Mom's Mood Meter: Day 7

We have a lovely little consignment shop right here in town, which can at times prove to be a little too much temptation even for someone with my thrifty nature. "It's only a dollar (or two or four), so why not get it?"
Sometimes, buying something just because it is not a large investment doesn't make it a good buy and my "Mom's Mood Meter" proves just that. I purchased it thinking that it would make a humorous place to hang my keys. Once I hung it on the wall however, it became clear that it would not function well as a key holder, since it was hung by only one central nail. If I hung keys on the central hook, it rocked from side to side like a rocking chair while scraping the wall in a U pattern. Hanging the keys on one of the outside hooks, the entire thing hung askew. I tried attaching it to a side table with a combination of rubber bands and twist ties but it still flopped forward in a slovenly looking way. Since using it for my keys didn't work, it has been sitting on the side table next to where I set my keys, collecting dust. Looking at it now, I wonder why I ever bought it. Its ugly, plain ugly.
So goodbye mood meter. I am sure throwing you away will improve my mood immensely.

 "Bye, bye you useless piece of bric-a-brac."

Something worth keeping

 One of the things that I missed most when living in Colorado, was the profusion of wildflowers that grow along the roadsides and woodlands here in New Jersey. Anywhere there is a bit of dirt, you will find something growing. These odd looking flowers in the picture were growing out front of the house where we live, but I have also spotted them when driving. It has been a source of delight for me to observe the various comings and goings of wildflowers as they bloom in a carpet of yellow, white, or purple, only to be supplanted a few weeks later by a different variety. An area that seemed entirely covered in buttercups later becomes a field of daisies. More plants inhabit the same square foot of ground then I would have believed possible.
Before I moved west, I used to pick poesies to decorate my bedside table on a near daily basis. Yet I never noticed the amazing variety of blooms until this spring.
One of my greatest delights has been the pure unique fragrances of each; the sweetness of the honeysuckle or the heady richness of peonies.
I am not sure what the name of these pictured purplish pocket blooms is and to be honest I am afraid to find out.  What if they don't belong here?

There are so many invasive species taking hold and once I realize their presence, I see them everywhere about me and feel compelled to pull them out, wherever they may be growing. On a recent trip to a state park I noticed the forest floor being covered in mustard garlic plant. This invasive species has found a niche in our North American forest floors where it has been immensely successful. Instead of enjoying our picnic I felt the need to start weeding. There was no stopping point however, as the weed was coming up everywhere. When my husband gently reminded me that it was Father's Day, I felt guilty walking away from the gargantuan task.
The unbalance humans have bought to the environment is staggering, but the variety and beauty of wildflowers is a soothing balm as well as a reminder that biodiversity is something worth working for.