Sunday, May 31, 2015

May Monster Madness (Creepy Crawlies)



It's time for our fourth annual May Monster Madness, hosted by the infamous author Annie Walls .
This year we are going with an insect type theme so I figured I would post some of the creepier things that have crawled on me in my great home state of Virginia!

To start things off, I want to show you one of my most feared and hated creepy crawly. I am talking about none other than the dreaded HELLGRAMMITE!

This is actually the larval stage of the Dobson Fly, It is the bane of fresh water waders, usually fishing for trout. I have been bitten on the ankles more times than I ever want to remember. 


These guys have a terrible bite and they tend flail about when they do sink in.


They are strong enough to pick up rock the same size of themselves. I hope you never encounter one in the wild. 


The rest is just a quick rogues gallery of some of the things I see on a daily basis in my back yard....enjoy!

American Pelecinid Wasp

Arrow Shaped Micrathena Spider

Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

The Black Widow (not an Avenger)

Bold Jumping Spider (it earns it's name!0

Bollweevil

Earwig (yes...EAR wig)

Common Ground Spider

Hag Moth Caterpillar (one of the worst stings in the animal kingdom) 

Halloween Pennant (Favorite Dragonfly)

House Centipede (Yes, it gets it's name from wanting to dwell in your HOUSE!)

Orange Millipede

Pseudoscorpion (No stinger in tail, but it has venom in it's pincers)

Saddleback Caterpillar (another bad stinger) 

Spined Micrathena Spider

Banded Garden Spider (These are all over the back yard)

The Tick!

Wolf Spider (Large and Aggressive, just like a wolf)

Yellow and Black Centipede (the forest floor is littered with these in summer/fall)




Saturday, May 30, 2015

Are you ready for May Monster Madness?

Head over to http://www.anniewalls.com/#article/1049 for more info and sign up!  Or just click HERE

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Patrick Wilson, star of "Insidious" and "The Conjuring" rocking out in my home town.



Really it was just across the street from our house...literally! Each year we have a music showcase called, "Gathering in the Gap". This year, Patrick Wilson and his brothers showed up with there band, The Wilson Van. They were here to commemorate the release of "Big Stone Gap" (the movies about and set in my home town) This October 9th! Here are some shots of him in action!











Sunday, May 10, 2015

Happy Mother's Day!

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all those that serve as a mother in one capacity or the other. I hope your day is filled with kindness, laughter, and appreciation for all you do for the world!


And now, a tribute to my own wicKED mother.