Bugs and Blooms with the Macro....

Yesterday evening I put the Macro lens on the camera and wandered outside to see what I could find...I did not use the tripod as it was windy out and I honestly thought I wouldn't get any decent photos due to the wind...

Caterpillar and his Chrysalis...or what it will look like when he gets done...

I found quiet a few caterpillars and Chrysalis on the house and tree...I looked them up but was unable to identify them...they are tiny so possibly a skipper or hairstreak...

Red wasp in the flower bed...

Brown-eyed Susan, one of the last remaining wildflowers in my garden!

We have tons of grasshoppers and I managed a few photos...not like I could miss them...So glad we have the chickens now as they LOVE grasshoppers....Yummy!!

1st species of grasshopper I spotted

Yellow Lantana

2nd species of grasshopper I spotted...Actually this is a Katydid but it belongs to the grasshopper family.

Purple climbing Lantana with Plumbago in background.

3rd species of grasshopper...

The grasshoppers are loving this dry hot weather and I am so NOT loving them...My flowerbeds are taking a beating....

Mandevilla bloom

Mandevilla in full bloom...

That was it for my little walk around the yard....

I've been seeing does with their fawns but haven't managed a photo yet...keep your fingers crossed...The fawns are so tiny and cute I would love to get a photo...

Inspiration and a ribbon wind sock...

I received an email newsletter from Ms. Jodie at Jodie McNally Designs today...She inspired me to make something...ekk...I was more in the mood for a nap, lol...Thanks to Jodie's challenge I decided to skip the nap and be creative!! Her and her daughter made really sweet ribbon wind socks for her daughters teachers and I loved them and had an idea...I also had a bunch of ribbon remnants and thought WOW I can do this!! After going through my ribbons I thought the 4th of July is coming for us here in the U.S.A. so why not a red, white & blue windsock....

Soooo Ms. Jodie below is my creative endeavor....

I used fishing line to hang it and hung it using one of my fishing swivels so it twirls in the wind...

If you would like to check out Jodie's challenge you can visit her website here...

http://jodiemcnally.com/

Wren update...4 eggs

Today, June 17th, we have 4 eggs in the Wren nest....I took the (above) photo yesterday when there were only 3, lol....I am so lazy about getting photos posted, forgive me :o(

I hear the male Wren singing everyday but still haven't gotten a good look at him...Not sure if it is a Carolina Wren or not...since it is the same planter they've used for nesting in years past I am assuming it is the Carolina Wren....The female should start brooding soon...looks like she might lay one more egg...When she starts sitting is when I won't be able to take photos or she'll leave the nest...

I also checked online as to when my Hens will start laying eggs...it's been so long since I've had chickens I couldn't remember...Looks like possibly the end of August or September...I keep praying they make it and we do get some fresh eggs...Mmmm....

Play Date with Kelly and the Kids....

Today we went to visit Kelly and the Kids...

it had been a year since we had seen them and it was nice to get together and let the boys play...

Michael ~ Zac (he's hiding) and Colby

Kelly's neice...she has the most beautiful eyes and such a serious look for a little one...Oh so sweet....

Kelly with Sean

Zac got Colby right in the face with a Water Balloon...YIKES!!

Michael tossing a Water Balloon at Zac

Just love seeing these beautiful smiles and hearing the laughter...

I think the boys had fun...Michael did...Thank you Kelly!

Our Wren returns...

Two years ago we had a Carolina Wren build a nest on our porch in one of the hanging plants. I bought a variegated bougainvillea and for some reason this silly little Wren couple love it. 2 yrs ago they hatched out 4 little ones...Then we had a visitor and not a nice one either...A rat snake found the nest and attempted to get the babes...We got rid of the snake but by that time the babes were pretty well shook up and in shock, not sure if any of them made it as 3 of them headed into the brush...Well last year they didn't come back and who can blame them...But Sunday evening I was watering the plants and looked at the planter and found a nest with one egg...Today (Monday) I peeked in and found two eggs...She won't start setting on them until all the eggs are laid and she normally lays any where from 4 to 5 eggs...The male makes 3 nests and then the female chooses which one she wants...I've found nest in our horse trailer, in a small hand operated grass seeder, wreaths hanging on the door, Steel Pipe, etc...The male tries a variety of places to please the female...

So they are back and lets hope everything goes well for the Wren family!! I love waking up to the male singing his heart out, he sure is proud!!

I took the above photo Sunday evening...One egg!

I'll take photos here and there to update y'all but will pretty much leave them be and let them raise their family...

The visitors continued....

Sunday morning I found this creature wandering around my house...with the strips I almost wondered if it was a version of the Cat and the Hat...was this thing 1 or 2?

Then we started seeing arms & hands holding a camera....Very STRANGE!!

Ahh and finally she puts her face on!! YEA!!!

It's DAWN!!

And she brought her crew....

Dacey and Michael acted like they had never been apart and started right in playing Saturday night when they arrived...

I just love those smiles...

Now the little bugger above is just too darn cute!!

He loves the tractor, Zoom-Zoom!!

Jake (the guardian) is watching to make sure everything stays A-okay!



Ahh Dawn's better half, Skeeter, enjoying the heat and humidity :o)

Who ME?

I could take photos of Trey all day long...

He's a happy boy...especially when he's spraying his Dad with water, lol!


But then Michael and Dacey don't seem to think little Trey is too darn cute and funny...

Uh OH!

She's not a "little girl" anymore but a young lady

...and Michael thinks the world of her...She loves vehicles and guns!! LOL...

We kept Trey busying playing ball with Jake...

I managed to get Fred to take a few photos of Dawn and I Sunday before they left to go home...

It sure was sweet being able to spend a little bit of time with Dawn, Skeeter and Kids before they headed home...Michael was pretty upset when they left and pouted most of the afternoon...He sure misses Dacey!!

But hopefully we'll get another visit sometime this year...(fingers crossed)

Visitors have arrived...

Hmmm....a stranger in my house????

Is it an Alien? Genie? Stay tuned to find out!

Roller Skating....

Michael attended a birthday party for a friend from school Saturday. He was excited as it was at the roller rink and he had never been roller skating before...

He was a bit nervous and a bit unsteady but I think he did a terrific job his first time!

That is the Birthday girl checking Michael's skates out...Wish I was close enough to hear what was being said as I love the way they are both standing there...

Michael with a few more of his school mates...They had a blast! And even helped each other out, which I thought was great...Team work!!

And it wouldn't be a GREAT day if my son didn't pose for a photo!!!! I think that is his way of telling me to "Bug OFF!"

I have quiet a few other photos and will post them to my flickr site soon!!

We had a really busy weekend and I took quiet a few photos but it's late and we have a busy day planned tomorrow too so I am off to bed....I also just found a Scorpion in my camera bag, Grrrr...So I'm outta here.....Ekkkkk time to get my feet off the floor and write a note to call the bug guy tomorrow...