Love Bugs 13: Ladybug! Ladybird!
We have seen so many lovely little ladybirds. They hang out by the overgrown asparagus plants. Ladybugs live all over the world, and bring good luck. Here is one I found in the kitchen!
Love Bugs 12: Woolly Bear
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
This crazy caterpillar is called a Woolly Bear. It rolls up in a defensive position, so you can see its red stripes and spikes. Amazingly, this caterpillar will turn into a Giant Leopard Moth, with a 3" wingspan. Moths are nocturnal, flying only at night, so we will have to stay up late to meet him.
Civility
A house divided cannot stand
We came across this soldier's grave in Harmony, NC. North Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860 after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president (Lincoln was not even on the ballot in North Carolina, because they did not have an official Republican party). More than 125,000 North Carolinian men served the Confederacy during the Civil War, and over 40,000 died.
Yipee Kai Yeah!
Mutton Bustin'
It's the rodeo in Harmony, North Carolina! We're a long way from the Rodeo we know in California! The youngest rider was 2.5 years old, wrangling a sheep for 4 seconds. This is called Mutton Bustin' - sheep riding by little 'uns. Cowboy Phin wanted to ride, too.
Love Bugs 11: Busy Bees
Workin' 9 to 5!
This busy carpenter bee is making a house in our railing. You can see the pile of sawdust getting bigger each day.
Ode to A Canoe
'tis a sad day on the Yadkin River
Our trusty canoe was swept downriver in a rainstorm. The water rose 8', flowing fast, running muddy with debris. We hoped that she was lodged in the bankside, and we would find her again when the rains stopped, but alas, after a thorough investigation we concede that shes gone. Farewell, sweet canoe! You traveled upriver through rapids to find a small island; you showed us turtle time on the Yadkin; you carried our son and daughter and granny (for a moment, until she tipped out into the river!); you were ugly but functional, and we had big plans to paint you like a goldfish or barracuda...
The canoe will rise again!
In one of those rare moments where everything seems to align, last night we rescued a father and son going downriver in a terrible rainstorm! And now down on our bank (until they return) is a lovely new PINK canoe! And we made a new friend.
Love Bugs 10: Lightening Bug
Fly Fire Fly
I was so excited to see tiny flying stars on our night walk - the lightening bugs have arrived! I can catch a star, and hold it in my hand! Fireflies make light using a process called bioluminescence. It is a very efficient process, where 90% of the energy a firefly uses to create light is actually converted into visible light. For comparison, an incandescent electric bulb can convert only 10 percent of total energy used into visible light, and the remainder is emitted as heat.
Love Bugs 9: Ewww
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock
This is a tick. It fell on the floor after feasting on Thomas' blood. It was puffy and soft and looked really gross. It got stuck on its back and could not turn over. It has tiny little legs.
This is a tick. It fell on the floor after feasting on Thomas' blood. It was puffy and soft and looked really gross. It got stuck on its back and could not turn over. It has tiny little legs.
Toddler Sport: Cliff Jumping
ex.treme
__adj.
1. exceeding the bounds of moderation; drastic
2. going to great lengths in action, habit, opinion
3. extremely dangerous or difficult
Love Bugs 8: Wolf Spider
Papa spent a very long time trying to identify this guy, finally settling on the Burrowing Wolf. They build burrows that have a trapdoor, and although generally friendly, a bite from a wolf spider is poisonous.
"From this story one learns that children, especially young lasses, pretty, courteous and well-bred, do very wrong to listen to strangers. And it is not an unheard thing if the Wolf is thereby provided with his dinner."
__ Charles Perrault, Little Red Riding Hood
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