Happy things: outside

After recently moving out of a soul-sucking apartment complex, I am so happy to have a yard. Well, we're renting so I don't technically have a yard... I mean, I'm not that adult.

Turns out that yards and things in yards make me happy. There's nothing like looking out your window, and instead of every day seeing your neighbor's cigarette butts scattered all over the parking lot beside their truck nutz (we keep it classy here in Alabama)... you get to see this:

Now those are my kind of danglers.

And instead of having to walk outside to move the neighbor's pizza box off of your little balcony, you get to do this:

Highly recommended: The Cooks Illustrated Guide to Grilling portobello marinade.

Rather than hearing your downstairs neighbor slam the door every time she comes and goes, and rather than hearing her yell at her boyfriend (who may or may not have just gotten out of prison), you get to hear the sweet gentle buzzing of friendly bumblers.

The living things... well, ok, the living things minus the squirrels who steal the birdseed and the roaches the size of your car... are really one of the best things about a yard.

This little guy's called a Clouded Sulphur. What a great name.
Fortunately, he does not smell like sulphur or we would not be friends. 

This visitor was spotted about a month ago. I'm still waiting for the good luck to kick in. In the meantime, just thinking about her so patiently posing for my camera, plus devouring those bastard mosquitoes, is simply delightful.

And these guys make me happiest of all:

Hanging out in the watering can one morning.

Look at me. Now at your pile of papers to grade. Now back to me. Now back at your desk. Now back to me. I am so awesome. I am in a watering can. On a unicorn. With cake. And rainbows.  

Well, hello there.

You will now have a very good day. And I don't even need rainbows.