Friday, May 27, 2011

Summer day??? all you need is a waterhose!


 Growing up, some of my fondest memories are with my cousins. Canoeing, swimming, building forts, Star wars, sleep overs... they were great!!! Hotrod and his cousins are building the same kind of relationships and they have so much fun together!!  Here are the pics from my last trip home...enjoy!!!












 This is my favorite picture!! Oh, what you can do with a water hose!!!








































Wednesday, May 25, 2011

My Nieces!!!! (and hotrod)


When I went home last week, I stayed with my sister and got to see four of my beautiful nieces!!!  We had a great time doing a "photo shoot".  Here are some of the pics!!!











Oh, wait...Here is Hotrod!!


Monday, May 23, 2011

13yr Cicadas...whew!!

Every year I hear the cicadas during the summer, but I have never paid them much attention.  Their sound says, "summer is coming!!". This year our part of the nation is experiencing the "shock and awe" affect of nature.  The 13yr cycle Cicada!!! Wow!!!
Just in case you are not getting this "pleasure" here are pics to show what is going on in my yard. 
(ok, I am listening to bon jovi as I write this, and it is proving difficult) :)


This particular Cicada is dead.  How do I know??? I staged him using a stick, and look at his eyes.  They are black.


If you can imagine hundreds of these discarded shells around the base of every tree in my yard...you get the picture.  You can now see why Princess is having a hard time walking in the grass this season!
If you look close, you can see the slit that is cut in the back to allow the mature Cicada to slip out of it old skin.  I know! Cool right? (ok, I am a former bio teacher!!! Give me some slack!)


This one chose to do things different and molt upside down!


Ok, here is a live one.  See his eyes?  They are red and if I tried to poke him with a stick, he would very clumsily fly off.





"Hello, Mr. Cicada!"



You really don't have to stare at me like that.



This is my favorite one!  This little guy chose to molt on my Lamb's ear.



You will find scenes like this all over my yard.  It makes you wonder if they all planned to molt at the same time.
"Hey, Tony, how's two o'clock for you?"
I know, I am tired.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Samuri Hotrod Vs. The Sho-gun Girl



Hotrod's fortune cookie is strangely specific, "Seek a challenge amidst drying laundry."


 Sho-Gun Girl proclaims, "Your speech does not match your words...prepare to die!"


CLANG!  SWISH!  SMACK!  HIEEEEAAAA!



Sho-Gun Girl yells, "Crouching Tiger!"  Samurai Hotrod counters with, "Hidden Dragon!"


Samurai Hotrod and Sho-Gun Girl break for some Kung-Pow Beef.


Samurai Hotrod attempts the delicate "Silly, Drunken Crane" technique.


Sho-Gun Girl simply sticks her weapon in her opponent.


CRASH!  SLAP!  SPARKS!  SPECIAL EFFECTS!



Careful, Samurai suitors...this girl is packing!!

(Thanks to Dad for the narration!)