Cetonia Aurata

You know, I really love coming out to visit the folks the country, but I have an awful time dealing with all these bugs.

Out in the back yard we've got lots of plants and vegetation - and on our porch dad is growing grapes, so we've got this huge leafy green vines all over the place. There are these nasty, nasty green bugs called Rose Chafers - The Bug From Hell (okay not their real nickname, that's just what I call them).

You can never spot them, but they ALWAYS spot you. And then they cling. AND DON'T LET GO. Those mofos chew our grape vines, too, did I mention that? And they're horny as all hell - they're always mating!


Do you see those legs? Those are legs from hell.


Anyway, I was just outside with Mr. Charles to enjoy the beautiful weather and work on some leash training. He was doing really well and responding, and I was about to take us all inside because they were getting too hot, when I felt something crawling on mah bum! Low and behold there was one of those gross green bugs and it latched on to me and even after running inside another one of those god damn buggers was crawling on my back!

GROSS.

In other news, Charlie is starting to really pick up his name! And he's getting into the habit of anticipating when I'm going to ask him to sit.

Such a good boy :-)

Cicada-killers

So yesterday I took Charlie and Cory out - Cory of course runs around without a leash as he's seven and doesn't stray too far.

He's also a lab and we all know how labs are - curious, playful, NOSY.

So I'm walking under the apple trees with Charlie and we're minding our own business. Cory is several feet away and I can hear his big mouth snapping open and shut as he chases and attempts to eat flies...

...or so I thought they were flies. The next thing I know I see four or five of them circling Cory, but he seems fine and I dismiss the idea that they're bees. Oh boy was I wrong. Just a few seconds later I hear the poor thing bark/yelp and he runs over behind me - a trail of nasty digger wasps right behind him. Having a horrible history with bees and wasps I high tailed it into the house - herding the two boys in front of me like a frantic mother.

Cory, of course, is totally fine but has a few stings on his nose and mouth. And he won't let us put a cold compress or baking soda on it - but he seems much better today.

Needless to say, we won't be heading down to hang out under the apple trees for quite some time.