Summer in Iowa

Cheryl and I took a day off yesterday so I really don't have much to blog about the business. However, Summer is coming to an end, and I wanted to post a few things that I have been holding off on. One is the cicadas are out in full force again. Remember last year with all the husks? Well, the tree is covered again this year. I wanted to capture this one as he emerged, but I got there too late. Also, on one of our walks in the country, Cheryl and I saw a family of four raccoons running across the field. Usually the only wildlife I see are the horses and cows that beg me to feed them the tender grasses on the other side of the fence ( the grass IS really greener on the other side) They now call out to me as I walk or run by. Even Cheryl is impressed! There are also some kittens that like to come out sometimes and let me pet them. It's quite fun. Anyway, We have a new request for the names on the stockings.....I'm very excited and I think I'm winning Cheryl over to my side of the thinking.

The summer of the Cicada

I thought it was just my imagination, but there seem to be a large number of cicadas this summer. I counted 40 husks around the base of a small tree! And that was just one of many trees in the area. The residence that I have talked to also agree that there seem to be more this year. It's pretty cool actually, since their singing can drown out the crickets at times. Anyway, I captured a few interesting pics of some left over husks on a tree as they lined up in a row. I know that there are the 17 year cicadas that hatch every 17 years ( duh!) but I'm not sure these are the same ones. I believe there is just a bumper crop ( pun intended) here in Iowa of cicadas. The residences have also informed me that this is a rather hot, steamy, rainy summer compared to most summers in Iowa. So I should not let this one year shape my image of the state over all. It's too bad, because I like the abundance of butterflies and cicadas. Just not a real fan of the heat and humidity all that much.