misc

[mellowtigger]

garden:  I picked two strawberries this morning.  They were much tastier than anything I buy at the store.

caterpillars:  One of the local newspapers had an article about the current caterpillar bloom.  "The last major outbreak was in 2000-2002."

rabbit:  Chive bunny is still here this morning in the usual spot in my chive-strawberry-thyme patch.  Can you spot zhem in this photo?  (hint: center, bottom half)


movies:  I skipped all the events last night.  I plan to work today, though, and then go to the movie festival tonight.  Still tired, still "something" in my left ear.

dream:  I forgot to document a dream from Monday morning.  Nothing of significance happened, but I figure it was a response to my pondering of the history video that I saw at Fort Ridgely over the weekend.  The video detailed the events leading to the expulsion of the Dakotas from Minnesota state territory after two battles at Fort Ridgely.

My perspective was from a disembodied observer "camera".  I saw a modern human city which was living with alien cohabitants.  The aliens came to earth with superior technology (culturally) and strength (individually).  Their appearance was rugged and reddish, sort of like a classic demon depiction.  There were treaties that limited cross-cultural aggression, but there wasn't really much that the humans could do to prevent harassment at the local level by individual aliens who wanted to prove how tough they were by bullying or even killing a human occasionally.  I saw whole city blocks abandoned by humans because gangs (the alien youngsters, much like human youngsters) had marked their turf there.  Halloween night trick-or-treating was beginning.  Human police were out to ensure a peaceful night for the kids (in traditional costumes, not pretending to be the aliens).  I woke up before anything else happened, although it seemed liked a perfect setting for a violent episode.

Comments

[dangerdhotrod.livejournal.com]

I remember being little living in the country we had a huge apple tree and there were tent caterpillar nests in it. My dad was using a flamethrower on the nests from a ladder and millions of worms were coming out of the nest on silk threads. It was gross and cool at the same time.

[mellowtigger]

These critters could be such a great source of food. Imagine them battered and deep fried. I can't tell, though, if they are edible.

Searching for recipes just produces foods that look like caterpillars. Searching for poison just produces the revelation that their pupa secretion is irritating. I did find, though, that they are an abortifacient for horses, causing mare reproductive loss syndrome.

What the point of being at the top of the food chain if the pests aren't edible? My omnivore heritage is lacking. (I bet a possum could eat them. They digest anything.)

[foeclan.livejournal.com]

Animals (and children) may react adversely if caterpillars are eaten (eating tent caterpillars is not recommended). (http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/tent_caterpillar_FAQ.htm)

(I just directly asked on google 'Are tent caterpillars edible' and that was like the 4th or 5th link)

[dodecadragon.livejournal.com]

Do you buy strawberry plants or grow them from seeds?

[mellowtigger]

I started with a plant I bought. Everything else has pretty much grown from it by runners. I can easily transplant some to your place if you'd like some starts.

I also planted some seeds last year for some "yellow strawberries". They look large enough this year to actually produce some fruit.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

How did the caterpillar taste? Better than what you can buy at the store?

[mellowtigger]

Lime!

If only. :(

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

Is that the same, little cute bunny I saw in the front yard amidst the hostas?

[mellowtigger]

Yep, same one. Although I haven't spotted it anywhere since the photo. I'm sure it'll show up again soon. (Until the neighbors (and cats) return anyway.)