Friday, August 21, 2009

What's In The Pipeline? Pipevine



Pipevine Swallowtail Larva

This baby was hanging out in the virginia creeper that is invading my blueberry patch. It was twilight when we met, so I had to use flash to grab a sharp picture of this sleek beauty. This caterpillar will metamorphose into one of our prettiest butterflies ... and we have some beauts down here in the subtropics.

What else is in the pipeline?
  • There is going to be great surf at St. Augustine this weekend... perhaps ten foot swells due to Bill. Dangerous, enticing. Lots of rips, but the surfers (my big brother included) will probably be out there tearing up some waves. The nanny weather channel is already telling everyone to stay out of the water ... they drive me crazy.

  • I have a line on some timber bamboo available for the taking, so I may be digging and hacking tomorrow. If so, I'll post about it of course. I love bamboo, the bigger the better ... size matters with bamboo.

  • There is still time to cook up your entry for the Peanut Culinary Throwdown. The " UP" day is this Sunday, the 23rd of August. All you have to do is fix a dish that has peanuts as an essential ingredient. You can do just one dish or go for the Throwdown Master status by cooking an entree, a desert, and one other dish that involves peanuts. All you have to do Sunday is post about your dishes, recipes are optional, you can just show and tell us. After you post it, come over here and tell us you are "UP" in the comment section. May the best nut win.

  • The late summer/early fall wildflower flush is coming on so be prepared for some wildflower shots. I saw some liatris in the swamp last week that were just all buds a'burstin'.

  • School is looming directly in the pipeline ... starts Monday. For me, it started last Monday of course. School is why there was no post yesterday. I thought I would post on my lunch hour, but for some reason the school antipictureofaboob internet filtering software filtered Pure Florida out.

  • I have decided to step outside my comfort zone and become the girl's soccer coach for our little school. They can't get anyone, I need the money, and the girls have asked me repeatedly. Why is this outside my comfort zone you ask? Anyone who really knows me, knows this ... I'm not a ball sports guy ... I don't follow any teams, don't get excited over sports "heroes", can NOT talk sports trivia and stats with the guys (and damn glad of it)... you get the picture.

Plus... these are teenage girls, so there's gonna be drama from time to time. Sorry ladies, but it's true. I've raised em, I teach em ... there will be drama.

I am not overtly competitive either ... unless I have a personal stake in the team. For me, this has traditionally meant that one or more of my kids was playing. I think zeal will not be a problem once these girls become "my" girls, so getting fired up to kick some soccer butt should not be a problem for me.

On the plus side, I HAVE watched a bazillion soccer games as the kids have grown up, so the sport is not alien to me and I confess to liking the nonstop action of soccer.

So, I have some background knowledge and there is plenty of time to learn more about strategy and rules before the season begins.

And I have Junior who is a soccer whiz kid and a thing of beauty on the soccer field. He's gonna be tutoring his old man instead of the other way around for a change.

What's looming in your pipeline?

13 comments:

Pablo said...

In my pipeline is a post about Pipevine Swallowtails tomorrow. Coinkydink?

lisa said...

We love St. Augustine, I wish we would of had more time to explore when we were down there! If we ever get the chance to go back that would be the first place we head too! Love the picture by the way!

Bill said...

FC,
Looming, you must be kidding. The Gators kick off two weeks from tomorrow! Other than that, the fall garden, two kids starting middle school on Monday, 7th, (James)and 8th(Katie) grade. My oldest son (Michael) will graduate after this final, paid for, semester at UNF. He has bids out on 2 houses here in St. Augustine, thanks to the Obama money and low interest rates. Oh and he is in the process of buying a business, that I have had to analyze to death. Other than that my pipeline is just normally busy.
Thanks,

Billy

Anonymous said...

The fact that it's teenage girls wouldn't by any chance be what inspired Jr. to help you would it?
Lightnin

h said...

1) Enter the Culinary Throwdown Challenge contest. I went with ALL NEW creations. 3 successes, 1 failure.

2) Badger clients for jobs.

3) Get hair cut at the Barber College. (4 bucks)

4) Install door in guest bathroom. It hasn't had one since November.

5) Install cool new doors in office and game room.


Hope you can minimize the drama from players and parental units whilst coaching soccer.

threecollie said...

I love the caterpillar photo.
And I am sure, with Junior in the picture, you will be the best coach ever...
I sure do agree with you on the nanny weather channel thing. Up here when it gets above eighty they go crazy telling every one to stay indoors, drink lots of water etc. etc. When did they get to be our mother anyhow? And how the heck would we put up hay if we stayed indoors? lol

Caroline said...

In the pipeline, back to school in service next week, Marching Band color guard co-captain lives at my house, we need to sew practice flags X 15. There will be drama along the line there somewhere, I have raised 'em and I teach 'em too! :o)

We have pipevine swallowtails in SD I am going to go check my virginia creeper and see if I have visitors here too.

(my word verification is calmly, hmmm.)

Miz S said...

You'll be a fun coach, I bet.

What do I have in the pipeline? Hmmm. I start school on Monday, and the kidlets arrive the following week. I suspect my posts will be few and far between (like they aren't already). Care to shoot any time-management strategies my way? You seem to manage to post AND teach AND take photos AND explore...honestly you just annoy the heck out of me.

cinbad122 said...

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! What a sucker!

R.Powers said...

Pablo,
Pretty weird!

Lisa,
it's easy to love St. Augustine. I feel pretty lucky to have grown up there.

Billy,
Dang son! That's enough for several people.

Lightnin,
Well ... he does love soccer...

Troll,
You sound like a jack of all trades!

ThreeCollie,
Their heat advisories crack me up. Puuulllleeeeeeze! We are not that delicate!


Caroline.
I think calm is going to be an alien concept for a while. The new year is always a little exciting tho! Good luck with those flags!


Miz S,
See everyone gets 24 hours in a day. I use mine trying to find things to irritate you. :)
Not really pal, I hope your school year gets off to a great start!

Cindy,
I am that, alas.

Unknown said...

thats awesome dad!!! i bet you will be a great coach! love you tons!! xoxoxo

Dani said...

That's so cool FC that you signed up for the coaching! You are a great man!




School starts for my girl on Tuesday. It's a new school, only a few blocks away. But being a "special needs" kid it opens up a whole new can of worries.

R.Powers said...

Emma,
Yikes! I'm outside my comfort zone!Love you!

Dani,
Thanks, I hope I can learn soccer rules,strategy real quick! I know sending your little one off is painful and worrisome, but it is great that she will be so close. I bet she knows more about nature and animals than anyone in her class!