Photo Ops

It's strange, the number of odd things you can see in one week. I didn't know they were now making kites the size of a city bus (click on any of the images below to see larger versions):



Big, impressive, definitely an attention-grabber -- but like so many oversize, ambitious things, they couldn't get it off the ground.

I liked the smaller versions that were already soaring high overhead:



While we watched the kites, my guy and I fondly remembered the much plainer, clunkier versions we flew when we were kids. I made mine out of used gift wrap paper, Elmer's glue, twigs, strips from cleaning rags for the tail and kitchen twine (he swears he made his out of old brown paper grocery bags, which I think would have been too heavy.) Times have changed. A lot.

The backyard dramas continue, as always. I think two of our local black racers are in love; I keep finding them together:



I just wish they'd hold this courtship in the bushes instead of by the porch, because they're driving Cole nuts. That is, when the other resident reptiles aren't making him crazy:



After I shooed off the snakes and the turtles, my guy called me over to have a look at this:



I didn't retouch the picture at all; the sun made it look as if the spider had spun it out of gold. Probably the most perfect shot of a web I'll ever take.

So what's up with you guys? Any new books, updates or interesting links to share?