This N' That

I might be away from the blog a bit starting next week so I thought I’d sneak in another post really quick before the big day.


Killer Bug…

Spied a two and a half inch long insect a while back hunting baby tarantulas in the rocks. It was a rather menacing little creature. It had a long black body and body length dark orange wings. I am not at all sure what it is but it was definitely a predator. It rapidly scurried about in overlapping circular patterns of about one foot in diameter. It was very methodical in how it searched and hunted. When it found a baby tarantula along the foundation of the house, it attacked it by latching onto it in a lethal way around the narrow mid-section of the furry arachnid. Quite fascinating.

After the unlucky prey was sufficiently dead it carried it off. To where I am not sure because by the time it started to cart off its pretty about a half hour had passed and I had things to do. I never did see it fly. It just hunted, killed and left, a veritable Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom right there by the front door.

This is the shot of the predator standing guard over its prey. The entire natural selection food chain drama playing out right in the front yard.



Killer Bird…

I wasn’t home for this. The Lovely Gail caught sight of a hawk of some type out on the patio furniture the other day, recently. She was finishing off a tapestry project at the dining room table and stopped for a break. Upon turning around she stared agape right at this large and beautiful bird.

Of course, the lighting is never the best, and usually the worst, when these events occur. But, trooper that she is she managed a few good shots with the camera before it took flight. A stately creature, it was probably headed south to warmer climes for the winter.

Name that Hawk. I can make out some markings but its still hard to tell what it is.

You can click once on any image and see a larger version.



Killer Winter Garden!

The winter garden is in and well on its way. The Lovely One has always had a green thumb, but ever since getting her raised bed garden not a winter or summer season has yet passed without some bountiful offering brought forth by her care and nurturing.

This winter finds us well planted with green onions and snow peas, bok choi and leeks, chard, leaf lettuce and cilantro. The peas are new for the garden but the rest have proven successful in the past and should yield abundantly. The lettuce is always a good producer and fresh from the garden salads this winter will be plenty and delicious. We can’t wait!

Another promising crop brought to you by Lovely Gail the Gardener!

Is this what they mean when they say 'eat close to the earth'?



I’ll post an update regarding my upcoming medical adventure as soon as I can type again. Until then, take care and stay in touch!

 

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