Tuesday, September 12, 2006


You can see here that it is trying to "come out" so to speak...so, what is it that I not only attract bugs, but I attract mutant stick bugs that are pregnant!!!!!!!!!!! Or, is it? Is this some "Martian" being that has silently and unobtrusively invaded earth and I mistakenly interrupted their "manufacturing" process to multiply the nummber exponentially of the invading aliens? Had I not found this space creature reporducing on my side porch post, would there have been hundreds, or thousands prowling the grounds in the dark of night, using the cover to fan out across America, all waiting for the signal from the Mother ship to instantly mutate into a bloodthirsty, mentally and physically supuerior being bent on the destruction of the U.S. , or even Earth, as we know it?? Oh My Gosh! Nah!!!!!!!!! It's only a stick bug, caught in the midst of metamorphosis before the cold weather comes along...but to play it safe, I think I will go back in the house and take another shower...

Another angle. My, I thought, how fortunate am I to be the one that sees these things! Then I thought, why the Hell am I the one to attract them? Do I smell with an essence that attracts these bugs? Particularly mutant bugs that are multi-colored? Then I noticed the butt end of this thing...it was moving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little closer view...sorry for being out of focus...but you can see it's some sort of a stick critter, but one that is unusual to me (like I'm an expert...have seen only 2 in my lifetime, this one being the second...) is his mixed color. Brown and Green might be some indication of his or her life span? Do they change colors like chameleons?

I was heading to the garage this AM...on the porch post right outside the door, I saw this...

Monday, September 11, 2006


I hope you can see this guy...Harley-Davidson may make a "Fat Boy", but it appears we have grown one here in Cartersville...there is only one species (Ruby Throats) of hummingbirds here, and they are tiny...except for this bad boy. He sits up on the perch of this flat, round feeder, turning his head around to scope out his territory, then takes a drink, then scopes it all out again. If another himmingbird comes near, he "fans" his tail, starts to flap his wings, and I guess the invading bird sees this mutant Giant member of his species, thinks of an alternative feeding option, and hits another feeder...he is funny to watch. He sits there far more often than any other bird, and is on the perch pretty much any time I look outside...they may grwo 'em big in Texas, but we obviously can "super size" 'em here too!!

Sunday, September 10, 2006


These bad boys and girls are very, very aggressive when denied their place at the buffet table...they noisily let all know they are unhappy, stand around the grassy area and try to intimidate those feeding, and when that doesn't work they start the swooping and fighting when they land in an attempt to dislodge the former bird from his or her supper plate...they just came up out of the blue...and are acting like they are at auditions for the movie, "The Birds III." If you hit the URL that appears below the bird posts it will take you to a short avi I took also...and BD, don't laugh...I admit I am still not smarter than the camera and don't know how to shut it off cleanly and in a timely fashion...;-)!

I was going to fill the bird feeders this AM, but didn't get to it...kind of didn't get to anything, really, except the morning papers and laundry, that time split with a little Sunday afternoon nap...hey, I work hard and it's allowed...;-)! Anyway, while talking to BD I walked by the doors to the back porch and glanced out and oh, my goodness! There had to be a couple hundred grackles out there coming and going, and swooping and fighting at the feeders...

Though only a few could hit the smaller feeders, there were hordes at the big feeder, coming and going, fighting, squawking, and generally making much ado in the back yard. All Summer long, really since we've been here, we have remarked repeatedly about why we could attract all the Gold Finches and Hummingbirds in the world, but few other types of birds...well, today I guess word spread around the aviary world that the house on the rise over near the lake is having a buffet and all are welcome...

Thursday, September 07, 2006


If you are standing by the yard hydrant, then turn 90 degrees left, you will see the pine straw lined area in which we want to plant 6 or 8 rhododendrons...hence the need for the yard hydrant...

Another view. Basically, it works just like a water hydrant used by the fire department. Lift the handle, and water comes out. Of course, a hose goes on it first...I knew that, really I did.

This is our new yard hydrant. We wanted a water bib but they would have had to drill through the wall to get to the water line near the master bathroom, and it wouldn't have been pretty. So, we had them install the hydrant instead.

I love the color of the flower...this is the prettiest one of the bunch

Pretty Rose on the front porch...