What is at the bottom of Lela's bowl? A turtle!
Liv finished hers - a dragonfly was waiting for her down there!
All morning we were making some preparations for tomorrow's Camping Trip. We had to dry out the tent and get it all packed and ready to go. Since it was raining on and off all morning, I thought it would be a good idea to break it down and set it back up inside - well, it wasn't the worst idea I've ever had, but not the best! It is so massive and negotiating the poles without damaging them or something else was tricky. But I got it set up long enough to sweep it out and then pack it away.
There was a break in the rain and we romped around the backyard. The sun was out and it was drizzling, so we looked for a rainbow but didn't see one. The girls noticed the nimbus clouds and enjoyed seeing the Sun peek out from time to time.
Then, in their sandbox they found this little friend - a bess beetle (patent leather beetle). Their mandibles can give a hard pinch but they are extremely docile.
As you can see, they are no small thing!
Liv finally getting a turn to hold her.
Laurel too. Everyone loved the way she tickled. Eventually she relaxed enough to crawl around a bit.
The girls were very concerned about Daddy seeing her, so they built her a "habitat" in a shoe box - some mulch and sticks. After he got home, and the usual hugs and squeals and loves were exchanged, they showed him their friend.
We went for a bug hunt after finding the bess beetle, so we turned over stumps and boards and logs. We found lots of roly polys, earwigs, termites, ground beetles, milipedes and slugs. We got stuck outside in a very hard rain, but luckily the tarp for our tent was hanging on the line so we could duck under it while waiting until it relented.
When the rain tapered off, we dashed under the carport, just making it before it started up again. The girls got buckets to catch the rainbarrel overflow, and splashed in the river running through the carport.
Soon after, Daddy got home and then the girls ate dinner and crashed. Mike and I got to enjoy a peaceful meal on the screen porch.
Now we're trying to finish up preparations for the Camping Trip. Food, beer, wine, guitar, firewood, tent, air mattresses, camera, fly rods and clothes - anything else is optional!
