Photo Friday: snow day

Bob came in from the cold asking,  “How do you tell the difference between snow and sleet?”

A cursory glance through the window had me claiming that it was sleet.  I went outside and it sounded like sleet.  Hitting the ground you could hear the little rasp as it landed on leaf and dried blade.

Suddenly, I realized that what was on the porch and leaves did not have that characteristic pillow shape of sleet.  It was perfect little snowflakes!  I only wish the cold didn’t make me shake.

 

Snowflakes-1

A double-click will bring these into sharper view!

Snowflakes-2

Stay in, stay warm, and if you must go out dress warm and drive carefully!

~*~

Have a great weekend!

Photo Friday: spider tricks

Today we worked on covered wagons.  (Hoop houses for the raised beds. More on that later.)

On one of our treks to the barn I caught sight of HER as she gracefully climbed down the tree’s trunk.   I ran inside, muck boots and all, to grab my camera to catch her.

She is the biggest, most brightly orange-colored, Orb Weaver I have ever seen anywhere!

Her name is:  Araneus marmoreus or to us simply ~ Orange Marbled Orb Weaver ~

Please do her, and me, the honor of viewing her more closely. I am very excited about my close up skill with her as a specimen!

For those who may wonder, the answer to your question is,

“YES.” 

That is my hand holding that leaf.  🙂

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For more information and to see the many varieties of Orb Weaver you can visit The Bug Guide Website HERE

Photo Friday: hot babes

Finally, it is the end of summer and we are getting some real heat this past month.  Today it’s 91 degrees and strangely the humidity is only at 27%.  That is absolutely parched for here!

So, I just glanced out the window and saw something I have never seen before…

Hot babes sleeping in the wading pool!

Hot-Geese

Polly and Little Dorrit are refusing to get out of the water. 

Not even for the mail-carrier and they love to talk with her!  They have been best buds since I brought them home, and I often see her stop her truck to get out and share a few honks with them.  🙂

~*~

How hot is it where you are?

What are you doing to stay cool?

~*~