give me six bucks.”

Everyone’s a little keyed up after getting caught in the act, so they retreat to the couch to watch a movie. The couch is very obviously big enough for everyone, but Kel looks like he’s thinking about dragging over a kitchen chair, or something similarly desolate. The thought is honestly too grim to bear.

Sunny takes the choice out of his hands by flopping down on the carpet in front of the couch, leaving a massive, inarguably more-than-sufficient amount of space for Kel and Basil.

(“Oh!” Kel says, surprised. “You, um… You don’t wanna sit?”

“I like the floor.”)

Basil isn’t very good at sitting still. He only makes it ten minutes into Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday party before hopping up to flit around the room, wiping surfaces and organizing shelves and arranging his crochet hooks by color and then size.

Kel’s eyes are locked on the screen. The man loves hobbits and, really, who can blame him. But he’s fidgety, too. Sunny can see Kel’s hand drift toward him then away, toward him and away. It’s… annoying. Kel wants to touch him. Sunny wants to be touched. What’s the problem?

After a few minutes, he loses his patience and headbutts Kel in the knee. “What’s wrong with you? Pet me.”

“O-Oh. Right. Sorry.”

At last, there’s a tentative pressure at the nape of Sunny’s neck. Kel’s fingernails ghost over his scalp, uprooting a few plastic flowers. Sunny leans in with a contented hum.

It’s enough for a while, but Sunny can only spend so long on the floor. Especially when the couch is so big and soft, and his friends so nice and warm. He knows that Kel is being weird right now, but that doesn’t mean Sunny has to buy in. Kel is just wrong. And stupid. And he always runs about ten degrees warmer than Sunny, who starts shivering when the temperature drops below 70, so. Really, he’s just being selfish.

Sunny slithers up the couch and tucks himself under Kel’s arm.

It’s good. It’s so much better. Kel is like a huge, gangly hot water bottle, if the hot water bottle could also pet you and ruffle your hair and tell you that you’re doing a good job.

“You’re so warm,” Sunny mumbles, nestling into him.

“Y-Yeah.” Kel sounds a little strangled, but that’s not Sunny’s problem. Sunny’s not a mind reader. If Kel has a problem with Sunny acting the same way he’s been acting for the past twenty years, he’s going to have to use his words.

But to his relief, after a minute, Kel relaxes, too. The tension seeps out of him and his arm comes to rest where it belongs: on Sunny’s shoulders, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of Sunny's (Basil's) cropped shirt.

Basil has too much energy to watch movies. Sunny is the opposite. By the time Frodo and Sam set out from the Shire, he’s at least 60% asleep.

#omori #omori suntan #omori sunflower #omori caprisun #suntan #college AU #timeskip #post-good end #omori fanfic #omori photobomb #(but fair warning ch 2 is pretty photobomb-light)

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larrkspurr · 1 year ago

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A good day .

Caduceus centered drabble that's just cozy and sweet :'))

1009 words /// found family vibes (tmn all live in a house together okay) and some mentions of the clay family :')

Slowly, as not to anger his pained back, Caduceus pulled on his rainboots and shrugged on a coat. He takes a second, as he has a hand on the brassen doorknob, and notices the new carvings and paint on the door. Must be the work of Jester. He pushes the heavy door open, and it creaks. He pats the door gently as it closes. Me too. He thinks.

Their garden is quite big, and he’s grateful for it. He had spent a great deal of time in the garden since he first moved in. Weeding, digging, planting. The layout of it felt alot like home, with more planting areas and shrubbery than lawn space. He’d read somewhere (he couldn’t remember quite when, or where) that it was better that way too, for the animals and bugs.

The wind had died down a bit as he wandered through the garden, checking that everything was where it was supposed to be. He noticed a poor tomato plant, one of the younger ones he had planted recently, had been uprooted.

“Ah, that’s no good.” He hummed to himself, dropping to his knees and sinking his hands into the peat. The dirt is cold and wet in his hands, but in a way that he liked. It was soft in such a nice, natural way. This time as he digs, he made sure to make the hole deeper, and more stable so it wouldn’t happen again.

Caduceus walks through the garden and spots a couple of birds, nestled together in the crook of a tree branch. He didn’t see any others, perhaps they were hiding. He thinks about how hot it gets during summer, perhaps he should put a bird bath in for those times. But for now, as he does one more round of his garden, watching the trees sway in the wind and the rain drip off of the roof, he heads inside.

Jester is there to greet him, carrying an impossible amount of shopping bags. “Caduceus !” She chirps, her dress fluttering colorfully as she carries the groceries to the kitchen, “Are you busy? I’m about to make some pastries if you want to help!”

He smiles at her and hums, nodding his head a bit. “Wonderful! Oh, were you digging in the dirt?”

He cocks his head, a bit confused. How did she know? But then he looks down at his hands. Oh. They’re still covered in dirt and grime. “Uh, yeah. The poor tomato plant got unrooted a bit from the wind.”

“Oh, that’s no good - hopefully it stays put this time,” she offers a cheeky smile. “Just make sure to wash your hands before we start!”

He washed his hands as she unpacked the groceries onto the bench. a lot of paper bags. she also brought out a bag of apples - oh, perhaps they were making an apple pastry ? That would be nice. He liked apple pastries, especially if they had cinnamon in them. Yeah. he might ask if they can add cinnamon.

And so they bake. Well, Jester bakes and Caduceus helps. He holds the bowls when she asks, and helps measure out the flour. He skins the apples, with a blunt knife peeling towards him like mother always did. They’d eat apples, skinned and sliced, on summer afternoons. Him and his siblings would play in the pond until the sun fell, and biting bugs forced them inside. Late afternoons of iced tea and towels, wrapped tight around his shoulders. He thinks about home, and a sharp pang of hurt cuts into him.

He cuts the apples into tiny pieces, not slices, and watches as Jester works at the dough. Her muscles ripple under her skin like the ocean, with waves emerging from under the surface.

She folds the dough into little triangles, scooping some filling into them, before pressing the prongs of a fork around the edges to seal it. Huh, when did she make the filling? He looked down at the cutting board and the little apple pieces were gone. Hm, maybe when he was busy looking out the window, watching the way the trees danced in the wind.

They chatted then, about a couple things. Well, Jester chatted and Caduceus listened. He liked that about her, that she let him not speak, and didn’t judge him for it.

She spoke about lots of different things, about a new nail polish she got (he hated the smell of it but it always looked so pretty on her) and about a date that fjord took her on to the botanical gardens (he’s been meaning to visit, but never got around to it, the nearby park was so much closer for his aching bones). And then she started talking about movies - sometimes the way she jumped from one topic to the next was dizzying, but he liked the way her eyes lit up when she got excited about things.

It was at the moment that Jester and Cad were plucking their second pastries from the cooling rack when Caleb and Veth walked into the kitchen.

“Oooh, whatcha makin?” Veth asked, taking her bag and hanging over the back of one of the chipped, dining room chairs.

“Just made some pastries! You’re welcome to have some.” Jester offered a smile, one returned by both Veth and Caleb. As they both grabbed a pastry, and took a bite, they were met with appreciative hums. It was then Caleb spoke. His voice was low and soft as always, and Cad was too busy appreciating the way that his accent curled around constants and vowels to realize that he was being asked a question.

Caduceus blinked. “Oh, sorry - what was that?”

“We were going to watch a, uh, film. Did you want to watch it with us?” Caleb repeated, not unkindly.

“Oh, yeah… that sounds nice,” he hummed, “But maybe one that isn’t too scary.” He had made the mistake of watching a horror film once with the group - and hadn’t slept well for weeks.

Jester took him by the hand and led him into the lounge room. He could hear the rain outside, and decided to sit back in his place next to the window. A blanket was draped comfortably on his lap. The movie was turned on - one that was nice and not too scary. He could see the droplets race down the glass of the window outside, like tears rolling down his cheeks - but with his friends by his side, he felt safe.

It was a good day.

#cr caduceus #caduceus clay #the mighty nein #critical role #cr2 #critical role fic #critical role fanfiction #also sorry if this is a bit janky #its some hella old stuff that i found the other day #i cut the intro bit out since it was boring but hopefully it still reads okay :'))#still always thinkin abt cad

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kadavernagh · 1 year ago

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TIMING: A couple weeks ago before Regan lost her necklace LOCATION: The Common PARTIES: Xóchitl and Regan SUMMARY: Don't stop to sniff the roses. Regan finds a pixie who seems determined to cause trouble, and Xóchitl ends up wrapped up in the fae's mischief along the way. Does anyone have a fly swatter and a new shirt?

Most of the time it was the pull of death that steered Regan off course, but today, the prickling along her skin meant something else. Normally she’d do her best to ignore it, but out here? In the middle of the Common? She didn’t even see anyone around. So just what or who was she feeling? She let her senses guide her, looking from one group of flowers to the next in search of any that felt odd. Finally she stopped in front of some vivid pink geraniums. Why was it coming from –

In a flash, something burst out from between the flowers and zigzagged around her head before settling in the air in front of her. The tiny creature would have fit in her palm; it had huge eyes and buzzing wings and she immediately loathed it. It, however, didn’t feel the same. “Friendfriendfriendfriendfriend.” It made up for its tiny voice with its tiny, shrill voice and rapid delivery.

“Pixies”. Regan said it aloud without intending to. They were lesser, Cliodhna said, but still ought to be respected. Previously, she’d swiftly discarded that suggestion and it turned out the pixies didn’t take kindly to being called mutated insects. They turned her hair bright orange and it took months for it to revert back to normal. It was an experience Regan didn’t care to repeat, but she also wasn’t willing to concede. She smacked at the air like swatting a bug, and grimaced at the tiny being who made her skin crawl. “Leave me alone. I am not your friend. I am no one’s friend, and I don’t need anything from an insect.”

The pixie puffed out its cheeks like it was annoyed by the comment, but this one seemed less ill-mannered than the ones that had tormented her around Saol Eile. “Least I don’t hide my wings,” it countered, “where you keepin’ them anyway? Are they in your weird neck tube?” Before Regan could ask a bewildered what? the pixie took a nosedive toward Regan’s head and squeezed itself into her turtleneck. She sputtered, and the thing’s tiny head poked out next to her own. “Ya know, my great great great great great grandfae had neck wings. It’s only a little embarrassing. I don’t see yours, though.” Regan’s hands flew to her neck as she tried to dig the pixie out of her shirt, but it kept slipping through her fingers. Meanwhile, it had a better grip on what was happening around them than Regan did. “Someone’s comingggg.” The pixie sang.

“Oh fu–” There was someone. “-un day for a walk. Here I am, walking. In the Common. Yes. Fun.” The woman came closer, and Regan tried not to squirm in response to the pixie kicking around inside of the tight neck of her shirt. But the damn thing decided to pinch her neck, and Regan grit her teeth, unable to hide her surprise. “Lots of, um, bugs around here. Annoying ones.”

The Common was a good place to walk, mostly. Xóchitl knew that realistically she couldn’t avoid all curated outdoor spaces, even if for a while, she’d wanted to. Even if she’d refused (screamed, even) to go to the Common or the Public Gardens back in Boston. Which was, of course, not exactly the best way to behave as an eight-year-old who actively enjoyed sitting for hours listening to classical music in rooms full of mostly adults – though thankfully her parents had always been incredibly patient with her – likely more patient than she would’ve been with herself, but that was neither here nor there right now.

The day was nice (or nice enough – too much optimism was simply no longer in her emotion bank at this point of her life), and she’d taken the day off of work – for no particular reason other than the fact that she just didn’t want to work, and there were other psychologists at the hospital, and she hadn’t had a full schedule today either. Xóchitl could vaguely hear a faint buzzing sound coming from one of the patches of flowers – but it was summertime, and bees and flies were to be expected. Though she wasn’t sure if flies loved flowers in the same way that other insects did.

Walking towards one of the flower patches, she heard a woman’s voice remarking to her about what a fun day it was for a walk. “Here I am, walking in the Common, too.” Thankfully, she’d developed a solid ability to at least mostly avoid looking confused during moments where she desperately wished to ask what the hell could’ve been going on. “It is a beautiful day. Or - fun, like you said. I don’t usually think of everyday days as fun, per say, but I like that perspective on things.”

If nothing else, it was a perspective that certainly felt refreshing. “Annoying bugs are the worst,” she offered sympathetically. “I have – actually, no, sorry, I left it at home. I was going to say that I had bug spray but I’ve failed at being prepared for the outdoors at least on that account.” She could still hear a faint buzzing sound. “Should we… maybe walk away from the flowers, see if that does anything to improve the situation?”

“Right, no, not fun. Never fun.” Regan scratched at her neck, where the pixies wings were chafing against her skin. She wished the mention of bug spray would scare the thing away, but unfortunately it seemed the other woman didn’t have it with her. “That’s – it’s okay. Yes, let’s get away from here.” She eyed the flowers, wondering if the pixie had friends over there. It probably was a good idea to get away from them, though it wouldn’t do anything to shake her current parasite. She wandered over closer to where the benches were, but she could still feel the pixie against her skin, buzzing with excitement.

“Wow lady, you’re so big!” The pixie chirped from Regan’s neck. She tried to squash the thing with her hand again but it dove back in before she could grab it. Damn it. “Wait, I didn’t say that!” Regan insisted. “I mean, I didn’t – uh, mean to, uh, say that… out loud.” Her stomach bent with an intense cramp and she winced. “You’re tall. That’s all. I’m observing that you’re tall. You know, maybe we should go find some bug spray. Others around here might have some.” She glanced around, noting that there actually weren’t many people out and about. A jogger or two dotted the Common. “I want your name! Give me your name!” It piped up again. “I’m Snickers. They call me that on account of I found a shiny shirt that said Snickers once and it smelled real nice.”

Regan looked up at the sky, silently pleading – though not to a higher power she most certainly did not believe in – and prepared herself for the pain she was about to feel. “Sorry. That was my impression of a Snickers bar.”

“I mean, I’m all for hiking but yes. But when bugs decide to cause trouble…,” she made a small face. “It’s not a mosquito, is it? Those can carry diseases and make you itch quite a whole lot if you get bitten.” At least the other woman had the good sense to want to move away from the bugs. It was unfortunate, because the flowers had seemed very ideal for looking at (which felt more than a bit ridiculous to think, because going to the Common was not just to stare at flowers without any thoughts). Still, Xóchitl focused on her newfound and unexpected companion.

There was a high-pitched squealing sort of voice then, calling her big. Which she shook her head at, confusion crossing her face. “Ah. Yes, I suppose I am a bit tall, but you aren’t so tiny, but - yes.” Xóchitl didn’t especially enjoy being caught off-guard even when it wasn’t anything too much to worry about, but she elected to shake her head and refocus on the discussion. Except then the woman - or someone near the woman - was talking about Snickers bars and she could only look at her with deep-set confusion. “I - that’s alright. It was a good impression. I mean, I don’t know what I’d do for that, but you did well. From a non-expert standpoint, of course.”

“Not a mosquito, no.” Regan slapped her neck but Snickers evaded her fingers once again. “Think it just bit me though.” Okay, so bug spray was not going to do anything, and she could feel the pixie wiggling its way from her collar down to her – “Hey!” Regan hissed, hitting her sternum with a fist. But the pixie was already quite a bit lower than that, and she did not appreciate where she could feel the tickle of its wings against her skin. There had to be a way to lose the little bug. They weren’t leaving fast enough. Regan tapped the woman’s shoulder and motioned away from the flowers and toward the gazebo, which looked to be vacant. Privacy. Good. Maybe she could shake the pixie out of her clothes without someone seeing.

As if Snickers could read Regan’s thoughts, it zipped past her breasts and down her sleeve, poking its head out by her wrist. She wasn’t fast enough to grab it. “Lady lady! You never gave me your name, lady!” Regan’s forehead creased deeply. This was humiliating. She didn’t really think that squeaky little voice was coming from her, did she? “Ya know, being in here, it’s boring. Just a whole lotta white fabric, how do you not die of boredom?” Snickers heaved dramatically but before Regan could smash the pixie with her fist it was gone. “I’ll fix it!” It was a mumble from beneath her shirt, and Regan looked at the woman, wide eyed, and had to wonder if her sanity was being questioned right now. Maybe it should have been. It would be so much easier if she was imagining this.

With a flash, Regan watched the woman’s shirt go from a respectable white to exploding with color. Looking down, her own had done the same. It was a rainbow of colors swirling together and it sparkled under the sunlight like someone had doused it with glitter. Regan’s jaw dropped open. But Snickers bounced around under her shirt, wings zipping in delight. She needed. It. Gone. Regan turned to the now very colorful woman. “I understand this is forward of me, but I would like to remove my clothes and be nude.”

“You’re going to have to forgive my ignorance at not knowing what other sorts of bugs bite, but are you okay?” It wasn’t the time to whine about her lack of skill in the field of entomology; it wasn’t a field Xóchitl had ever felt a particular fondness for, outside of general curiosity of the inner workings of the whole world. The woman was motioning for the two of them to move away, toward the gazebo, and she saw no reason to not follow her. Especially since whatever bug was here was causing her a terrible amount of pain, trouble, or some combination of the two.

She’d never seen bugs with heads that big. “I - no. I - what?” Xóchitl couldn’t entirely process all that was going on around her, and she liked to think of herself as someone who was acutely aware of the world around her. (Not to brag, or anything). This bug was flying and yelling and Xóchitl wondered, for a moment, if she’d had enough coffee that morning, or if she’d accidentally skipped a meal (which she never did, food was too beautiful to do that), which meant she had to be imagining things, or she was letting the rumors in this town get to her. Mackenzie wouldn’t have wanted that. Her moms had been some of the first to encourage her to think about what happened to her friend as a freak accident, not something explained by storybooks. So whatever was happening now – well, it didn’t make much of any sort of sense.

Except that then this bug was off and making her shirt glitter. Her nice, sensible, white shirt now looked like something out of a circus, or an insipid children’s cartoon. “I don’t know about nudity, as I think we can get arrested for that, but I’m very much down to take off my shirt.” So Xóchitl did so, without hardly a second thought. “This - do you take it to the cleaners, or what? I like my simple, respectable clothing. I don’t think I’ve worn glitter since I was maybe…” well, eight. “Eight.”

Regan appreciated the woman’s lack of hesitation and responded in turn, shimmying off her sparkly, prismatic shirt and in the process trying to peel the pixie away from her. The thing was stubborn and tried to cling to her skin, but short of her bra, there was nowhere for it to hide now. Regan, meanwhile, was grateful the gazebo would at least partially conceal that the two of them were stripping down.

The small spit of a fae came tumbling out of the folds of fabric and catapulted through the air. It took a second for it to get its bearings, but it ended up in a clumsy hover in front of the two of them, looking around with a wild and very pleased expression on its tiny face. Regan wanted to lunge for it, clapping it down, but some speck of hesitation prevented it. She didn’t want to kill it. Which was stupid. How many animals had she ended just in the last month? But Snickers was a little more than a deer or a squirrel, and even she couldn’t deny that. So instead Regan frowned deeply at it, her eyes narrowed in a threat she couldn’t carry out. “Get away from me. We are not friends.” She lashed out into the air with her shirt, trying to swat it, and had to wonder if her companion thought she was speaking to her instead of the pixie. But they weren’t friends. That shouldn’t have mattered either.

The pixie paused for a moment, and Regan hated that uncanny feeling of making eye contact with something so small, something that shouldn’t be remotely sentient. Then its stupid little tongue came out of its mouth and it pffft’d a big raspberry before dive bombing right into the other woman’s hair.

She’d never been especially shy about her looks, and this wasn’t even a time to focus on that, but instead to rid herself of an absolute fashion disaster. Looking hot while doing so was just an added bonus to the unfortunate afternoon that Xóchitl had found herself part of. The gazebo ensured that they likely wouldn’t get ticketed for public displays of indiscretion, or something. She wasn’t sure if that was an actual thing people got tickets for, but if she didn’t have to find out, that was all the better.

Maine hadn’t had bugs like this when she was growing up. Xóchitl wondered if this was some sort of new invasive species – the New York Times talked about those, sometimes, though she didn’t pay tons of attention to those sections, preferring culture, op-eds, among other things. Whatever this flying thing was, she was none too pleased with it, especially when it dive-bombed right into her hair.

“Hey!” She exclaimed, hands running through her hair, trying to grab whatever was in there and yank it out. Retrospectively, she should have been more gentle, but when she was frustrated, she didn’t always think before she acted, and so she grabbed the giant bug, which looked weirdly like it had a nearly humanoid face, and it started swatting at her hand right away, and so Xóchitl shook it off of her, only to have it come flying back up to her face and swat her nose three times. She was pretty sure she could hear it say something about being too big and tall again, but that much she knew she had to be imagining. The bug-thing flew up to the other woman then, giving a sharp tug at her hair as if to try and gain her attention.

As soon as the woman’s hands managed to grab Snickers, Regan knew this was not going to be pretty. If that little bug was willing to chew on the fingers of a “fellow fae”, what would it do to this poor, oblivious woman? It zigzagged around her head and dive bombed her face a few times, all the while blowing more raspberries. Then Snickers made a sound like a vuvuzela right in the woman’s ear. “That’s enough!” Regan shouted at the thing, her voice screeching an octave too loud. Snickers giggled at her volume, hovering playfully in the air. “Do it again! Do it like those sky explosions! The colorful ones!”

While Snickers seemed to be thinking about fireworks, Regan made a swift grab for one of the obscenely colorful shirts and whipped it over the tiny pixie like a net. She tied off the sleeves and openings and she could feel the tiny thing careening around inside. At least its annoying voice was finally muffled again. “Got it!” Regan hissed a sigh of relief and looked at the woman. Appreciating for the first time that she was not wearing a shirt. Right. And the shirt in her hands was not a turtleneck. So… “Oh, um – do you want – I mean, you can wear my shirt. To leave. If you want. I’ll figure something out. I think we’re in agreement that this bug needed to be caught.” She looked down at the shirt in her hands, which was thrashing around like a cat trapped in a bag. “I’d like to hang on to yours for now, if you don’t mind.” What she intended on doing with it, she wasn’t sure yet. Leave it here at the gazebo for someone else to find? Bring it to the cabin? Release it in the woods? Maybe there wouldn’t be any questions.

Xóchitl winced at the sounds the bug made in her ear, just moments before the other woman screeched, too. There was lots more noise than she would have expected, running into a stranger and a bug, but this town did that, she supposed. That was, throw the absolute unexpected at her, whether or not she wanted it. At least her companion in all of this seemed to be taking it in stride, and seemed to be confident in her actions.

In a swift move, the bug was captured, and Xóchitl could only breathe a sigh of utter relief. “Thank you. God, I’m apparently more useless around bugs than I might’ve thought.” She nodded. “Absolutely agreement. I don’t need to borrow your shirt - not to sound conceited, or anything, but I’m not ashamed of how I look, and I don’t exactly mind showing off. But I do appreciate the offer.” Which she did. “Yes, of course. Feel free to keep it. I’m not exactly the biggest fan of things quite that… flashy. So you’re welcome to it, and the bug inside of it.” Her hand carded through her hair, “I’m Xóchitl, by the way. Sorry if this is too forward, but would you like to get coffee or tea or some drink some time? Away from bugs. As for the outfits, whatever you’re comfortable with works for me. How’s that sound?”

"It's fine," Regan said with a shrug, "I'm sure you are useless at many other things, too. There is no reason to feel especially– uh, I mean – sometimes our circumstances test our resolve." She could practically hear Reilly chiding her. It probably wasn't very nice to tell someone they were useless, even if it was true. It wasn't the woman's fault she would expire after leading an ordinary life. At least she had no shame in her form, which most people could stand to emulate. Regan thought of her wings and frowned. "I'll keep it, then. Just be cautious leaving, even if you don't mind being seen, public indecency is still a concern." Snickers struggled against the bounds of the shirt and Regan tightened her grip.

Oh, right, an exchange of names. She considered for a moment, and offered her first name instead of the last as she often did. "Regan. Meeting you has been acceptable, despite the circumstances." From inside the shirt, she could hear muffled sobbing. "Why would that be forward? People require nourishment in the form of beverages. It would only be forward if you were asking me on a –" Oh. Her cheeks flushed with heat and she shifted her weight between her feet. It occurred to her, more than before, that she was not wearing a shirt. Neither of them were. She stared at Xóchitl and then felt strange about the fact she was staring and then stared at the ground instead. It didn't look nearly as soft. "I don't, uh– I'm very busy and – oh, but it's not that – I mean, you're objectively –" She clamped down on her lip with her teeth and nearly dropped the shirt-swaddled pixie.

It had been many years since Regan had been on a date, and with time, she had only grown worse at navigating the prospect and turning down the occasional interest that was displayed. Cliodhna had expressed in no uncertain terms that such entanglements would lead to swift and utter failure in her training. Only after achieving perfection could she consider inviting such a connection into her life, and overlaps not even then. Cliodhna herself was a woman of few affections. Regan never had to wonder if her grandfather had been loved by her.

"What I mean to say is, um, perhaps someday." Wait, did that sound like a yes? "Not soon. In the future. The distant future. Possibly." There. That probably came across more clearly. Regan inhaled a big breath, her muscles relaxing as the threat passed her by. But what if they both needed to leave in the same direction? Shirtless and together and with more questions about coffee and longing looks? Just the thought of such an awkward situation made her stomach turn all over again. The solution, she decided, was to not leave. "So long," Regan said, trying to prompt Xóchitl’s departure. "I'm going to stay here, in this gazebo. For a very long time."

“You’re right, I’m certainly useless at other things too.” She waved it off, not intending for it to sound self-deprecating, but rather factual. It was true, even if Xóchitl liked to think of the positive aspects of who she was (the bad ones were obvious and easy, so showing the best parts was just a nicer overall experience). “You are welcome to it. Yes, that’s a good point, but this is just like wearing a bikini, and I’ve got no intention of trying to go in any places of business, so the ‘no shirt’ rule will be safe – I wouldn’t want to break that.” Which, while true, seemed like something her companion would be in favor of, and so extra highlighting of it couldn’t hurt either of them.

“Meeting you has been a bit more than acceptable on my end, but I’ll take ‘acceptable’. Gives me something to work on improving.” Which was true enough, and there was something about this woman that intrigued her, even if Xóchitl couldn’t quite place her finger on why. “I was asking you on a date, yes, though it doesn’t need to be something serious. Objectively hot? I’ll just fill in that word, since you’ve left me hanging.” The smile she offered was somewhere in the realm between mischievous and kind.

“Possibly someday in the distant future works for me. But would you like to get drinks, with our clothes on, sometime?” She looked at the other woman with a brief moment of concern. “Just, you know, we both need to stay hydrated, or else it’s bad for your body, or something, so just figured I’d ask just in case you wanted to participate in the daily ritual of hydration together. Just with beverages more fun than water.” The other woman seemed keen on Xóchitl leaving, and she supposed she could give into that, at least this once. “Don’t stay too long. I’ll be gone soon enough, then you can come out fully clothed and with the ability to go into any shop you want on your way home.” She gave a nod. “Despite the circumstances, it was good to meet you, Regan. I hope to meet up with you again sooner rather than later.”

#writing #c xochitl

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waterfishlol0 · 1 year ago

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Hiii um. Can I hear some of your bug takes. Bug opinions. Bug problematic favs. Etc

If ur talking abt actual creature bugs ofc 🤯

First of all spiders are so hated for no reason they r so cute in adorable as long as theu are not in my bedroom. If they are i may start sobbing and screaming. I luv furry spiders bc they have paws n act like cats.

Centipedes r my problematic favs bc even though they bite n sting and are long with lots of legs they r so SILLY! Ufh i. LOVE centipedes.

Bees are actually so cool yk they turn yellow from pollen (i think?)

Idk there is this lady with rhe number one best garden in my town and her garden is in the front yard so sometimes i go up to the millions of bees and pet them. Maybe give them a flower or two i found. I realized that a lot of the smaller/younger bees are more white than yellow.

Carpet beetles suck i hope they all go away (i had them not too long ago…)

Tiny bugs such as ants and those little red bugs i saw r so funnt bc they r so small in a huge world wnd they r just going on a little adventure…. I saw a ant while waiting for the bus once and it was carrying a leaf too big for its body and was falling behind its group. I picked it up and put it next to the other ants but the leaf was so big and silly!

There was also this weird red bee looking thing that came out of a hole in the ground at my old apartment complex. Me n my friends didn’t know what it was but it was like medium to large sized. One stepped on it (🙁) and it was green inside so we ran away like “EWWW”

Like not even two min later we go back to the same hole and the bee and any evidence of its existence went away?! Ik it was the correct spot bc it had the same rocks n tuffs of grass. We started to say that the tree it was next to was haunted n i got so scared bc that tree was in front of my apartment.

Also horn worms r my fav caterpillar. They r so squishy n soft n they r so cute idc if they kill ur tomato plants or smth! My brother gets them for his lizards and i love them i taught one how to play resident evil 2

Crickets are pathetic and can’t even get off their backs but its okay they r cute ❤️❤️

Also honorable mentions, locusts (one jumped in my face and it was funny), carpenter bees (the ones digging a hole in my house rn have beef with me they keep trying to size me up and slapped my family member?), stick bugs, butterflies (one landed on my nose when i was like three yrs old wnd i got scared n screamed), those little bugs that keep trying to fly on my phone.

#bug #i love bugs when they aren’t in my bedroom #or house #silly silly silly #tysm for this ask #to the public #keep asking about random things 😁

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frnk-ieroh · 11 months ago

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Unlock the Secrets of Horticulture: From Beginner to Pro

Gardening has actually constantly been a popular and also satisfying hobby for individuals of any ages. Whether you have a tiny terrace or a spacious yard, cultivating a yard can bring tremendous pleasure and contentment. But where do you begin if you're a full newbie? Concern not, as this article will certainly lead you with the essentials of horticulture as well as assist you end up being a pro in no time.From choosing

the right plants for your climate and dirt problems to preparing the dirt and also growing strategies, we'll cover all the essentials. You'll learn about the value of sunlight, watering, and fertilizing, as well as exactly how to control bugs and conditions effectively. Additionally, we'll dive right into the art of pruning, proper plant care, as well as gathering strategies. By the end of this post, you'll feel great in your ability to develop a successful yard that will be the envy of your neighborhood.Paragraph 2: However horticulture is more than just a hobby; it can additionally have various benefits for both your physical and also psychological health. Did you understand that spending quality time in nature as well as dealing with plants can minimize anxiety degrees and also boost your mood? Gardening offers a sense of success and also purpose as you see your initiatives change into stunning blossoms or bountiful harvests. It likewise offers a terrific method to stay energetic as well as fit, as tending to your garden entails activities like digging, weeding, as well as lifting.Moreover, gardening allows you to get in touch with the atmosphere and add to

sustainability. By expanding your own fruits, veggies, as well as natural herbs, you can reduce your carbon impact as well as have a straight influence on your food consumption. In addition, gardens offer environments for helpful pests and birds, promoting biodiversity in city areas. So, not just can you enjoy the fruits of your labor, but you'll likewise be doing your part in developing a greener as well as much healthier planet.In final thought, horticulture is a terrific hobby with many advantages for both individuals and the setting

. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to enhance your existing gardening skills, this post will certainly equip you with the understanding and also confidence to prosper. So, order your gardening devices as well as prepare yourself to unlock the secrets of horticulture!

Read more here https://ucangrowmushrooms.com

#gourmet mushrooms

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lets-misa-blog · 11 months ago

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Unlock the Keys of Horticulture: From Newbie to Pro

Horticulture has actually always been a prominent as well as satisfying pastime for people of any ages. Whether you have a tiny balcony or a roomy backyard, growing a garden can bring enormous pleasure and also fulfillment. However where do you begin if you're a complete novice? Fear not, as this post will lead you through the basics of gardening and also assist you come to be a pro in no time.From selecting

the right plants for your environment as well as dirt conditions to preparing the soil and planting methods, we'll cover all the fundamentals. You'll discover the importance of sunshine, watering, and also fertilizing, along with just how to regulate bugs as well as conditions successfully. Furthermore, we'll dive right into the art of pruning, appropriate plant care, and collecting methods. By the end of this short article, you'll feel great in your capacity to create a thriving garden that will certainly be the envy of your neighborhood.Paragraph 2: But horticulture is even more than simply a pastime; it can also have numerous benefits for both your physical as well as psychological health. Did you know that spending quality time in nature as well as collaborating with plants can minimize stress degrees as well as boost your state of mind? Gardening offers a feeling of accomplishment as well as objective as you see your initiatives transform into lovely flowers or abundant harvests. It likewise supplies a great way to stay active and also in shape, as often tending to your yard entails tasks like digging, weeding, and lifting.Moreover, horticulture allows you to get in touch with the setting and also contribute to

sustainability. By growing your own fruits, veggies, as well as herbs, you can minimize your carbon footprint and also have a straight influence on your food intake. Furthermore, gardens give habitats for advantageous pests as well as birds, promoting biodiversity in urban locations. So, not only can you delight in the fruits of your labor, however you'll also be doing your part in developing a greener and also much healthier planet.In final thought, horticulture is a terrific pastime with various advantages for both individuals and also the environment

. Whether you're going back to square one or seeking to enhance your existing horticulture skills, this post will certainly outfit you with the expertise as well as confidence to be successful. So, grab your gardening devices as well as prepare yourself to open the tricks of horticulture!

Read more here https://ucangrowmushrooms.com

#mycorrhizal symbiosis #composting #fruiting conditions

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sassypotatoe1 · 2 years ago

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When I was a kid I would dig around in the mud next to our pond and collect sticks and weave grass and pick tiny flowers and make little pots for them and then I would build fairy villages with my spoils. Sometimes I'd sneak matches out of the house and put them up for fairies to use as torches.

Sometimes I'd wake up at midnight to bake tiny chocolate cakes in plastic bottle caps in the microwave to put in my fairy villages for the fairies. I'd pick the really big mushrooms and smaller ones and make tables and chairs for the fairies. I figured out how to make stairs and sturdy walls out of mud and sticks and I'd steal my mom's sewing thread and wool to make fences and bridges.

I'd make swimming pools and beds with feathers for mattresses. The cattle we kept in the field trampled my villages when they went to drink from the pond so every Saturday I'd be back out in the field building fairy villages, and every Friday night I'd use my "spy training" to pilfer stuff to make them.

Now the closest I get to making fairy villages is just regular old gardening. I've realized that sometimes all I need is to get my hands in the dirt, cake mud under my nails and put things in the ground.

I still plan to create a fairy garden one day when I have my own yard and can build my own garden. I still save every robotime miniature dollhouse kit I find to my wishlist so I can build them, mostly because I don't yet know where to find raw materials and I don't have time to make original designs.

I haven't bought one yet because I'm saving to have a good deposit to put down for a house, but when I feel more secure and have more time for things I enjoy you best believe I'm buying one every month to put together and customizing them and making YouTube videos that no one will watch simply because it's written into my very bones to document everything I come across.

It's the reason I became a journalist in the first place. Why I enjoy drawing and painting and photography and writing in every form but poetry.

Sensory needs include getting your hands in the dirt to ground yourself, the same way it included building fairy houses as a kid. Take care of yourself because you'll be surprised how much meeting sensory needs actually helps with your every day functioning. Feel like you need to throw something? Go take a knife throwing class. Or just go into your yard and throw moderately heavy rocks at a tree. Don't throw too hard you don't want to chip off the bark.

Need to rip something to shreds? Rip a paper into as many pieces as you can, as small as you can. Use paper from the recycling. Save the flakes to make slurry to make homemade paper.

Need to be upside down or spinning? Get yourself a swing and really high monkey bars and spin or hang away. Listen to your sensory needs, both what needs to go away and what you need more of. I promise you I've avoided meltdowns simply by swinging for a good 30 minutes until I felt a little sick. Sometimes you just need to listen to monkey brain to make autism brain shut up about the invisible bugs on your arms.

i dont know what autistic person needs to hear this but your sensory wellness is so important. and that goes beyond just avoiding things that trigger immediate distress. sensory enrichment is vital too! do things that make you feel safe and comforted and happy and alive. it's not insignificant. it's not silly. it's part of taking care of your lovely autistic self and enjoying life. your life, which thrives when your wants and needs are met.

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eclecticcowboydream · 1 year ago

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The Most Common Pests in Aspendale: Identifying and Dealing with Them

Introduction

Pests are a common problem for homeowners and businesses alike in Aspendale. These unwanted creatures can cause damage, spread diseases, and be a general nuisance. That’s why it’s important to have an understanding of pest control and how to deal with them effectively. In this section, we’ll provide an introduction to pest control Aspendale, including the types of pests commonly found in the area and the methods used for their control.

Types of Pests Found in Aspendale

Aspendale is home to a variety of pests that can cause problems for residents and businesses. Some of the most common pests found in the area include ants, cockroaches, spiders, rodents (such as rats and mice), termites, flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, and wasps. Each of these pests has its own unique characteristics and behaviors that make them difficult to control.

Ants are small insects that live in large colonies and are attracted to food sources inside homes or buildings. They can contaminate food and cause damage by digging through wood or insulation.

Cockroaches are another common pest found in Aspendale. These insects thrive in warm environments with access to food sources such as crumbs or garbage. They can also spread diseases like salmonellosis.

Spiders may be beneficial for controlling other pests but can become a nuisance if they infest your home or business. Some species like black widows or brown recluses

Identifying the Most Common Pests in Aspendale

Aspendale is a beautiful suburb located in Melbourne’s south-eastern area. It boasts of picturesque beaches, lush parks, and a peaceful community. However, just like any other place, Aspendale is not spared from the presence of pests. These unwanted critters can invade our homes and cause damage to our properties, as well as pose health risks to our families.

In order to effectively deal with these pests, it is important to first identify which ones are commonly found in Aspendale. In this section, we will discuss the most common pests in Aspendale and provide information on how to recognize them.

1. Cockroaches – These insects are one of the most common household pests in Aspendale. They thrive in warm and humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches are known carriers of diseases and can contaminate food.

Identification: Cockroaches have a flat oval-shaped body with six legs and long antennae. They come in different sizes but are usually about 1-1/2 inches long. The most common species found in Aspendale include German cockroaches, American cockroaches, and Australian cockroaches.

2. Ants – Another commonly found pest in Aspendale is ants. These small insects may seem harmless at first, but they can quickly become a nuisance when they infest your home or garden.

Identification: Ants have three main body parts – head, thorax, abdomen – and six legs. They

Ants

Ants are one of the most common pests found in Aspendale and they can be a major nuisance for homeowners. These tiny insects may seem harmless, but they have the ability to cause significant damage to your property if left unchecked. In this section, we will discuss the different types of ants commonly found in Aspendale and how to identify and deal with them.

Types of Ants Found in Aspendale: 1. Black House Ants 2. Coastal Brown Ants 3. Argentine Ants

Black House Ants: Black house ants are small, black ants that measure around 2-3mm in length. They are commonly found inside homes and buildings, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where food and moisture are plentiful. These ants typically form large colonies with multiple queens, making them difficult to control.

Coastal Brown Ants: Coastal brown ants are slightly larger than black house ants, measuring around 3-4mm in length. They have a brownish color and can often be seen forming long trails as they search for food sources. These ants prefer nesting outdoors but can also enter homes through cracks or gaps.

Argentine Ants: The Argentine ant is an invasive species that has become widespread across Australia, including Aspendale. They are light brown in color and measure around 2-3mm in length. These ants form large supercolonies that can span over several properties or even entire neighborhoods. They are known for their aggressive behavior towards other

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most common pests found in Aspendale, and they can be a major nuisance for homeowners. These insects are known for their ability to thrive in almost any environment, making them quite difficult to get rid of once they infest a home. In this section, we will discuss the characteristics of cockroaches, why they are attracted to homes in Aspendale, and how to effectively deal with an infestation.

Characteristics: Cockroaches have distinct physical features that make them easy to identify. They have flat oval-shaped bodies with long antennae and six legs. Most species range in color from light brown to dark brown or black. They also have wings that enable them to fly short distances, although not all species can do so. Adult cockroaches can grow up to 1-2 inches in length.

Why Are Cockroaches Attracted To Homes In Aspendale?

Cockroaches are attracted to homes for several reasons. One of the main reasons is food availability. These insects are scavengers and will feed on almost anything including crumbs, garbage, pet food, and even feces. Therefore, if your home provides these sources of food, it’s highly likely that you’ll have a cockroach problem.

Moisture is another factor that attracts cockroaches into homes. Aspendale’s climate is humid and has plenty of rainfall throughout the year which creates ideal conditions for roach breeding and survival. Leaky pipes

– Spiders

Spiders are often a common sight in Aspendale homes and gardens, with over 350 species of spiders found in Victoria alone. While most spiders are harmless and play an important role in controlling other pest populations, some can be a cause for concern. In this section, we will discuss the types of spiders commonly found in Aspendale and how to identify and deal with them.

Types of Spiders Found in Aspendale:

1. Huntsman Spiders: One of the most commonly seen spiders in Aspendale is the Huntsman spider. These large, flat-bodied spiders can grow up to 15cm across and have long legs that enable them to move quickly. Despite their intimidating appearance, huntsman spiders are not considered dangerous to humans as they do not possess venom strong enough to harm us.

2. Redback Spiders: The redback spider is another commonly found species in Aspendale that can pose a potential threat to humans. They have a distinctive black body with a red stripe on their abdomen, hence their name. Female redback spiders are venomous and can deliver a painful bite if provoked or disturbed.

3. White-tailed Spiders: These medium-sized spiders are easily recognizable by their greyish coloring and white stripe on the end of their abdomen. While they are known for delivering painful bites, there is no evidence that white-tailed spiders produce necrotic lesions like many people believe.

Signs of Infestation:

One of the tell-tale signs of a termite infestation is the presence of discarded termite wings near doors or windowsills. This is an indication that reproductive termites (also known as swarmers) have entered your home looking for new nesting sites.

You may also notice mud tubes along walls or foundations – these are used by subterranean termites to travel from their nest to food sources without being exposed to air or light. Another sign of infestation is damaged wood; termites leave behind long tunnels inside wood as they feed on it from within.

Types of Rodents Found in Aspendale:

1. House Mice: Also known as domestic or field mice, these rodents have a pointed snout, small ears, and a long tail. They are typically grayish-brown in color and measure around 3-4 inches in length. House mice are social creatures and can reproduce quickly, making them a common pest problem in households.

2. Norway Rats: These rats have a large head, blunt nose, small ears, and a thick body covered with shaggy brown fur. They can grow up to 16 inches long including their tail. Norway rats prefer living outdoors but often enter homes seeking shelter or food sources.

3. Roof Rats: Also called black rats or ship rats, these rodents have dark brown or black fur with a slender body measuring around 6-8 inches long (excluding their tail). Roof rats are excellent climbers and are often found nesting in attics or high places such as trees.

Habits and Behaviors:

Rodents are nocturnal creatures that prefer to stay hidden during the day and come out at night to

Risks and Dangers of Pests in Aspendale

Pests are a common problem in many areas, and Aspendale is no exception. While these creatures may seem small and harmless, they can actually pose several risks and dangers to both your health and property. In this section, we will discuss the various risks and dangers that pests in Aspendale can bring.

1. Structural Damage: One of the most significant dangers of pests is their ability to cause structural damage to your home or business. Termites, for instance, can chew through wood, causing extensive damage to the structure of your building over time. This can lead to costly repairs and even compromise the safety of your property.

2. Health Risks: Pests carry harmful bacteria and diseases that can be transmitted to humans through bites, contact with droppings or contaminated food. Cockroaches, rodents, and mosquitoes are some of the common pests in Aspendale known for spreading diseases such as salmonellosis, hantavirus, dengue fever, and West Nile virus.

3. Allergies: For those with allergies or asthma, pest infestations can worsen their condition. Pests like dust mites produce droppings that contain allergens which trigger symptoms like sneezing, wheezing or skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

4. Food Contamination: Pests such as ants, cockroaches and rodents have a knack for finding their way into our pantries and storage areas where they contaminate our food by leaving behind feces

How to Prevent Pest Infestations in Your Home or Business

Pest control aspendale infestations can be a nuisance and a health hazard, causing damage to your property and potentially spreading diseases. Aspendale is no stranger to pest problems, with its warm climate and proximity to nature making it an ideal breeding ground for various pests. To prevent these unwanted guests from invading your home or business, here are some effective tips on how to keep them at bay.

1. Keep your surroundings clean

One of the most effective ways to prevent pest infestations is by maintaining cleanliness in and around your property. Pests are attracted to food sources such as crumbs, spills, garbage, and standing water. Make sure to clean up any spills or messes immediately, regularly empty trash cans and keep them tightly closed, and fix any leaks that may lead to standing water. It’s also important to regularly sweep or vacuum areas where food is consumed or prepared.

2. Seal entry points

Pests can enter your home or business through even the tiniest cracks and gaps in walls, windows, doors, and pipes. To prevent this from happening, inspect your property for any potential entry points regularly and seal them off using caulk or weatherstripping. This includes repairing torn screens on doors and windows as well.

3. Declutter

Piles of clutter not only create hiding places for pests but also make it difficult for you to spot signs of an infestation early on. Decluttering not only makes it easier for you to identify pest problems but also removes potential nesting

#PEST CONTROL ASPENDALE

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