Decimated

annihilated, stripped, destroyed...and the words go on.

My beautiful Cone Flowers were consumed

during the days of rain.

They even ate the petals on the flowers!

Yes, Alex, I know what kind of caterpillars these are...squished.

The Cone Flower Community

While watching the Praying Mantis

She spied me!

These are wonderful insects to have in your garden.  As a child I got a nickel for finding one of these and relocating it in our garden.  Lady Bugs, the real ones, were a penny apiece.  I also earned money by removing potato beetles.  The Adult was worth a nickel and the young were a penny apiece.  I became rich!

I am glad to see any pollinators but the honey bees have become a rarity.

The Cone Flower/Echinacea  is now growing its second round of blooms while the others prepare to seed.

A pair of Pearl Crescent Butterflies, I think, dine together.

Sometimes I have trouble identifying them, Alex.

If someone knows the right name. please, let me know.

When Exploring

it was warm enough for these to be moving.

I THINK it may be a Hobo Spider, Alex.

UPDATE;  ALEX LOOKED IT UP! 

Thanks!

It's a Dark Fishing Spider not even close to a Hobo nor water.

I'm not very good at identifying spiders.  If anyone knows, please let know.  Hobo spiders are not supposed to be native here.

I know it looked BIG when we were looking eye to eyes.

I wonder if spiders have a book where they can identify humans.

"The Color Of Winter Is Blood Red"

was in a comment by the famous Ninja, author, blogger, friend, Alex Cavanaugh.  It started the wheels turning.  Turning wheels is a malady I can't seem to get rid of so here's the short Alex inspired with his comment.

Cabin Fever

It has been a long, cold winter.  Nothing but white as far as you could see. Even the birds were hiding. The pantries were full. The cabin was warm but that didn't keep the walls from closing in on them.

Yahtzee, five card stud poker, caramel pop corn, roasted marshmallows were all fun the first four days. They pulled out the Sorry game, Chest, Checkers, Dominoes and the S'mores.

Through the windows all they could see were growing drifts of snow.  Relentlessly it fell along with the camp fire fun.

After seven days each has chosen their own corner to read, to pout, to mourn the winter. The vast collection of family fun games had lost their appeal.  It was no longer an opportunity for quality time and was quickly becoming a volatile mix of boredom, claustrophobia, and frustration. 

Chopping the veggies and meat for a inside out warming stew for the evening meal the idea flickered through her thoughts and blinked out as quickly as it came.  

As each day passed the idea grew stronger and visited more often even though she fought it. She fought it with the love of a mother, with the love of a wife and with the love of KNOWING spring would come again.  She just wanted quiet.  No more games.  No more "Let's make the best of this".

She snapped.  The cleaver rose and fell amid screams of disbelief and horror.  Chop! Chop! The Chess was the first to go.  The checkers followed into the fire place.  The Trivia game was slashed and chopped and burned. As the Yahtzee dice bubbled in the roaring fireplace, she turned to her family, cleaver in hand.

Speechless, horrified, they clung to each other wondering, fearing what would happen next. There was no getting through to her.

She turned away opening the pantry and continued the same meticulous cleaving with the condiments that she had previously done with the "Snowed In" must haves.

Was the family next?  The dog?  Where would it stop?  No one thought to wrestle the cleaver from her iron fist...you don't mess with Mamma!

As the cleaver sliced through a jumbo size jar of ketchup, she crumbled, sliding slowly to floor. Cleaver still in hand, covered in blood red, she began to rock back and forth.  At first she mumbled but her voice grew stronger.  She chanted wildly, "NO MORE CHUTES AND LADDERS!  NO MORE CHUTES AND LADDERS!"

Outside the snow began to melt.

Alex, Mad Snapper and Wild Flowers

I have tried multiple times to capture 

this beautiful waxy wild flower

from the Buttercup family.

Need to take some more camera lessons

from the Mad Snapper.

Red clover is the only evidence other than total damage to field and creek that Entergy Power left. We were supposed to be fully seeded with no damage.  Comedians, I guess, cause they certainly were not people that respected land.

Another wild flower, this time in the Aster family.

All these are identified for Alex 'cause he always asks,

 "But what kind is it?"

Confirmation that dandelions can grow anywhere.

Look closely.  

There is a tiny frog in the center no larger than my thumb nail.

I'm guessing it is a Blanchard's Cricket Frog. 

Alex has a new science fiction novel published,

 a blog with movie reviews and great information.

He even takes time to help insecure writers like me.

Thanks, Alex.

You Rock!

For Alex...

I first met Alex a hundred years ago when he became my good-natured adversary.  I would post a picture of a bird, a butterfly or a plant.  Alex would jokingly ask, "But what KIND is it?"  I think he knew I was a person who had to answer any question.  I worked hard identifying what creature or plant was going to be in my post. We bantered back and forth.  I discovered he is author of at least three books and is a well-rounded happy family man with a similar sense of humor.  We both like to play with words.

This post is for you, dear Alex.  Bet you would've had to look them up too!

A Mormon Metalmark or Apodemia mormo

enjoying a meal of pollen on purple cone flower

or Echinacea purpurea  .

Rose of Sharon bush or Hibiscus syriacus.

Photinus Coleoptera

or Lightning Bug or Firefly.

Their light is used to attract mates or meals.

Pterophylla camellifolia  or Katydid 

sitting on Plantago major or Plantian

Leopard frog or Lithobates sphenocephalus

sitting on tire (Good Year)

with Johnson Grass and Virginia Creeper.

Happy Friday, Alex!!!

I am open to correction if I've named anything wrong.

Onions, Roses and This N That

Daddy's onions still grow

and Mom's roses still bloom.

I guess these are part of their legacy.

I sold a painting this week, not enough for me to retire but it was an honor to know that someone liked it enough to pay money to take it home.  It was almost a bittersweet experience but I know it is loved and that makes it easier.

I have a mention on the famous author's blog, Alex Cavanaugh .  I did land on the Jester post but that's an honor.  Alex and I love to spar with words...it is a delight and a challenge, but when it comes to a battle of wits with Alex, I am poorly armed.  Alex visits my other blog, Familiar Spirit, and always has a humorous comeback. Thank you, Alex, for the honor of including me in your Jester post.