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I’ve never been bothered by spiders. I don’t scream and jump on a chair, I never smash them with a shoe. They’re marvelous bug eaters and if they happen to take up residence where I don’t want them? I happily relocate them outside. So when I saw this on Facebook the other day….
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I was surprised at the outpouring of malice.
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That seems a little extreme.
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Unless you’re dressed as a fly? I highly doubt it.
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So much spider hatred. I mean come on…. some of them are cutie pies.
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And I love what people post on its Facebook page.
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Oh no.
If you see it? Please tell it we serve a daily and nightly buffet free of charge.
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I’m not exactly sure what constitutes ‘groovy’ lamb.
But I’m pretty sure this isn’t it.
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Jumping orangey peach colored fish?
Thanks 2020. Like this year wasn’t weird enough.
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I have to admit I’d never even heard of letterboxing before.
Sounds like a perfect Covid era activity though.
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Normally I’d say friend.
But it’s 2020, for all we know that thing is radioactive.
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A giant vacuum cleaner?
Well, yeah. They want us to social distance… so just stick the hose end into your local pub and switch her on.
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I don’t know why I get such a kick out of seeing these little fellows in the garden….
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But I always do.
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Hummingbird moths!
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They don’t look anything like a hummingbird, or a moth for that matter.
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But they’re cute as the proverbial bug in a rug.
Without the rug, of course.
Flowers –
For a pure burst of summer color?
You can’t beat peonies.
They’re bright, lush and smell heavenly.
Flags –
Or as my husband calls them…
Guest towels from the spare bathroom you nail into a long piece of wood when your wife isn’t looking.
Foolishness –
The gift a friend gives you because she knows you’re allergic to horsefly bites.
With a name like the Bug Bite Thing, you don’t expect it to work.
And no surprise, it didn’t. A horsefly bit me, I suctioned my arm as directed and still swelled up like a politician at a pay by the plate fundraising dinner.
More foolishness –
Contains 40% urea.
WTF!
Don’t know what urea is?
Google it, I’ll wait.
**********************
Right?
Who in the world wants to rub urine on their feet.
And on the off chance I ever do? I’ll save myself some money and ask the neighbor’s dog to pee on me. Lord knows he’s been trying to for years.
But sometimes, my question is this…
Why would you want to?
Personally, I’ve never felt the need to shed my skin like a snake…
But okay, whatever floats your boat.
And while I enjoy a good bug museum as much as the next girl…
I’ve never felt the need to actually snack on them.
Eww.
This one?
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just looks…
Wrong.
Likewise for Fred and friends dunking their nether regions in my cup of hot tea.
Just…
No.
I could probably get behind the bread alignment pad…
And sure.
Wine condoms, if anyone actually ever has leftover wine.
(Is that even possible?)
But this last one –
Is not only an affront to common decency…
But the ruination of every backyard bbq and clambake in my foreseeable future.
Damn you Amazon…
I may never eat corn again.
Please note I did not say bugs for dinner. That would just be weird.
Although, admittedly…. a 3 piece cockroach musical ensemble would have been stellar.
No… I’m talking about the last (and best!) part of the Fairbanks Museum.
Bug art!
I turned the final corner, and came face to mandible face with this beauty.
Isn’t it wonderful? I would totally display this on my front lawn, and perhaps pet it as I walked by.
As you can see, it’s a little large for the living room.
So while the husband was examining some ancient knives and swords, ( He glanced at the bugs and kept on walking. Go figure. ) I delved deep into art made from bugs.
Apparently it’s pretty rare, as evidenced by the fact there were only 8 pieces.
And if you’re not a fan of the creepy crawly…
You might want to scroll down to dinner… which thankfully, was bug free.
But if you’ve always wanted to see a beetle and moth likeness of Abraham Lincoln?
And George Washington?
I’m your girl.
Yes, those really are all bugs.
And bug art really is a thing.
Ain’t it grand?
General Pershing thinks so.
And so do I.
Now for the (boring in comparison) food part of the blog.
Dinner was at a highly recommended little place called The Creamery….
Which, to be honest, felt like someone’s basement.
The bar was full of locals who gave us the stink eye as we walked in…
But the margaritas were large and tasty….
And while the menu was small, everything we had was perfect.
From the crispy green bean appetizer….
To the goat cheese and maple vinaigrette salad…
My fresh, succulent baked scallops with stir fried vegetable medley…
And the husband’s perfectly prepared shrimp scampi.
I would have loved to try their dessert but…
I hate when that happens.
The Fairbanks museum has something for everyone.
Samurai helmets?
And swords?
Check.
And for those who are as fascinated as I am with the rich history of Japan…
There were dinosaur fossils…
And mastodon obedience training manuals….
Somehow I doubt that turned out well.
There were more dead fine feathered friends..
And a display about sheep back in 1840…
Which begs for the old saying –
Vermont! Where men were men.
And the sheep were afraid.
Although from the look of the numbers, maybe the men should have been afraid.
The rotating exhibit was a collection of photography from rural Vermont.
They were quite good, but I won’t bore with you with photos of photos…
Except for this one.
That was my reaction too.
I was beginning to rethink my “Isn’t Vermont a quaint place to live?” attitude. I mean, really? Who cuts off their wife’s hands, nails them to the barn door and then photographs them?
Who?
Slightly mollified, although vowing never to look at a muskrat the same way… we moved on.
Inching ever closer to the famous bug art.
Yes, apparently it’s quite famous in these parts.
And in case you just can’t wait till tomorrow’s post…
Here are a few beauties to keep you company.
(The bugs, not me.)
You’re welcome.
As we made our way down the left side of the top floor of the museum, we encountered a replica of my Monday morning hairdo…
And an outfit to wear on a Match.com date entire coconut fiber set of armor.
Yes, coconut.
And fish skin. What’s not to love?
I’m not sure that puffer fish helmet would have deflected many blows, but it does have a certain punk rock era appeal.
And as I was oohing and ahhing over the Egyptian section…
I do love me some mummies and canopic jars.
(Not sure where to put your intestines after death? The ancient Egyptians gave a whole new meaning to kitchen canning.)
And then, I saw it.
Across the rail… on the other side.
Be still my heart!
Could it be?
Yes!
A giant bug sculpture.
And an entire section of bug art!
Bug art?
I could hardly contain my delight!
I wanted to run right over, but forced myself to breathe deeply and finish the rest of the museum first.
I know, I know.
Good things come to those who wait….
River's world..... 