Riveting

Wow, I started this post 5 days ago, and never got it finished.
( I think the time and date stamp on it will still say the old date, but I don't want to risk erasing everything by trying to make a copy!)
Such is the life of a busy Mom!
Somethings have got to give some days!
This place for writing is one of those things.

So, I am supposed to be telling you about this plant which is growing in my pond.
As far as I can tell it is a Sagittaria latifolia - Arrowhead Duck Potato.

A duck potato???
Strange!
Being the responsible blogger that I am, I simply had to do some more research on this topic!
I mean you can't just throw the words "duck potato" out there with no explanation.

This is such an interesting topic, that I found another guy who had done some writing about it as well. Please click here for his riveting post on our topic!!!
I mean Duck Potatoes are fascinating and awe inspiring!!

I actually had no idea that they were such an amazingly entertaining and edible plant, I just thought they were a great place for bugs to live.
Ah, yes... on to the original intent of this post...finally.



I went outside to take a series of blurry, low quality pictures with my cell phone.
This plant is the one I was aiming for, you know the duck potato plant.
I just had to say it again.
But upon further inspection, I noticed a tiny little orange fly on there.

Do you see him??
I know, it is hard to see clearly, so just imagine if you will that tiny cute little orange fly is on that leaf. I mean, it is on there, but the photo is so bad that you might have to imagine it.
The leaf alone is spectacular, right?
As these age they begin to turn yellow, all except for the veins. This creates quite a spectacle for the eye don't you think!
But having the extra bonus of the little orange fly on that leaf really made my day.

Now check this out.

This is a younger leaf.
They grow on the top of tall, strong, straight stalks which are probably a good foot and a half high.

Now, I know you didn't miss that big black fly on there did ya???
Ok, some of you did.
Scroll back up and look at him there.
I took lots of pictures and he never moved!

It made me wonder if a spider had sucked all his guts out and left him just sitting there.
If I were braver I may have poked him...but brave I am not.
I know, I know... it is just a fly but I am not much into bugs of any type.

Except for the exception of badly photographing and blogging about them.

Since I was already there, and this was turning out to be a bug condominium kind of day, I continued to inspect the leaves.
Just look what I found next!

It is a preying mantis!!
Won't you be glad when I get a new camera and you can actually see details that I am going on and on about? Sigh! Someday!!
Unlike the gutless fly, this little guy swiveled his triangular shaped head to follow my every move.

My

every

move.

It was creeping me out bad! I thought for sure he was gonna jump out and get me.
And do what???
I am not sure, but it wouldn't have been pretty, you can bet on that!

I went out the next day and Mantis was still there.

We were getting pretty tight, so I feel like I can refer to him by just the one word.

So as I was saying Mantis and I were hanging out by the pond.
He greeted me warmly, then jumped from one big leaf to another...freaking me out in a huge way! I may have squealed a bit.
But he said, "Hey lady, chill."
Then he crawled to the edge of that leaf and looked down at the fish, and looked at me, and looked down at the fish, and looked at me, and looked down at the fish, and looked at me, and looked down at the fish, and looked at me, and looked down at the fish and looked at me.


And I was like..."Hey Mantis, I am a busy girl. If you can't pay attention to me, then I am outta here"
And I walked away, just like that!
When I went back the next day to feed the fish, Mantis wasn't there.
I guess our relationship wasn't meant to be.

Hey!?!
Maybe he sucked the guts out of the fly???

If that is the case then good riddance...who needs a fly gut sucker hanging around negatively influencing the fish, right?


Maybe next I will write about nerf bullets and the places they land.
Or, how I sort my laundry.
Or, the best way to load a dishwasher.
Or, about the silly bands craze.

You just can't ever tell, now can ya!?!
Hey, I do what I can to keep you riveted.
Yep, doing my part.