Hurry up Spring!

Supposedly it's Spring. We're expecting snow again before the week's out. I want warm weather already! Right behind the building where I work is the PERFECT dragonfly pond. Nothing there right now but a few little flies and a few spiders. I'm terribly impatient.

This is the cast off skin of a dragonfly larva from last fall, bye the by.

Water Walking

These spiders ( I think a species of wolf spider) run along the surface of the water. I've only seen them do this to get away from me, but I wouldn't doubt they grab prey as well. They don't stay out there long though, the water striders and oarsmen would easily overpower them if they hung out too long on the surface.

Gibson Leaf Girl

Okay, I have no idea the gender of this leaf mimic, but the forelegs made me think of the dress of the 1900's. Check out the dress and see if you agree.

Crazy Eyes

I'm always fascinated by bug eyes.

Beginning of Bug Season

Black beetles, another good standby if the weather seems a little too cold.

I like their little two-toed ... or rather two-clawed feet. Rowan's holding this one.

Millipede on a Blue Mitten

It's still too early to have a great variety of bugs, but we always like millipedes, even tiny ones. I particularly enjoy the waves of little legs along their sides.

The kids are going to be out on spring break next week, but as it's a working week for Theo and I, the most we'll manage is a hike if the weather is good. I'm hoping to bring the kids into my work on Wednesday. They're very curious as to why I'm working "every single day". They're used to the alternating class and work days I had as a student -- and me sharing their general vacation schedule. My coworkers, all childless, should find this educational. I'm not sure if I'll be promoting the whole having-kids-thing or not. :) My office mate Ward is already over the brink as his son Sammy is due any time now.

Winter

One of those days that makes interesting snowflakes. Not all snows are created equal. Many days are too cold and the snow is made of little pellets or too warm and it melts as it's falling, losing any structure it might have had before you can see it.

Actual snowflake days make you think. I spent a lot of time thinking how I couldn't bury OGMO who'd died in his sleep one day while I was at work. His death followed close on the heels of Tommy and our pet rats. All elderly animals, but one after another was very hard to take. I still think about Christie and she died a few years ago. Heck, I still cry over Meow and she died almost 15 years ago. There seemed to be quite a lot of death.

Eventually, we took him to be cremated since the ground was still frozen.