Still can’t seem to get rid of my 1978 Chevy Camaro. Every time I clean her up; throw “for sale” signs in the windows; and go for a hundred mile or so spin, I do the same thing when I get home. Take the signs out, park it, cover it, and talk about selling the darn thing some other day.

Since I am the original owner I decided to do what would likely make me the happiest. Getting older I realized I was going to need some specialized transportation around the hilly terrain and usually I joke about creating my own four wheel drive type Hoverround or Lark personal access vehicle.   Why not make use of what I already own?  A few homemade modifications and the old Dead Sled might be transformed into the Tarantu-Rattle Erosion Hauler.  LOL

ORIGINAL 1978 CHEVY CAMARO WITH ONLY ONE MINOR MODIFICATION

Dual tires in the back help with traction because of the sand and rock load weight.

 

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

PS- Yes this is a joke.

 

 

But it was rather large – approximately six inches!  Not sure what it would have eventually matured into but it would have been pretty big.

[larva (s), larvae (pl): Usually a motile feeding and developing stage in the life cycle of certain insects which follows the egg stage and precedes the pupa.  Larvae of some kinds of insects are known as caterpillars, maggots, grubs, and worms.]

I remember a few years back observing a very large black and brown beetle walking across the driveway that had big antennas resembling fern leaves – kind of hairy looking.  (Reasonably sure I have some old VHS or 8mm video tape of the insect but don’t have the time to rummage through boxes of tapes right now.)  Wonder if this larva would have matured into that night-time walking monster?

“How big of a beetle was it?”,  you might ask….

“Big enough to leave clear tracks in the dirt driveway”, I would respond.

Anyway, discovered a few of these bad boy larvae under a rotten Oak tree stump while digging up the roots last weekend.  Unfortunately, most of them were discovered a piece at a time with a shovel.  (Gross)  Tried to save two of them that appeared uninjured (one slightly more mature) but they also later died – probably because of removing them from their buried, dark, moist nursery underground.

When first removed from the ground and still moving you could see the darker interior portions of the creature slinking through its cream colored – fairly translucent skin.  Creepy in a way.

Oh well.  I have been digging holes and trenches on this property for 21 years and have never run across something like this — pretty strange.  Just wanted to share the  find.

 

My best to you and  yours, Lew

PS:   Here’s a short video of the insect:   http://youtu.be/hcgfZBpX9Cs

COMET THE COMPOUND CAT

The last few weeks have been kind of tough

Regarding geriatric pets

First the loss of Zack the Conure

And now Comet the white compound cat.

 

Just like the astronomical entity

A dirty snowball she could be

Her bright white fur and waving long tail

Picking up environmental debris

 

She wasn’t purchased at a pet store

Or picked out from a litter with care

Just showed up one morning at my parent’s house

Meowing for food with “that stare”

 

The poor little thing was covered with mites

Fleas and other parasites

She fell sound asleep as we cleaned her up

Total surrender without any fight

 

That tiny fur ball didn’t stand a chance

In a family of established canines

So up to Don Pedro to a fenced hillside lot

The best home as if by design

 

Every few days I would check on Comet

Her activities clearly defined

Gopher heads and lizard tails

Her trophies in a neat little line

 

When camping out Comet would sleep

Purring through the night by my side

But in the morning she was always found

Inside the warm sleeping bag

 

When I finally moved up to Don Pedro

I was greeted by my resident cat

Who, with no doubt, was doing quite well

Judging by the layers of fat

 

Once for a month she was missing

We called and searched in vain

The worst part was not knowing her fate

If deceased or suffering in pain.

 

But then on a warm sunny afternoon

Just as quickly as she’d gone away

There was my malnourished Comet

And she had much to convey

 

Judging by the grease all over her fur

And the time to took to come home

Perhaps an accidental ride she had hitched

After which she never did roam

 

Comet had several homes built outside

Even a catwalk from the deck to the roof

She preferred her outdoors to being inside

Sometimes appearing aloof

 

Comet’s exact age was hard to determine

At minimum over fourteen for sure

And to my surprise after a lifetime of dogs

My love for that cat does endure

 

So here’s to Comet the compound cat

Who survived Rattlesnakes, Coyotes and Owls

Although she is gone, in my heart she still lives

With that comforting sound of me-ow.

——————————————————

Comet was being treated for a sinus infection when it was discovered she had terminal cancer which had already caused severe internal damage. She was euthanized on April 16th, 2013 and buried next to Zack, who like a beacon, probably “squawked” directions home during her 28 day disappearance.

My best to you and yours, Lew