What's bugging you?

Here in Florida we experience a twice a year "invasion" of 'love bugs'. The bugs are really here year-round, but their presence is especially noticeable in May and September.

There are numerous ways to remove what's left of them after they collide with your vehicle, but it's almost impossible to avoid them.

When you come upon an especially heavy swarm of the bugs, it sort of looks like a black snow flurry - until the impact. Then you end up with a windshield covered with what's left of them.

If you ever try to clean the mess with windshield wipers, you quickly realize you've got a much bigger problem - instead of the clear view you hoped for, you are now looking through a haze of bug remains. Using washer fluid only compounds the smeared goo streaked across your field of vision. A quick stop at a car wash or gas station may be your only recourse.

How many times do you come across situations and people that bug you? How do you deal with it? Do you try to avoid them, only to find yourself covered in the spatter of a bad experience?

Take some time to see if there's a pattern to the things that bug you. A small change on your part could take the sting out of the things that bug you.

A colorful walk on Thanksgiving Day

QB and I went for a walk this morning and saw bits of color along the way:










Happy Thanksgiving from QB and the rest of us.

More Fall color -- in Florida

It seems that many people think that green will be all that is found in Florida during the fall, but the color is there, if you look. Here are a few more colorful bits I've found in my yard.

Fall color . . . in Florida

While many newcomers think that Florida only has one season -- hot and humid -- it is possible to find fall color in Florida.

Here are a few examples:




The fruit of Balsam-Apple Vine (Momordica charantia) reminds me of a tiny pumpkin.





The bees love the Cosmos sulphureus flowers.





The Wild Coffee plant (Psychotria nervosa) is ready for Christmas with its red and green berries.





The Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) provides a splash of color.



Speaking of splash -- this little tadpole (trying to hide under the leaf) has rear legs and will soon be hopping away to join the other frogs.