After doing my chores today, I settled in at my desk to write the backstory for this October's clue hunt. I figure it is never too early to get started so I did. Actually, I have been working on ideas since this past November but getting them all down in story form took until today. I was just happy to be making a bit of progress! Things were going dandy until suddenly...kerplop! Yep...kerplop! A bug smacked my hand. Hmmm? I picked up the critter and released it outside. Alrighty then!
Living on a bayou, one gets accustomed to critters crawling about the place. I have no qualms about snatching up a bug and letting it be free unless it is one of the more unsavory sort. Those I smash...a quick and effective method of eradication. At first glance, I thought this was a Ladybug so without second guessing myself, the bug went free. I returned to my seat and started typing once again. Kerplop. Yep, another bug landed on me. This one became entangled in the hair and let its smelly stench about it when I tried to free it. Ugh! Another one went out the door. This time, the foresight kicked in and I quickly covered my mug of grapefruit juice. The coaster now became a lid! No need in allowing the bugs a free swim lesson! About four bugs later, my thoughtfulness paid off! A critter landed smack dab on top of the coaster I was using as a lid! Whew! It was then that I realized that there was indeed a problem. I was being invaded by the cutest critters even though I do believe I released a bunch of "False Ladybugs". (And that may prove to be detrimental to my gardening!) Still, it was an invasion of cuteness!
Seventeem bugs later, I decided that the vacuum cleaner would make the job easier. Somehow, the critters must have overwintered in my walls and the warm sunshine brought them out in hoards. A good many had the smarts to escape to freedom by going on the outside of the window screen but dozens upon dozens made their way inside through my open windows. Outside, the Yellow-rumped Warblers were having a heyday! Even the foul smell that the Ladybugs emit when threatened did not deter the birds. Several of the warblers even hung around until after dark to snatch up any hapless bugs. I only wish a couple of those birds would have ventured inside to do the job!
Son has this saying that "Hindsight is worthless unless you learn from it, while a little foresight could be priceless regardless." He is always spouting some bits of wisdom that could come in handy if only I could remember them when the time comes that they are needed. It never seems to work that way and I always go about lamenting my missteps. The art of having foresight would be grand but at least I try to look at the hindsight as a learning tool. This does not mean that I will not make the same mistakes over and over again but, hey, at least I try!
It seems that I am not the only one that does not "think before I leap" or as Son would say "Two steps in the right direction might save you a lot of pie." I am not quite sure what he means by this one but surely it has some profound idea behind it. Today, however, I found that one of my friends did not use a lot of thought before stepping those two steps. The Black Swallowtail Butterfly that frequents the garden did not think through laying her eggs this time of year. My fennel is covered with the caterpillars! With the weather forecast calling for a bit of icy weather in a few days, those caterpillars might be in a bit of trouble! Am I the only one fretting over such things? Probably. Son reprimands me for "interfering with nature" when I move the plants and their munchers into the greenhouse so I am trying hard to resist the urge to dig up the huge fennel plant and cart it into a warmer spot. Poor babies!
In a weird sort of way, this whole situation makes me feel not quite so inept. If others (even if they are critters) are making mistakes, then I am not alone in this. At least I did not leave my kids out in the cold...unlike the "mother" butterfly!
