Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home--PLEASE!!

I thought, for some reason, that since we made it into October without the annual ladybug infestation, we were in the clear for this year.  Sadly, I was very wrong.  The LB's made their appearance a couple of days ago and are everywhere.  If you go outside in the warmth of the afternoon, you soon have them all crawling all over.  I've heard that the LB's live in the soybean fields eating the aphids and once the soybeans are harvested, they need to find a new home.

The last two days we have been busy working on our fall chore list.  John got the last of the tomatoes out of the garden and dug the potatoes.  His potato crop was pretty impressive this year.  The grape vines have been cut back, the oldest strawberry plants pulled, and the garden tilled.  It's now put to bed until next spring.

These potatoes weighed over two pounds each

 The forecast is for cooler weather, so I think it's safe to start putting the shorts and other summer clothes away.  I have been spending some time cleaning out the closet and getting our fall and winter gear out.  The weather has been warmer than normal, but one keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop.  These days can't last much longer.  The leaves have passed their peak as far as color goes and are falling at a rapid rate.  Won't be long before all we'll see is bare and brown, but for right now we are still enjoying our beautiful flowers.  I took some more pictures today and found we had many bees and grasshoppers resting on the blooms.

 This guy liked posing for the camera

We had a major sports conflict this evening.  Hanna had a volleyball game at home while Sam had a game in Grand Forks.  John and I split up with him going with Matt to watch Sam play and Sara and I watched Hanna's games.  Tonight was Parents' Night at the volleyball game and Hanna presented me and Sara with very beautiful yellow daisies.  Next week ends the fall sports season, so we'll have a nice break before basketball starts.