Getting too big for his britches!

  I get amused by some of the old idioms that Pop used to use at times.  There were five kids in the famly so there was always a need for some "parental guidance" in the form a switchin'.  We got those often but not without due cause.  Pop dealt punishment fairly as the need called.  We always knew we were pressing his patience when he would say "Somebody's getting too big for his britches."  That was fair warning for us to shape up and behave ourselves!  If the behavior continued, more oft than not, a peach switch was wielded on our rear ends!  Now before anyone cries "child abuse", no, it was discipline fair and square.  I have no "long term" effects by this form of correction nor does any of my siblings.  We knew what was expected of us and if we refused to follow the rules, we knew the consequences.  It seems to me that this new idea of minimal discipline is not working.  Perhaps this is why so many problems have arisen with our youngsters.  I kept the "old school" methods with my kids.  There were no beatings but a light swat on the rump was all it took to divert behavior problems before they became severe.  Same with Pop.  He never mistreated us but at the same time we were disciplined.

  Still, it is the idiom that amuses me, not the switchin's!  I was out by the little Frog Pond the other evening when I noticed a Eastern Lubber Grasshopper "getting to big for his britches."  The critter had climbed up on one of the leaves of the water lily and there proceeded to shed its outer layer.  The exoskeleton was shed and the soft grasshopper dangled precariously it as the new "body" matured.  At this stage, the grasshopper was quite helpless as its body was very soft.  The grasshopper had to choose a spot to shed that was protected. Even high winds could damage the body at this point.   The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper has few predators as it, itself, is slightly toxic so it was relatively safe on the lily.  As far as I know, the Loggerhead Shrike is the only critter out there that will make a meal out of these grasshoppers. This bird decapitates the grasshopper and impales it on a fence wire or twig.  There the sun will dry out the toxins and make the grasshopper edible.  The Shrike then will devour its prize.  The only trouble is the number of grasshoppers is far greater than the number of birds.  I have seen one nesting pair of shrikes and a billion grasshoppers.  I think the grasshoppers win.

  The fact that the grasshopper "got too big for his britches" means that it is now ready to eat more of my plants.  With the number of critters still in the garden (I squished a million or so already), I need to start squishing again!   If I do not smash these, my garden will meet a dire end.  These guys do not care what they eat as long as it is green.