Dragonfly Swarm!

I was walking through the porch on my way down to my office, when I glanced out the window and saw something I had never seen before. Dragonflies--thousands of them. The air is filled with them right now, for blocks in every direction. They're swarming from just a few inches above our heads to higher than the tallest elm tree on our street. They are probably feeding on much smaller insects, and are in turn getting gobbled up by various birds swooping through, including woodpeckers and grackles. It's a whole circle of life right in my own backyard.

I didn't take a picture, but found one online that looks similar. For full view, go to their Web site: http://fr.treknature.com/gallery/photo134158.htm

Ladybug Picnic

Why did I find the carpenter ant infestation at the condo last summer completely unacceptable, but our ever-growing population of ladybugs at The Box House completely charming?

They started appearing a couple of weeks ago. We've found a score or two in the downstairs unit, but tons and tons of them upstairs. The unit is empty right now. No furniture, nothing. The floors were sanded and everything more or less dusted down. Where are they coming from? Every few days, I go upstairs and sweep up a pile of them. If Maggie's with me, she'll try to eat them, whether they are dead or not.

It's an insect invasion, but I can't work myself up to be upset about ladybugs. But ants, spiders, termites, and cockroaches? When I spot them, they're out of here.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia; I can't seem to get a decent photo of the little critters

One two three
Four five six
Seven eight nine
Ten eleven twelve
Ladybugs
Came to the ladybugs' picnic

One two three
Four five six
Seven eight nine
Ten eleven twelve
And they all played games
At the ladybugs' picnic

They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races
They fell on their backs and they fell on their faces
The ladybugs twelve
At the ladybugs' picnic

They played jump rope but the rope it broke
So they just sat around telling knock-knock jokes
The ladybugs twelve
At the ladybugs' picnic

One two three
Four five six
Seven eight nine
Ten eleven twelve
And they chatted away
At the ladybugs' picnic

They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs
And fire insurance for ladybugs
The ladybugs twelve
At the ladybugs' picnic
Twelve!