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.

Congrats Dad!

On November 28, First Lady Laura Bush unveiled the annual Christmas decorations including the painting for the official White House Christmas card. And here's the painting with my Dad, the artist. (This is the press conference photo picture was sent to me by my step-mom, Priscilla.) It's so cool. :)

His painting will remain in the White House collection with paintings by Norman Rockwell and John Singer Sargent; that has to be a huge thrill for him. (My sister and dad came up to Denver a little while ago just to see the Sargent exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and invited us along.)

There have been a number of "local artist" stories in Albuquerque where he lives, here's some links and press releases:

http://www.koat.com/news/14735576/detail.html
http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/265929nm11-30-07.htm (Click on the Free Trial button)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071129-3.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2007/tour_book2007.pdf

Gallery and Artist Links:
http://www.brazosfineart.com/taos_artists/david_drummond/1
http://www.drummondart.com/
http://jkdrummondart.blogspot.com/2007/11/david-drummond-white-house-christmas.html

Gather Round the Stinky Bush

A grey hairstreak. Love these guys.

Monarch. I don't see many around, but that is in comparison to other species.

Like the painted ladies. These gals were all over the place.

A funny little fly, no idea what kind it is.

Buckeye

It was fun to see a butterfly with which I wasn't familiar. This is a buckeye, apparently very common, but I'm not as good with identifying the butterflies as I am the spiders. Anyhow, this bush was one of the last few flowering things in the area. I have no idea what the plant is but it completely REEKED. I thought it smelled like a distilled mixture of teenager socks and urine, but every nectar drinker for miles was visiting. Maybe they thought it reeked too, but it was the only game in town.

Farmers' Conversations

The first photo is an ant milking an aphid for the sweet honeydew. Who needs picnics when you have your own herd of sugar-water cows?

The second photo is two ants talking with their antenna. The ants in this situation seem very on edge, even with each other.


This is the only kind of picture that ever puts me in danger of stings or bites. Ants with their aphids are more aggressive than anything else I photograph. At least the bites and stings aren't dangerous, just a bit painful. What I hate the most is that I'll be clicking away and look down to suddenly discover that I'm under seige by tens of ants.

Is That a Stinger, or are You Just Happy to See Me?

He's just happy to see... well a female of his species. My first scorpion fly and I didn't realize it till I was reviewing the pictures on the computer. Gads, I must need my eyes checked. I can take solace in knowing I'd recognize it right away if I happened upon it again. Another MA pic.

Auditioning for the Part of an Elven Shoe

Am I right, or what? It's definitely the perkiest rear end I've seen in a while.

Young Green Model

Probably the most social of all insects, and definitely one of the most graceful.



You can probably tell from all the green, that this charming European Mantis was found while we were in Massechusetts.

Stones on Scituate Beach

Caught my eye.

Having a Drink Creekside

This is a species of my favorite group of butterflies, the Blues. I believe it is a Melissa Blue, due to the orange on the underside of both sets of wings. Very fuzzy.

Gene Simmons Impersonation

Here's another Bee Fly for all you aerial tribble fans out there. Science news' latest issue has an article about Batesian mimics. The as yet unanswered question is whether the cheating mimics make the world a more dangerous place for the toxic species they imitate.

More of the Golden Spider Queen

A few extra shots, one clearer on the cephalothorax and another that shows more clearly her shrunken abdomen. The last one you have to look closely, but you can see on of those giant grasshoppers wathching the spider and her prey. Seems like a case of morbid fascination.

Rural Argiope

Same spider, a couple days after a rain storm. Her abdomen was far smaller (perhaps my original comments had her on some sort of abs and glutes workout) but she was feasting on a yellow jacket in her newly remade web. There's slight decoration there, but not particularly noteworthy.