We have a cat called Spot Fencewalker.

Every morning I feed him. His cat food dispenser sits on the front porch right by the door. I used to just fill it up so he could eat however much he wanted whenever he wanted. But then the neighbor’s dog started coming over and eating the cat food.  If one of our dogs got out in the front yard, they snacked on it too. So do a multitude of stray cats!

And then the raccoons started showing up at night, helping themselves to the cat’s food.

While a nuisance, at least the raccoons were kind of cute.

But then last night when I opened the door, I realized things are getting way out of hand and the cat food buffet is feeding more wildlife than I imagined!

Sorry, but I find absolutely nothing cute about slugs, although  I guess while the slugs are munching up on cat food, they aren’t eating my hostas. But I really don’t want to feed them. And I don’t want to feed the cave crickets. And I don’t want to feed the little pillbugs or whatever you want to call them either (look at the back left of cat food container).

And what’s not in the picture is the horde of little black crickets that jumped away the minute I opened the door.  And who knows what else when I’m not looking!

I’ve got to come up with an innovative way to feed the cat that keeps other critters from helping themselves.

This cat food buffet has gotten totally out of hand.

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The butterflies aren’t the only creatures that like hanging out in the bottom pasture.  The tall weeds make for some excellent anchors for spider webs.

There’s one humongous garden spider on the hunt there.  I believe this species is an Argiope aurantia, commonly known as the Black and Yellow Garden Spider or Writing Spider.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

She’s a top notch predator.  I say she, because the female spiders are much larger than males, growing almost an inch and a half long.  Big Mamas!  Males only grow about 3/4 inch long. This is definitely an Amazon, a female warrior of the species!

Breakfast!

Look at her carrying this big bug around!  Must be some muscle power in those long legs.

Bug Toting Spider.

She obviously has no trouble getting that bug anywhere she wants it.

But what next?  Oh wow, she’s got a dilemma!  There are TWO bugs caught in her web.  Which should she eat first???

Spider With Two Bugs

Eeny meeny miney moe, wonder which way to go!

Thankfully, big as this spider is, she can’t catch every bug and butterfly in the meadow!

Butterfly on bramble leaf.

This Caped Crusader can still fly safe, knowing it’s too big for Miss Spidey’s web!

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We have some butterfly bushes along the fence by the front yard.  They smell good and have pretty flowers, but their biggest virtue is… well…. just like their name suggests.  They attract butterflies.

This one was poised for flight when I snapped the picture.

Off into the Wild Blue Yonder!

I’m not sure if that’s a bee or fly or what already in the air, but the butterfly is all set to take off after it.

We like butterflies around here, and since we have a lot less grazing critters, we’re letting the bottom pasture grow wild again.  It’s full of Joe Pye Weed and Ironweed and Goldenrod and other goodies that butterflies enjoy.

Bottom Pasture

I’m not sure what the plant is with the white flower heads.  Okay brainy people, who knows?

Whatever it is, the butterflies like it.

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I was walking down in the bottom pasture when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I got my camera up and focused quickly, but the picture isn’t all I hoped for.

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