The wasp that took a ride

Last Friday, I headed into town to run some errands, pay bills, get the new license tags for the pickup and stop at the paper office to get some old newspaper pictures. On my way out, I gave Rick a ride to the shop. I had to get out of the pickup to let the dog out and help him carry some stuff into the shop. When I came back out, there was a wasp chilling out on the hood of my pickup. I didn’t figure he would stay long, but to my surprise he just hung on as I started out of the shop yard. 

Then I remembered that I had forgotten some stuff that I needed to mail and so I turned around and came back to the house. That wasp just sat there chilling on the hood all the time. Then I headed out for sure. He just chilled all the way down Lane 40 and on up Road 23. By the time I got to the highway, I was beginning to enjoy watching him hang on out there. 

When I turned onto the highway, I decided to see how fast I would have go before he would fly off. I have done this with grasshoppers several times over the years and I think the record is about 50 mph. It was time to test his tenacity. 

As I accelerated, I kept an eye on the little bugger. At about 35 mph he turned very carefully from kind of sideways to looking straight ahead. At 45, his body seemed to sink closer to the vehicle. I kept increasing speed and watching so I could catch the moment he just couldn’t hold on anymore.  At 50, he was still there. At 55, 60, 65 he was still hunkered down and hanging on. So I did the unthinkable at least for me… I broke the speed limit.  I hit 70 and even 75. The wasp was still there. 

At that point I gave him the prize and slowed down. He chilled there on the hood all the way to Basin, around the corners to the courthouse parking lot and there I stopped. I took a picture of him at that point. Then I went in and got my plates and did some other business. 

When I came back out, he was gone. I guess he enjoyed the fast and furious ride to town and then excused himself to go find another place to live. So if you see a wasp strutting around the area of the Big Horn County Courthouse claiming to be the best at hanging on at high speed, tip your hat to him. He has earned it. 

Rhubarb Pudding Cake

4 cups diced fresh rhubarb

1 cup sugar

¾ cup water

¼ cup vegetable shortening

½ cup sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup milk

Cook rhubarb, sugar and water until rhubarb is tender, keep hot. Cream shortening and sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. Pout batter into greased 9-inch square pan. Spoon hot rhubarb sauce over batter. Bake in a moderate 350º oven 40 minutes.