HEAT.............

It seems as though, here in NE Ohio we only have two season...anymore. :- (

I hate to complain but we seem to jump right out of winter right into summer...no in between seasons to help ready us for these extreme temp changes. We've weathered a terrible winter (2010) only to be inundated by 90 temps. :- 6

We go outdoors to work for a while only to run back into the house, for the room that has a window a/c.

The weather forecasters were predicting these blistering temps last week so I methodically sheared all the rabbits. I really hated to loose some promising coats but I'd rather have a live rabbit without a coat than a lovely coat on a dead rabbit. :- { I now have a barn full of naked rabbits! Even with their frozen water-bottles they're still suffering the heat.

This weekend my dulcimer group will perform at Akron's Art Expo at Hardesty Park (1 - 3 pm). Normally we LOVE this event but when it gets this hot the salt from your own sweat irritates your fingertips.

One up side to this heat is the grasses doesn't grown, requiring as much mowing.

We did have a terrible thunderstorm last night, fortunately none of the trees lost any branches. I hope all of you are weathering the temps & storms!

Royal Walnut Moth

It's been a while since my last posting. But this was simply too extraordinary not to share!

I saw this "huge" but beautiful moth at Durbin's Ice Cream Stand in Barberton. This beauty was fluttering about the building's sidewalk. In fear for it's well being, I caught it, to transport it home. We've an extensive wooded area very close behind our house. I thought it'd be safer here than at the very busy intersection, not to mention LOTS of foot traffic around the building. So I picked it up.... it actually felt like a small bird in my hand!!! AWESOME!!!! The fur across it's shoulders was long with such a vivid bright orange color! The rest of the wing color was taupe and cream. Simply remarkable!!!!!!!!! 8- D

At home I got my camera and got some nice shots. When I moved the moth, to put it outside, I noticed that 'SHE'D' laid eggs! They were a little larger than the size of a wooden pencil lead and all clumped together. :- D I put her and the eggs on a large tree. About a half hour later I checked on her but she was gone. Off to lay more eggs, I hope! She'd laid more eggs on the tree then took flight to places unknown?

After looking over the Internet I found that she's was a "Royal Walnut Moth". Apparently the caterpillar form of this moth is known as the "Hickory Horned Devil", which is reputed to be almost the size of a hot dog! A rather amazing creature. Check this web site for more information and an interesting story about a rescued Hickory Horned Devil. http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2010/09/hickory-horned-devil.html

I immediately thougth of my friend, Annette, and ask if she possibly wanted the moth eggs. Following her recommendations I prepared a package with the tiny eggs inside. The package is on it way to her now. Hopefully within a couple days she'll have additional news of further developments. :- D Good Luck Annette!!!!!