Red-headed gal

These tiny little things are aptly called "red-headed bush crickets" and they are common all over the yard, deck, garden and patio in the summer. They have a surprisingly loud song for such a small creature (7-9 mm) and I actually saw a male singing, holding his wings out to the side, today.  Very interesting.  Also called Handsome Trig, they are plant-eaters so some gardeners might not like them - there's room for all in my garden.  This one is a female, identified by her little ovipositor, just visible in this shot.  

Hubs and his team-mates are at the track, prepping for two days of racing.  And, hopefully, some much-needed diversion for him.

MIL continues to experience pain on her right side, but she is in excellent spirits and we had many laughs during my visit yesterday and again this morning.  Tonight the doctor is supposed to be making visits at the nursing home, so SIL and I will go over and wait for him.  Just want to get to the bottom of whatever is causing the pain.  

I released 5 monarchs today.  One for a sister, one for a mother and three for an organization called 22 Too Many, whose mission it is to reduce the number of military veterans who take their own lives after returning from active combat.  

The second-to-last brood of monarch cats are starting to do their walkabouts now, with the first one J'd at the top of the enclosure.  There are 13 cats in that container and I expect them all to be J'd or pupate by Sunday.  That leaves one more brood, of about 12 ranging from 2nd to 4th instars, and about 20 chrysalids.  Still taking names...  I will run out of names well before the butterflies are gone, so plan to dedicate them to disaster victims, or organizations like 22 Too Many.  No Monarch will leave my care without the memory of someone to travel with it.  

Two cords of firewood delivered today - all in the driveway so SIL and I will start moving it to the woodshed tomorrow.  That, along with the cord we already have, should get us through most of the winter...hopefully.

Hope everyone is headed into a good weekend...  And thanks to BikerBear/Anni for hosting FlowerFriday, even as she's traveling the globe!

xo
Debbi

PS:  And if you'd like to see a wee crab spider hiding in a sunflower bud, click HERE - he's not scary at all.