Mantises!

We are delighted that this year our mantises hatched! Last year we bought an egg case as well, but nothing ever happened. This year though...

 Hundreds of hatchlings!

 And a close-up...

 Setting them free! They hatch with voracious appetites, and if you don't set them free, they'll eat each other!

The kids helped them spread throughout the yard

And we learned that bacon, though delicious, can be very dangerous! M went to fry some in a pan, and even though I backed away, it got me--I've never seen bacon spit that much grease out that far before. I now look like I have a pox of some sort, though lavender oil calmed the pain.