yes it's been a while since you've heard from us.

apparently we hibernated during winter.
but now it's spring! and we've got the fever!

our newest project is a nice raised vegetable garden.
we've salvaged some old fence panels from a neighbor to create the walls.
the drainage rock was also salvaged from an out of service railroad track. (props to joshua and brandon for being the great shoveling men they are.)









our dirt is a nice super organic dirt/mulch blend from the living earth in rockwall. it was a whole trailer load (roughly 4,000 pounds.)

i organized photos again last night..

so this is the gnarliest most awesome bug i've found in the back yard.
he's actually the inspiration for the bloggins.




he's called a spiny orb weaver.
a little super extra tiny spider.
they come in white yellow orange and red. i don't know if they change throughout their life cycle or if it's a different genus to a different color.

also today.

misses smith got some new rocks for her turtle enjoyment.

i took a nice video of her getting acquainted.









if you turn the volume up a little you can hear her giving us the hisses.

the same little squirrel..

elliott almost had him today..

and boy did he give elliott the business.

i make new friends every day..

a few more animal folks that i found in the back yard.. including an extra creepy neighbor cat.. we're not friends yet, but we will be.

i also i found these photos.

this is another giant bug creature that was in my yard.





LOOK AT HIM.


HE'S EFFING CRAZY!

they're already moving in.

there are tons of bugs in the green house.

it took three days? four?

first this little fellow.


he moves quickly.







today is also sean's first adventure into the green house.. i don't know how many he'll get.

he's also quick like a bunny.

green house time.

josh very adamantly requested that i post these photos.

so here.

hello. is that a turtle in your pocket?

so i reorganized all of my photos this past week.

and i have a ton of ol mama smith.

enjoy!

you shouldn't mess with ostriches.

because this is what happens.

it's okay though. i forgive him because he is soft.

also.. the bite is documented!







any who's it.



we went to the fairs.
it's my favorite place ever.
i enjoy petting zoos IMMENSELY.
these guys lurve me, too.

especially the zebu.

dragonfly's only live for 24 hours.

and this fella is dead.






































i also found this little crazy caterpillar.

i love my backyard so much.

this little guy..

he's definitely out to get me.