September, 2008

No rain in September and marginally cooler.  The cooler weather helped everything except for the burn pile which is now larger than it has
been in years.

What is Success?  Escaping the three major infestations of the great white north:  Mosquito Season, Bog Beetle Season and Horsefly Season!
I think this is a Huntsman Spider.  Either way, it is one large spider who spent several minutes posing for pictures.
A cricket I don't recall having seen before under the bug light.
One night I was doing some late night computing and this crawled across my screen.  At first I thought it was a tick, but ticks have eight legs and not six.   It took more research than I would care to admit to come to the conclusion that this is an Assassin Bug nymph.  The nymphs cover themselves with bits of dust and other debris.   Canon IS cameras are modern marvels - this nymph is less than 1/4" in size. To test my theory, I dunked the bug in a glass of water and after the dust came off, what was left behind was a very small, tick-like creature. Very interesting little  critters.
I am not certain this is a Pacific Tree Frog
Perhaps it hitched a rode in a flower pot from somewhere a little warmer.
California Turkeys - the avian kind.
Bovine Looky Lou's are one of the last things you ever want to see heading down Ebbet's Pass.
Reptiles have been making a comeback the last couple years.  Even a few Alligator Lizards have taken up residence.  They are much harder to get photos of.  They have to be caught, which is easy if you have the right tool.
A nap is just what the doctor ordered after a strenuous day of barking at cats.
Meanwhile, Turd Dog - I mean Rufus managed to get loose again..... The dog was in the house.  We went out front to do some watering.  About two minutes later, there was a voice up the street yelling, 'Bad Dog!  Go on, get out of here!, Go Home!, Git!, Stop That!' We looked at each other and and thought it would be a good idea to walk out into the street to see what was going on. Up the street a ways, there was a very elderly couple walking a very large, very elderly dog off lead. Guess who was running in circles around the poor old timer, jumping up and grabbing mouthfuls of cheek, hair, tail....yapping up a storm and having in general a good old time tormenting his geriatric victims? Turd Dog.......I mean Rufus. Profuse apologies later, Turd Dog was captured and returned to the back yard.
How does one get even with a baaaad dog? Might I suggest a nice looonnng cold shower. Boy, if looks could kill........