Day of the grasshoppers

Walking out in the preserve today I noticed all these grasshoppers clinging to grass stalks and the blades on the saw palmetto plants. They sat still very nicely for pictures. I suspect they couldn't move even if they wanted to, it was so cold out there this morning and they were covered with dew. I got to thinking about why they'd hang out like that overnight and thought maybe it had to do with where the sun hits first in the morning. Maybe the sun warms them up more quickly when they're out in the open like that, but then the obvious drawback is you're like breakfast on a stick for the birds.

My favorite thing

It was so cold out in the woods this morning, I had a hard time hanging onto the camera. My fingertips hurt, my nose was running and it was dark, besides. But then the dog and I walked around a curve and saw light coming through the trees, cutting through the cold fog. It was sweet. But tomorrow, I'm wearing my hoodie and gloves.