Beautiful spider in our front yard

I spotted this spider and had to take a picture!  Isn't it beautiful?  The web too!

The Black and Yellow Argiope is a common orb web spider. Orb web means it spins a web like a circle.

Female spiders are much larger than males, growing almost an inch and a half long. Males grow about 3/4 inch long. Both spiders have a cephalothorax (small front body section) with silver hairs on it. The abdomen (large back section) is egg-shaped with black and yellow coloring.

Legs of these spiders are black with red or yellow bands. Each leg has three claws on the end.

Black and Yellow Argiopes live in fields and gardens. They can be found on shrubs, tall plants, and flowers.

The web of this spider spirals out from the center and can be two feet across. The female builds the large web, and a male will build a smaller web on the outer part of her web. The male's web is a thick zig-zag of white silk.

The Hendy's are in town!

Yeay!  Connie and Chris arrived to share some Grimes Family time together!  We love it that they are close enough to drive here to meet us! 

Sister ♥

Sampling of Sarasota Sun Fun!

We had SUCH an awesome dinner and time out with Nana and Poppy tonight!

And Lia got an beautiful princess dress today also!  So happy!

 

 

Family picture!

We're so happy to be in Sarasota with my parents!

Sarasota sun and pool

We're down here in sunny beautiful Florida visiting my parents.  Of course, we're at the pool, Lia's favorite place to be! 

I love taking pictures from my phone and playing around with what Instagram can do to the pictures, thanks to Patti for telling me I need this app.  It's awesome and a great way to keep up with other friend's and family's pictures. 

Here's my little swimmer. 

She actually learned how to swim in this pool and continues to do well here.

Flower arranging

I just ♥ growing Zinnias....and combining them with herbs and vegetable plants for colorful beautiful flower arrangements.  When I made a lot at one time I share with friends, neighbors and Lia's teachers.

Red's Game!!!

My friends hooked us up with awesome seats for the game tonight, and 4 tickets.   

We decided to bring Lia's friend Stella. 

It was a really fun REALLY hot night! 

Gourmet Sensations with Connie!

I won tickets to this awesome food event from posting an answer to a food question Amy Tobin asked on FB and invited a fellow foodie to join me - my sister Connie! 

 And then I ran into someone I used to work with at Culinary Sol at the event!

We enjoyed great food + drink and time together!

Eagle Valley Campground swimming....last day!

We're camping and it's the last day for the pool to be open.  It wasn't really that hot or that sunny but we wanted to take advantage of the pool.

Poor Frank - Lia said she wanted to go in again so he got in (it's kind of chilly) and then she said she didn't want to get in.  But he was a really really good sport! 

And then she got in!  :)