catspaw | Eee, it were a grand day out (again)!

nicci_mac came over today and we went out on a jaunt :-) We went to the Butterfly Farm and had the greatest fun, spraffing in general and snapping away like a pair of demented Litchfields in particular *g* And here are some of the results.

Lord, those butterflies were *gorgeous*. The butterfly area isn't big, but you walk in amongst them as they flit around doing butterfly-type things - sometimes they land on you, which is cool. They're apparently afer your sweat, for the salt, which ain't cool so much *g* - you can point and laugh and say 'oooh, look at *that* sweaty bugger' LOL! And some of them are huge! They have these spectacular big blue ones which are larger than my hand - but these are particularly camera-shy, it seems, and it's well nigh impossible to get a decent photo of them :-( But others are more obliging, and they're equally spectacular, if slightly smaller scale:

Pretty black and white butterfly gorging on nectar

pretty black&white

Two butterflies sitting on a leaf

Close up of a lovely black and white wing

wing

They seem to feed mainly on rotting fruit - in fact, I'll swear one of them was pissed as a rat because it was lying on its back in one of the feeding trays, waving its little legs in the air. I took a soft hearted turn and rescued the poor wee mutt, and I have to tell you, it had a helluva hard time staying upright when I put it on a leaf to sleep it off LOL - but there are flowers there too, for those who prefer their food au naturel

convolvulus

When we got there, we found we were just in time for an animal handling session. So, nothing ventured yadda - long and short, we decided to just go for it. There was a marvellous python, and a giant millipede - both totally great :-) (I'm keen on snakes and bugs of all kinds, so nae bother at a' for me). Third thing up was a tarantula, and those of you who know me, know that I'm *not* keen on spiders. Just a ba' hair shy of being totally phobic, in fact. Anyway --

Phobes do NOT scroll down

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Phobes turn back here - last warning!

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Nicci is seriously bad for my health. But she's a game bugger, I'll give her that. She tried holding everything, including the spider, despite the fact she really doesn't like creepy crawlies. I would have loved to, but chickened out when it came right down to the bit. Until ---

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spider OMG

OMG!!!! I actually HELD A TARANTULA!!! And DIDN'T DIE OF ANYTHING!!!

I still can't believe that I did that! But man, I'm telling you, I was shaking like a leaf (that's why the pic is a little blurry *g*). But then I went back and I DID IT AGAIN!!!! And somehow, I don't think I'm going to be quite so worried about the big skelpers that run across the living room carpet in August ;-)

::is such a big brave girl::

Tomorrow - alligator wrestling. Film at 11. :-D

So that was my day. How was yours? *g*

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Gorgeous pictures! I'm not a huge fan of tarantulas, either, but I'm not overly afraid of them. Still, I'm not sure I'd do that. ;-)

I ran out at lunch and picked up the last copy of Ark of Truth at my local Target. Hope to watch it tonight and will post my thoughts on it afterward... behind a cut, of course. :-)

Looking forward to the alligator wrestling. :-)

I tried to get AoT locally - but couldn't. Might have to order from Amazon, in which case it'll have to wait until we get back from our holiday on 22nd. Ach well, it won't run away *g*

Alligator wrestling will be a snap ROFL

Sounds like it!

::is such a big brave girl::

Certainly is! Am v impressed and proud of ye. Gorgeous pics. We really should have checked out the butterfly gardens when we were in Niagara that time.

We so should have! I didn't even realise there were any there!

Tomorrow - alligator wrestling. Film at 11. :-D

Okay, I'll take that over the skydiving anyday!

ps Xim fixed the links to the pic fics

Good oh, I'll toddle off and check them out after this :-D

So, will there be photos from the wrestling as well? *g*

Love those images and I envy you guys' day out. Looks and sounds like you had fun, even with the creepy crawleys.

We did, we had a great day :-D We should maybe take you there as well, next time you're over!

Did you use a macro lens for the flutterbys (as my mom used to say, and which I always though was a much better name)? I pretty much gave up on my SLR when I got a digital. :( The colors of the first flower come across so vibrant it looks like it’s from a cartoon. Glad you had fun! I can't wait until spring -- for more than one reason. ;-)

As for the 8-legged creatures, I am a wuss. *shudders*

Part of my day was spent watch Ark of Truth. And squeeing just a bit. :)

I've got a point and shoot digital - not a totally crappy one, but not top of the range either, although the zoom ain't all that. I'm launched on a campaign at the moment for a better one ;-)

Flutterbys! It's years since I've heard them called that! That takes me right back to my childhood :-)

I haven't gotten hold of AoT yet - was it good? I'll probably get around to buying it when we come back from our vacation, I've got way too much to do before we leave. But I'll def. be buying it.

I was surprised that I really did enjoy AoT. It has some great moments and I think MS has one of his best scenes ever. Now my countdown to Continuum starts.... I have big worries for that one.

I'm deliberately staying spoiler free for them all, so I have no idea what your worries could be ;-)

I'm looking forward to AoT though (I caved and did a naughty thing in that regard, the fruits of which I shall enjoy later this evening *g*). It's not due out here until April 14 - and what's with that? These staggered releases really get my goat, they seem soo utterly pointless.

OMG!!! You actually let a huge spider get within ten feet of you! And even let it crawl on you! ::is impressed:: Go you! I'm so proud. *g*

::beams:: The way I feel about it, you'd think I'd climbed Everest or something. I.e. quite unreasonably, disgustingly proud of myself ;-)

Oh my. You crazy, crazy woman! I'm not sure I'd have had the courage to do that. Colour me impressed.

Wonderful pictures of the butterflies!

The butterflies were gorgeous :-) And I wasn't certain I'd have the courage to do that, either *g*. Honestly, I was shaking so hard, the damn thing's belly was bouncing!

You are full of awesome and I have to laugh because you are damn funny too. And brave, yo. *nods* I love me some snakes, but you can keep the rest. Except for the drunken butterfly, because HEE!

I expect the poor wee thing had the hangover from hell ;-) Still, a lesson learned, if it has any sense at all LOL

The snake was a sweetie - easy to say if you're not scared of them, I suppose. There was another woman there who was the same about snakes as I am about spiders but she did manage to hold it for a moment or two.

I'm not looking I'm not looking La la lala ;-P

The butterflies were pretty, tho :-)

*g* I know - madness, no? I never thought I'd see the day...

::icon love::

I'm not a spider phobe as I'll try to save one's life when I can, but to hold one of that massive size? Not happening. Spiders that big and hairy are just unnatural. Those butterflies are gorgeous though. That poor, wee, drunk one. Hope he's been able to sleep it off under some leaf.

And that wasn't even the biggest one they had! Apparently they come in at least three sizes larger than that one!

LOL I bet the poor wee drunk one came to with a raging thirst when he finally slept it off! He's probably staggering around looking for painkillers even yet ;-)

Oooooooh, that's so very damn cool. :) I love flutterbys. :)

And getting to hold a tarantula! They feel very weird, don't they? I shudder even now, thinking back when I held one. It was both thrilling and bizarre and after I gave him back to the keeper (it was a 'shop' in Texas), I kept rubbing my hand on my hip because I swear I could still feel the critter on my hand. *g*

Do you know, I can't even remember how it felt? I don't even remember thinking at the time how it felt! I did have it within a couple of feet of my face though, eventually, I do remember that *g* The giant millipede is more vivid: it was like having a very scratchy, bristly hairbrush pulled gently across your skin.

But the butterflies, yeah, they were gorgeous. Such beautiful colours and sweet little faces :-)

Eee, it were a grand day out (again)!

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