These are recently taken photos of one of our backyard lavender plants.  It was only by luck that we noticed the strange phenomena known as molting, whereby some insects shed their exoskeletons.  Grasshopper nymphs do this 5 to 6 times before reaching adulthood, after which they die in about 2 months.  This fellow will probably enjoy one of my purposely-unprotected Asian bok choy plants, which I leave for the butterflies (and their larva) to enjoy.  Since this writing, a second grasshopper has been discovered already emerged from her exoskeleton.

Quoth the Raven, “Feed me more!”

While staying at the Mount Laguna Lodge, my wife and I received a visit from one of the forest’s friendly neighbors.  Seems the raven, who was a pet of a local resident, had escaped several weeks before—with the unlucky owner repeatedly thwarted in retrieving the bird.  However, many cabin renters in the area were lucky enough to be introduced by this welcome lunch-and-dinner party crasher, who was unafraid to venture through a cabin’s open door.

Love these magical moments.

‘yor