Forgot about my Twitter account

I had forgotten about my twitter account that I created when I created this blog. Just remembered today when talking to my love about her latest message on Twitter and I said I did not have an account.

My "graphic workstation" is toast

The workstation I have been working on to use for my art crashed. And it is messed up so that I cannot install any of the software that I need. Ugh. And I had just finished getting Vista installed in VirtualBox.

Kinda like a lava lamp

A Tiger Swallowtail?

I think we may a couple Swallowtails here.  The false eyes are a giveaway.  Caterpillars do change color as they go from the egg to cocoon.  I found some very similar ones for a Canadian Swallowtail.  Only problem is that the butterfly does not get down this far south and I have two of them.  So I asked the friendly folks at the Austin Butterfly Forum and they told me that it looked like the caterpillar for the Tiger Swallowtail.

A quick search confirmed it.

A friendly face?

Another visitor to our yard. A thick hairless caterpillar. He is kinda cute. Those false eyes really give him some personality. It's like he just reared up and tried to say "Hello!"

Two tried to go into the garage. One a little more brown and one a little more green.

A little lace pattern

a little lace created with the help of Kandid.

Has the mystery Caterpillar been exposed?

After some internet searches, it looks like our little invasion is a type of Fall Webworm or Hyphantria cunea. This species' "worms" vary quite a bit but there is enough similarity with some of them to resemble my fuzzy vistor. They are considered a bit of a pest since they cover trees in bags of unsightly silk. But our little ones are not on a tree or making silk bags so not sure about it.

The fall webworm turns into a small white moth.

A little eater

This hungry little bugger is eating up the new growth on the bush in front of our house. He and his brothers really like the red leaves.

VirtualBox

I think Virtual Box may be the answer. It is a virtual machine manager. Which means I can install other operating systems in a virtual PC that runs under the Ubuntu. Like different versions of Windows, Linux and other operating systems.

I actually can get Vista installed and then the first service pack. It bombed during service pack 2 but I wasn't watching so not sure what happened. Need to start from the beginning.

I have a list of work I want to do.

Windows software

Reference to the software that needs Windows. I have three choices.

1. install Wine which is a compatibility layer for windows. But it doesn't work for all programs and only partially for some.
2. install some virtual management software that will allow me to install windows in a virtual computer. Then I don't have to worry about Vista messing up my PC.
3. Wipe out the hard drive and start over. Install Vista and then install Ubuntu. Make it a dual boot computer. But then I have to mess with issues with both OS's

Going with just windows is not an option! Well at least one I don't want. I like Linux too much.

One Step Closer

I am one step closer to getting my workstation working. I have installed Ubuntu 10.04 all by itself for now. I know I know. I wont be able to use Lightroom or the Cannon camera software tools that came with the camera but more on that later.

The big thing this time was that I was able to wireless working on it so I don't have to use a network cable. I got a a little $19 USB wireless NIC from Discount Electronics to work. The Monoprice USB 2.0 wireless 802.11g It didn't work at first, but I was able to find some help on the ubuntu forums that was very helpful.

Now I can start installing some software. Some HDR software, Kandid and GIMP are the first three that come to mind.

New Product photographs for Mariposa

Spent some time earlier this week taking new product photographs for Mariposa of Austin. The older photos needed to be replaced. A nice white sheet, a folding bookshelf and lots of lights then a quick run through Picasa and we have some decent photographs ready to go.

Deanie is starting some multiple displays that are going to be great. Here is a really nice one.

Most people are familer with the beautiful fronts of butterflies but did you know that many butterflies are just as intersting or beautiful on the backs as well. This is the back of a Morpho Achillies from South America. They have these great eyes spots.

The Pecan Street Festival

We had a great time at the Pecan Street Festival this weekend. Thank you to everyone that came out to see us. It got hot down on the asphault but the early mornings were nice and cool.