Knocking around the zoo on a Saturday afternoon in a zoo-style trick or treat extravaganza we happened upon the same Praying Mantis we encountered months before in downtown Louisville.

Roaming Kentucky-based praying mantis courtesy of Squallis Puppeteers -- supplying creatively ugly puppets for such functions as the Louisville Zoo trick-or-treat night and the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project. Because what says reproductive freedom better than a ten-foot-tall praying mantis?




Here is the very rarely seen "gummy Dorothy" from the "Wizard of Floss".






We carved our pumpkins -- mine is the self-portrait on the right.




Tammy-Faye-o-Lantern!




We also returned to Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge on the way back home.





This is the same tree that attacked her in the Spring.




That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

Among weekend's amazing discoveries that can be shown semi-publicly are riding a horse:

That's Kristin doing the stirrups -- she got the ornery horse, b/c she's the most experienced jockey. The hour-long trek afforded pristine views of brand new spring blossoms and horse's behinds.

On to more discoveries. Here's Gen. Clark pointing at something or other.


It's a little known fact that Gen. Clark was fifteen feet tall, had one arm permanently locked in the "pointing" position, and carried a small girl attached to his foot.




What amazing discovery could they be pointing at???




Turns out it's just Indiana. Gen. Clark was apparently pointing to the nearest Wal-Mart, home of everyday low prices.




Keep Louisville weird!





Rare "Killer Maple" tree (the Native American name is the "Ack-Ack") in Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge -- that's in Indiana, about an hour past the Wal-Mart.






The Wood Duck trail in Muscatatuck NWR. We discovered through picking petals on white flowers that many people "love us" while some "love us not" -- very wise flowers.

I love a good facade -- so does the city of Louisville, KY. In fact, they just remove the buildings and keep the facades.