Lady Bug

Ladybug!  Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire.
And your children all gone.
All except one,
And that's little Ann,
For she crept under
The frying pan.

I don't know about you, but I think this is a pretty grim nursery rhyme!  I never really paid much attention to it until I went to look it up for today's blip.  Really, it's not very kid-friendly.

Even though it never got out of the low-40's today, I managed to find this sluggish lady beetle in the garden which immediately had me running for the macro lens.  Luckily, it was so cold that the little beetle wasn't moving very fast and I was able to locate it again quickly when I got back outside with my camera.  So, had some macro fun, which made me smile.

I also had my second bird-rescue of the week.  I glanced out the window and noticed one of the little Downy Woodpeckers flailing around on a feeder.  Knowing that something was wrong, I dashed outside ... to find that he'd somehow gotten his little head wedged in the feeder.  I was able to get his body in one hand and then, somehow, work his head free.  It wasn't quick and there were a few moments when I was afraid I'd break his neck trying to free him. But all ended well.  I held him in my hands for a few minutes to calm him and then let him fly up into the trees.  I don't know how fast his heart was pumping, but I can tell you that mine was racing.  

Went to the butcher today and got a couple of freshly smoked turkey legs which I am going to use to make a hearty bean soup for dinner (rather than ham hocks).  They had just finished smoking the legs which were still warm.  Can't get fresher than that!

Managed to get the lights on the tree, but have to say that I'm not feeling terribly motivated.  I need to get into the holiday spirit, and soon.

xo
Debbi