Macro Monday (Interesting Critters)

Those antennae!

{To see a larger image, go here.}

Both of these were shot on June 8, 2013. I do not have time to research what these critters are.

For the first image, I was curious about the bug which couldn't have been more than 1/4-inch long. So, I took several shots with the macro lens and much to my amazement, the antennas are very unique!

For the second image, I just liked the markings and took several shots of that critter.

The only reason why I spotted either one of these critters is because they moved!

Wordy Wednesday {Funny Graffiti}

This graffiti was discovered while shopping and I laughed upon seeing it. Of course, I had to make Dan stop to take a picture which was taken with Dan's iPhone.

Update on Rescued Kitten

Warning: Picture laden post {16 total}

6/15/2013
{ I tried to showcase her “necklace” with pendant. At certain times, the pendant part really darkens and it really does look like a rope or chain with a pendant.}

It is time for the rescued kitten update. She just went for her second set of shots last Friday and weighed 2.2 lbs. Most shelters and vets within the San Antonio area will spay or neuter a kitten at two lbs. to get it ready for adoption asap; but, the one (and nearest) vet we are seeing does not want to spay her until she reaches four pounds. Great. (That was sarcasm.) The longer I take care of this kitten, the more I am going to want to keep her.

6/15/2013

She is doing well. She is getting long and lanky. Her legs seemed awfully short compared to her body for awhile; but, her legs are lengthening now. She is extremely active with two speeds – fast and naps. She loves to chase her tail almost to the point of obsession and this is in spite of having tons of normal cat toys. She prefers balled up papers, strings and pill bottles over the usual cat toys. I had to give her a long leather shoelace because the one short string she found just was not safe for either her or the big cats. She loves to drag it around the house and Dan has caught her running full blast with the thing. She has also taken a huge red rat (toy) from the Bigs and carries it all over the house with her mouth. She even jumped onto our bed once and then played quietly with the toy. The thing used to be about half her size; so, that is a huge achievement in itself not to mention that the bed is a higher than normal.

6/17/2013
{To see a larger image, go here.}

She has taken over the lower shelves on cat trees (Chessie uses the higher up ones). She loves to sleep beside me (or between us). She will occasionally get on my lap to sleep; but, it is rare. She is not much of a cuddle bug unless she is feeling needy and then tries to nestle into my neck and knead. Ugh. The poor little thing was separated from its mother way too soon; but, I am hoping she will outgrow this behavior.

6/17/2013
{She used to fit inside this basket; but, rapidly outgrew this place to sleep.}

She is feisty and will often jump one of the Bigs at her own peril. She received a beat down from Gracie earlier this morning for harassing her too much. It looks severe and vicious when this happens; but, in reality, the kitten isn’t harmed. She (the kitten) worships Gracie; but, Gracie is not so keen on her.

6/17/2013

I so tired. Leave me be. I am clocking out.

Going, going and gone in split seconds.

I have found the big cats and the kitten waiting patiently (or is that impatiently?) for me at the door and man, it seems crowded. But, they are all playing nice most of the time. Chessie (the elderly cat) only had to tap kitten on the forehead once or twice to put her in place and kitten rarely bothers Chessie. It’s Gracie that she harasses and with Gracie being a tripod, cannot fight like a normal cat. Kitten is beginning to challenge her and I, for one, will not stand for that kind of behavior as Gracie will always be top cat no matter what.

6/17/2013

She often can be found sleeping in the “dump” – a basket or box full of papers headed to recycling dumpster(s) at local school

6/18/2013

6/19/2013

The above two images were taken with crappy phone. A couple of rare occasions of sleeping on my lap.

6/24/2013

Taken with Dan’s iPhone; Look at how big she has gotten in a matter of five or six days!

Above three pictures taken on 6/26/2013

Her love affair with the cat tree(s).

6/27/2013
Sleeping Beauty. (yeah, right.)
{To see a larger image, go here.}

6/27/2013

Taken with crappy phone. I thought it looked humorous as she looked like she was walking or running on my jeans/legs while sleeping.

7/1/2013

Taken with Dan’s iPhone. Hilarious! She has fallen asleep between us like this several times.

Wordy Wednesday {Habitual Laziness)

Shot with my crappy phone when Chessie stretched and propped her hind legs on top of mine. It was taken around the 26th of June. No more words needed.

Macro Monday Musings {Dismayed}

Okay, whose bright idea was it for us to move out to a place with a little bit of land? Wait. It was me! I suppose I cannot blame Dan as much as I want to blame someone! I have only myself to blame. I am totally sick and tired of seeing these critters:

Black Widow Spider; 5/23/2013

{To see a larger image, go here.}

These keep popping up from time to time. On last Saturday alone (6/29/2013), we killed four of them. Yes, you read that right. Four of them.

I killed a small one while pulling up weeds. (#1) Dan killed another one (#2) that I spotted while weeding; but, was too scared to deal with it because it was huge and not quite within my reach. (When this particular one was killed, we spotted a much smaller one on the same web that was approximately two inches away from the bigger one we killed. I believe it was a male. That spider is deader than dead too. )

We had someone come out later that day to help with a water leak in the irrigation system. We do not even use the system and we thought we shut it off entirely several weeks ago because the system sprang a major leak. But, it turns out that it was not shut off entirely. Anyway, When Dan showed me the problem (leak) that was happening, I spied and pointed out some black widow eggs and told him to be extremely careful because there probably is a black widow nearby. I do not know if the guys took care of that one; but, I do know the hired guy confirmed the existence of a black widow residing there or nearby. And then, while they were walking back to the guy’s vehicle, they spotted another one near a water spigot. Dan killed that one too. (#3).

The last one was a stupid one that I spotted while looking out the back door window late in the evening. It was on the porch column. I could not believe my eyes. I asked Dan if he saw what I saw. I believe he was shocked too. He went out there and killed it for me. (#4).

I am learning to deal with them and am not so freaking out about their existence now. I am pretty much a paranoid girl anyways – I wear my waterproof and snake-proof boots along with jeans and leather gloves whenever I am outside wandering or doing yardwork. I also tend to wear a lightweight long sleeved shirt with a floppy hat for protection from both critters and the sun.

By the way, I know snakes exist hereabouts even though I have never seen one on our property which is why I have a pair of snake-proof boots. I am glad these kind of boots exist because I would never hear a warning rattle due to deafness. Anyway, how do I know snakes exist? Here’s the evidence that was taken with my pathetic phone: {Warning, it’s a nasty picture)

It was a pretty sizeable snake that was hit by a car several houses down the road from us. However, I do not know what kind it was and no way was I going to mess with it. I do believe it was not a rattler; but, it sure was huge! So, How is that for life hereabouts?