Toad vs. Pholcus phalangioides

Because Kim said I should.

Pholcus phalangioides or Daddy Long Legs lived a pleasant and beautiful life that was cut short today as he was eaten alive by a small toad. His friends witnessed him happily spinning a web in the sunny window humming a catchy tune ("whistle while you work", perhaps?) Later they heard a small scream and saw him vanish in a large hand, appendages flailing. One friend even suggested he was taken as some sort of cruel game such as "eaten for entertainment" or "look at the interesting things my frog can do".

"Legs" as he was known around the window, is survived by 30 spiderlings and a loving wife. He will be dearly missed as he was a vital part in the catching of many pests around the window.

For the love of Toad

Critter Keeper...$11.99

10 Crickets...$.90

Cricket Food (to keep the food alive)...$6.99

One happy three-legged toad...priceless

toad

one girl in love with Toad!

A few days ago, Zach came running into the house with his hands clenched around a poor defenseless frog (or so we thought). This frog had only three legs and I'm sure he was missing the fourth as he tried to hop away as fast as he could from little hands. But alas, he was caught and forced to live in a rather small bowl with a few rocks and 1/4 inch water for two days without food. Until I discovered how exciting it was to watch a frog catch live food! (I am not being sarcastic here) Apparently, frogs do not think dead bees from my office are very tasty, how was I supposed to know that?

Determined to find our little frog some sustenance, I hunted around the front door for some bugs...a few ants later and I was on to something. It was incredibly interesting to see him eye an ant and thrash his tongue out to catch it. I watched him do this for an hour (after catching about 20 ants that had gathered around a goldfish cracker under Emily's highchair-but that's another blog!)

Now, I have better things to do with my time than quest for ants so yesterday after church I took the kids to PetSmart to find alternative nourishment for frog. Crickets. Jolly good. Little did I know I was going to have to feed the food I was going to feed the frog. So I had to buy cricket food. Somehow I eeked away from buying a place for them to live as well. I also found out that we had a toad and not a frog (due to the bumpy, brown-ness of his skin. Hello. Frogs are green and smooth).

After returning home, excited to set up a home and feed toad, I made a huge mistake. Handing the bag of crickets to a member of my family. Said member shook the daylights out of the crickets...literally. We'll call it Shaken Cricket Syndrome. Now all but three of my ten crickets were dead. Most likely scared to death. *sigh*

Toad moved into his new residence. He is doing well among the weeds, mud and small dish of water for an occasional dip (toads are drier than frogs and need less water) and ate all three of the live crickets, though due to their large nature, took a few more gulps to get them down. Now I have to buy some more because apparently toads are gluttonous in nature. You learn something new everyday.

Now for a name.

New Projects~

"When a thrift store find turns into something beautiful"...sounds like the start of a cheesy novel or something!

Emily and I were perusing the Thrift Shoppe in Buffalo yesterday and happened upon some interesting finds. Well, we actually didn't "happen" upon them, we actually went there searching for them! Earlier in the week I got an email from a friend wondering if I could make something called a "pillowcase dress". What on earth is that, you ask? Well, I wasn't sure either so I turned to Internet to check it out. What I found was a web teeming with darling dresses made out of vintage pillowcases, new pillowcase and some not made out of pillowcases at all but fabric.

Because we all know that a pillowcase is mere fabric after all.

At Red Instead I found wonderful, and easy directions on how to make this adorable dress. A little snip here and a little snip there. Add some ribbon, elastic and a few stitches and Voila! It's ready.

ribbon ties make for an adjustable dress that, should it last that long,

would make a cute shirt to go with jeans when my daughter is in Middle School

Sage Grosgrain ribbon to trim off the bottom!

Back to school

I guess my blog is turning out to be way too crafty! Maybe I should pay more attention to my family and start blogging about them?!?!

It was the first day of school yesterday and my house was a flutter with anticipation, my anticipation not the kids'. Yesterday was the day I had been waiting for all summer. Sad. But after several weeks of fighting and weeping, it was time for them to go back to school. I love my children but as the old adage goes "too much of a good thing ___________" (what is the rest of that?) I guess you can insert your own blank here. They were ready and I was ready.

Brian made a wonderful breakfast for them: pancakes with strawberries and some sausage on the side. The boys got on the bus without a hitch and/or tears. They were really excited to see the bus but as it approached, so did the butterflies in my tummy! They climbed those steps a little older and a little wiser and barely looked back. I'm sure they will miss me yelling and screaming as much as I will miss yelling and screaming!

Kalie and I spent the morning with Nolan, Addison and Emily and soon it was time for her to have lunch and get ready. By now the sky was gray and rainy. And the 20 minutes we spent in the rain under an umbrella waiting for the bus, saw an outfit change. It was much too chilly for the little skirt and short sleeve shirt she had picked out when it was 80 and humid just hours earlier. Off she went in jeans and a jacket with an umbrella!

Burrrrrr. It's a cold first day of school!

She doesn't look scared at all. She doesn't even look like she's going to miss me even a little bit (maybe it's that yelling and screaming thing again?!?!?) I guess I have some work to do on myself while Caleb, Zach and Kalie are in school?!?!

Well, now for the crafts...I decided to try my hand at applique onesies. My friend Suze (http://suzenelson.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html) made some adorable puppy and kitty ones for her son Jasper and I loved them, so here's my rendition (for my friend's baby). Thanks for the link Suze ;)

Flowers, of course

princess crown, typical

M for Morgan

Butterflies, who can resist?

So there you have it...more to come later...baby's gonna get a blanket too~