Every time I start to like where I live, something pops up. 

In the last week or so, I've noticed that those big thorny bushes growing at the corner of the front porch are either blackberry or raspberry bushes; I'll know for sure when the berries stop being green.  I hacked a path out of the wilderness to get in front of them, so that I can harvest lots of yummy berries in a few weeks!  I also noticed that the path I've been working on building back to the stream goes past another very large, apparently VERY fruitful tangle.  I'm imagining I'll get almost a bushel of berries out of these two areas.

I looked out at all the wild flowers in my yard, and the grasses, watched the little baby snakes scurry into the dead leaves at my approach, and the semi-friendly hare that lives somewhere in the grass.  I decided that I rather like having a yard gone feral, now that I'm working with it.  (I'll post pictures, eventually)

Then, this morning, there was a scorpion in my sink.  Again.  About three inches long.  Goddess, I hate those things!  And what really upsets me is the fact that it probably rode into the house on the clothes I was wearing when working in the yard last night.

I could be content with our little wilderness if we could just eliminate the scorpions and the fire ants.  Well, and make a few house repairs/improvements.  At least I can work on the latter.

Have some photos of DoW pub sing:

My camera REALLY didn't want to take pictures of these guys.  They all ended up hazy and orby, yet pictures before or after turned out fine.  It made me cranky, but I think a few other people got good pictures.

Navarre is so cute with his little cup toasting everyone.

The Barbarian at the Gates and his dear Lady.  If you were there, no more needs be said.