Went to a non-local indoor mountain bike park on Monday (Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park). Absolutely loved it. When we arrived, found some damage from high winds over the previous two days - nothing particularly terrible, just some brick facade had fallen down.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ed5afa4f14.jpg

And then there was that kind truck that broke it's fall. This obviously wasn't a 2016 Silverado, because I've seen the 2016 Silverado take more of a beating and not show any wear.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ee8397fa2e.jpg

That's pretty much the same thing, right?

This morning, I saw an animal in my backyard that I'm not used to seeing. My immediate first reaction was "black squirrel!"...I quickly realized that I was mistaken. What the fuck is this creature? Sorry for the bigfoot-esque grainy video. I had only my zoomed in cell phone camera on me in the heat of the moment.

After some further Initial research, it seems likely that I recorded an American Mink. In 34.5 years of life in Ohio, I've never, ever (ever) seen one. I didn't even know they were a thing.

El Chupacabra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra

(Pretty sure that's a mink. There used to be a whole industry surrounding its' pelt and oil.)

What a great thing to happen at 4am. How does this even happen? There isn't even high load, the chain should snap long before this shaft. In guessing it's not proper shaft material.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...d00e1986b7.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...dfb3c9abdb.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...80d392d5ad.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...68ae628272.jpg

do chupachbras make nice coats also?

(My phone did not recognize my misspelling of chupacabra...nor does it recognize Bigfoot. Conspiracy? I think so.)

If you like those at all you might like my FB group. " I love Terrible ugly cars". come join 4,700 other people that prefer buying junky toys than new cars.

I want to post a couple of pictures from the yard.

Arabica coffee tree is blooming!

Another strawberry flower blooming and I am starting to see broccoli mature.

Red and white Salvia are native to this area. The flowers that open on a given day fall off that same night.

Aloe plant is getting quite large and is about to bloom again. See the shoots up high that are about to flower.

Coreopsis and milkweed are native to this area and are food for various pollinators and some striped caterpillars which make large butterflies. I can't remember their scientific name right now but they are commonly called Black Swallowtail.

Milkweed is a common delight for Monarch caterpillars... perhaps the same one you're thinking of?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cd09739593.jpg

It's dark now but I thought they were the green striped ones and the monarch caterpillars have no green, but I think you are correct and I have them crossed. I think the green caterpillars (black Swallowtail) were on the fennel.

Aww bummer, no more using explosions at work without a permit. :(


Also, I'm not sure that's the proper use of the word "facsimile". But maybe, I'm a retarded so I don't know.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e1669c3cad.png

You are right, these caterpillars didn't have the green stripes. These are definitely monarchs. Sorry picture is blurry but I was getting wet because the sprinklers were running.