Change up on a pretty evening.

Can’t imagine why I found a dog hair in my Chex mix 

Not sure who was more surprised by this mid morning visit.

Us or the raccoon !

A-Jay

Cool pic @A-Jay

33 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Not sure who was more surprised by this mid morning visit.

Us or the raccoon !

A-Jay

When they peek their head around a tree, that’s the perfect time to……. Nevermind 

36 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Not sure who was more surprised by this mid morning visit.

Us or the raccoon !

A-Jay

 

I love watching racoons.

 

You can get pretty close to nature in a quiet kayak.

43 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I love watching racoons.

You can get pretty close to nature in a quiet kayak.

Me too - 

btw- does paddling across the lawn slow you down at all ?

🤪

A-Jay

Coast Guard festival is happening. Only two ships were able to make the trip this year but still cool to see. I wasn’t able to get the best picture because it was so crowded. The bigger of the two is the USCGC Mackinaw which is a 240’ ice breaker and bouy tender on the Great Lakes.

 

 

Growing 4 different types of tomatoes this year. Flavor Bombs, Sungolds, Pink Cherries, and Romas. 

 

Already harvested over 500 and have dozens and dozens more ripe on the vines still. Just means I have to give a lot away, but sharing my harvest is my favorite part of gardening  

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Growing 4 different types of tomatoes this year. Flavor Bombs, Sungolds, Pink Cherries, and Romas. 

 

Already harvested over 500 and have dozens and dozens more ripe on the vines still. Just means I have to give a lot away, but sharing my harvest is my favorite part of gardening  

My wife and I don’t eat a lot of tomatoes so we only had one plant this year. I checked on it in the morning a few days ago, everything was fine. When I saw it at 5pm, there wasn’t a leaf left on it. A dozen hornworm caterpillars had devoured all the leaves!

No more tomatoes this year.

 

@Scott F that’s too bad. They’re so destructive. Every morning I do a walkthrough of my garden to make sure the tomatoes are free of these guys.
You should make river smallie bait out of them. 
 

What’s cool though is they are often the host of parasitic wasps. If you see white balloon looking things sticking out of them, those are the wasps eggs. 

 

4 August 2025 ~ US Coast Guard is 235 years old.

So Proud to have served.

1979-2007

A-Jay

 

^^^^^

By U.S. Coast Guard - USCGC_Hamilton_(WHEC-715)

SEMPER PARATUS 

(1970-1974) Radioman E-5 Petty Officer 2nd Class

My furry kids. 

 

 

Separated at birth? 😁

 

 

One of our “co workers” out here

Doe at Sunrise at Cades Cove, Smoky Mountains.

 

 

 

Imperial Moth on our car at home. 

Some great photos! How wide were the wings on that moth? I recently saw one in central Florida looked 4" wing tip to wing tip. Biggest moth I've ever seen.

 

One of my photos along St. Johns river taken in the spring way back up in a creek.

 

6 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

How wide were the wings on that moth? I recently saw one in central Florida looked 4" wing tip to wing tip. Biggest moth I've ever seen

3 inches give or take. I have taken some pics of Sphinx moths that were huge! Luna moths too. 

 

Luna Moth, Old Stone Fort State Park, Manchester, Tennessee.

 

Picked me up a new Shield Plus.

This little attack ninja saved me yesterday while I was kayak fishing.  He swooped down out of nowhere and killed a wasp that had been bugging me for hours.  It was cool to watch.