rain

rain

April 17, 2013

This week's Headbanger's theme was my choice, and I went with "rain," because we can hardly think of anything else around here these days.  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme, and try not to get wet: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

 You've heard the expression, "When it rains, it pours."  Well, a few days ago we got our bucketfulls and then some!  Driving to work, I felt like a rat in a maze.  I left the house early and was moving along just fine, then I'd run into a roadblock, turn around and reroute.  This cycle happened so much, that my half-hour commute was quadrupled!  I was so sure they'd close the office, but when I called, there were already a bunch of people there, so I kept driving until I got there.

Look closely, and you'll see how deep that water got.  Lots of cars got flooded like that.

I came upon the scene I used for my header, and I propped the camera on a tripod, and held an umbrella over it.  A family walked around me and settled themselves in front of my shot, but I figured that as long as they knew I was taking pictures, spectators might even enhance the composition.  Since my original plan was to show some poor fellow's four-wheeled submarine, I moved across the street and began recomposing the shot.  The stranded car's hazard lights were blinking, and I wanted to catch them in the on position.  This little kid decided that he wanted to stay in front of the camera, so he ran across and stood in my view.  As I was trying to time my shot, he spontaneously threw his little fists up in exuberant jubilation.  Congratulations, Kiddo; you just graduated from background to subject!  I like it better than what I originally planned, so I got his dad's email and sent them the shot.

water boy

beaded rain drops on a goose

 

macro: raindrops in a spider's web

rain soaked lawn

[As always, click on any image to enlarge it.  The goose and grass have really nice details that you'll appreciate more when viewing a larger image.]
 

daddy dudes

The term "daddy longlegs" refers to a number of different things. This one standing on a pink zinnia is the one I am most used to. There is also a crane fly/mosquito hawk, and one or two types of spiders that are called by the same name. This however, is not a spider. The class Arachnida has several subclasses and orders. Scorpions and ticks belong to the arachnid family, and so does this guy. Besides "daddy longlegs," it is also called a harvestman or more properly, an opillonid.

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As I said, it is not a spider. The opillonid has only one body section while Spiders have a separate cephilothorax and abdomen, but this character has only one. It has only two eyes, while spiders have eight. It does not produce silk or venom. That's right. The story that suggests these are the most venomous things on earth is a myth. That does not mean that they are not dangerous. If I throw one at my wife's face, it will almost certainly result in me getting a concussion. I'll just snap my picture and move along.

stay-cation

They say you shouldn't announce your vacation over the internet. Bad people find out, and they break in while you're away to take your stuff. Well, we live quite simply, here in the Craver home, and I have a hunch that if somebody broke in while we were gone, they are more likely to feel bad for us and leave something, so the next guy has something to steal! Truth be told, we have everything that we need.

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But no, we are not going away, so it is probably okay if I break this rule. Instead of travelling, I will spend four days this week at home. (I couldn't get Friday off.) My daughter and son-in-law are having some time for themselves and so they brought the grandchildren to Bolingbrook.

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This week will be about cherishing every moment that I can hang out with my grandson. The poor guy bumped his face on our coffeetable on the first night, but everything else has been a breeze so far.

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We have lots and lots of kisses for our granddaughter. She is SO good natured, and loves to smile! Oh, and she loves to kick Poppa (me) in the face, too. They call her "the flailer" on account of how she gets excited and pumps her arms and legs.

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I put a lot of work into scrubbing out some old yard toys and prepping the back yard for my grandson. I hope he likes playing with us here. They were all stashed way back in a "forest" of weeds. I'm lucky to have found my way back to civilization after going into that dense thicket!

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Check out the beauty I found while cleaning out the playset. There were lots of spiders (and other critters) playing in these unused toys. This one was bigger than the others, and worthy for a photo break. I didn't want her playing with my grandchildren, and got ready to squish her into oblivion, but she got away. Well, the main thing is that she is not in the playset anymore. Good for her!

arachno-photos

I do not understand the fear of spiders... I mean that someone would be more afraid of these than any other creepy crawlies. Does it count for nothing that they kill mosquitoes?! Plus, in contrast to the local micro phlebotomist union, spiders do not seek people out and continually pester them. My arachnid friends sit politely, minding their own business, and they even pose nicely for the camera. C'mon, what's not to love!!

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[Click on any of these photographs to enlarge for details.]

itsy bitsy spider

...down came the rain and washed the spider out...

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Lots of rain overnight. The sun eventually broke through, but between the extremes, I found an unhappy arachnid surveying the damage to its house.

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Sorry, Little Buddy. I wish I could help.

all the trimmings

Autumn colors are popping up here and there. They have been for a while, now. I hope you are catching good views of whatever is happening in your own area. Here, we have a red streak down the middle of a row of green. It looks like a question mark, doesn't it?

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Speaking of highlights and such, here's a good laugh: I usually cut my own hair. It's easy for us guys to get away with unprofessional scalp mowings. I just use clippers at home, and my wife helps me finish the back after I've already done my part. I noticed tapered attachments in the bin. They were embossed "right ear" and "left ear." Naturally, I assumed that they would be perfectly suited for clipping around those areas, so I used the attachments, and... Whoa!! That was waaaay too short! I didn't mean to lop off so much. Oh well; it'll grow back.

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Oh, and talking about trimming and growing back, I need to do something soon with the front yard. If I wait too long, the overgrown bushes, cobwebs and scattered leaves will end up looking like Halloween decorations. Hopefully, I can get out there with the hedge trimmer and edger this weekend.

arachno-vision

I DO believe I can see her eyes better now, than I did through the viewfinder. You know what? She's staring right at me. Hey Spider! Take a picture; it lasts longer!