Critter Cam

The back yard was full of critters today.

Squirrels eating bird food...


Birds patiently waiting for the squirrels to get their bellies full...


Squirrels eating squirrel food...

Another Freaky Bug

This one was hanging out on the garage door this evening. Its body is about 3" long with a huge stinger sticking out the back.

No Painting Today

I had planned to paint the front door today. But, I didn't have the heart to scrape off or paint over the many critters hanging out there.

~~~

~~~

~~~

Many Critters Hanging Out in Our Yard Today

~~~

~~~~~~

My Biggest Fear

A friend sent me an email earlier tonight that asked a bunch of questions and I was supposed to respond with one-word answers.

One of the questions was, "What is your biggest fear." It took me a bit of thinking to come up with something. My final answer was "Illness."

As I was searching Google images to try to identify the blue and red bug I saw in my sunflower photo, I came across a photo of a praying mantis' head. My heart skipped a beat and, all of a sudden, the real answer to the Biggest Fear question came to me. I'm deathly afraid of the praying mantis.

It goes back to two different praying mantis encounters from my childhood -- both involving mass quantities of the dreadful creatures.
Not sure if I'm going to leave this photo online long -- freaks me even looking at it.

Colorful Bug

I didn't even notice this bug as I was taking a photo of a sunflower that is about to bloom behind my shed. But, when I started to crop the photo I took a closer look and noticed this oddity.

It reminds me of a tropical fish...

Hummingbird Feeder

The hummingbirds have totally ignored our hummingbird feeder this summer. Turns out they prefer the butterfly bush.

Finally, Rain!

~~ Nearly two inches of rain this evening. ~~

~~ The flower are very happy. ~~

Stroll Through the Garden

~~ One of the 627 bees in our garden today ~~

~~ Here's another one. ~~

~~ And, another. ~~

~~ Butterfly Enjoying Zennia ~~

Sunflower Buffet

Pollen Orgy

Butterfly Bushes at Work Attracting Butterflies

A pair of beauties on the butterfly bush.

Where did all the birds go?

Although we have four fully-stocked bird feeders and two bird baths in our yard, we've not seen many birds lately.
















I did come across this hawk feather today which leads me to believe the birds that normally lunch here at Chez Purple Rose of Sharon may have been witness to a gruesome attack on one of their own.

Wasp Nest, Day 1

We have a 3' x 3' wasp nest attached to the back of our house. It's too high up for us to reach, even with a ladder, and the wasps abandon it after the end of summer last year so now we just think of it as art. Today we noticed a new one sprouting up under our patio umbrella.

I thought Bruce was going to knock it down, but he says he wants to watch the construction. Should make for fun evenings on the patio!

Got Milk?

I saw this cute, fat squirrel at Pinhook Park in South Bend yesterday. He came right up to my car looking for a handout. I didn't have anything for him, but returned today with an ear of corn from the stash we have for the squirrels that raid our bird feeder. But, he didn't show today.

Thawing Snow Leads to Flooding

Our New Year's Day 12" of snow quickly melted early this week when the warm front came through. We had 60-degree temperatures two days in a row.

Now, their is wide-spread flooding throughout the Michiana area.

What's Wrong With That Duck's Neck???

I came across this group of napping geese and ducks. Notice how the geese sleep with their necks turned sideways, laying their heads on their backs. The ducks sleep with their heads scrunched down.

But, look at the duck on the far right, in the back. What the heck is going on there? His neck is flopped back and his head is laying on his back with his beak straight up in the air. That can't be comfortable!

Nature, Up Close and Personal

While walking through the art department at work today, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some movement out the window.

I took a closer look at saw this deer scrounging for food. I walked upstairs to get a better view and saw a second deer laying down by the pond.

It was a nice change-of-pace from the stress of everyday work life.