Olive Green Swamp Grasshopper

If my identification of this is correct, it is a yard-first for me.  Or perhaps more accurately, a door-first since it was happily perched on our glass storm door at eye level as I was ready to open the door and go onto the deck.  As one does, I went into stealth mode and managed to get some lateral views against the glass which almost makes it look like he is floating.  The light angle was all wrong to catch his reflection in the glass unfortunately.

I hadn't gone 20 steps when I spotted a great big Bush Katydid in the garden so that had to be photographed too.  I think one of the first insect photos I ever took was a katydid.  

Had a nice FT chat with my parents this morning. Mom is looking forward to getting her trigger-thumb fixed tomorrow which should be a very simple procedure possibly with only a local deadener.  She's been dealing with this for several months and is ready for it to be in her rear-view window now.

Today got quite warm hitting a high of 90, but tomorrow the temps will drop into the 70's which should be very pleasant.  I want to do a little planting tomorrow while Jax is at daycare.  He likes to steal my gardening tools so it's much easier to do work when he isn't here.  Of course, the flip side is that I won't have him with me to watch for bears.  

Peg is keeping herself busy and her sister will be coming up tomorrow followed by BIL, niece, nephew and partners on Friday.  It will be good for her to have her whole family there over the long weekend.  And next week she will head to Pennsylvania where Chris will be laid to rest the following weekend.  Still can't really believe this has all happened.

One monarch released today for the beloved bestie of a fellow blipper.  I have 2 more chrysalids and 10 (I think) teeny, tiny caterpillars.  

Last evening I saw a beautiful little Chestnut-sided warbler in the yard and even managed to get a few shots.  Although the picture is from yesterday, I am putting it in Extra today.  This is an immature bird; the adult males have much different plumage with (surprise!) chestnut colored feathers along the sides.  

Dark with ginger today.

xo
Debbi