A painter by the name of Paddy Murphy, while not a brilliant scholar, was a gifted portrait artist. Over a short number of years, his fame grew and soon people from all over Ireland were coming to him in the town of Doolin, County Clare, to get him to paint their likenesses. One day, a beautiful young English woman arrived at his house in a stretched limo and asked Paddy if he would paint her in the nude. This being the first time anyone had made such a request, Paddy was a bit perturbed, particularly when the woman told him that money was no object; in fact, she was willing to pay up to $10,000. Not wanting to get into any marital strife, Paddy asked her to wait while he went into the house to confer with Mary, his wife. In a few minutes he returned. "T'would be me pleasure to paint yer portrait, missus," he said. "The wife says it's okay." "I'll paint ya in da nude alright, but I has to at least leave me socks on so I has a place to wipe me brushes."................. Rusty

In this morning’s paper. It made me think of Jasdip’s quiz today.

The woman that took this picture grew up across the street from me - I've known her since she was born. She became a naturalist with the local park system and just retired after working there for 31 yrs. She still is very involved with nature, One of her many projects every summer is to raise moths from eggs. She just told me that she has sold over $5000 worth of moth eggs over the internet this past year. The rest of the moths she cares for are raised to lay eggs the following year. She raises Io moths, Lunas, Hickory Horned Devils. Sphinx, Prometheus - these are Cecropia caterpillars ready to make cocoons for the winter. She really loves her critters.

Carol, Roxie LOVED going out on the balcony in the snow.