You know those ladybugs, the orange ones? Well, they ain't no lady. They BITE! It's an annoying little bite. I had one on my leg while I was out hanging up clothes. Yeh, hanging clothes on the 2nd of November. We're having another Indian summer. I stomped my foot on the ground to shake the ladybug off but she didn't budge. Then I felt another tiny chomp, chomp. Had to brush her off with my hand. The bite is still tingling as I sit here typing this. I don't remember the red ones biting like that.

I found these ladybugs inside the pumpkin I had carved out for Halloween. There were a lot more in there last night. Maybe they are getting nutrients from the pumpkin or maybe they just think they found a good place to hide out. Apparently, these orange ones are imports and they are taking over (as all imports seem to do). Here's a good explanatory article by The Straight Dope. They are everywhere here in the north. You see them flying into everything that moves or sits still. They bump into the laundry and start their seemingly aimless crawl up to the top. Once they get to the top, they take off again. Some of them sit on the laundry taking a small drink from the wetness there.

It's been awhile since I plastered a grandchild picture on these pages. So, here it is! A few more. I know Addy, the background of that bouncy chair makes me want to throw up, too. She's a month old here. Seems to be liking Momma's milk pretty well. See how she's filled out.

I'll tell ya, the big surprise in all this new baby stuff has been Pendleton. You know he went to the hospital with Amy. He went for comfort but we think he was pretty overcome with the experience and now has proclaimed himself to be The Bear In Charge Of The Baby. He's a pretty intimidating fella, not because of his personality but because of his size. I think Addy will be safe in his arms. We know that he practiced on Butterball before the baby came. We caught him reading books to Butterball. It put him to sleep, that's for sure. Well, it put them both to sleep.

I've been enjoying my grandmotherly duties. I've been dubbed as The One Who Puts Addy Asleep The Longest. Got her to sleep for four hours one evening. Then three hours the next week. Amy keeps saying that Addy is definitely my grandchild. She likes to be outdoors, she doesn't like to be overly hot, and she farts as much as I do. Yeh, we got a live one there.

The Muckheads took off to see the in-laws this weekend, meaning Todd's mother and stepfather. It's rather nice to have the house to ourselves, Bill and I proclaim. It's quieter and not so crowded. Even if all we do is still sit here at the computers and don't use the other rooms of the house anymore than if they were here.

I best be taking my shower. I've got the old man talked into going to a nature preserve to do some birdwatching. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous day out there. Might be one of the last warm ones on a weekend for awhile. I hear tell that winter is around the corner.