Candlefly or Moth? What do you call it?

So, I was out on the porch the other morning and saw the most unusual candlefly I had ever seen. For those of you who are not from the South, a candlefly is what we call a moth.

It was so incredibly perfect with its markings, I felt compelled to research it. I found a cool website for butterfly and moth identification and it is a Clymene moth, in the Tiger moth family. I even found a site where a woman had seen one outside her church and though she had seen a sign.

Thus, the upside-down picture:

Now, do you get why she thought she was seeing a "sign"? I totally get it.

So, anyway, a while later, I was back out on the porch and our resident anole, CT (so named due to the crooked tail), came running across the porch.

He stopped in the little patch of shade just under the post where this lovely candlefly was resting. About the time I said "Oh no!! CT, don't do it!" (like a lizard can understand me), he pounced!!

Ok, so at this point, you can see that the Clymene has an orange hindwing. Because when CT got him, he was upside down in his mouth.

Let's just say it's nature at work, okay?

For more information on the Clymene moth: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3677

I am curious as to who refers to moths as "candleflies". I know a couple of my co-workers who are not Southern bred had no idea what I was talking about when I said it.

Have you ever heard that term?

The cutest little things

Well, my little batch of babies is going to their new home tomorrow. I'm going to miss them, but it's time. They are pretty much running all over the house, and it's time for me to start working on the next batch. Yes, that's right, I never posted a blog about it, but Junior popped the first week of May, and her's are in my closet with eyes just about to open. I've got to start working on socializing them. They may be a little harder since every time Jr. catches me trying to pet them she growls ferociously and I'm afraid she'll move them out. Maybe not. Tammy Faye didn't.

Thankfully, it appears lil sis has found homes for this batch, too. Bless her. Now, if I can just catch TF and Jr.! That's the real challenge. I can't get within 10 feet of them without them bolting through the catdoor. hmmm, maybe if I had someone outside with a cage open on the ledge of the catdoor... may have to try something like that.

Anyway, my first batch of babies are just as cute as they can be and I've enjoyed them, but it's time.

When kneecaps misbehave...

It ain't pretty. Yes, this is an actual picture of what my knee looked like within a few hours after the "incident"

Do you know what it's like to be walking along, I'll admit walking at a brisk pace, but nothing out of the ordinary, and suddenly, without warning, your knee just absolutely gives way? You have no knee. It doesn't exist. Well, let me tell you what happens. You end up on the floor. Crying (or cussing as was the case with me). Yelling "OMG MY F$#$ING KNEECAP JUST FELL OFF AGAIN!!!" or something to that effect.

At first, it doesn't really HURT per se... The nausea factor kicks in a bit when you realize that you've just grabbed a piece of falling body part and put it back where it belongs. Then the fun begins. This one was taken a short time after the "incident".

Then a short time later... it grows...

So anyway, to make a long story shorter, afterward you are writhing in pain and it looks like the pic that I posted at the top of this post.

I took this just a few minutes ago. This is what it looks like right now. I just removed the brace and wraps and you can see that the swelling has now dispersed itself throughout the whole area. Which is a good thing. Being an expert on this subject (since this is the THIRD time this has happened to this knee! ) I know what to expect.

I'll spare you the remaining pics, but suffice it to say, this really stinks. It means I'm back on ice packs and wraps and weeks of braces and a crutch.

Are we having fun yet?!?! LOL!!