The Good the ___ and the ugly

We not only have insects but lovely flowers too. I just love hibiscus. why I am so fascinated and disgusted by this guy at the same time, I will never know. And the first time I have ever seen a baby preying mantis. I guess I just thought they came out the size I usually see them but i captured this little guy on our outside bedroom wall. He did NOT like having his picture taken. this one is my favorite. We went to see The Dark Knight with Kim and Bry this weekend. Wood thought it was too long, I thought it was too violent ( a hide my eyes kind of movie) and Bry and Kim liked it. We were all in agreement that Heath Ledger was beyond fantastic as the Joker. Oh and I almost forgot. Petey was in heaven! He just LOVES Bry to pieces and was sooooo excited that his favorite playmate had come to play just with him :-) Bry gives him great backrubs too which may also be a reason Bry is his favorite guest :-)

Identification help please

At first I thought these guys might be walking sticks, but I was thinking about it overnight and I think walking sticks are really really skinnier and more segmented and I am really not sure this guy really has 6 legs. If he does there are two up by his atennae. We have had several of these lurking around lately. I thought at first that they were dead bloated walking sticks but this guy is alive (and keeping me from going in and out of this door). I think they may be joining the company of the house centipede as one of my least favorite insects (if it is an insect)

A precarious post

Was eating breakfast yesterday morning when I discovered we were being watched :-) Right above that post is the lizard's (anole) new home and he had crawled over to the hanging geranium and was peering in at us through the kitchen window :-) Our post is sinking (and we need to figure out the best way to fix it) and he has found a really neat and safe place to live in between the top of the post and the beam it is supposed to be holding up :-)

Promised video of race cars

you have to look quickly to see Wood and Ellen zip by. Dave and Zai are taking the circuitous route ;-)

Berry Picking

On Monday Sarah took us all to a local island to go berry picking. They had a really cool shop and locally grown produce that I had planned to shop at when we were done and then just plumb forgot It was sort of a scorcher day and we really didn't last too long out in the fields It was a backwards clothes day for Zai. he and i had unwisely chosen to wear our crocs and he kept getting stuff in his shoes We had a bit of a run in with the sprinklers before we were done, but we learned their secrets and out smarted them :-)

Portland Fun Center

I can't remember ever going to a fun center like this before. What fun! next time we really have to go for the whole day. Dave road with Zai and Wood and Ellen cleaned up the track. I think Wood had the most fun of them all The squirting boat bumper cars were great fun until..... Zai realized that he was wet!

July with the Budds

First we got to see the missing tooth! Next we were wowed with the wonderful watermelon eating machine Wood gave the kids some clip on flashing disney characters. And then we settled down for some face making on the couch.

A critter day to be sure

I was going to Home Depot this morning and was about to back out of the drive way when I noticed a box turtle as big as life right in the middle of it. By the time I got my camera he had skittered off the drive way and underneath the crepe myrtle. He sure did give me the eye! While capturing the turtle on camera I thought I would see if I could get several of the bumble bees that swarm the tree every morning. See the top picture the guy flying right into the camera And then while looking for Petey piles in the backyard I caught sight of this very very furry caterpillar. I LOVE butterflies A face only a mother could love :-)

Sea of sunny faces

While out on a beastess ride a week or so ago, we came across this gorgeous field of sunflowers. Wood and I went back yesterday to capture some pictures and of course it wasn't quite as sunny a day so they are not as vibrant as they were the first time. Notice how they are all facing the same way? I need to go back later in the day to see if they follow the sun or if they just all face east. And what post would be complete without a Petey picture. We got a new hideabed for the office and sleeping on top of it is Petey's new favorite past time while we work. It is quite a perch since I opened the blinds behind him because he can just lift his head and watch all the goings on down the street and the construction that has been taking place at one of the houses that is being readied for move in.. Too much barking results in a closing of the blinds ;-)