The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.  John Muir age 74

 

Which way to the black and white moth?  I shall give you directions.

Go up the trail and through the meadow.  There is no need to hurry; gather a bouquet of wildflowers to carry in your arms.  Travel into the woods, through the ferns big and green, by and through the meandering stream.  Look for a big broken tree, broken from last October’s snow storm.  There is a boulder nearby, with a coat of moss.  Lean against it, without thinking of moths at all, and look down, it’s right there.  Something never seen before.

 

Caleb and I went for a walk yesterday afternoon.  I wanted to go….alone….(for I had a headache and was out of sorts) but he begged to go with me (thinking of, not time with MOM, but “perhaps I will see more snakes”).  I complied and off we went, holding hands.  We didn’t see any snakes but we did make another discovery; a lovely black and white moth.

 

 

                flower from the milk weed plant

                bumble bee sipping a “crown vetch” blossom

 

 

                                 my pretty flowers

                  hiding in the ferns

           in the stream

 

D  I  S  C  O  V  E  R  Y

 The moth was quite hidden, it was amazing that I even noticed it.  (a “thank you, God!” moment)

 

 

 

I believe it was a brand new moth, just out from it’s cocoon.

I hadn’t seen anything like it before, a new discovery to document for my nature journal.  (yes, I was excited!)  I looked online and I think it might be a Giant Leapard Moth.

 

I lifted it carefully from the moss with a stick.  I think it’s front legs have little hooks for hands, it was so firmly attached.

But, in lifting it, I discovered it was wearing blue jewelry.

I left it where I found it, but I sure would have liked to see it with the wings spread out.  I would have taken it home in a box, to see it in the evening taking it’s first flight.

Caleb and I made our way home, stopping to take one more photo…..of our lovely wildflowers, which are now in a fiesta vase in the livingroom.

It had rained on and off, just a sprinkling, during our adventure, but as soon as we were safely indoors, the skies opened and it poured. 

Refreshed.

 

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday

Among the fields above the sea,

Among the winds at play;

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

 

The foolish fears of what may happen

I cast them all away

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay;

Among the husking of the corn

Where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born,

Out in the fields with God.

~Elizabeth Browning