Rusty Snake Tail

Monday night it was soggy outside and I really didn't want to go out for Daisy to do her business walk. Andrew said he would take her if I would babysit the dragonfly larva in his lab that was about to emerge (at some unspecified point within the next 12 hours). He then proceeded to give me detailed directions on what to do and at what intervals to take photos should said emergence occur while he was gone. Of course as soon as he was out of shouting distance and just as I was cursing the thing for being about as thrilling as watching paint dry it split open and proceeded to do it's thing. It's thing is quite interesting. The waiting for it is not. LOL These photos were taken over a two hour period. I only had the first 15 minute stint and Andrew took the rest of the photos. The adult dragonfly, common name Rusty Snake Tail, was photographed this evening in the "wild" and released.You know the dragonfly is about to emerge because the larve climbs out of the water and finds a suitable place for this event to take place.


The larva splits at the thorax. Remember back to 4th grade that an insect has a head, thorax and abdomen.

It pushes it way out of the exuviae (a shed larval skin).

After it leaves it's larval skin they begin filling the veins in their wings with insect blood called hemolymph. This process can take anywhere from two to several hours.

Rusty Snake Tail in it's native habitat.

Black Bean Burgers with Mango Salsa

A friend gave me this recipe as I am trying to cut out red meat and increase veggies. These are delicious. Click here for the recipe.

Mash beans and add a few simple ingredients.

Stir in some cilantro and jack cheese

Make into patties and grill. Put on a bun and garnish with mango salsa made from avocados, shallots, mangoes and lime. Only 320 calories including the bun.

Happy Birthday Duke

Duke-a-ford P Diddlehopper aka Duke came to live with us in May of 2002. We don't really know when he was born. He was full grown when someone dumped him in a local park with a bowl of lettuce (like that was going to sustain him the rest of his life). Andrew brought him home and he's lived here at Lilac Haven ever since. In years past I had to be very careful to latch his pen door properly or he would nudge at the latch until he rattled it aside and then push the door open and escape into the yard. Once he spent the entire weekend in blissful freedom (and led my brother on a merry chase) while we were away on a camping trip. These days he is slowing down though and doesn't seem as interested in roaming the yard. Usually when we do let him out he runs straight back to the rabbitry and lays underneath his own cage until he feels like letting me put him back inside. He and Daisy are best buds. Its six of one and half a dozen of the other as to who is the instigator but the two of them together are like watching circus antics. And when they are done hamming it up they nap together in the yard.

Light Grey Suri Angora Yarn

Last fall I gave my SIL, who raises Suri alpacas, all of the black angora that I had accumulated over the entire year. She had a yarn blend made and it turned out wonderful. She has a limited quantity of this lace weight, very soft yarn, for sale in her boutique. She told me she sold most of it very quickly. I'm not sure what I am going to make with this. Suggestions (and patterns) are welcome.

Play Date

We have been supervising Daisy and Norman for half hour periods in the evening where they can visit with each other and play and we can make sure that Daisy isn't going to harm Norman. She has been very good with all our rabbits over the years and the plan is for them to be buddies. Here's some photos that I took this evening during their romp. Andrew and I were rolling with laughter at their antics.Let's Play!!

Daisy and Norman getting to know each other.

Norman is investigating the decor.

Playing in the hallway.

Andrew supervising

Hello World

Andrew was out photographing the clouds this evening and so the camera was handy as Sienna's kit decided to venture out of the nest box for the first time. It was so cute watching her take a few tentative first steps. Then she decided she was hungry and Sienna, ever patient, sat and let her nurse for a few minutes. I hope the kit doesn't try to come out of the nest box anymore tonight. I don't want her sitting underfoot in the storms that are coming.Hey mom...

here I come...

I love you.

Look at Sienna's front paw and you can see the kit underneath in the nursing position. This is somewhat unusual in my experience that she would feed a kit outside of the box and with an audience.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day. My brother and I went to see mom and dad today. We debated about going out to eat and decided we didn't want to fight the crowds. Bob and I made a delicious brunch of quiche, a tamale casserole, fresh salsa, and a fruit salad. After lunch we walked over to Cox Arboretum and looked at the flowers. The weather was pleasant and it was sunny.

Mother's Day brunch
Me and mom in the butterfly chair

All of us relaxing on the deck.