Thursday, October 15, 2009

Milkweed and Friends.......(and WELCOMES AGAIN!)

I am not at all fond of Box Elder Bugs. They get in houses, are a pest, and generally a nuisance. I'm not sure what else they do, but suffice it to say, on my list of insects I actually like, they are absent.
So the other day I was up to my waist in the weeds, shooting photos and trying to keep from breaking some other body part (like an ankle or foot---I really NEED those at present!), and framing up this milkweed. Now, as an aside, I have hit that point in life where I *should* have bifocals, but wear contacts and am not sold on contacts with the bifocal in them, plus the migraine issue, plus, well, I'm cheap. So sometimes when I go out with the camera, I see only a portion of what I am shooting and don't really get a good look until everything is loaded up on the computer.
Many times I have looked at pics and thought, "I don't remember taking that......" (part of that could be age too....but I sincerely doubt that is possible.....)
So it was rather fun to pop the above photo to full screen and see, quite happily sharing their duplex, the bugs in the pod! It made me think of kids sharing a room; one on one side, one on the other and the imaginary line running down the middle that no one dares cross! LOL!!!
If I was those two, I'd be collecting fluff and nestling down into it to stay warm. The change in temps has certainly brought about a change in everything else, and soon the bugs, leaves, grass....everything but mud, will be gone.
Make hay while the sun shines! I'm off to get some indoor work done, and hopefully.......HOPE--FUL--LY, that will include the studio. (I still have a massive flat leaf parsley plant to get preserved or used....like, the size of a 13 gallon kitchen garbage bag. I kid you not.)
Again, more Welcomes to the blog! Hope the newest followers enjoy it here; if I forget to get to your blog, please remind me! My brain is obviously on vacation of late.....oy.
Wishes for good endeavors today, and a bit of sun, and lots and lots of creativity!

Pax.

24 comments:

yoborobo said...

Love the pic, Anne - it does look like a little room. :) And I have not forgotten about the lovely award - I'm just waiting for FIOS and internet stability and my brain to all align at the same time. xox Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam, I completely understand. My brain has been off in lala land for about two-three weeks; I think it is the change of the seasons and the difference in light. can't type, can't think, can't remember anything....more than *normal*....LOL!!!!
Bug Duplex........boy, what stimulating blog fodder! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! <:)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

The photo is beautiful Anne!!
Bifocals??? Let me tell you about bifocals.... I have horrible vision & always have worn glasses since chilhood for distance. At the oh so tender age of 45 I couldn't read.... or my arms had shrunk!!
I got progressive lenses... I spent the next year dizzy as a bat... traded them in for lined & my eyes have been happy ever sense. I can't figure how contacts work for bifocals??? No thanks, I'll keep my old fashioned lined bifocals!! (still can't see anything below my nose!!) LOL!!
Have a Great Day!!
Hugs,
Marilyn

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marilyn,

*Supposedly* (ahem!) the bifocal is heavier and makes the contact with it rest in the bottom of the eye. Yeah, and I'm a Super-model....
I wore glasses from 7th grade on, then at about 20 changed to contacts due to eye changes every 6 mo. Went literally YEARS without a Rx change, so they have served me well, but alas, my arms are shrinking too! ;) I'm still not at the point of reading glasses---give me a rip roaring headache, and think I will just wait till I can wear them.
I have had enough adventures in headaches, eye problems, bad scripts...you name it.
We need longer arms! HA!
I just pop the contacts out to knit....of course I can't see the TV then.....

XXOO!!!
Anne
oh....knitting...I got a new book called "Knitting Circles Around Socks Again" (or Two or something---it's the second one)----YOU NEED THIS! It has everything so simple, things I have hacked about doing the wrong way I've now figured out.
Bought on Amazon.

Linda and Michelle said...

That photo is a prize-winner! You should think about entering that - the surprising bits of color - think of it as color and NOT bugs!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Linda,

Good idea----I mean, if it had been ladybugs... ;)
I have ahd a couple of people tell me I should enter some of my photos in competition; I just don't because of the matting and framing expense. I think I enjoy them because they are the noncompetitive portion of my life. I take them for me/us and it's fun! I think I learned something from the other competitive aspects of art.......sometimes the fun goes away.
But it definitely is a "Snug as two bugs in a rug"......

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

I love that photo! The bugs, eh, not so much, but I do like them in the pod. I, too, should have bifocals...did the contact thing with one eye for close up and one for distance and actually adjusted to it, but it gets expensive.
**happy smiles** Deb

audrey said...

Great photo, Anne!!
Cold and raining here in Virginia. Blah. I, too, am worried about all the leaves falling off. I want time to take more photos!!!! ): The cold is arriving everywhere TOO soon this year.

Georgina said...

We have those little bugs here during the summer, but not as colourul as yours. Luckily, they don't come inside the house, at least I've never seen them. Love the idea of the little room section...what the hell are you smoking!!!??? LOL I want some!!!

Leslie said...

Great shot as always. We don't seem to have milkweeds or those kinda bugs here, we just get pine beetles, sigh.

Tristan Robin said...

wonderful photo! - I love milkweed pods.

wouldn't a lovely altered art faery look wonderful living in one?!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Another really wonderful photo...the bugs just give it that added dimension.
I have progressive triple sights in my glasses (with no lines) and I love them. I tried bifocals but they drove me mental...I couldn't see properly to knit or anything else I did using that mid-distance. Reading the computer monitor was killing my neck too. This is my second pr. of progressives and I'm very happy with them. I think problems arise when they aren't fitted properly.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Deborah,

My eye doc wanted to do the lasik *one eye close, one distance*......I think not. I'll just squint, and why do I need to see five miles away? Plus I can ignore the dust..... ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey, same here. I was on the porch trying to see if the rain was bringing the leaves down. They're still holding on tenaciously......
We need lots of super glue! LOL!!
XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Georgina, dear, you know I'm good and don't smoke anything! I just haven't had enough sleep!!!! And it's not pain pills either, because I don't have any....
I still say it's a duplex!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Well Leslie, should I ask? What is a pine beetle? I have a lot of white pines and am hoping they don't have beetles......

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oh Tristan,

I had not thought of that! We used to cut them and paint them silver and gold and use them to decorate at the holidays.
But I bet one would fit in the back of a box canvas.
Hmmmmmmm.......rubber boots, warm coat, gloves, cutters......hmmmmmm.... >:)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi MA---

I have neck troubles wearing the reading glasses....I think I'll just wait until I am forced into something else, and then go for the progressives. I know the time will come when contacts are no longer an option..... <:(
I'm happier without glasses because I am hard to fit.

XXOO!!
Anne

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I am personally 59 years old now and vision has become an issue for me and I do have tri-focals presently. The brain issue and the circle of wilis means I have a trusting patternship with my trusty little digital camera. My energy has been taxed and I know I need more rest with this latest damp weather so tomorrow will be a chance to rest and work on my quilting while I watch old movies and enjoy hot cocoa!!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

teri said...

Anne - you have a LIST of bugs you LIKE?????? I hope it is a short list!!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

MAry Helen,

Sure wish I could just conk out today, but I have ut off and put off and now it is crunch time. So I will think of you lounging with the movies while I wrestle yards of fabric.
I'mm too old for this..... ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Teri.....LOL!!!
Yes, there are bugs I do like! I don't actually have a list per se, but some are beneficials, some are attractive (butterflies---insects) and some, like odd beetles are just plain curious.
And I prefer them all outside the home!

XXOO!!
Anne

Karen said...

Can I say that I identify with your vision challenge? I need reading glasses but see well at a distance, so see wonderfully through the view finder, but when I want to check framing, exposure, etc. on the camera's LCD screen, I need glasses. Your picture is great. I saw some milkweed pods today that I wanted to photograph and will only know if I had any success later when I upload the photos to my computer. I spent my time sitting in the weeds as I was trying to stop the pods from waving in the wind.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Karen,

Yes, I was HOLDING some of the stems with one hand while trying to focus and shoot with the other...lots f wind the day I was shooting, and wasn't sure when things were going to move.
I've wanted one of those classic "milkweed explosing with wind" shots, but I think I'm too impatient....and can't see that well! HA!
We're all in the same boat. I wonder who's steering??? LOL!

XXOO!!!
Anne

Post a Comment

Talk to me Dahling!
I'm waiting, breathless...... ;-D