All About Pocket Knives

Thanks Jerry. I spotted them late one afternoon. Guess they were having a convention or something. By the next morning they were gone. They were “Daddy long-legs” spiders - they’re beneficial, and harmless to humans. Unlike politicians.

Ken

This critter was on a peach tree - looks like it has a damaged wing, but still beautiful. Some call them dragonflies, others call them “snake doctors” or “horse doctors”.

Ken

Beautiful indeed, Ken. I've never heard them called horse doctors or snake doctors. Any idea why they're called that?

And have you tried peach wood for smoking or grilling chicken? I discovered how great it is for yard bird a few years back when I helped Dad take down a dead peach tree. Mmmmmm....good!

I don't think I've ever seen a more colorful dragonfly.

Was it actually purple?

Given the plant it has lit upon, makes one wonder if they have color-change abilities.

Charlie

We always called them "Snake Doctors". Never in my life have I heard them called "Horse Doctor". That must be one of those Texas things.

"Snake doctors" and "Horse doctors"... now I know ---> http://petticoatsandpistols.com/2008/08 ... e-doctors/

We always called them snake doctors, don't know that I ever saw one that colorful.

Thanks for all the commentary.

Charlie, it was an iridescent deep blue/purple, almost looked black. There were several of them like that. I was watching them when the one in the picture landed on a twig so I snapped a picture. Most of them I see are more greenish but they all have an iridescent shine.

I don't know when I first heard them called horse doctors. It was a common term for them used by "old timers" when I was growing up (now I are one myself ) but I don't hear it much nowadays. Dragonfly and snake doctor seem to be the most common terms now in use. I put "horse doctor" into my internet search and all I got back was veterinarians, so I modified it to "horse doctor insect" and got this interesting link http://mentalfloss.com/article/86739/25 ... -around-us.

Ken

Here in central Texas, they have always just been called dragonflies, at least for the last 60+ years. But then Texas is a rather large area.

For "horse doctor" in the article, it referenced Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, so maybe it was a sub-regional thing up around Texarkana.

To get the most out of this video, run it at full screen. Beautiful.

Very beautiful indeed. Thanks for posting.

It looks like we’ve been sprouting mushrooms at work!
The tops of these stools are a ceramic-like material called Melsur. I think it’s actually pressed wood pulp.
Each seat has four holes. The seats come blank, so I first drill the hole to fit the bolt and then countersink so the top of the bolt is below the top of the seat. I spent a good chunk of Monday on the drillpress. Then I had to put through the bolts and fasten ‘em with a locknut.
Lots of work, but a pretty nice looking stool!

zoogirl wrote:It looks like we’ve been sprouting mushrooms at work!
The tops of these stools are a ceramic-like material called Melsur. I think it’s actually pressed wood pulp.
Each seat has four holes. The seats come blank, so I first drill the hole to fit the bolt and then countersink so the top of the bolt is below the top of the seat. I spent a good chunk of Monday on the drillpress. Then I had to put through the bolts and fasten ‘em with a locknut.
Lots of work, but a pretty nice looking stool! A1D62E38-E65D-459B-A375-16462E97A83A.jpeg

The good thing about using machines, tools and your hands is you get satisfaction at the end of the day, you have actually made something. They look . And the pressed wood pulp looks like it would make nice knife scales. Now go home, put your feet up and have some of that big pot of vegie soup you made.

RobesonsRme.com wrote:I don't think I've ever seen a more colorful dragonfly.

Was it actually purple?

Given the plant it has lit upon, makes one wonder if they have color-change abilities.

Charlie

I was told as a kid, that they change to the color of their environment

Oh, the dragonfly! That’s the prettiest one I’ve seen! We get the big ones too but our colourful ones are the little light blue guys.
Yep, Cudgee, I did indeed kill off the last of that soup!

Who could match the productivity, engineering skills, and effort of such a tiny little spider? "The spider takes hold with her hands and is in kings palaces".

doglegg, you really captured the tracery and delicacy of that web very well.

Thanks QS.

Doglegg, that is so neat!
Later in the year the big Golden Orb garden spiders set up house keeping and they are just plain marvelous to watch!
I believe I read the part in quotation marks in a book some where.
Treefarmer

In our backyard there is an old Live Oak tree with a hollow in it where 4 little gray fox kits have taken up residence. Dad occasionally comes up on the back porch.

What handsome and delightful neighbors. .

Really cool pictures Jerry. Never seen a fox here even though we are certainly in its range. Interesting critters.

Ken

..........that is really nea ................

to Floyd and Jerry!!

Thanks Steve.
Jerry, that is awesome to have them so close. What beautiful little animals. I have seen them here in Grand Prairie on 3 occasions but two of those occasions they had been run over. Congrats on some fine pics.