Dilly-Dally (7/ 2)

It's hot at the swamp, and the carnivorous bugs of the area have taken it upon themselves to launch a militant assault on my delicate person.

But that's okay! It's all about attitude- it's hot? It could be hotter. Bugs are eating me up? I'll always have my personality.

I also saw another otter today, so that basically smoothed everything over. I was out on Washington ditch, taking my time, taking pictures of water control structures and the refuge as I wandered around (Fred is back, and has a pile of things to do) and there it was.

It was standing upright, the way prarie dogs and meerkats do, as confident and resolute as a statue. I was driving towards it when the brown figure caught my eye. I made a really girly, excited sound, not unlike the noises that I make when puppychow commercials come on between my cop dramas and made for tv movies. I tried to take a picture, but it just scampered away, evading me to attend to whatever pressing otter business it had to attend to.

Anyway, I'm going to give your brain a break, have some pictures:

This sits right on the entrance to Washington Ditch.
I can't explain what it's like to work where one of our
 founding fathers worked and made his own living.

The tiny brown spot on the right it the otter, I promise.

Lake Drummond from the Washington Ditch viewing platform.

Nine miles of ditch, built by slaves. Incredible, right?

I want to say these are Tiger Swallowtail butterfilies, but don't quote me on that- there are so many different species fluttering around.

...species diversity? 

This was right off of Washington today, scenery like this blankets the refuge,
which is why I'm loving it so much. I had the urge to ditch (get it?)
 my duties today and go hiking through this.

Some history!

More of the lake! Easily one of the most beautiful sites on the refuge.