Toad

Slightly smaller than my fist, this one was crouching absolutely motionless in one of the beds next to the front steps, even with me poking my camera in its face. I was afraid it might be dead, but it was gone when I went out to check later. The red fluff is a partially dried flower head from one of several Callistemon (bottlebrush) plants.

We plodded round the Brush Creek circuit this morning, all thoughts of 'brisk' banished by the fact that neither of us slept very well last night, but we did work up the energy to go into Sarmentine the French bakery with delightful pastries. I think I spent many waking hours during the night trying to figure out a menu for guests tonight. Some beautiful meringues with fruit solved the problem of a gluten free dessert because one guest is on a gluten free diet, and Jamie Oliver's salmon recipe with green beans, olives and tomatoes (thank you, Lady Findhorn) is a good Mediterranean entree. The green beans are from our garden and they look a bit tired from the heat of the past two days but I think I can revive them.

The weather is cooler today and there is a doe lying comfortably in the shade on our front lawn.  Our resident flock of turkeys, much smaller than it was last year, just marched past her, one adult in front and the other behind about 12 adolescent sized offspring.  I'm hoping we can sit outside with our drinks at least until either the wasps or the mosquitoes drive us back in. The afternoon wind breeze has come up which might discourage the mosquitoes, but nothing discourages the wasps once they discover food. John has been on the warpath after some rodent which he thinks is still burrowing underneath our lemon tree. Our elderly neighbor has been taken into care, but her cats are still around. Somebody must be feeding them because they look pretty healthy, but  they are turning feral. I'm hoping they can help control the rodent population....