Assasin Bug

Here's the bug that I described on the phone yesterday.   It was crawling up the side of the house just as happy and ugly as can be.

Last year was the first time I ever saw one of these on our deck, and that one was small.  This one was HUGE.

Here's a video of an "Assassin bug vs a Bat" . 

Click on that above link to see these things

Overview- it was bigger then a silver dollar

Side view

Close up of it's head-That pointy protrusion pierces the skin to insert venom, then it sucks your blood

Another side view

The Chicken Dinner

I had and idea for this chicken. I cut the whole bird up earlier in the morning.

I made a paste of fresh garlic, olive oil, thyme, basil, celery seed, paprika, season salt, and pepper. I rubbed that under the skin and outside the chicken.

Then I took onions, celery and carrot rubbed that with olive oil and celery seed season salt and pepper. I put a wire rack over that then put the chicken on the rack. Baked it at 450 for 20 min, then 300 for about 45 min.


(Unfortunately  when I went to temp the chicken and pushed the probe in, the entire pan fell out of the oven, all that delicious juice spilled in the oven and in that drawer under the oven- it was a MESS, and we lost the juice--SH*T!!!!)


 Here it is.

The rubbed veggies

Justin in the act

The wire rack

The rubbed chicken

A close up of the rubbed chicken

After the fall in the oven, dammit

The Dish

Two-Square in the Driveway

Adam and Justin were in summer camp this year and they LOVED it. They learned how to play two-square and like the game and they often play it in the driveway.

First a cool picture of the clouds in back on this day.  This was a test picture.  I love this camera!

Justin serving

Luke watching the game

Justin's determination

This is Adam's determination- funny

Canonsburg Lake

This is Canonsburg Lake. Justin, Luke and I spent a few hours there. I don't think grandma and grandpa have ever been here. It's about 13 minutes from our house.

Luke and Justin

A view of the nice lake.  I think this is where we get our drinking water

Justin and Luke by the woods

Looking for fish

Luke with a little fish

Justin with no fish

First Day of School 2012

Amy started a little tradition the first day of kindergarten with ADAM - she took a picture in front of the tree in the front and now we do that ever year the first day of school. Here they are.

Big boy Adam starting Intermediate School-- his first day in a brand new school.  Amazing he's in 7th grade already.

Another of Adam

Justin and Luke at the tree- Justin in 6th grade (wow) and Luke in 1st (wow again)

Another

And another

A day at Mingo Park

Early summer we spent a few hours at Mingo Park. Grandma and grandpa have both been there.

A cool covered bridge- there are a couple of these at Mingo

A great picture of Luke

Walking on a path and Justin carrying a big log

A cool praying mantis on the trail

2 butterflies in a row on the trail

Luke sitting on the trail

Bending Luke

Nice Picture

An artsy picture

A covered bridge picture with the kids

Luke's Birthday

Luke's Birthday!

That's his Lava Lamp- He really wanted one

He's Happy

Some game

His cake

The blow out