Annual Family Christmas Portraits

I've been forcing David and the cats to do an annual portrait since Nummy and Pita were babies. You can gradually see the cats become less tolerant of it through the years. Bart, Lisa and Maggie all went into hiding and totally refused to pose this year. They are still hiding as I type this in fact. Here is the whole collection of portraits for your enjoyment, or horror, depending on how you feel about making cats pose for pictures:

December 25, 2018 - Barty, David, Me.












December 25, 2018 - Barty, David, Maggie, Me. I don't think we will ever get Lisa to pose with us again - in fact I was surprised when I looked back and realized that she posed in 2010 - I think that might be a typo.










December 25, 2018 - Barty, David, Me, NummyMuffinCoocolButter. Sadly, we lost PITA to diabetes this year. On the one hand, we miss him, on the other hand there is less bloodshed in the house during picture taking time.







December 4, 2017 - David, Pita, and me. Pita was not a happy camper. He is our grumpy old man now.

















December 4, 2017 - David, NummyMuffinCoocolButter, and me. Nummy posed nice, but he sure didn't want to.

December, 2016 - Maggie, David, Me and NummyMuffinCoocolButter. We rejected this one from being on our card because David's hat was in front of my face. But I do like the way Nummy looks somewhat angelic here. But we all know better.

December, 2016 - Maggie, David, Bart and me. We rejected this one because David's hat was covering my face again and the back drop was crooked. But Maggie and Barty posed pretty well.

December, 2016 - Maggie, David, Me and NummyMuffinCoocolButter. Third time's a charm - this is the version we put on our holiday card.

December, 2015 Pita. Little twit can't pose this nice when it's a group shot!

December, 2015 with Nummy and Pita.

December, 2014 with Pita and Nummy.

December, 2013 with Pita. No one else would pose this year, what a bunch of party pooper kitties we have. This year, Barty refused to pose at all, even after being offered salmon treats. Pita was surprisingly tolerant this year.

December, 2012 with Nummy looking particularly psycho.

December, 2012 with Pita looking quite photogenic, but I forgot to take off my glasses

December, 2012 with Pita.

December, 2011 - Test shot with me and Pita

December, 2011 - with Barty and Nummy with an evil eye

December, 2011 - With Nummy and Barty, but I forgot to take off my glasses.

December, 2011 - with Barty and Nummy

December, 2010 -  with Pita and Barty

December, 2010 -  Rare shot of Lisa and Barty

December, 2009 - with Pita looking psycho and Nummy. In fact, you can see that my forehead is bleeding. I think it was Pita who whacked me right before we took the picture.

December, 2009 with Barty

December, 2008 with Barty

December, 2008 with Pita and Nummy

December, 2007 with Pita and Nummy

December, 2006 with Pita and Nummy

Need help identifying some bugs...

Click on pictures to enlarge. Thanks for confirming/denying if you can!

1. Male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - Taken Oct 14 at Lake Apopka (Clay Island area)
   
2. Carolina Saddlebag (Tramea carolina) - Taken Oct 14 at Lake Apopka (Clay Island area)
   
3. Obscure Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca obscura) - Taken Oct 14 at Lake Idamere, Tavares FL
   
4. Florida Harvester Ant - Pogonomyrmex badius - Taken Oct 14 at Lake Idamere, Tavares FL
   
5. I found this little spider (body is about 3mm, from longest leg to longest leg a little over 6mm) in my bathroom (Fellsmere) last year, have not found a positive ID. I think she might be a Asagena fulva. Someone suggested it might be a male Steatoda grossa, but I don't think the coloring or size is quite right - this was super tiny.
   
   The following set aren't as high quality pictures, but I think they show the color and body shape a little more accurately.
     

Making Random Stuff

I think I should start a business where in I just make random stuff for people. Here is a bunch of random stuff I have made for gifts, non-profits, and business. Click photos to enlarge/see detail. Drop me an email if you need some kinda random thing made.

Advertising rocks for the Heritage center's
New Year's Eve party.

Front of a rock, made as a sample for arts
and crafts thing at the ELC.

Back of  the same rock cause I thought
it was funny.

Pokemon Magicarp hat, made
as a gift for a friend.

The display rack for the magnets
we sell at Ditch 13. I made the magnets too.

Vulture scratch art for me, just
cause I like vultures

Clip are that I drew for the Heritage center for their
 fliers for some upcoming events.

Belted Kingfisher I did for me. It's
hanging above my desk. 

Bird bookmarks for the ELC kids arts and crafts.

Advertising rock for the Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival.

Commissioned cross stitch. Adapted from a pattern.

Cover of our Nature of Indian River calendar. The photography
and design are all mine. The technical correctness is David's work

Lovebirds. Wedding gift.

Advertising rock for the Vero Beach Heritage
Center and Citrus Museum.

Custom holiday stocking for David. 

Cardinal muppet-style puppet for an environmental
education camp.

Jigglypuff puppet gift.

Ring-neck snake. Was made a prototype for another project.

Northern Lapwing drawing. Birthday card. 

Scrubjay painted paving stone for environmental
center bird ID scavenger hunt thing.

Pileated Woodpecter and Roseate Spponbill painted paving
stones for environmental center bird ID scavenger hunt thing.

Cardinal and Mockingbird painted paving stones for
environmental center bird ID scavenger hunt thing.

Plover painted rock. Holiday gift.