Family Picture

Spooky Thanksgiving at the Barrys

The yearly halloween party at my old PI's house.  Mina is, like, 30% bigger than she was when she was a larva, so that costume was out.  Instead she got to be an angel, which she didn't want to wear, so we busted out Wonder Woman instead.

Velma (Scooby Doo), Wonder Woman, The Cat (in the Hat). 

Walk at Quarry Hill

We were running late for a birthday party on Sunday, but were very pleased when we realized that daylight savings had just kicked in and we weren't going to be late after all.  Unfortunately, we made it all the way there before we figuring out that the party was scheduled for the week AFTER. Apparently baby brain is real. Fortunately it was a lovely day and we went to Quarry Hill for a walk instead. 

Monster Maggot

At some point in her future Mina will probably be outraged that she was dressed as a Botfly for her first halloween.  These critters are pretty creepy in real life since their larva need flesh to mature.  They burrow into the skin deep enough so that their heads just barely peek out of the top in order to breathe.  They can't be easily pulled out or dislodged though, since their tiny rings of barbs point upwards, like arrows. Over time, the little larva will drop into the soil where it will mature into a botfly.

Sweet, wriggly larva

Bad larva

UPDATE: Honorable mention on Dr. Bobbi Pritt's popular parasite blog: http://parasitewonders.blogspot.com/2014/10/answer-to-case-323.html. Please note that ours wasn't the most elaborate costume by a mile.

Goodbye for now Nana, we will see you soon!