we've got babies!!

I get mad at myself for not doing my blog each day, because I forget things! Especially when some really COOL things happen in the yard. 

So I'll take a deep breath and try to remember.

I quickly found a taker for the sweet annie. A friend of my sons came over along with a little girl. She was picking it up for an aunt, who really appreciated it. yay! I'd just come back from Sisters garden. She gave me a fennel plant, complete with a nearly grown black swallowtail cat on it. It was fun showing it to my visitors later. 

Along with my 12 black swallowtail chrysalis. I still have one tiny cat on the plants I have covered.  An accidental acquisition that rode in on some cut fennel I put in the the last caterpillar.  Oddly that last caterpillar went into a chrysalis before he was as big as the others or as green.  

On Saturday I went out to the native nursery, Meadowood. The Appalachian chapter of the Audubon Society was hosting a plant sale. Ahhhhh I could spend all day there.  Deciding what to buy is almost impossible. I went over budget, but only by $14.  Not bad!  I did buy another paw paw tree.  Hopefully it will take and next year I'll get some blooms. I'm almost afraid to hope for fruit. But that would be very cool.  I got another spice bush, and while there talked to a woman who apparently has a lot growing on her property. She gave me her number after offering me some saplings. Sweet!  I bought a Joe-Pye weed, and...and....oh yea pink turtle head.  Phew, for a moment I didn't think I could remember.   I agonized over the vines. The choice came down to ...hummingbird, or butterfly.   Trumpet honeysuckle for the hummers,  or Dutchman's Pipe vine.  After much debate and talking to another customer that didn't seem to have such issues, and a lovely Japanese girl who is working there part-time I selected the trumpet honeysuckle vine.  I'll still get the Dutchman next year. I forgot, I did buy another pussy toe plant for the American Lady butterfly. 

Sunday I planted everything but the vine.  I'm still debating two spots for it. When I went to plant the joe-pye on the side of the bank, I started digging around the area the turtle had laid her eggs.  And I found...baby turtles! Five to be exact.  One still had it's tail stuck to a bit of egg shell. I'm pretty sure some of the others had emerged earlier. (I'd seen at least 10 eggs being laid)  There was one complete egg I found, but it wasn't viable. I eventually opened it and it had never finished forming.  But I had fun watching the little dirt and mud covered turtles crawling and tumbling at times  out of the hole and down bank. Off to the water they went. Eventually they all went in different directions, but all made it to the water.  It's quite a trip for them, across sand and rock.  They cover ground quickly. I did get to see one of them take a first swim. The fish checked him out but he seemed to shoo them away effortlessly.  I have video but I haven't had a chance to get it ready to share. Here are some stills though, showing what a rough trip they have across the yard to get to the water!

The first pic shows one right out of the ground. then through the grass/weeds.  The fourth photo if you look closely there are two headed for the stream. The 6th one is the first turtle that made it to the water.  Watching them, most when they made it to the water, got completely wet, then would rest against a rock for a bit. Next to last is the one wayward turtle I found coming across my patio.  Aren't they amazing!

Here is the photo of the chrysalis I talked about the other day being one right after the other.

This fish caught my eye, his scales really stood out so I took some photos of him, hoping to identify it. Then the unexpected happened.

I took a pic, was just lowering my arm with the camera when a HAWK came flying by, inches from my face. I was startled .... and breathless. he turned a bit sideways as though to get a good look at me when he went by.  I let out a little gasp, then I admit my mouth hung open for the next five minutes or so in amazement.  He circled around and landed in a tree straight across from me, though behind branches so I couldn't get a photo. When I finally moved to see if I could get a better look at him, he flew off.  Not sure what caught his interest, but it may have been my hair that I had clipped up and looked 'interesting' (only to him of course) as I was slightly bent down to take those photos.  Imagine his surprise when he got up close and personal?  WHOA....that's a big one! But I find it interesting that he stayed so close by. He didn't just do a fly-by, and fly off after realizing I wasn't suitable hawk prey. Hmmmm maybe he DID figure I was suitable and was watching to see if he could figure out a plan of attack. 

But it was an incredible moment.

I'll return later...with more tales of Little Dude....

it's been a busy week...

Unfortunately not a busy week in the yard.
Saturday and Sunday I had numerous events with the fire company, then the first three days of the week, Monday and Tuesday 10.5 hours in class for work, Wed an 8.5 hour day at this training, then back to work at 11P.  Now things should get back to a regular routine.

I barely kept up with feeding every one, including the caterpillars.  I now have 11 chrysalis, and one that will soon be ready to make his.  The other day I'd brought in some fresh greens for them and that night, saw the tiniest lil cat on the outside of the netting! I was like...oh no...another one.  Hopefully the first one will emerge by the end of this weekend.

There are four chrysalis on one stick!  All along there's been two of the cats that seemed to follow each other everywhere, and so closely they sometimes looked like one big cat.  Two of my chrysalis are like that.  one right behind the other so I wonder if it's the same two!

We got some much needed rain on Sunday.  That certainly perked up the yard and plants.  And reminds me of how much I have to do out there.   The past three days have been absolutely gorgeous. On every break we got I'd go outside and think how much better my time would be spent if I was home in my yard!  Today, I'm home from work and it's chilly, cloudy and they are calling for rain.  That's OK because the inside of my home doesn't look much better then the outside.

But I've been planning a bit.  During training I did draw out my butterfly/hummingbird garden (you do what you have to go to stay awake during long tedious lectures!) and gave some thought to what I need there.
this was my first year for that garden, so hopefully next year it will fill in a bit.  My plans are for buying a few more of the things I already have, to fill it all out.  I can't get over how much better my salvia did once the heat wave broke. I've not done well with salvia in other parts of the yard, and wasn't hopeful about this until late in the season. Now it looks great.

With all the black swallowtail activity, I'm going to plant more bronze fennel and maybe one or two more rue.  Some things I want to get more, but I know so many things will self seed, and I should wait and see what happens....but waiting is difficult!

I'd been disappointed in the orange milkweed,  but...now not so much.  Sister and I have noticed that, while in most of the summer,  the butterflies seemed to  be content with only a few of the plants, come August and later, they really take an interest in EVERYthing we have planted. Same with the hummingbird too.   So everything is a keeper. 

This Saturday I hope to go to the Appalachian Audubon Society fall plant sale at Meadowood nursery.  I didn't get to go with sister to a similar sale last Saturday. The problem I have going to Meadowood nursery is that they have sooo much and it's hard for me to pick out one or two things. I want it all! But with a budget it's not possible so I agonize over everything.

I know I want to buy another fragrant sumac from that nursery.  Not a common landscaping plant but good for helping with bank erosion...a fairly tough native plant, and one the birds like. Even though it was newly planted, it survived the flood, even with it's location putting it at the brunt of the fast moving water and debris.  I want a 2nd spice bush. Depending on the price I'd like to buy one a little bigger then I bought this year.  (yes I'm impatient for growth on that!)  I did get one spice bush cat on the little one I just planted earlier this season, but it disappeared within days.  In my mind I'm thinking if they had more of the plant, and bigger, they have a better chance?  I'm pretty sure I will end up at the nursery for hours, even if I'm only buying a plant or two.  The woman out there the day I went out there was so helpful and knowledgeable. She gets very excited talking about plants, and was thrilled to know I was growing paw paw trees.  Which is something else I really want to get. And I must get another if I'm ever going to have fruit. The two I have are from the same original tree.

The other thing I've been doing this week when I have had a chance to look over my plants, is collecting seeds.  I really want a lot more swamp butterfly weed.  It's pretty and smells so nice when it blooms,  the monarch butterfly laid all her eggs here on the swamp butterfly weed, nothing else that I could ever find on the other varieties.

I do want to buy a few bulbs.  I have one small area to plant them and I want to try something different. I've not done a lot with bulbs, beyond crocus and daffodils. Plus, I've been disappointed in how it looks afterwards because I'm one of those people that read the directions and think it has to be JUST like it says or they won't grow.  Now I know better and will plant a MASS of bulbs in one place and see what happens!  :)

Little Dude is getting more brave. Twice I've found him at my front door.  he's been helping himself regularly to the sunflower seeds in the storage container that the squirrel conveniently chewed through. Just sitting here I heard some wing flapping outside, sounded like ducks so I went to look and it's quiet out there. A few goldfinch on one feeder, and they are all looking around too. Making me wonder what was going on.  And yes, I talk to myself, or the birds and I said, what's up guys...and out popped Little Dude from the box! He just stood there, chewing, looking around, while I snuck off to get my camera.  But of course he was gone till I got back to the door.  

I keep forgetting to look for him first and he catches me by surprise. LOL  There other morning I went to the door and he was sitting up right in front of it. Since i wasn't expecting him I made a little noise and he took off in a fright. I worry that one of these days I'll just open the door while he's IN the box and he'll panic and run...right into my house.  To me he still looks small and not bulked up enough yet.  But he, or one of his neighbors, sure have enjoyed my hostas recently.  The ones I cut back to the ground and are emerging - he really seems to prefer the young tender leaves! But you know the way hosta grows, it doesn't hurt them one bit and they grow back so fast.

I really want to get rid of the one row right out in front this fall.  I'd like to plant them under the red bud tree. Theses plants were here before I moved in over 10 years ago, and in the middle of summer they get too much sun and look terrible, then I have to cut them all back.

Everything, though, comes down to time. A precious commodity when I work so much. I'd been worried about having so little energy the past 6 weeks or so, but that may have been heat related, and the after effects of how much works was obvious after the flooding here.

I talked to my fire chief about a work detail here, maybe in October. If I can get a few young, strong people here, we may be able to accomplish moving some rock around the stream, shoring up the edges, and opening up some of the channels to get the water to flow better and more efficiently, without constantly eating my bank and yard.  It will cost me pizza and beer.  Not a bad deal if we can get this done!

Ok lots to do today and I want to get caught up on some of my favorite blogs!

the things you miss...

Did you ever take a photo of something, only to discover something else in the photo that you totally missed??

Yesterday was not a good photo taking day for some reason. Nothing turned out very well.
First there was what I thought was the Carolina wren that comes here often, bathing in a manner I'd NEVER seen before. The photos, being rather crappy, only made myself doubt it was a wren at all, but not being able to positively identify it.  Sister suggested a nuthatch...though a little early in the year. I look at it and think...hmm...maybe! Sent them off to her to see what she thinks.  Just talked to her and she says...aww how cute.  And no clue what it is.
So the odd behavior was in the bathing.  It would hang upside down off a branch, then dive into the water and zoom back up to the branch. It did this several times. (bathing or fishing?)  So bad photo, plus wet bird makes it trickier! LOL  Then as I'm looking at the photos, I could really kick myself for not paying more attention.  As I'm trying to photo this bird diving in the water I totally miss the snapping turtle that shows. Looks like a small snapping turtle. I'm thinking it might be one from the bank...which would mean I missed them coming out!

OK first the poor quality photos. Just in case someone has any ideas what this might be.  It doesn't have the slight bend of the wrens beak, and the stripe is wrong.

Two decent photos I got. One of one of the Northern Cardinal's 'kids'

And these 3 black swallowtail caterpillars.  Having a parade??

Speaking of the cats...one has decided...very inconveniently to pupate on the netting covering their abode. I didnt' think this one was ready. The coloring is right, but he's rather small.  One other one has been seeking the PERFECT SPOT to made his chrysalis for HOURS now.  While the biggest one picked a spot with very little fanfare or wasted time.  Luckily for the youngsters I'd added a  lot of fresh food for them this morning, so I don't have to worry about moving the netting before this thing is done with his chrysalis. 
It's very windy today. I was worried about the netting blowing around so much with him getting ready to build his chrysalis, so I brought the whole setup indoors.

The wind caused a tragedy at Sisters.  Her outside table was blown over. And this is a very sturdy table. But she has her butterfly house on it, and there went all those beautiful Monarch chrysalis and 2 black swallowtail chrysalis, smashed some, cracked some, and some she hasn't found yet. Smashed some cats too. :( Wicked wind!

Now for the exciting thing that happened .... again....yesterday.  Are you ready for this?  I'm almost as excited as I was the first time it happened.  But I would have been much more excited if I could have gotten a decent photo. It moves so fast and doesn't stay in anyone place for long. 

            I had another zebra swallowtail butterfly come to the yard!

If you look carefully in the circle (got to full size the photo!) you can see part of it's wings and a bit of red spot on the center bottom.

Here is a photo from earlier this summer of a black capped chickadee. I've been trying recently to get a photo of him, but have failed.  Reminds me all the more that no matter what I must get the new camera this year. I can barely stand all the failure out doors with my old, obsolete, Kodak point and shoot!

I digress. Often!  :D  But I love watching the little chickadee as he flies in among the goldfinches for his share of the food.  He sits up in the tree and waits till he sees an opening and goes for it.

The Red Admiral is still visiting.  In fact yesterday he spent most of the day in the yard. After first warming up early in the day on the side of my house.

There was not much to report from the yard today, as I had a work training. (CPR/first aid) then a call at the fire station.   Next week will be less yard time, as I have a 3 day, all day, training at work.  ugh   I'd rather be out in my yard!

And still no rain.  We are currently under fire weather warnings in our area, until 7pm  Due to the winds, continuing dry conditions and an increasingly dry air mass that will lower humidity below 30%.  I've heard several calls to mulch fires already.

poor Little Dude, and other tales of the day

Let's see if I can remember everything.  I know I missed something the last time, figured I'd add it to the next blog and you know....I can't remember now what it was. 

oh well... good thing I take so many photos or I might not remember anything at days end!

Driving home from work today, I took a different road then usual and spotted a red-tailed hawk keeping watch over the road.  So I turned around and stopped in a parking lot. The whole time the hawk is watching me. 

"Crap, another tourist" 

At home, I got to the bottom of the steps and I suspected the squirrel was in the bin on my porch where I keep sunflower seeds. He'd chewed a hole in my bin and helps him/her self. I heard it trying to get out of the bin, it's opening is on the side I can't see from the patio.  Suddenly I saw fur, but it wasn't grey.  Around the corner comes Little Dude, the small groundhog! I was so surprised I yelled. Poor Dude was so scared, he came across the porch, towards me, to go down the steps.  But he was so terrified he lost his footing and ROLLED down two  steps, almost to my feet, then scurried under the house. By then I was laughing hard.  I felt so bad for him. 

Then I got distracted as I saw a red spotted purple, Monarch, and Red Admiral Butterflies at my butterfly bush.  What a morning!

Here the monarch was almost laying on the ground to check out one of the last dianthus on the plant.

Notice the two small blue spots between his hind wings

While this one isn't a great shot, I had to include it.  The camera for some reason only focused on his proboscis, which is partially unfurled and shows a little drop of nectar.

 I did get a lot of good shots of him.  It was difficult picking out what to share.

I wanted a better photo of the red spotted purple and went to see if I could find him.  Maybe he was at my neighbors bush. So I go around my home, and guess who was JUST coming out from under my home at the same time.  Little Dude! he popped out from under, saw me and went running under the neighbors home.  Poor Dude can't get a break can he?

Another visit by the hummingbird. Later it did chase off another one.  Such a small bird, but they have such big personalities!

This is one of my 13 captive caterpillars. As you can see he is discharging all his 'poop' so he can go into his chrysalis. I was surprised because I assumed when everyone mentioned their large poop discharge at the end, I thought it would be more of the small 'lava rock' type poop they generally leave everywhere.  I did check some online resources and finally found one that said their finally expulsion is  runny and more like diarrhea.

Then the search was on for a place to make it's chrysalis.  I forgot my sisters experience with her first one, that she followed for 2 hours as he roamed far and wide to find that perfect spot.  She'd tried to guide him, but he was one determined butterfly. He ended up on a wrought iron fence.  So forgetting all about her first time, I started watching this one.  and watching. Worrying.  Gathering up as many different kinds of sticks, trying to entice him to choose one. I had tall ones, fat ones, skinny ones, wide ones. Sticks with bark, sticks without.  But instead he walked around, and around, and around.  Some times falling on to the table.  He would climb up each stick, look around, and descend again. PICKY!   When my sister called I'd already been watching him over an hour.  We talked quite a bit on the phone and once in awhile it distracted me from him. And he moves fast.  I lost track of him!  I've no idea where he went, but since I was right at the table I don't want to believe he actually got on the table and onto the ground without me noticing. But it's not impossible I'm sure, since they can be slick!  Like the cat that showed up half grown on my fennel recently despite my checking every day.

Now, I'm sitting there for a long time, trying to be still. The big groundhog from across the stream actually came over, and was partly across the yard when he saw me sitting there and turned around fast and ran across the stream.  (though really when he gets to the water he slows down and is carefully crossing!)
I hear some other, closer, noises.  Leaf rustling, things like that.  Here comes Little Dude, trying to sneak through the bottom of the butterfly garden and across the yard to get to his corn.  At least this time he knows I'm there.  I think he's getting desperate to get some weight on before hibernation.  He's hungry.  So he's now willing to take more risk.  But he's skittish.  He watches me every step, so I'm trying to do nothing more then breath.

Finally he gets to eat a little. But if I make a move he will run back to his burrow (the shed is to the left of the bank). Then sneak out again.
I'm getting overwhelmed by everything that's suddenly coming to the yard. house finches are joining the goldfinch at the feeder,  my little wren  and woodpecker come to the suet, and the cardinal family visits too.  I also have a very young mourning dove, who's parent is trying to watch over it.  Then I carefully look over at the tree in time to see a Question Mark butterfly on it's trunk. I'm slowly, carefully , not breathing trying to get some photos. None of them are good.  but I was able to see the '?' mark on it's wing.

Inadvertently chasing off the butterfly is a squirrel, coming to his feeder.  I just sit and watch when he is halfway down the tree and sees me.  He isn't sure what he's seeing because he stops and stares. It was hard not to laugh when he tilted his head to the right, then to the left looking at me, trying to figure out what was going on, as if he wasn't sure if I was a threat.  I'm not sure about their vision, what they see, if they see only certain colors, etc.  I do know he was a little unsure.  he opted not to come down the tree the whole way, and went to his feeder, took a piece of corn off the cob and went across a branch above me, across to my roof and off the end to go hide it.  He stopped across the branch once to look down at me.

I finally had to move because the caterpillar was all over the place and I was worried he'd call off the table, since he'd just fallen off the planter. When I moved, everybody scattered, birds flew and squawked, Dude high tailed it back to his burrow again.

It was getting late in the afternoon and I was tired of  waiting for the cat to pick a place  and went inside to work on the photos.  Soon I heard a noise in the porch and thought, again, it was the squirrel, either looking to see if I'd bring out some peanuts, or getting into the sunflower seeds.  I tiptoe to the door and was surprised to see Little Dude on the other side, looking to get into the seeds.  He must really be getting desperate to be this brazen. I tried to get my camera (of course I'd just taken out the batter and memory card) but till I had it together he was gone. He left a lot quieter then he came!!

Needless to say, I didn't get anything done.  But it was such a beautiful day to sit outside and observe.  At least that's what I keep telling myself.  :)

cooler temps...brings a new visitor.

What a difference a day makes! The heatwave broke and temps plummeted 20 degrees!  Woohoo!  Now if only we could get some rain.  What we do have though is wind.  Blowing hard enough that the bees are having a rough time keeping on course. I saw one small honeybee get blown backwards time and again as he was trying to land on a flower.  There were times I was getting mini sand storms in the yard with all the deposited silt/sand from the flood! LOL

Had to make a trip to Dillers Feed & Tack store for some critter supplies. There's a pond beside the store and a blue heron was there stalking something, though I never saw him get anything.  I miss seeing them at my stream. 

There's also a few goats and sheep. Poor sheep were covered in burrs.

The first goat loves attention. It shows, doesn't it?

This guy has been hanging around my door the past few days. I've no idea what it's supposed to be.  I'm tired to looking up bugs, plants, moths to see if I can discover what they are!

I was inside the house when I saw this on my window. I went out and manage one photo, hoping to get a look at it with wings open. At first I thought it was a moth, but honestly, I'm haven't a clue.  From the photo it looks more butterfly like doesn't it?  It's pretty whatever it is.

This makes me happy! Looks like I will get some Moon flowers soon!  Next year I need to get started a little earlier on this tender perennial. I think this was one of the last things I planted in June!  I have this growing up the pole that the hummingbird feeder is on.

I've been watching this black swallowtail cat on my rue the past couple days. I couldnt' resist getting near him to make him stick out his osmetrium (little orange 'horns')  He's feisty, and staying in a well hidden spot on the plant, so I've left him there.  I think he might make it on his own.

Penstemon x mexicali 'Red Rocks' that I planted in the butterfly/hummingbird garden. It's surviving, but hopefully it will do better next year. It is a native plant too.

Again, no idea what it is. I've looked this up before and have since forgotten what moth this will be :D  I first found one on the bee balm, this was on my swamp milkweed.  along with thousands of yellow aphids...

Earlier today I happened to look out my door and spotted a snake slithering across the concrete patio. Grabbed my camera but he disappeared, I thought along the hosta. I couldn't find him, but disturbed all the plants along there and within a minute or two out he came. He was going along quietly then stopped and turned his head towards me. Snakes can really move fast!  At first I thought it might be a ribbon snake but once I saw the photos realized it was merely one of the plentiful eastern garter snakes. But that's OK.  There's plenty of food around for him. Though it would be nice if he only ate what I wanted him too.  Slugs would be among my first choice!  Probably the change in weather brought him out!

full body shot

Within moments he was across the yard and rocks, went across the stream and disappeared among rocks on the other side. Can you see him among all the rocks before he scooted across the stream?

He better watch out, this morning I saw a HUGE  hawk (I'm pretty sure it was a Northern Harrier due to it's size and lack of red tail feathers) glide right over my car as I was parking at home.  I grabbed the camera hoping for a shot at him, since he was coming in low as though he was going to land.  But wouldn't you know my neighbor across the stream was out and being very noisy. But good to know the hawks are around. I've not seen one in my yard for months now and that's very unusual.

 Speaking of my stream, here's a fish I've not seen in it before.  Normally, because it was a slow moving stream, and would be all but dry after so many rainless days, I had mostly minnows and creek chub. (I see the adults coming in May to lay their eggs) Now I'm seeing some unusual activity. This may be some sort of sunfish or pan fish?  I utilized PA's websites for identification but didn't find an exact match.  But there's so much variety in the sun/pan fish that it's the most likely answer.

This is my biggest Black Swallowtail caterpillar.  It was very windy today and it looks like he was saying a lil prayer - that he wouldn't get blown away.

I watched this smaller one for a long time. He was the brave one today and went to the highest point for some food. While everyone else was still he was on the move. He kept looking down as if to acknowledge the great and dangerous height he climbed. Or maybe he was annoyed that I kept taking his photo?!

New life!

on my way home from work, I was called by Sister and invited to stop for some peach pie.  Yum!  As usual we met in her yard.  Greeted first by dog, Snoopy, who was promptly given a treat. I try to remember to carry treats for him always!

The pie was delicious but so was the view.  One of her Black Swallowtail butterflies emerged from it's chrysalis not long before my arrival.  I watched as it pumped fluid into it's wings. Of course I took photos!
In the second photo, if you look at it full size you can see he's got an impressive proboscis. All the better to nectar with my dear!

                                                               love those yellow spots

His old chrysalis.  Black swallowtails usually emerge in 9-11 days. This male took 19 days to emerge!  He's lucky Sister is patient and not prone to give up easily.

Another black swallowtail chrysalis

More  Monarch butterfly chrysalis

It was already getting hot out so I headed to my own yard.  Checked to make sure all 12 of my black swallowtail cats were still in their new home I built them and that they had plenty of food.  Looking good so far!  I found another tiny tiny just born cat on fennel so I moved him in as well. Two more on the rue I left in place, for now.  The new home is getting crowded. 

On my swamp milkweed I have hoards of oleander aphids. I've done a lot of cutting and disposing of them, but there's sooooo many of the darn things.  Luckily these aphids won't migrate to other unrelated plants.

But after seeing all the ones on there today, I was happy to see this asian lady beetle.  I hope she brings friends!

I'd really prefer lady bugs, but who am I to fuss in the face of a zillion aphids!?

I now know that (one of the) the wild plants growing in the butterfly/hummingbird garden is Sweet Annie.  What a fab fragrance. Unfortunately I'm not a crafty person. I've read where this is some times used to make wreaths and some times used as a substitute for babys breath.

Maybe I'll ask around on freecycle if someone wants it. There's plenty growing on out there!

Lastly, I've been wondering if the snapping turtle eggs are ever going to hatch and emerge from the bank of the garden.  It had taken the female so many days to find a suitable place to lay them, because of all the rocks in the ground. She kept digging holes all over, and rearranging plants all the while.  But I got to see her lay at least 10 and bury them before she left.  I just hope they survived my walking all over the bank, and sliding in the loose soil over top of them.  I'm sure no predators got to them. But they should be emerging soon, maybe within the next two weeks.

I was lucky to see this once before at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. I saw the momma lay the eggs and was actually there a few months later when some babies emerged from the same nest!  To say I was excited was an understatement. I'll have to find those photos to post. One of them won a photo contest and was published in the Pennsylvania Angler & Boater magazine.  Actually if you want to see the photo it's still online at
http://fishandboat.com/anglerboater/2009/02marchapril/06photo.pdf
It's near the bottom in the reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates category.

This afternoon sister and Snoopy came to visit. Snoopy had a ball running around the water, trying to find the owners of all the different smells. While sister and I were scouting out crayfish in the stream, the Fed Ex guy came to deliver my new phone.  He didn't see us outside, so when I called to him I startled him...he said I scared him!  :D   Then, before he left I made him admire at all my caterpillars.  LOL   I'm sure that delivery will stick in his mind for awhile.  Luckily he had a sense of humor!