Tuesday, July 22, 2008

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The other night I released hundreds of ladybugs at the base of our rose bushes. For those of you that might not know, ladybugs are an excellent form of green pest control, feasting on aphids and scale insects, not to mention the luck they supposedly bring to one's household.
What surprised me most, however, is that the next morning I awoke to find this in my garden:

One knock-kneed littlebug waiting patiently for Halloween. Ma petite coccinelle avec le sourire d'un chat de cheshire.
What I did not know about ladybugs is that they are wildly attracted to household pets. They chase them around the yard emitting a high-pitched squeal while trying to stick one little ladybug finger in the cat's behind.

I noticed that this confused the ladybug, the fact that the cat did not like plump ladybug fingers or even felt feelers in its butt.

But the ladybug quickly regained her composure once she remembered she could fly.

And fly she did.

Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home! We won't get into the part about the house being on fire and the children being gone. This is a Midsummer Night's Dream, after all, not a nightmare.
And just because it's Tuesday and Tuesday is not known for much aside from the occassional two-for-one deal at Taco Bell, here are some ladybug factoids to get you through the day, courtesy of one Miss Zoey Dimon Lady Beetle, Princess of Wings and Purses, Lip Balm and Lillypops, a girl for whom every day deserves costume.
Ladybug Fact #1. In Europe, during the Middle Ages, insects were destroying the crops, so the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Ladybugs came, ate the plant-destroying pests and saved the crops. The farmers began calling the ladybugs "The Beetles of Our Lady," and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles." The red wings represented the Virgin's cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows.
Ladybug Fact #2. In Sweden, folks believe that if a ladybug lands on a young maiden's hand, she will soon be getting married. The number of spots indicate the number of children she will have.
Ladybug Fact #3. If you find a ladybug in your house, count the number of spots and that is how many dollars you will soon receive.
Ladybug Fact #4. In England, finding a ladybug means that you will have a good harvest.
Ladybug Fact #5. In France, if you are sick and a ladybug lands on you, when it flies away, it will take the sickness with it.
Ladybug Fact #6. If a ladybug has more than seven spots, then there will be a famine. If it has less than seven, then there will be a good harvest.
Ladybug Fact #7, also known as Disgusting Ladybug Fact #1. At one time, doctors would mash up ladybugs and put them in a cavity to cure a toothache.
Now go put on some feelers. Or at the very least, a pair of wings.

20 comments:

I ♥ You said...

seriously- i hope some model/talent scout reads your blog (freudian slip..I just typed "bong") and signs that little lady bug to a big contract. i can't get over how gorgeous and photogenic she is! just think, you could quit your soul sucking jobs....and be a stage mom.

Baking With Plath said...

Your little lady bug is the cutest lady bug I have ever seen!

thekettrickfive said...

OK where did you find the ladybugs?! I asked at a local nursery and Home Depot (the lady there thought I was crazy for wanting ladybugs - had never heard they were good for the garden). Can't find them anywhere!

Gin said...

Zoe is so precious I could pinch her little face off.

Robin said...

Zoey is so adorable!
I hope the ladybugs keep your garden healthy & happy - it looks lovely.

syleegurl said...

that is the cutest FREAKING thing I've ever seen! made my day...

Anonymous said...

Your daughter is seriously beautiful. Supermodel material you have there.

NucMEd is Hot said...

How cute is she?!?

ZDub said...

What a precious little Zoey bear.

Erin said...

That is too cute! And thanks for the tip on the ladybug pest control. I did not know that. Gonna have to get me some.

sarah said...

I just found your blog through Baby On Bored (your comment about bonding w/ strangers over needles and cocktails cracked me up--I am so with you on walking into social situations like that--anxiety attack-inducing at the very best).

Your little one is adorable! And big fat *ew* on ladybugs mashed up for a toothache. Wrong on so many levels.

Miss to Mrs said...

That was the perfect post for a Tuesday. Thank you!

Jessie said...

Ok, so this past winter was our first in the Midwest, and we discovered something about living here that would make your little rosebuds quite happy...

When the weather starts to get cool, the homes become infested with ladybugs! They apparently are trying to stay warm and end up finding ways to get in. The next thing you know, you're lying in bed in the morning, and you look up at the ceiling, and there are at least a dozen of them there. Just staring at you. Waiting for you to wake up and get your(my) lazy ass out of bed.

You could probably harvest them and make a living. Will look into this.

72 and sunny said...

that is one adorable child. how do you not squeeze those cheeks?

Petunia Face said...

Hi all,
To answer your questions, yes, I DO pinch her cheeks all the time. And yes, I do nibble at her hands, her tummy, her toes. She is delish.
And yes, I did try to pimp her out once by taking her to an open call for a Parenting magazine cover. When she didn't get it I felt as if I had been kicked in my uterus so I figure it's best not to go that route. For now. You know, until she's like the age of Dano Plato in Different Strokes.

As for the ladybugs--we bought ours at Sloat, a local gardening store. I would continue to ask around for them because they're so beneficial for your garden and so pretty and happy and, um, red.

Thank you all for the Zoey compliments!

Tara @ Pacific Bride Guide said...

The cutest ladybug ever. She's such a doll!

Anonymous said...

Adorable!

Now, I will have to start counting spots on ladybugs when they land on me to determine my fate =)

j

Petunia Face said...

Lapetitemort = my new favorite screen name EVER.

Sarah said...

She is the cutest little bug EVER!

Jenny, the Bloggess said...

I am dying from the cuteness. For real.