Bug and Dog and Gang

When things shift, for me it always seems to be a violent shift.... but an invisible one. It's like a horrible fart that makes no sound, but the smell wakes you in the night, and you think WTF has that dog been eating in the woods?
My life... silent but deadly... smelt it but didn't delt it?

I have a dog now. My neighbors dog who is known as the neighborhood "whore dog" (AKA, Bruiser) - because he can't seem to stay at home. He doesn't say why and it doesn't matter how he ended up back at my house... he is here now. A big bag a gluten free dog food, and I made him his own pillow bed from some wool and fabric. He seems content, and has not yet run away.
I was feeling a bit more then disappointed this week, because the local primitive & outdoors living skills classes (called Firefly) was happening and i missed it due to having to take the Flagyl anti-biotics to kill the mean, evil, worthless giardia (parasite) that was plaguing my intestines.
And kill it, it seems to have done. Kill many things. No more diarrhea! YAY... but oh the fuckin' side effects that linger and my body is eager to throw off toxins, which means now the waves of nausea are again my pal. A friend I have to tell to go away.
I chant over and over "but no more diarrhea!"

I have noticed with the weird weather we are having this summer (it never gets hot here, and now it is downright chilly!)... the variety of bugs has shifted a bit from last year. I have seen maybe 3 live mosquitoes all summer. Had only one night of No-See-Ums.... and the moths are slightly different too. And remember the giant bug that got in bed with me? The Palo Root Borer Beetle....
here is a video of one outside, looking for a place to lay eggs and then actually laying them in a dead log outside the Luck Cabin!......


My animal gang is my joy, entertainment, my drama, and my laughter.
If you replace "my animal gang" with "my future man" ... that totally sounds like a terrible 'walk on the beach' personals ad. ha ha. I bet these guys would love to walk on the beach too... maybe i can book that whole animal crew and myself a plane ride to the Caribbean, the donkey would love it.
XOxOXoxOX

Yellow and Black Tiger Stripe Swallowtail Butterfly

Just enjoy the magical construction of nature... nothing I can say about the swallowtail could be more interesting then it's patterns...
XoXo

Tree Bark Butterfly With Orange Wings

This neato butterfly landed on my boot and stayed there licking it for nearly 20 minutes! I have been wanting to look at one of these close up because it is one of those butterflies that has a totally different persona on the inside, then it does on the outside. (Just like some people!)
When sunning itself it has brilliant deep orange wings with black spots on it, the jagged edges make it even more striking - but when it closes it's wings it suddenly transforms into something akin to tree bark.
It's like an optical illusion! It's legs even look like little dead branches stripped of bark. I <3 this butterfly, it's reversible. :)
Anyone know it's scientific name and info?
XoXo

Black and Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly

These yellow swallowtails have to be the most playful butterflies I have ever seen! They swoop quickly from flower to flower, the flit around with all the other types of butterfly, and I wondered around the cow field full of thistle aimlessly trying to follow them... just to get these pictures.
Thistle is one of those awesome wildflowers that attracts every kind of flying insect I love. It amazes me how the butterfly is flying all around those giant thorns with their delicate wings - perfect precision!
The black swallowtail and the yellow swallowtail were flirting on a light breeze together! How sweet, inter-variety love!!!
XoXo

Orange and Black Butterfly on Marigold

Oh, pretty.
XoXo

Swallowtail Butterfly

Of all the butterflies around here this one is the most difficult to catch on camera, I pretty much had to find one that was slightly distressed to get near it. Normally they are flitting high in the air, like little striped birds... swooping over the roof, over the bamboo, around the silo and far away from me. Have you ever seen the movie The Last Unicorn?? These tiger patterned swallowtails are like the poetic butterfly who briefly speaks to the unicorn, jabbering only in riddles, prose, and scrambled stories- (EX. "have you seen the muffin man the muffin man the muffin man").

xoxo

Butterflies!

Ooooh pretty... The white butterfly up top was on a turnip flower (go little pollinator GO!)
This orange speckled dream machine below is on a purple clover flower (aren't they edible, have any of you ever eaten one... the flower not the butterfly!?)

And this slow moving battered swallowtail was resting on a burdock leaf in the sun.

xoxo

Flutterbies

Asheville Botanical Gardens Part 2

Last time I went to the Asheville Botanical Gardens it was Spring- going once a season is so cool because every time the place is entirely different. The summer is lush, bugs are everywhere, little fishies are swimming in the creek... and maybe cause of the drought the creek is a wee bit foul smelling. But this butterfly was so worth the trip.

I am not fond of trash in the creek, especially when it's rusting metal. My friend put it in his backpack to dispose of properly.

This rock was obviously carved by the water into this perfect little center stage for posing. I kind of wish I looked like Olivia Newton John in this pic, but there is no resemblance. Darn.

The butterfly made a friend ... :)