Finding Cool Bugs

First you must venture into the wild...



Next, look for good bug habitat. Flowers are good. Just try not to eat them.



Statues are so-so. Not sure bugs really like that sort of thing.



Ooh! Wait. Not a bug. This guy will eat all your bugs.



Ooh, a bug. Why yes, that does appear to be a Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle! Just like a Ladybug, but inside out. Oh yes. Why thank you! I'm very good with bug identification being a dinosaur and all.



Bugs are great. Very friendly.



Oh look! Another bug monster hiding in the leaves. Let's tip toe around this one.

I found a bug!  Hmm, looks sort of... dead.



Wow, still a nice bug. It does appear to be an Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. Oh yes, very cool.



Wait a minute. Where did those antennae come from!? Are those legs?



It's alive!! Awh!!!!

Raspberry Season with Dinosaurs

It's black raspberry season here in New England and what a treat! My favorites are black raspberries. You can find them growing in the woods or along meadow edges and they have an incredible subtle flavor. I'm always looking for new ways to enjoy them. I brought some raspberries home and the dinosaurs practically ambushed me at the door. There was much tail-thumping and contented roars as I set down a bowl of multi-color raspberries on the counter. I couldn't help but smile as they debated what to do with them.

"Wow... RASPBERRIES! What are we going to do with these amazing berries? We could put them in crepes or eat them with ice cream. Or yogurt. Or with whipped cream on top of shortcake. Or we could make jam. I love black raspberry jam. Or we could save them for oatmeal. OOooh, or smash them up and spread them on toast with our tails!"

"Or we could just eat them."

"I got it!!! We could make Agua Fresca!"

"I don't even know what that is, but it sounds like a lot of work. I think Rex has the right idea."

"No, look. It's easy. We've got a lime. I'll cut it in half."

"Now Rex, you do the juicing."

"That's it!"

"Time to add the berries."

"That's right! A little bit of all the raspberries. We have so many... red, black and yellow ones."

"And a little bit of something sweet. Maple syrup should do."

"Steady on the pouring, Rex. Not too much. Just a tablespoon or so."

"And let's add some water.... nice and easy."

"Okay. We're ready to blend."

"Everyone in position? Good. Push the button, Rex!"

VvvvrrrrooooOOOMMMM!

"Wow. Would you look at that color?"

"See, that wasn't so hard."

"Wow."

"And how tasty it is!"

Aquas Frescas

Half a lime, juiced

Large handful of berries or some other fruit

1-2 tbsp. maple syrup

2-4 cups water 

Blend ingredients. Add more fruit for a thicker, more smoothie-like drink, more lime for added tartness, or more water for something light. Serve over ice on a hot summer day. And don't let the dinosaurs drink it all!

A Birthday Celebration with Dinosaurs

When you have a birthday and the dinosaurs in your life dress up for the occasion, it's hard not to invite them...

They look so handsome in their party hats. You can tell they put a lot of work into them.

They, of course, will come for the dessert course. On this particular occasion, we had candles and ice cream sandwiches. It started out great when they all sang a most painful, but lovable version of :

"Happy birthday to you... (rargh)!" 

"Happy birthday to you...(lots of roars)!"

"Happy birthday to... (dramatic pause)... YOU! Rarargghhh!" 

There might be a lot of tail thumping and jumping up and down as the excitement mounts with the final line to that traditional birthday song:

"Happpppyyyy birthdaaaay TOOOOOO YOU!!!!!"

Just as the singing finishes, you might find yourself thinking how glad you are to have invited such sweet dinosaurs. You breathe in and bend over to blow out your candles, when a few dinos crowded closer and block your view of the candle and cookie cake. 

"So how do we get rid of the fire?" one might say as one dinosaur did the other night at my house. You would probably try to answer, but before you get a chance one of dinos would likely jump forward and grab the candle out of the ice cream sandwich cookie to investigate.

"I don't know, but WAIT... isn't this how to become a dragon!?"

"No. no!" says a T-Rex (they are often the instigators in situations like these), "To get rid of candles and fire, you just EAT THEM."

And before you will be able to breathe out and blow out the candle yourself or stop them, one or several of the dinosaurs will likely eat your candles. Flames and all.  

Somehow a T-Rex devouring candles tends to trigger a sort of stampede on the dinner table.

The cookie cake will likely be ripped apart.

Ice cream will be slurped and snarfed from the plate so fast, you will simply sit, dumbfounded. 

You might open your mouth to protest, but you might get distracted by a Pterodactyl flying off with the last chunk of the rapidly disappearing ice cream sandwich cookie cake. 

And then they will be gone.

No cake left. Not a crumb. Just lots of sticky ice cream footprints. 

Those pesky, PESKY DINOSAURS!

It's what happens when you invite dinosaurs to a birthday celebration.

Sigh...

BUT if it is any consolation, later you can subject them to a bath...

And THAT will be very satisfying. 

"Nooooo!!!!!! Not a bath.... rarrrghhh!"

Spring Seeding with Dinosaurs

If I am starting a few seedlings indoors, I will often use a plastic egg carton for starting seeds. They are excellent for retaining humidity and growing little plants early. Today I decided to seed some vegetables and greens. I poked a few holes in the bottom of the egg carton with a thumb tack to allow water to drain and filled the "egg cups" with soil. I pulled out my seed collection and turned my back from the counter for just a minute to get a cup of tea....

The dinosaurs saw the soil. They saw the seeds, and immediately began giving their opinions on which seeds ought to be planted. So I pulled up a chair, sipped on my nice cup of tea and watched.

"Arugula... we should definitely plant arugula. It's the best."

"Yeah!" This dinosaur was so excited. He'd never seen anything grow from seed to table before...  Well, mostly because he has a tendency to eat the seeds and occasionally the table. Patience is not a strong point with some dinosaurs. 

"What about Romaine? It's an excellent crunchy salad "

"I like Asian Greens... how about Pac Choi. It's crunchy, too."

Or... what about... FLOWERS!

"Or Spinach?"

"OR FLOWERS? It says here you can eat some of these flowers."

Okay, those are all good ideas, but we're going to plant arugula... cause it is the best." Rex clearly has his opinions. He also tends to be the ringleader on these sorts of projects.

"So you just dig a hole and just put in the seeds... and they grow?"

"No, no no. There's more to it than that!" says Rex, "We dig a hole, put in the seeds AND cover the seeds AND then water them." Brontosaurus can you cover those seeds?"

"And then we have to pat the soil gently down."

"I got a nasturtium seed. They grow into tasty edible flowers."

"FLOWERS?!" says the extremely excitable dinosaur.

"Let's cover and pack all the seeds with dirt. What do we have... spinach, pac choi, arugula, and nasturtiums.... hmm!"

"Now we water the seeds."

"And put the lid on to help them stay moist and warm."

"And now, we wait."

"What?! Waiting!! We're always WAITING!!!"

"Argghhh!!!"

(Short Pause) 

"Are they ready yet?"

"No."