tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post8544241879157697517..comments2023-10-24T11:39:30.499-04:00Comments on Inside Storey: The Bountiful Bug Basket GiveawayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-22912515881067105492012-08-15T10:11:23.072-04:002012-08-15T10:11:23.072-04:00Mindie is the Grand Prize Winner!
First, I want t...Mindie is the Grand Prize Winner!<br /><br />First, I want to thank all the contest entrants — I loved all of your stories. They were enjoyable and so fun to read. I wish I could give all 80 of you the prize. However, I tallied up the votes from our eight Storey judges, and Minide’s bug story received the most points.<br /><br />While I can't give a prize to all contest entrants, I would like to award a smaller prize for our 2nd and 3rd place winners. Crystalwoman57, the 2nd place winner, will receive one copy each of <i>Attracting Native Pollinators</i> and <i>The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs</i>. Wagnerslp, the 3rd place winner, will receive one copy each of <i>The Nature Connection</i> and <i>The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs</i>. <br /><br />Winners, please email your mailing address (not a PO Box, prize will not fit!) to <a href="mailto:kristy.rustay@storey.com" rel="nofollow">kristy.rustay@storey.com</a>. We will not save, sell, or use this address for any other purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-32157821438416270142012-08-12T17:33:54.077-04:002012-08-12T17:33:54.077-04:00I asked my 5year old what he had to say about bugs...I asked my 5year old what he had to say about bugs....<br /><br /> "Bugs are real special, because they can do so many really special things. They can freeze really still and look like a stick, they can actually like blend into their surroundings, they can be really fast hoppers, they can metamorphis into new looking creatures, some goods bugs eat the bad bugs in our garden, and they can even eat poop and our compost and make it into new soil. Pretty awesome huh Mom?"<br /><br />He had a lot to say!!!<br />He asked that I write his name on here as well!<br />Mekhi Conzo-Howell 5yrsnicoleconzo@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-11060627970828106962012-08-11T16:23:00.759-04:002012-08-11T16:23:00.759-04:00Well I don't have just one story... we love bu...Well I don't have just one story... we love bugs they fascinate both my husband and I as well as out 3 children. I often wake up to a large jar with a temporary bug habitat next to the coffee pot in the morning where my husband has collected some neat creature for us all to observe before releasing it. I would love to win this giveaway as my middle son will be studying bugs this year in our homeschooling lessons. A topic I know we will all enjoy!Lothlorienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618781937867498491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-7144112765431063022012-08-11T08:39:52.904-04:002012-08-11T08:39:52.904-04:00This summer has been a fun Cicada summer for our f...This summer has been a fun Cicada summer for our family (9 year old daughter & 6 year old boy/girl twins). In our experience, Cicadas are often heard but seldom seen. Until this summer, that is. My family was sitting in our lawn chairs and my 9 year old asked me what the big bug was that was sitting on top of our lawn chair cover that we'd dropped on the ground. It was a Cicada! We have seen the shed skins before, but never the "live" Cicadas, so we were very interested in obsesrving it. After a few minutes my daughter told me she thought it was shedding it's skin because it was getting bigger. Sure enough, it was! So over the course of about an hour, my family was able to witness (& take several photos of) the fascinating experience of the Cicada nymph as it molted & morphed into an adult! After it's bright green wings uncurled, we gently relocated it to a tree so it wouldn't get stepped on. Then just a few days later we were walking out of a building and there lying on the sidewalk in front of us was an adult Cicada stuck on it's back. We bent down to see if it was still alive & after determining it was, I decided to help flip it over so it could fly away & not get stepped on. With my children crowded around I gave the bug a little nudge. The Cicada responded by producing the loud sound that they're known for & as it was getting itself righted it took off flying in a circle nearly hitting all of us. My children screamed, jumped, and ran away from this huge, loud insect flying towards their heads! It was startling for all of us (Cicada included, I'm sure) but also so comical that I couldn't help but burst out laughing! My 9 year old then started laughing too, but it took a few minutes for my twins to decide that the situation was humorous as well. Needless to say, after these close encounters with Cicadas this summer, I can definitely say that we have a newly found appreciation for them!<br /><br />mnbell93 (at) yahoo (dot) comNicole Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-52466168987960004402012-08-10T23:15:04.036-04:002012-08-10T23:15:04.036-04:00My husband and I went on a hike in North Dakota, w...My husband and I went on a hike in North Dakota, when we were stationed there. I am originally from NYC and I had not experienced ticks during my youth. After the hike I was told by a dozen of our friends to run home and check our bodies because the area is infested with them! I was horrified because like I said I not happen to worry about them when I camped or went hiking. I got all freaked out and when we got home and undressed in our tiny bathroom I finally had an encounter!!!! My husband started to laugh and tells me that I have not ONE but FOUR on my Lower thighs!!!! HOWEVER, before he could tell me how many I JUMPED Up and down as if it were going to shack them off, leaped onto the toilet and ripped out the towel rack. It took a few minutes for my husband to calm me down so I would relax my legs and let him remove the ticks! <br /><br />I was so embarrassed! My husband makes fun of me every time we see a dear or when we go out into the woods! He will whisper in my ears, "Remember the time we went hiking and..." I never not laugh at this moment in my life. I thought I was so grown and tough being in the military - when a tick finally broke my pride! <br /><br />Even if don't win, I thank you for this blog and a chance to laugh again while sharing!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17600803919484313359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-43871356306924519622012-08-09T15:37:07.084-04:002012-08-09T15:37:07.084-04:00We have a lot of bugs in the backyard that eat all...We have a lot of bugs in the backyard that eat all the fruit.<br /><br />bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)combn100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-17959042870554579532012-08-08T17:22:52.379-04:002012-08-08T17:22:52.379-04:00This year we are noticing "cicada killing was...This year we are noticing "cicada killing wasps" around our yard. We were fascinated watching one of these huge wasps try to tote a cicada to its whole in the ground. It is the first time we've every noticed them (but also our first time living in a different part of the state than before). Your give-away looks fabulous!!Jannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10650311965248826479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-42650916038971025312012-08-08T16:46:41.825-04:002012-08-08T16:46:41.825-04:00I’m entering for my kids! They love bugs. They o...I’m entering for my kids! They love bugs. They often try and bring them indoors but my husband hates them. My son (7) is so very interested in anything buggish we find. Recently he discovered the skin of what I called a June Bug (I live in NC and my mom has always told me these are June Bug skins). He insisted we come in to look it up online and see what the bug that left the skin looks like. Oh my gosh!, can I just tell you I was more confused than before. I was always told these shells/skins were from June bugs. Now I have no idea what they are. Online we learned June Bugs do not shed their skin. Surprised we found that these skins might belong to what is called a Cicada. These bugs are very different than June Bugs. The point of this story is our family could way use all the items in The Bountiful Bug Basket Giveaway especially the books.<br />Thank You for the chance to win such and awesome gift!!!<br />TPottsTPotts70https://www.blogger.com/profile/06543310642130120362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-17345329084536570262012-08-08T10:25:07.858-04:002012-08-08T10:25:07.858-04:00Once I was at the beach and I saw a dragonfly. It ...Once I was at the beach and I saw a dragonfly. It was all red and it had red polka dots on its wings. It was flying around. I could not get my eye off it. I thought it was so pretty and my dad told me a fun story he heard on the radio. It was about a guy who knew a lot about dragonflies. Once he went to his garden and saw fat dragonflies. Then I started looking at the polka dot winged dragonfly. It was a beautiful sight. The End.Sophia, age 7noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-89440277760082766662012-08-08T09:05:19.391-04:002012-08-08T09:05:19.391-04:00'd been keeping bees for about 2 years when I ...'d been keeping bees for about 2 years when I first heard about the mythology of "telling the bees." Lore holds that, should the composition of a household change due to death, marriage, birth, extended houseguests or otherwise, the bees, active members of the immediate community, should be told.<br /><br />I loved that idea, then completely forgot about it. One day, after learning I was newly pregnant, both of my hives swarmed. I was stumped as to why they'd do so, given they'd been topped with plenty of supers and other provisions to ensure their comfort had been made. Then it dawned on me that I'd neglected to tell them about the forthcoming addition to our household.<br /><br />The next time I worked the hives, I told them about my own "little bee" and when he'd be arriving. Neither hive swarmed again that year! Telling the bees is the way to go, it would seem!ashley englishhttp://smallmeasure.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-64827760626812490322012-08-08T09:03:55.709-04:002012-08-08T09:03:55.709-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733602233316266145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-21299411797314105772012-08-07T15:55:44.645-04:002012-08-07T15:55:44.645-04:00One of my most favorite places in the butterfly ho...One of my most favorite places in the butterfly house at the zoo. I grew up with orchards around my house and I caught a lot of bugs, especially butterflies. I want those experiences for my children too. This set would be an amazing addition to their exploration!Ladybug143https://www.blogger.com/profile/01651061811183968928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-55025218662979679582012-08-07T14:00:37.224-04:002012-08-07T14:00:37.224-04:00I was just out cutting down the giant sunflowers. ...I was just out cutting down the giant sunflowers. Some had gone to seed and I was saving the seed from the gluttonous squirrel. Some were gorgeous and I gave most away to neighbors walking down the street. (Lovely site - small children each carrying a giant sunflower.) And one was left. My husband asked why and I told him "the bees weren't done eating that one."Bullwinklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12765320040505378403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-23325517792268885082012-08-07T02:48:48.622-04:002012-08-07T02:48:48.622-04:00My all time favorite bug story: my daughter was a...My all time favorite bug story: my daughter was about two and playing in our backyard. I was inside folding laundry and watching from the den. She had been playing tea party with her older brother and had even offered me a delicious mud pie. She had her back to me and I was pretty sure she was tasting her mud pie. I went into the backyard to stop her to discover that she was actually eating pill bugs. She had turned over a rock in the garden and was popping the unsuspecting bugs into her mouth like popcorn. I brought her inside and quickly called the doctor. I was really relieved to her that there would be no permanent damage. She is now twenty-two and has two beautiful boys, the youngest of whom has already tasted a bug....must be a genetic thing.Vivhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09862088717995113463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-88805725819459664182012-08-06T22:11:54.203-04:002012-08-06T22:11:54.203-04:00We named him Igor. Walking down 4 steps from the k...We named him Igor. Walking down 4 steps from the kitchen you could open the door on the landing and step outside to the narrow path leading to our backyard and garage, or you could turn right and descend further to the basement. Because the stair tread obscured one’s view when going downstairs, no one noticed Igor on the way to the basement. It was on the return trip up to the kitchen that seeing him was unavoidable.<br />Igor was the biggest darkest spider I had ever seen. About the size of a lima bean he was dark gray with black lengthwise stripes. His legs were thick and dark. He made his home, a deeply funneled web, on the third step down from the landing. His web was down in the crack, attached to both the yellow wall and the painted gray wooden steps. Our 3 year old daughter was interested in him. We would stop and watch. Sometimes he would immediately disappear or retreat a bit into his funnel home. As time went by though, he was bold, assured, and stayed at the entrance of his home. I was careful not to disturb his web figuring he would earn his keep consuming other basement bugs. Occasionally the web would appear partly torn or less in size, then looking a day later I would see the funnel deeper and sturdier than ever. One time Igor and his web appeared on the second step below the landing. I am not sure how many days or weeks that he stayed there, but that web disappeared and he resumed tenancy on the third step.<br />Igor seemed to be friendly, shy, protective, and sturdy. Igor lived with us three years. Then one day our wolf spider was gone.SnowCityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14433097389869193925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-34297805128883672192012-08-06T15:44:52.701-04:002012-08-06T15:44:52.701-04:00When I started to get the garden ready this spring...When I started to get the garden ready this spring, it was still cool and I moved a shovel handle where a red wasp was trying to stay warm and before I knew it, I had been stung on the thumb. Now I'm not allergic to these guys but my arm swelled up to my elbow...and it hurt like the dickens!!! Well, as spring turned into summer and the drought hit us really bad, I was determined to keep my container garden thriving. I would water morning and evening. I noticed that the wasps were the prevailing pollinator in my garden so I would give them their space. As the drought worsened I would see the wasps start to congregate around me and the garden hose everytime I watered.... it got so dry that I had wasps crawling on my legs drinking the water that splattered there. it was a really weird feeling letting these potentially painful critters crawl on me but they only wanted water and they were very polite. I have since welcomed them and I try to respect their nests since it seems they like me and my garden!Crystalwoman57https://www.facebook.com/VictoryGardenforHealthierLivesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-49270462469328785742012-08-06T06:51:20.340-04:002012-08-06T06:51:20.340-04:00when I was in college 40 yrs ago my roommate and I...when I was in college 40 yrs ago my roommate and I-we were bio majors brought a praying mantis case into our dorm room and overnight they hatched. hysterical and no problem for us but did we get a talking to from the resident advisor. memory still brings a smileChris turnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-50606788475141400572012-08-06T06:30:42.015-04:002012-08-06T06:30:42.015-04:00I am a Urban Homesteader and would Love to win thi...I am a Urban Homesteader and would Love to win this ! I would use the tools you provide to teach other women in our area the Benefits of bugs ect.and how to make Organic things :)Homestead Tessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787369248232050374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-51782724877760677922012-08-06T03:29:30.524-04:002012-08-06T03:29:30.524-04:00For the last five years I've been trying to le...For the last five years I've been trying to learn how to garden organically, which means no insecticides or pesticides. The idea being to welcome in beneficial critters and insects to help with the plant eating and plant damaging insects. I remember the first time I saw a full grown 'Wheel Bug' in our garden. It was so otherworldly! In all of my life I've never seen another insect like this one! Whenever I am able to, I take photo's of the insects and animals and plant life that inhabit my yard and garden, as a tool to identify them and to learn whether they're a 'pest' or a 'beneficial'. It would be wonderful to win your contest, so to have my tools at my disposal. Thanks so much!Sandra Pettyhttp://www.facebook.com/#!/sanpettynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-50863820900099862072012-08-06T02:21:22.039-04:002012-08-06T02:21:22.039-04:00I love ladybugs! In addition to them looking rath...I love ladybugs! In addition to them looking rather cute, they are beneficial insects.<br /><br />I am hoping to win the basket filled with so much awesome stuff!<br /><br />cilla4@att.netUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565355770044434783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-77117678741577922272012-08-04T18:47:31.271-04:002012-08-04T18:47:31.271-04:00We love insects! My little one is always catching ...We love insects! My little one is always catching them! I especially love praying mantis as they are so good for keeping the bad bugs out of our vegie patch! Thanks xmama appleseedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999221953580687951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-14309768207828954072012-08-04T11:23:00.172-04:002012-08-04T11:23:00.172-04:00Your basket has a magical elixer, Herbal Armor. My...Your basket has a magical elixer, Herbal Armor. My son loves it outside yet is a mosquito magnet. Herbal Armor is the best repellant we have found!!! Now he can hang out with the dragonflies without being eaten alive :-)DeboraWillowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10333654384626325773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-20196866474972287482012-08-03T23:14:10.234-04:002012-08-03T23:14:10.234-04:00I just want to say to all of you, I am surprised a...I just want to say to all of you, I am surprised and so happy to see so many other fellow "bug" lovers and people who care about them like i do , it warms my heart.. i am always trying to save them too and my 3 yr old is taking after her mom.. we are having a very bad summer for black widows and unfortunately they have to go, as i cant risk her getting bitten or any of us, including my son ...anyhow, my daughter is at the stage where *EVERYTHING* HAS TO have a name... and she wants to name every single bug(i am NOT kidding LOL) and she wanted to name the HUGE black widow i found on the back patio and then she cried and begged me not to kill the spider or make the spider go bye bye... it broke my heart, because i truly hate having to kill them and try to do it as quickly and humanely as possible( i know i probly sound nuts lol) and i also say a little prayer for them and ask their forgiveness.. do any of you do this too? just curiousMichelle in Oklahomanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-38814033257237821702012-08-03T23:09:28.138-04:002012-08-03T23:09:28.138-04:00I recently asked my husband if he thought i am the...I recently asked my husband if he thought i am the only person on the planet who waters/feeds the wasps... I used to be very afraid of wasps, as back home in Louisiana they can be very aggressive, especially the mahogany ones. But the past few summers, it is SO hot here in oklahoma and i have noticed the wasps start showing up when i come out and start up the water hose, just like the birds do! they all fly up and wait for the water i put in the birdbath and watering my flowerbeds. and the wasps fly all around me, sometimes even landing on me and never sting me or anything, they just want water. I feel like theyre my "pets" kind of :) I love all "bugs" and now wish(im 43) that i had gone to college to be an entomologist or something similar, as i realise i cant go even an hour without thinking of bugs, watching them, learning about them. -I also spent every day as a child, behind my great grandmothers house in louisiana down at the creek, playing with the crawfish and other critters..well one day i got the bright idea to catch a LOT of crawfish and i toted them all up to the garage where we had one of those really large metal troughs i guess they are? anyhow, theyre about almost 2 ft deep and oval shaped and about 4-5 ft long..i ended up filling the whole trough up with crawfish(i could sell those for probably $9 a lb now haha!) and in my childs mind, i never dreamed they might die..well they did and they stunk up the garage and my 80 something yr old great grandma was SO upset with me LOL :) ...i spoke to our state biologist last week and told him i knew this would sound wierd, but that i went around and collected the cicada shells off the trees etc when i was little and filled up shoeboxes full of them and then i said, well maybe *YOU* wont think its wierd haha and he goes "yeah im probably the one person who *WONT* think thats wierd :) anyhow, ty for the opportunity for such a GREAT giveaway!! its SO up my alley, all the "BUG" stuffs!! :)Michelle in Oklahomanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945534220050354353.post-9956418764414571412012-08-03T11:39:37.336-04:002012-08-03T11:39:37.336-04:009 year old boy's favorite bug- Tarantula. Why?...9 year old boy's favorite bug- Tarantula. Why? "Because it's the biggest! I only have seen pictures, and have read about them". Bad mom, I'll need to get on that. (This mom learned something about her boy today, I thought his favorite bug would have been a hissing cockroach, since he got to cuddle one on his face a couple weeks ago.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com