I took this photo of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot right after she wrote “To Christine: Smart ass.” in my book. I kept laughing about that for the rest of the night. I simply adore her.
The rumors are true, I did manage to interview Stephanie briefly for the next PointySticks podcast. However, today I am completely wiped out, feeling a bit puny, and thinking that my total lack of sleep lately is catching up with me. So no finished podcast YET, but it will be done soon. Meanwhile, I have some Koigu and a Gypsy Shawl project calling my name…
None of us could identify what the heck this bug was. It is a good thing that Stephanie was inside signing books and never saw it, because she already thinks Texas is bizarre. Lizards, giant roaches, and huge spiders, she has been trying to figure out how to get rid of a spider problem for decades. Now this strange bug. Any ideas what it is? (Click here to view it larger.)
13 replies on “The Harlot Came to Houston!”
Wow, that is a really awesome picture of Stephanie, she should get you to shoot her next cover!
Glad to say, I don’t remember ever seeing a bug like that on any of my walls.
And… I’m going to stop hounding you about the podcast. Get some rest, knit something nice, and *then* get the podcast out immediatley.
🙂
It’s a Mayfly. They don’t bite or sting and are related to Dragonflies. I started to tell you this Tueday night, but I was in shy and retiring mode.
Great picture of the Harlot.
Okay, I am *seriously* jealous of that shot. The one head shot I got of her was all blurry.
*pout*
Great photo of “The Harlot”! I really enjoyed her. The ladies at Twisted Yarns did a great job with the event. 🙂 Can’t wait to see more of your “Harlot” photos.
As for the bug… it kind of looks like a “mosquito eater” (also called a “crane fly”). I can’t really tell, though. Just a guess.
I think it’s some kind of a wasp… let me google with my entomology memory…
here!
Ichneumon!
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/ichneumons.html
I soooooo wish I could have been there! And that is a GREAT photo — I know how hard portraits can be, too!
Glad the bug made it on here, maybe I’ll ask my entomology friend what’s up with that.
I’m looking forward to hearing the interview, when ever that happens.
Looks vaguely like a (not going to spell it right) ichinion fly. The long thing at the back is used to push into trees to probe for food.
Crane fly – I don’t know why you don’t just send it to me first – these are also called “skeeter eaters” or Mosquito hawks, though I don’t honestly know if that is justified – but dragonflies DO eat skeeters. Just thought you should know. I so wish I had gotten to see Stephanie again, especially since I still don’t have a photo of me with her from last year when she came to Austin. Come visit. New yarn stores. Tons of fun. Bring Katy. Mike too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly
I have crane flies around my house all the time, so we all knew it wasn’t that. (There was a great debate with at least 6 of us out there looking at that thing!) After looking at photos, I’m pretty positive it was the Giant Ichinion, a relative of the wasp that is harmless to humans.
Great photo of the Harlot. I second Mary; you should do her next book cover.
Oh, thank God somebody finally got it! Clearly I wasn’t too afraid of it to take photos too…but still.
UnbeLIEVably fabulous shot of Stephanie. I am not a great shooter of people, clearly; plants and buildings are much more my speed. Also, I’m rusty and you…erm, practice. 🙂
Looking forward to the ‘cast too!
As this is knitting, it should be podcast on podcast off etc…