STICKS

and stones may break my bones and words may indeed hurt me, but also sticks (walking sticks that is) do eventually multiply and their eggs, albeit small, are detectable.  See below, which I believe is a tiny egg formerly attached to the final emerging leg of a baby stick bug:

small yet significant blessing to note: my accidentally clean fingernail  :)

LIZARDS

are not all that scary when they are small  and a bit frightening (and a lot fascinating) when they are large

and ready to be re-released (Tobi caught this lovely guy one day prior to this shot) into the wild.  As you may imagine, "Jaws" scrambled rapidly into our neighbors' bushes and I sighed with relief that I would now not need to catch fresh food for two captive lizards.  The following day we let "Lizzy" (pictured above on rock) go as well.  She was not as quick to leap onto her freedom rock...preferring instead to explore the dirt a bit, as if she were incredulous that we were actually granting her immunity (from our arrogant capture) from the crime of being an interesting, educational reptile.  I emitted the second sigh--relieved that Tobias and Kassedi were supportive of our catch and release policy, and doubly relieved that I could stop catching small spiders and other insects, and get back other pressing stay-at-home-mom-pleasures.

MEANWHILE

We have "house guests": actually that's not quite accurate, we have soulmates staying with us, and here is a picture of one of them:  my son's best friend, Rachel

Toodles for Now...

I so want to write more now...I had an evening filled with lovely revelations about life's priorities and other lofty matters, and yet the kids are clamoring for my attention, and (as you know) that is the most important thing I can do at this moment.  So...goodbye for now my invisible cyber-friends.  :)