Thanks, and yes, the millipedes are remarkably fun to watch.

Great macro photos! And the millipede project sounds fascinating.

I still say the top one looks like he's smiling.

Beautiful image!

Thanks!

oh! Sasha is so beautiful. Very queenly.

Your photos of strays and the various critters are also enjoyed.

At the tail end of a path that I walk is a thick, weeded area full of downed trees and high-growing brush and, if moist out, a swampy consistency underfoot. A few weeks ago I flipped some bark, looking for goodies, to find a black snake hiding. It stayed perfectly still and, not accepting this, I'm not terribly proud to say i gently poked the guy with a stick until he slithered off.

Ever since then, when I get to that point in the trail (where, really, the trail falls apart and there is only growth), I look down warily, knowing that the black snake couldn't hurt me even if he wanted to, but also wondering if he is lying in wait for my return with his own stick to do some poking.

Sometimes there is no accounting for irrational fears, as comical as they may be.

Maybe you should try sending them in to BugGuide. They identified mine as Jumping plant lice, Psyllidae.

They're different than yours, though.

I see what you mean about eggs or young; what a load it is carrying!

About leaping twenty feet into the air; I don't scream when I see a spider; I run for my camera. And I'm not worried about bites, not here in the BC Lower Mainland. But let one of these little things suddenly jump my way, and I yelp and flinch back. A silly thing to do; I've lost some good shots that way. But I can't seem to cure myself of it.

Maybe it's some training from early in my childhood; those habits are hard to break.

I identify plant and tree leaves even more poorly than I do insects and similar animals. But I think there were many out this past weekend (late June, outside DC). I'm pretty certain the second picture had eggs or young on the cotton exterior; the first one just seemed like pure fluff.

And I really dig those devil horns.

But people scream when they see her as if she were a spider :)

They are beautiful and practically everywhere now. They hide so wonderfully on the leaves and I suspect I pass by dozens of them for every one I see. Most stay very still and let me get off a shot while a minority run away from the camera like graceful dancers. This one posed better than I could have asked for as if she was ready to leap twenty feet into the air (although it is probably just as well that didn't happen).

Not quite. Harvestman. (Opilones) Spiders have two distinct body parts; harvestmen have no break between the abdomen and the head.

I recognize this! But I don't know what it is. What plant was it on?

I investigated some I found a few years ago; here are the posts with photos, but no ID.
http://wanderinweeta.blogspot.com/2007/06/im-stumped-what-is-this.html and http://wanderinweeta.blogspot.com/2007/06/aphid-in-sheeps-clothing.html .

Yes, he looks quite content.!

Always enjoy the pics, and fun updates.

That's what I thought :)

Such cuties!

Monty chose you, and it was wonderful you and Nicole listened.

Colby cat chose me, making faces and acting goofy to encourage me. While he and Herbcat are not best buds, both are a joy to share our home with.

I am sure all will be good for your fam and Monty.

Thanks. I think he is happy now.

Aw, he's a lucky cat and sounds just adorable. It never ceases to amaze me when people do that. One of my cats, an Abby, was returned to the breeder because she wasn't a "lap cat." Honestly, you want something furry on your lap, get a fake fur blanket.

Anyway, I wish you both (and your other furry friends too) the best.

Hee, he does have a perpetual grumpy look, but I think he is pretty happy. He had a good weekend and I have some happier pictures to post soon (I'll write more about his history too).

Sasha obviously felt threatened for a period of time, but she was back to her normal regal self today. All is right with the world.