Something similar happened about ten years ago. I was on my way to the chicken coop to feed and heard beagles whooping and then a loud bang. It was close enough that I could smell the sulfur of the gunsmoke (I used to hunt, I know what it smells like). And there are five guys behind beagles with shotguns and I assume light loads in them more suited to rabbit than deer. Well, they'd just flushed a deer (again out of season) so they plugged her. I saw her run off and they looked up to see me and know they'd been 'outed'. So, of course they were playing dumb and didn't finish her off. She ran across the road, nearly wrecking a car as she ran in front of it and my friend who has a farm across the road found her body days later curled up in a culvert where she hid until she bled to death or died from shock. The 'great hunters' of course disappeared immediately. I talked to the farmer who owned the land adjacent and he rarely let anyone hunt it, but made an exception. When I let him know what kind of people were hunting it, I can guarantee you they never hunted it again. When the opportunity arose, I bought that land so now I have control. But, that doesn't stop people evidently.

I think we are getting what you guys normally get here in Oklahoma, and surrounding states. We've had so many this year, especially the QM, PVS, and BST. But, this doesn't happen to us very often, that's for sure. I've seen Monarchs, but no eggs yet. But, I've had a lot of other species to focus on so it's been a very good year! Sorry about not having any yet, Mary, but I bet your population will pick up soon. I know, everybody used to tell me that, too - not what you really want to hear, huh? I guess we just have to take the precocious nature of butterflies into account - some years they're here and some years they aren't, or in very low numbers. I believe they follow the weather patterns. We've had so much rain this year, well into the end of July, and way over our normal rainfall for the entire year. Now, it's getting hot and humid and the jet stream has moved up north so we are back in our normal pattern. They may soon be moving south again. Susan

Caligal, it really sounds like you want to stay with your current home. However, I'll just point out that right now the inventory of foreclosed homes gives people unprecedented chances to obtain homes they could not hope to have before and many will not be able to afford in future (let's hope no more such "wonderful" home markets). I don't mean go looking just for a bigger home (although in your case some additional size would be nice), but rather a lifestyle improvement: A decent home in a location that is particularly desirable to you. You know, location, location, location. Things like good schools, a pretty sociable neighborhood, close to family, en route between friends and mall (they'll be dropping in), favorite amenities close by (cows in pastures or high-density shopping, your choice), good proximity and transportion to work. Whatever floats your boat. If you're not already in a place you'd really like to raise your children and even be happy growing old, this current opportunity to make your home there should not be passed up for any but the most important reasons.

Good morning KT friends. After a tossing and turning kind of night, I'll have to put last night and the stolen meds behind me.....with a HUGE lesson learned!! We will not be trusting of anyone again. Sad, isn't it? Yes, a big part of this is our fault, having the meds on a table out in the open, but we didn't expect any company. If any neighbors drop in, it during the daytime. There were no refills on the prescription, so that is all they will get from us, and I hope they choke on it. After talking to a couple neighbors, we think Shelly passed the pills off to a gal who is a caretaker to an elderly lady, and a real low-life type, so it was easy for her to sy the Police could search her APT, and we all know he can't unless he gets a warrant. I'm not shaking any more but I'm still really pi$$ed.