Ladybugs

[mahogany]

It all started a few months ago, when I noticed about thirty lady bugs on the wall of our balcony. A few of them must have flown in when I opened the door because all of a sudden, we were the hosts to about three or four new guests.

I can’t really explain why, but I didn’t really mind having them around. Well, my little guests have gone forth and multiplied, and now we have ladybugs buzzing around the lights, on the computer screen, on the television screen, sauntering along on the furniture. All in all, there probably aren’t that many (Jason escorted about half a dozen outside yesterday), and we probably only have another ten or so left. But still, they’re BUGS, icky nasty bugs. Why am I so attached to them?

So the next time I decide to go on some weird “Oh, we can’t kick the ladybugs out, they’re our friends,” I have given my family full permission to give me shit.

Comments

[snowwhitetan.livejournal.com]

Haha, I love it. I used to get attached to Ladybugs and caterpillars. For some reason, they don't seem so much like bugs.

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one :-D

My one-track mind

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Here's a couple of Canadian suppliers:

http://www.avemariascircle.com/
http://www.stjosephsmailorder.com/

(I've never used them before, but that way you don't get screwed with exchange rates...or I can buy them because a lot of suppliers won't charge Americans taxes.)

St. Joseph Mail Order used to be really respected, but they got weird over the past few years.

Our Lady's Rosary Makers: http://www.olrm.net has never screwed me over.

Re: My one-track mind

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and if you're in Seattle, we should get the gang together. (soeursansmerci, meathelmet, and blurt--but he works nights)

Re: My one-track mind

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

That would be so cool. Initially, I was thinking I might only head down if I couldn't find dance shoes, but now I'm thinking I might head down regardless.

I looked at the links you recommended. Were you thinking that I should go ahead and purchase the supplies and then mail them to you? I think I can pretty much figure out the beads and centres, but the other stuff has me at a bit of a loss. I don't know how much or what kinds of chains I need to buy. Is there other stuff that I need to order?

Re: My one-track mind

[garpu.livejournal.com]

You can, if you want and see something there. I make them using wire, not eyepins and chain. So don't worry about that. :) If the stuff you see is on Our Lady's Rosary Makers, I just re-upped my very-late dues, so I can order from them again. (If you want sterling, I don't keep that on hand, but I've got brass and nickel silver.)

Re: My one-track mind

[garpu.livejournal.com]

http://www.firemountaingems.com/

Just found that link. :)

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

There's something a little magical about ladybugs. Don't know that I'd want them flying around in my house though :)

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

There is something magical about them. I can't quite put my finger on what...

[tatianne.livejournal.com]

LOL... well, one year about 8 or 9 years ago there were some freak weather conditions and the ladybugs here swarmed. I literally had so many in my kitchen I could no longer see the two large flourescent lights. In the end we ended up having to resort to using Raid against them because while 2 or 3 were fine. I could have even lived with 20 or 30 in the house ... but several thousand were just too much.

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Oh.My. That doesn't sound like much fun at all. I don't think I'd deal too well with several thousand either.

[jessicaem.livejournal.com]

I don't remember if I was telling you this before. I told someone, and if it was you, forgive me. Anyway, ladybugs are supposed to signify Our Lady, her presense or something.

I've been thinking for years about writing a story involving a ladybug swarm and someone's reluctance to get rid of them because of Our Lady. Hee!

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard that before, so after I read your comment, I of course googled it to find the origins, and ended up finding this: http://fisheaters.com/marygardens.html Maybe you can plant one in Conneticut? Have a safe trip btw (you probably won't read this till you get there anyhow, but I'm sending lots o love your way).

[zaftigvegan.livejournal.com]

as far as insects go, ladybugs are probably one of the least icky nasty. they aren't interested in our food, they don't bite or sting, and they don't seem to be carriers of disease. i'd be happy to have a few around the house. :)

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're definitely not on par with oh, I don't know...silverfish, or earwigs, or or huge hairy spiders...those things definitely top my ick list.

[ladybugs984.livejournal.com]

i have always loved ladybugs ever since i was a little girl. My grandmother (who died when i was very little) had some refrigerator magnets with ladybugs on them and i've always loved them because they gave me good grandmothery feelings.

Also when DH and I were going through hard times when we were dating (my parents wouldn't let me see him) on my worst days (i went through some depression) even int he middle of winter, i'd find ladybugs in the strangest places. MY DH would also tell me that he would be working in the warehouse and one would land on his shoulder.

Whenever i hear someone say that they have a ladybug infestation in their house and that they were going to "get rid of them" it makes me sad. but then again i live in sunny california and i've never had that experience. I've only gotten maybe one or two inside the house and i've escorted them out. Of coarse there was t hat one time i was pregnant with my son and i found a dead ladybug in my house. I cried for hours and then buried it in my houseplant. But then again pregnant women are crazy ;)

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Hi,

Thanks for dropping a line and sharing your ladybug experiences.

You can imagine my surprise (a pleasant one), when I noticed that someone with ladybug in their username replied to this post, only a day after I wrote it! Life is full of neat coincidences.

:-D

[schneckerock.livejournal.com]

we had a swarm some years ago. and then we had a swarm of those beetles that look like lady bugs but they're orange, not red. and those guys are icky.

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Are they bigger than ladybugs? 'Cause some of the ladybugs we have are kind of orange coloured...

Hope you're feeling better, soon.

[schneckerock.livejournal.com]

you know, I haven't seen a real ladybug in so long I really couldn't tell you!

thanks, I am! hopefully completely in the next day or two...

[czaria.livejournal.com]

I heard something last year, I don't recall where now, about ladybug dung (tiny though it may be) causing respiratory problems. In the same way dust mites do, I suppose.

We get swarms of ladybugs here in the late spring, early fall, and they're particularly fond of our house. They seem to be drawn to white and other light colors.

[mahogany.livejournal.com]

Eeeew!!! Ladybug dung. Now that sounds nasty. Good thing we don't have too many!!