Ant Lions

are fascinating insects.

They build a trap in the sand and simply wait for dinner to step in.

Rather than trying to explain it I'll let National Geographic show you.

Enjoy.

Enter Their Realm

and you pay an admission price

Where there are ants

there are ant eaters

many ant eaters

Hellbenders and Waterdogs

When I finished clearing what I thought needed clearing I built a sanctuary in the same area with all their occupation requirements. Bon appetit, my precious bug eaters.

Ants In My Pants

in my shoes, on my legs and they weren't happy!  They attacked me so much I decided to make sure I didn't have fire ants.  Zoom in on this and see my new enemy.

I was not wearing my glasses due to extreme sweating conditions so at first I just thought it was some small stinging bug I had accidentally smashed.  I began to get cold chills, took some Benadryl (because I am allergic to paper wasps)  and called it a day.

My last clearing project had been completed and I had moved to my next restoration project.

More tiny excited ants!

Was it the chain saw, the fire, the tractor, or the mowers that had them mad?

My smarter (than me) sister said, "It's going to rain.  They're moving the nest and you're in the way. There's gonna be a flood".  Okay, that's logical.  

To my next superhuman job I had chosen.  Another over grown part we have neglected since all the rain and life seemed to get in the way. Dad had tall "deer proof" (ha) wire here and it sadly needed removing and clearing.

The ants were still out in force.  I had speckled legs and had to dance and empty my shoes again and again. I worked anyway.  Ants were every where moving house.  

Then it rained, almost three inches. and my sister was right!  The ants have disappeared and I can trim to my heart's content with no dancing.

One more spot cleared!  My table is a painted air tank with a piece of wood on top just right for two cold drinks in the shade.  Saved all the metal I found in the fence row and kept the old tree stump.  I have three Virginia Creeper wreaths also drying on the stump.

It's amazing how work you can do when you're not doing the ant dance.  I hope they're gone.

Why I'm Never Bored...

At lunch time today I watched some ants take apart a caterpillar and haul him off to their nest.  Amazing how strong and industrious these little guys are.  I wish I had a crew At The Farm that worked as hard as ants do.

That is the way my sisters and I were raised...to work hard.  I only told Mom one time, I had nothing to do.  She broke me from ever saying that again.  I was given enough chores besides my regular chores I needed an army of ants to help me.  I did learn my lesson and I am never bored. No matter where I am or what I'm doing boredom never hits me.  Because I see things a little differently.  I notice what's around me and enjoy the beauty of all of it.  If they put me in a padded room I would know the thread count by evening.

Why am I talking about boredom?  I filed my retirement papers today or rather mailed them today.  People ask me, What will you do?  That question always amazes me because I will have time, maybe, to look at fossils rocks and ants.

I will take the time to look at the birds

instead of scurrying off to work.

Maybe I will have time to paint, read, write, build fences, clear brush, clean house like it should be, play with the dogs, count the cows, catch fish and just look at all the things around.  I may even make some time for real fun like going to the lake or the river. 

Going to work gets in my way of being able to see the beauty, small and large, that is around me.  Maybe I can find time to sit on the porch with my iced tea just for a minute or two.

Now, if I can just win the lotto I will be sitting pretty!

Absent-Minded...

is my A to Z challenge word.  I may have signed up but I really don't remember so I'm flying here by the seat of my pants.  If someone sees my name on the list, please let me know.  I'll meet my obligations in a timely, though ABSENT-minded manner.

So today, just in case, I did sign up, absent-minded is my word.  I'm really in trouble!

A is also for Ants!

Thursday's Things In A Row

Steps at the lake,

steps to the door,

teeth on a rake,

spindles on an old screen door.

Hay in the field is a joy.

You'll have ants in your pants,

if you ride this toy.

Visit Pat for more Thursday's Things In A Row.