Halloween, Through the Years

So... my little one is not so little anymore. As a matter of fact, she's all grown up, married, and moved away... far, far away... where it snows in October!

Therefore... I'm not worried about Halloween costumes this year, nor have I been for about the last 10 or 12 or 15 years!


I thought it would be fun, though, to take a peek at what once was...



The Bunny Rabbit ~

At almost 6 mos... she was a bunny for her first Halloween.


The Clown ~

At two years old... she dressed as a clown. This is post-trick-or-treating, and the reason for the smeared make-up and giddy smile.



The Football Player ~

Not really... we didn't make her traipse around the neighborhood in this heavy get-up. She was just being silly one evening.



The Ballerina ~

At three years old, she was a ballerina... only, not for Halloween. She really did take some dance classes and was dressed to participate in a parade. (I might have cheated and had her wear this trick-or-treating... I don't remember. Do you remember if I cheated with this one, Kristiina?)


The Gymnast ~

Not for Halloween... she really was one. Seems I didn't have many Halloween pics available (scanned).


The Cheerleader ~

Sike... this is a uniform, not a costume. She really was a cheerleader in 8th grade.

The Volleyball Player ~

Okay, I'm getting desperate. Here's another uniform. Senior year, varsity volleyball.

The Engagement ~

I'm kidding!! (About it being a costume... not about the engagement. {wink})

Well, I sure wish that I had scanned pictures of her the year she was a broadway dancer, and the year she was Scarlet O'Hara, and the year she dressed like the 50's in an adorable poodle skirt, and the year she was a medieval princess.

Hmmm... too bad. I know I have those pics somewhere, but my scanner is not hooked up. You'll just have to trust me... she was very cute!

Have a safe, fun Halloween!

A Little of This

... a little of that.

I decided to carve a pumpkin last night; I haven't done it in years and years. It did what I had hoped... satisfied the urge to be a little creative.

I used to be really artsy-craftsy, but haven't done much of anything that would fit that category for a long time (not that carving a pumpkin exactly fits that category, but close enough).

This little masterpiece (oozing sarcasm) took about two hours to create. I used to do a really cool 3D lion's face, but I didn't have the tenacity for that this year so, I opted for this simpler one (though, it came out pretty cool). I have no idea where the lion's face template is, anyway.


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Thought I'd also share a few of pictures that Joe took while he was in North Carolina. All of the three pics are from our friends' property. Not where they live, but property they own and are developing into a gated mountain community.



This one is similar to the one I posted a few days ago... but this one is Joe's.




Sky was hazy - hard to see the mountains in the distance. It wasn't as "leaf season" as I thought it would be.



Taken the same day, and this one doesn't even look like Autumn! It's still a pretty view.


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And just because I can't resist taking pictures of my dogs...

Here's one of the puppies eating. Someone got crumbs all over Riley's head. We have offered them each their own bowl, but they prefer to share. Sometimes, their noses are all in one dish, like this.



But sometimes, they're willing to use 2 bowls, like this. They truly are pals... buds... compadres... they love each other!
Brothers, Riley and Blaze on the left... sisters, Emma and Sara on the right.



Maybe it stems from this... my little munchkins' first attempt at dry food. They learned to share early on.


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One can never speak enough of the virtues... the power of shared laughter.

~Francoise Sagan

We're Breaking Records

So, evidently, since our temperatures dipped to the low 40's this morning, we broke a 106-year-old record for cold weather in October.

I, very comfortably, slept under two blankets last night, and didn't want to get out from under them this morning!


Meanwhile, Nic and Kristiina had another snowfall last night. This one stuck! Check out this picture Nic sent me from his phone! He said it was 30 degrees this morning. Burrr.



It's the pavilion and pond at The Project property. Isn't it beautiful?!


Compared to when we were there in June:

Beautiful in summer, too!! This is the opposite angle, obviously.

I'm completely captivated with the notion that my flip-flop wearin', tank-top clad, born-and-bred Florida girl now lives in a region that gets snow in October! But... she says she loves wearing layers. That's a good thing - since she has to wear about six!


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Joe caught up on his blog-reading last night. He was surprised, though happy, that I wrote so much about Pinehurst. What really thrills him, though, is when I write about the dogs. Man, he loves those dogs! As a matter of fact, when he read what I wrote about him missing me and the dogs, he said I could have transposed those words... that he missed the dogs and me!



... he was kidding!


(I think he was kidding.)


Anyway, I think my next Blog Star will be Blaze. Stay tuned.

He Brought the Cold

I'm happy to have hubby home. He made record time (seriously...if you saw a red blur headed south on I-75 yesterday, that was him - I'm glad HP didn't notice); and you should have seen the dogs go berserk when they saw him. They're happy he's home, too!

He told me about his North Carolina adventures (including the hog-hole incident!) and showed me the pictures he took. His ankle is very swollen and his foot is beginning to turn deep purple from bruising, but he said the swelling is way down compared to what it was. It doesn't hurt as much and he's actually a bit mobile (able to gimp around).

He said it was really cold up there, but as soon as he hit Florida he started roasting, so he was able to peel off his heavy jacket. I swear, though, he brought the cold back with him. We had to sleep under a blanket last night (and I was still cold), and I actually turned the heat on in my car on my way to work today. If I'd had them, I would have worn gloves; my hands were chilly! I think it was 50 degrees (I'm just a thin-blooded Floridian)!

I just went to the bank, and it's still a little nippy to me (at 61 degrees).

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I'm uninspired today...

...I finished the quiche. Twice I had it for dinner. Once I had it for breakfast. Today I had it for lunch.

I love that about quiche. It's versatile! Au revoir, quiche, till the next time hubby is away!

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I'll leave you with this:

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Have a good seed-planting Tuesday!

"I Think I Inhaled Her"

Oh my. Check out this video. (The title is a quote from it.) After watching for 60 seconds I thought, "Cool... but Why?!" Then, he goes on to explain...why.

Needle Sized Art "Very incredible story! Not only is this mans art cool but he got a ton of cash for it!"

Thanks for sending the link, Alana.

The Infamous Quiche

I've had some requests for the quiche recipe. Well, two requests... well, actually, one certain request, and one, "I might want that."

So, here it is, for anyone who might want it...


Crustless Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

6 eggs
3/4 cup milk (however much fat you want, I used 1% - I've seen recipes that call for heavy cream!)
5 or 6 green onions, slice them tip to tip, using both white and green parts (I like specifics when reading a recipe)
8-12 oz. swiss cheese, shredded
1 pkg of sliced, fresh mushrooms, sauteed
2/3 of a bag (about 2 big handfuls) fresh spinach leaves, ripped and sauteed (just wilted)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease (I used Pam cooking spray) a 10-inch tart pan or 9-inch, deep, pie pan, or be like me, I used a 9 by 9 inch glass baking dish.
2. In a large skillet, sautee the mushrooms in butter. Then, add the ripped (so it mixes well in the eggs) spinach until it's wilted. Set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, cheese and onion. Add the cooled mushrooms and spinach, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes (tenting with foil, if necessary, to prevent over-browning - I didn't need to) or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before cutting.

Voila... delicious!


You can substitute broccoli or other vegetables for the spinach/mushrooms. Add diced ham or crumbled bacon, if you want... pretty much anything goes!

Hugs All Around! (No, not hogs)

Last night, while my husband visited a NC emergency room and had half a dozen x-rays taken of his ankle, I was readying myself for an evening out.

But first, the ankle. He was helping our friends with a controlled burn. They had been at it for hours and were getting much accomplished. Joe attempted to throw another log on the fire, when he stepped in a hog hole. That's what he called it, anyway. I have no idea what a hog hole is ...how deep? ...how wide? ...visible or camouflaged? ...truly dug by a ...hog?!

(Ohhhh, later learned it was a groundhog hole. That, I can make sense of.)

Anyway... he landed in it, heard a pop, and felt shearing pain. It was ridiculously swollen in a matter of seconds. The pop is what made him suspect he had broken it... that, and the odd looking bulge on one side that he thought looked suspiciously like a bone.

Thankfully, he did not break it and the bulge was not an errant bone. He severely sprained it. They put him in a boot and sent him off, doped up on pain meds.

Meanwhile, mom and I were headed to my daughter's in-laws' home. My son-in-law was in town for a whirlwind, ultra-brief visit. We gathered together for Gary's homemade pizza... Mmm...One of them was pepperoni (the only one with red sauce), one of them was potato and caramelized onion, and one of them was gorgonzola cheese and rosemary. Oh... good! With our pizza, we enjoyed wine, laughter and conversation.

Then, we capped off the evening with Diane's homemade apple pie and yummy french-pressed coffee. Auntie Ev and Uncle Mike came, too. It was such a great evening. We wished Joe were with us instead of in the ER; and we wished Kristiina were with us instead of in Vermont! Nic promised to take our hugs and kisses home to her. Likewise, I have many warm wishes to relay to Joe.

Time to go, we hugged and were off. Family is such a special blessing.

{{No pics cuz I sent the camera to NC with hubby.}}

Everywhere But Here

Pictures, that is... of everywhere but here. Okay, not everywhere... just three other places.


Yesterday Joe waved goodbye to Southern Pines, NC. . .

He loved it there.



This is downtown. He thinks it's extremely charming; not just downtown... all of it, and he thinks that the people couldn't be friendlier.
"Let's move here." He said. {{grin}}


Ah, but it was time to go, so he headed west... for Murphy, NC,



where he'll hang out for a couple of days with our friends and Florida neighbors (the ones whose turtles we're watching). This is our friends' property. Rough, huh?! The guys will probably mess around on the 4-wheelers. Fun, fun!


Then, he's bound for home... where the leaves don't turn - and we're still wearing short sleeved shirts and flipflops - and we don't have Pinehurst - and the closest thing we have to a 4-wheeler is a riding lawnmower!


Still, he says he misses me and the dogs.



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Kristiina sent me snowy pics, afterall.



First, there's this one. It's at The Project, 2nd floor. Windows are not installed yet (but they're ready and waiting!), so it snowed all over the floor. This is where the snow was gathered for snowballs!

Then there's this one. You should be well acquainted with this view by now; except you can't see Mt. Ascutney! Overcast sky and falling snow made for limited visibility. It flurried steadily, but not enough for snow to rest in the branches.

Pinehurst Finale

So, here's your Final Pinehurst Update:

Joe called... pleased. He said they did very well yesterday. Shot 5 under, collectively, which put them at about 11th or 12th place. Out of 41 teams compiled by 164 men across the nation... that's not a bad spot to be. I don't recall if he told me what his personal score was... but if he was pleased, then he must have shot under par again. He said Course #2, that they played yesterday, was incredibly beautiful. It's one of the most historic courses at Pinehurst, as far as major PGA tournaments go. His favorite, though, was Course #4.

When he called he said, "So, I don't suppose you've been watching the Golf Channel." Uh no... Darn! They were on about 5 times yesterday. For some reason, the videographers/reporters kept spotting, recording and airing the Arrowhead Team! They had several friends call them and say, "Hey! You're famous!!" I DVR'd about 3 1/2 hours yesterday evening... hopefully I'll catch a glimpse. Meanwhile, I've been searching the internet for a clip, to no avail.

He got to spend some time chatting with Chris DiMarco and Zach Johnson. He's always liked them... and still does after getting the opportunity to meet them personally and getting to know them a little bit.

So...that's a wrap!!


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Well, Kristiina did indeed get to see snow yesterday! However, it wasn't picture worthy. That'll be a few more weeks. So, instead, here's a pretty wild flower she took a couple of months ago.


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And a few quotable quotes...

The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.
~Helen Keller


Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.
~Phillips Brooks


I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good things I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now and not defer it or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
~William Penn



That's all for now... enjoy your Thursday!

Vermont's Ablaze!

You gotta see this! Kristiina emailed me three photos that she took on October 15th...



Just look at what has happened to that view from the cabin (The Project)!
That's take-my-breath-away beautiful.



And this one... such a serene setting, isn't it? This is the pond at the bomb shelter. The owner of The Project has a another home on the same mountain. It used to be a bomb shelter that he converted. I guess once he moves into the new place, that's going to be his guest house.



This one whispers to me of days gone by...

... giggly children (me among them) playing in raked leaves ...delighting in the sound of the leaves crunching beneath my feet ...my dad having a game of football with his buddies in the field beside our house ...bursting in the door with a cold, red nose after playing hard outside, still able to see my breath from the rush of cold air that came in with me, and asking mom if we can have some hot chocolate.

{Wistful sigh} Autumn is lovely.


Kristiina said there's a rumor going around... they may get snow today!

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8:50 AM - Breaking news: Kristiina just called and said she's getting ready to head up to Nic's jobsite... it's snowing on the mountain! He told her it looks like winter up there; the guys have even had a snowball fight already!! She promises pictures soon.

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The Pinehurst update:

Yesterday was a good day! Joe was happy. Team Arrowhead jumped from 28th to 12th place, and Joe shot under par...Yeah! They did as a team, too... 11 under, collectively. Since he doesn't have a handicap, his was a true score... played on Course 8. Today is the final round and they're playing it on Course 2... it's a tough one! Realistically, Joe's not expecting it to be as good a round as yesterday.

My Profile Pic

A peek at what my profile picture may have looked like through the ages:

Suppose I was blogging in 1952. This could have been me!


Or if I had a blog in 1960.


This may have been me in 1968.


Or, me in 1972.


Me in 1982. Yikes, seriously?! I remember 1982. Thankfully, it wasn't that!


In 1990, I might have looked something like this.


Or, like this in 1996.

This is what I looked like in 2006, and what I use as my current profile pic. Guess I need to update it since it's 2 years old. I'll see what I can find.

It's the same picture I used for all of the eras, above. Isn't that funny?!
Thanks for the link, Ree. That was fun.

- - - - - - -

A Pinehurst update:

It was warmer up there yesterday. Joe said it was a beautiful day. Personally, he had a better round. He still shot a couple over par, which isn't like him, but taking into consideration everything I mentioned yesterday... plus, he has to play more conservatively since it's team-play. I'll bet if it was every man for himself, he'd be killing it by now!!

- - - - - - -

DWTS last night... Warren can hustle! I remember being in 7th grade and choreographing hustle moves with my girlfriends. We danced for hours in my living room after school!

The jitterbug was fun to watch. Both couples did it well, I thought.

Have a good Tuesday!

Round 1

Tee-time for the South Florida PGA Section - Arrowhead Golf Club (that's Joe's team...) is at 12:55.
Go Team Arrowhead!!!

Joe said Pinehurst is incredible; it's steeped in golf history and he's thrilled to be playing it. He also said that area of NC is beautiful. He's happy to be up there.

However, for his practice round he said, "I played like poop." By his own high standards, that is. I think a typical, casual golfer would dance a jig if they shot what he shot yesterday. But, for Joe... it wasn't good.

One of the biggest challenges for Florida guys is having to play in layers of clothes! It's chilly for them up there, and having to wear long sleeves, and maybe even vests or other outer layers, greatly impacts their swing. Shivering probably affects it, too!

Some of the words Joe used to describe the round... Windy. Cold. Downhill. Altitude. Distances off. Up and down difficult. Fairways slow. No roll. Downgrain. Greens slick.

I asked him how it's different from Florida courses. He said that it's hilly, it's wood-lined, and there are no water hazards. Down here we have water hazards on every hole and the guys know how to play them. I think he also said there are less bunkers... seems to me that would be good...but what do I know?! Nothing about golf strategy, that's for sure.

Hopefully they'll do better today now that they know what to expect.

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Meanwhile, back on the home-front...

I booked a flight to Vermont. It's gonna be a Christmas spent with Nic and Kristiina... and a white one, at that! Woohoo! I'm one happy mama.



Yates Barn - Stew Stryker of Windsor VT


Winter Day - Stew Stryker of Windsor, VT


Now, where in Florida does one shop for a winter coat?! I think I'll check the thrift stores, for starters. We do have a Burlington Coat Factory down here, but I doubt they stock anything warm enough for a Vermont winter.

I talked to Kristiina this morning, and she said when they got up this morning, it was 22 degrees! Burrrr. If it's that cold in October, what's it gonna be like in December?!

I'm Not Jealous

That Joe's here and I'm not.



Or that he's doing this there... and I'm not.

Really, I'm not. I'm truly happy that he gets to play Pinehurst. I imagine that's on every golfer's wish list.



However, there is this...



It's leaf season up there and I'm missing it!!

(envision me exasperatingly crossing arms over my chest... eyebrows furled... exclaiming, "Mm" just like my Biinaboo used to do when she was utterly perturbed and not quite sure how to voice it...or perhaps that was the only way to safely voice it... ??)


I'm also pining for this...


The 5-day forecast for Joe's location throughout the tournament:

Sat Oct 18
(Mostly Sunny)
High 59° Low 44°

Sun Oct 19
(Sunny)
High 64° Low 38°

Mon Oct 20
(Sunny)
High 70° Low 43°

Tue Oct 21
(Mostly Sunny)
High 73° Low 42°

Wed Oct 22
(Sunny)
High 70° Low 41°

...check out those highs and lows! Wouldn't that be refreshing to a SW Floridian?! Yes, it would!


Then look at this:




You feel for me, right???

Okay, it's actually been a beautiful morning. Perfect... clear, sunny sky; pleasant "3/4 sleeve" weather with a slight breeze. The breeze even has a cool edge, rather than a warm one. It's very refreshing. I have nothing to complain about, really. It's a gorgeous day here today.

Besides...

I've got this. ..

The Rompin, Stompin, Rowdy Seven... and they give me joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!

Joe will start his practice round in about 15 minutes. I'll let you know what he thought of the course when I hear from him.

Pinehurst, Here He Comes

Joe headed out last night, at what was practically my bedtime, to drive through the night. I talked to him at 4:30 and he had just had an energy drink and was feeling good! Then I talked to him again about 30 minutes ago, just as the sun was coming up, and he said he had about a half hour to go.

So, by that estimation... he is likely to be pulling into Southern Pines, NC... about now.

And why has he taken this road trip???? He's playing next week in (drum roll)...

The 2008 PGA McGladrey Team Championship

"... it culminates with the National Championship at Pinehurst Resort (N.C.)

October 20-22, 2008..."

The 41-team, 164-player championship debuts with players from 32 states and a true melting pot of American golf. The field will compete on Courses No. 2, 6 and 8 through Wednesday.


For you golfers out there who may be interested, check this out ...
(otherwise, if you're like me and not a golfer, scroll down to the press release blurb and skip all this talk about course descriptions)!

About Course No. 2:

Donald Ross, 1907
Celebrating 100 years of championship golf, the legacy of Pinehurst No. 2 continues.
It is a challenge not because of its length, topography, unruly routing, water features or green size - but because of the combination of factors that have made thousands laugh and cry at the same time. Crowned greens. Carefully placed bunkers. Strategic layout that tests both the long and short game. It is golf the way it was meant to be played, "the fairest test of championship golf" ever designed by Ross, in his own words. It is also top 10 in the country, and site of more championships than any other course in the country, including the 2005 U.S. Open Championship. The US Open will return in 2014.


About Course No. 6:

George/Tom Fazio, 1979 (renovated 2005)
The Golf Club at No. 6, reopened in 2005 as a championship course. Renovations by Tom Fazio have increased shot values, developed all new putting greens and rebunkered the entire course - making it a strong addition to the championship golf set at Pinehurst. You'll find the terrain different here - rolling hills make for a test from the tee box. The back nine is one the most difficult anywhere. One thing rings true - it continues to be a favorite for those who love Fazio designs.


About Course No. 8:

Tom Fazio, 1996
No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst's centennial year. Fazio incorporated signature Ross features into the design of No. 8, including dips and swales around the greens, sloping greens and false fronts. The greens and tees are close together, making it a pleasure to walk. As the site of the PGA Club Pro Championship in 1997 and 1998, it is a proven championship course that daunts and delights all who play it. Located approximately 2 miles from the Main Clubhouse at the site of the former Gun Club, it is a celebration of a century of great golf.

From a recent press release:
On Monday, the 41 Section Champion teams will meet two of America's premier Tour professionals who are members of "Team McGladrey" – Masters Champion Zach Johnson and Chris DiMarco, a member of four consecutive U.S. Ryder Cup Teams.

Johnson and DiMarco will spend the day conducting a sponsor clinic and personally greeting the Section Champions.

The National Championship field will compete on three of Pinehurst's premier layouts, concluding play on Pinehurst No. 2, the site of some of golf's historic championships, including the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup and the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open. Pinehurst Course No. 8 was host of the 1997 and 1998 PGA Professional National Championship.


The practice rounds are played on Sunday, and the tournament starts on Monday.

I'll keep you updated with play-by-play results!

The Smith Family Story

Meet Todd Smith (Selah) and his wife, Angie Smith (Bring the Rain blog). I really enjoy the music of Selah (remember this post), and I've been following Angie's blog for about a month, or so.

I stumbled upon this video on Crosspoint Church's blog, Without Wax. It's nearly half an hour long, but worth the time. So, pause the blog music (you'll find it in the sidebar to the right), settle in, and watch as they share the story of their baby, Audrey Caroline...

Smith Family Story from Matthew Singleton on Vimeo.

If, for some reason, the video doesn't play here, you can go to this link and watch it directly from Without Wax's website.

Dragonflies

Do they bite or sting? I always thought they did but needed to know for sure. Why? We’ve had them hanging around the house for sometime now, and the dogs (puppies in particular) have decided it’s riotously fun to catch them, hold them in their mouths for a while, and play with them, taunting them shamelessly.

These dragonflies are the size of small birds. I’m not kidding… they have a six-inch wing span.

Okay, maybe I exaggerate a bit. But they’re at least 4 inches… and that’s no lie! Joe said he recently saw 3 of the 4 puppies (when I say puppies, I mean our 50-70 lb., 16-month old dogs) simultaneously, and very proudly, hiding dragonflies in their mouths. These things are so big, that their wings were poking out both sides of the puppies' closed mouths!

BTW, they're mouths must be cavernous...Blaze can put a tennis ball in his mouth and close it like he has nothing in there!

I did a little google research. Here’s what I found:

A). "Can you tell me if dragonflies bite?" The answer to this question has three parts:

(i) "Do dragonflies bite?" YES, dragonflies bite, because that's how they capture their food. They have impressive, sharply pointed mandibles that chomp down on the smaller insects they catch.

(ii) "Do dragonflies bite people?" YES, if you catch one and hold it in your hand and carelessly allow its mandibles to reach your skin, it will bite as hard as it can in self defense. Very few dragonflies can even break the skin, but some of the big ones can do so and may induce an "ouch". They're certainly no danger to you, as the biggest dragonfly has a relatively small bite. A word of warning though: if, for some educational reason, you plan to let a dragonfly bite you, make sure you don't suddenly pull back, as you'll probably pull its head off and this is not a good example to present your audience!

(iii) "Do dragonflies bite people spontaneously?" A big resounding NO. A dragonfly would never land on someone and bite.

B. There is a second question: "Do dragonflies sting?" The simple answer to this is NO - they have no 'sting' as such. BUT there have been a number of accounts of egg-laying dragonflies that, when interrupted, continued the operation into the flesh or clothing of examining odonatists. Such actions could well be the origins of the many "old wives tales" pertaining to stinging dragonflies, and could also provide the answer as to why odonates have the names of 'Horse- stingers' and 'Devil's Darning Needles'. These names, and others like them, are part of dragonfly folk-lore in many parts of the world.


It appears the puppies are reasonably safe. They may get a that-will-teach-you-a-lesson OUCH! from a dragonfly, but nothing too serious.

While I was doing my research, I also deemed it necessary to find a few images, since I've none of my own.




This one is pretty (as insects go). Ours look nothing like this. Ours are ugly brown, and could eat this one whole.



Ooh. This one is pretty, too. Why aren't these lovely creatures coming to visit? (Okay, I'd still shoo it away.)



No, ours more closely resemble this... just double it's size and remove the pretty blue stripes.

Any clue as to what we're doing that's attracting the dragonflies... and how we can stop it?

What pests are you dealing with currently?