North Carolina Critters

Looking back at this last year we have spent here, I think I have had some memorable photos - of critters that is. Our backyard is an ecosystem in and of itself complete with an American alligator. A look back at some of the more remarkable ones which were all taken at our house:

I have no idea what this thing was but it was about three inches long and just sat on the screen for several hours.. weird!

We have scores and scores of caterpillars that are on the siding of the house, cars, sidewalks, etc. They are so beautiful and so are the butterflies:

This spider which was the size of a golf ball decided to park itself across our backdoor for three days and bounce down like a yo-yo when I opened the door to let the dogs out. I don't think I have ever felt that close to passing out before..This spider was living at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and I kid you not - it was a good 10" across. Creepy doesn't begin to describe him...

The ladybugs here are extra large :although you can't see that from the scale of the photo:

This was so cool. The dolphins were swimming up the Neuse River out our front door:

There are countless species of birds here:

The tracks of the endangered American alligator in the swamp in our backyard. Haven't yet seen him though:

End of the Summer

The weather is finally cooling off here which is such a welcome relief. We have really been enjoying the outdoors here (see previous posts) and now with autumn around the corner, we can do it with a little less sweat appearing on us. Not much has gone on in the month since I posted last. Dave's health has gotten better and he started flying again a few weeks ago. His month out being sick has set him back in his training and thus our moving out to Yuma, AZ. Probably going to be in the winter sometime now.

Dave took a three day training trip to Wilmington last week before Labor Day and he was able to take some pictures from one of his flights. It's a perspective one doesn't get to see often. I have chosen some of the more interesting shots to put up so enjoy. Savor these last days of summer and remember today marks a day to always remember and never forget....be thankful for our all volunteer armed forces defending our freedoms.