"Quick, Mr. Spock, It's a Phaser On Overload!"

Newly-emerged cicada getting his bearings
before trying out his wings

Uh...no, actually, it's not.  It's been about 13 years since the last time we saw them --- cicadas!  They've been emerging from their underground hideaways.  They've been leaving their outgrown exoskeletons all over the place, and singing their little hearts out!  The males, that is...trying to find true cicada love by serenading their ladies fair!  Unfortunately, most of those of us not of the cicada persuasion find the song to be rather annoying.  My daughter told me it's driving her crazy.  My granddaughter, age 5, got into my truck yesterday, looked at me, and said "Granny! What is that noise???"  I told her about cicadas; boy cicadas who sing songs of love that we can't understand, hoping to find a girl cicada who will love them and marry them.  She nodded knowingly and leaned toward me and said, "I'm going to get married someday and I'll have a wedding ring to wear!"  I showed her mine; she looked at her hand and shook her head.  "I don't have a wedding ring."  I told her, "Yet!  Someday you may!"  She grinned at me and off we went to Pizza Hut (by special request -- she had earned a free pizza certificate through the Book-It program at school). 

Back home later, I got out the camera and started looking for cicadas.  My son-in-law stopped by to pick up a gallon of strawberries I had gotten for them and said, "Isn't that the coolest sound? I love it! It sounds just like a phaser on overload!" I shared that with David, who said, "Yes! That's what I've been trying to think of! Remember I told you it sounded familiar?" (Obviously it's a guy thing.) 

I found cicada exoskeletons singly and in clumps - here is an interesting grouping.  I hope the "enlarge when you click it" works - it's amazingly 3D-like when it's enlarged.  I've got several other pictures, but this one is my favorite.  My daughter said, "It would be pretty if those things weren't hanging off the leaves.  They're creepy!"

Something rustled among the leaves in the bush and I saw this cute little guy!  He was patient with me for awhile and let me take a couple of pictures, then he was gone - I have a wonderful picture with just his tail as he zipped away!  At least he didn't stick around and try to sell me insurance.

Yes, I've also been tatting - nothing much to speak of, nothing to show you.  Hopefully I'll have something soon!