When outdoors in the evenings recently, I have noticed quite a number of fireflies lighting up. I have read that fireflies are less common than they used to be, which is worrisome, so I am glad to report that at least in Arlington, there seems to be a fair-sized population.

A few hours ago, I emerged from the Metro to see an extraordinary sunset, with clouds painted various shades of red and pink. Instead of taking the bus, I decided to walk home and continue feasting my eyes on the splendid sunset. The walk lasted longer than the sunset, but I could use the exercise, and, for a brief time, the view was something really special.

Early in the Spring, I bought two plants, as I recall, at the farmers’ market, one of which didn’t last long. The other, a desert succulent, is still alive and well on my windowsill, despite my brownish thumb. One splash of water per week is all that it asks for, and I believe it has actually grown, not just survived. Its photosynthesizing probably makes the air in my apartment just a little fresher.

I have gone for evening walks yesterday and today. It’s a bit warm and humid, but there’s greenery to look at, and flowers, in particular, crepe myrtle trees with different colors of blossoms (white, pink, red, and purple), and tiger lilies in several yards.

I don’t often go out to dinner these days, but this afternoon I went to Dama, an Ethiopian restaurant about half a mile from where I live, for the first time in years, I believe. It was a break from what I usually make for myself, and an adequate meal of injera pancake with split pea stew, lentil stew, cooked collard greens, a potato, carrot, and cabbage dish, and a lettuce and tomato salad on top. These various foods were on one injera, while another was served in place of silverware. Ethiopians, like Aeneas and his Trojan refugees, eat their tables.

Friday about 6:30 PM, I was walking up and down stairs for exercise, and saw a lovely cloudscape, with the undersides of the clouds turned pink. I went outside, walked a bit, and saw some more of the clouds. I didn’t see the setting sun, as there were trees and buildings in the way, but I did get to look at the clouds.

Walking the last two blocks home this evening, I saw several fireflies; I also saw several little yellow flashes a few evenings ago. Fireflies seem to be less common now than they were when I was a child, and furthermore, I don’t often get out on a summer evening to look for them, so it’s good to know that the world still has fireflies.

Late Wednesday afternoon, I passed a window, and saw a sliver of a magnificent sunset, the sliver being what was visible between two buildings to the west. A little later, I raised the blinds on my own office window (lowered earlier to keep out the glare), and saw a wider view of the sunset, which was redder by that time, but still achingly beautiful.

A few hours later, I was taking some jars and whatnot from my apartment down to recycling, when I saw a woman and her beagle returning from a walk. The beagle nuzzled my hand and let me pet her for a bit before she (I think the beagle is female, but I'm not certain) and her human headed into their own apartment.