We have three black swallowtail chrysalises in our butterfly nursery and the first one emerged today and unfolded its wings.
“I think this is how we’re supposed to be in the world
~present and in awe.” Anne Lammott
homemade rolls, warm from the oven
There’s the pretty-pretty pinterest way (which I love)….and then there’s the “I took old bread down to the chickens and used the empty bag to gather the eggs” way. (which I also love).
Happy Monday, friends.
You are loved. 🙂
It’s ordinary to love the beautiful, but it’s beautiful to love the ordinary.
I waited for two hours this morning while my vehicle was serviced; oil changed, tires rotated, a latch fixed, vacuumed, and washed. I read a book the entire time so now…….I’m sick of reading and have some free time to….blog. I have all kinds of lovely little stories to tell.
Starting with our son Jacob, who is a college football player now. He LOVES school, is keeping very busy, and is also keeping a pet fish alive in his dorm room. He had several football games this weekend, one of which was shown live online. Rich hooked his iPad up to the TV and we all sat and watched it, keeping our eyes peeled for number 88. And I was thrilled when we finally saw him! I just had leap off the couch to take a crappy picture. ((It’s beautiful to me.)) Seth asked me to print it so he could hang it on the wall in his room.
On Sunday, Seth had to be at the football field at 9:45 in the morning and Caleb had to be there for 2. However, Rich was preaching and the game was away, so I had to take both of them with me, meaning Caleb was over 4 HOURS early for his game. It was a hot autumn day, very dry. Perfect “baking” weather. Caleb was in the sun so long that by the time he had HIS game (at 2:30) he was much slower than usual. In fact, our team did win, but most of the boys were a little “off” from overheating. I took this picture just as Caleb was saying, “Dad, next time coach says I can’t get here too early.” LOL
MONDAY NIGHT football was on TV. My children were in a clump on one part of the couch.
While their dad gave me a foot rub on another part of it. I love Monday night football! 🙂
(He was have a conversation with David about why David wasn’t waking up on time in the morning….Dave was blaming his alarm …….because it’s NEVER his fault, right?)
I recently rediscovered this photo of me and the children (before Seth and Sarah were born).
Sarah had her things all set up for playing with marbles but then she left for school and Sherlock the cat walked over and had a turn.
Chickens enjoying leftover morning cereal and milk.
why kids, why????
I couldn’t stop myself from buying mums (and ornamental grass) for the garden. I also put Rich’s old riding tractor from when he was little in the garden. I found a “pretty plate” garden decoration, too, which includes a chartreuse luncheon plate (Fiesta!). I did some weeding and Gentleman Gray the cat got some on his face while he watched.
Last night, Rich and I watched the boys practice football. I love watching them (kids and coaches) so much that I sometimes get tears in my eyes. They have such fun out there.
THIS MORNING……a brief quiet moment, trying to wake up, before I left for the car appointment.
The FED EX truck came and dropped off two storage bins that we ordered from Costco. My hope is to contain sports stuff (one for football, one for wrestling). And so on. Rich and the kids get to put them together later!! (have fun, honey!)
Also, we recently had our side steps extended on the porch. (not painted yet)
I went to a thrift store after the car appointment. This was in the same plaza outside of a yoga studio. Since I had finished my book I left it behind on the shelf.
Well, after the thrift store shopping I was hungry so I cast my eyes about the plaza and only saw a Vietnamese place. “No”, I thought. But then……
“Yes”, I decided. And I sent a picture and a text to our family group chat.
“The menu makes me cautious.” said Ethan
“Hmmm, adventurous?” said my husband
“In my own very small way,” I agreed.
and then
“What is their compelling differentiating advantage that made this place stand out to you?” asked Jacob.
“It was right next to the thrift store.” I replied.
“It had good reviews on YELP.” I continued.
“and I was able to read the menu on YELP.” I further explained
“Okay, so your unconscious need was food, and they revealed that to you by placing themselves in a convenient location where shoppers go. Their feature is that they’re a sit-down restaurant, their advantage is that they’re close by, and the benefit is you will no longer be hungry and you’ll feel good about yourself for supporting a small business,” Jacob texted, “These are my thoughts as I leave my sales class.”
And then Rich replied: “But if they were not near the thrift store no matter what they had on yelp or what their menu said they wouldn’t have had a chance. Your Mom’s not a good business test case, Jake. She would be an anomaly in a field of data points. And absolutely special beautiful one–but still an anomaly.”
I laughed all the way home about being “an anomaly in a field of data points” as they continued to banter via text messaging.
I eventually texted, “I think everybody should just shut up.” but no one listened.
MY VIETNAMESE COLD CUTS SANDWICH WAS DELICIOUS!
It had pork belly on it.
When I got home, I washed my thrift store purchases (mama and baby tiger) and put them in the girls’ room.
And found my cat—can you believe it–in the same spot I left him….4 hours ago.
After we left Grace at college, we drove a couple of hours to Hershey, PA. Rich and I had both visited the park when we were kids and Rich especially was excited to go back to the place of such fabulous childhood memories. We went two days in a row so we could do everything. The weather was gorgeous and there were crowds and crowds of people, but the park was big enough that it didn’t seem too bad. It was fun to people-watch. It was fun to eat chocolate.
I thought the flowers behind Rich and Caleb were so pretty. (I took all the photos with my iPhone.)
(P.S. Our anniversary is on Saturday. )
We went on rides all morning and then went to the water park. I changed into my suit, but stayed on the side lines in a chair and read a book, which was really the only thing I wanted to do at that point. The kids were able to stay together as there was only one entrance and one exit out of this section of the water park. Rich took a nap next to me (he can sleep anywhere) and then he took the boys on the bigger water rides.
This was when then came to the fence to complain about something. LOL
The water was so cold. Seth had trouble staying warm, but Sarah was like a fish and stayed in the water the entire time….over 3 hours of swimming and enjoying all the neat fountains, slides, and so on. She LOVED it.
I was glad she had a bright bathing suit on….she was easy to spot.
There is a magic to amusement parks, don’t you think?
Cotton candy was on their bucket-list.
That night we went to a pizza place, it was much later than we usually eat (around 9pm). The kids were good and hungry and a little sunburned. I was absolutely enthralled with the very old man I could see working. This pizza shop was obviously a family affair. So I slyly took his picture and felt like a sneak doing so, but I wanted to remember that someday when I’m 90-something years old, I can still work. 🙂
(He was busy putting new sodas in the cooler).
Never did a pizza taste THIS GOOD. We ordered two and left with only one piece left. It was thin crust, cheesy, hot, and perfect.
The next day at the park, we began our visit at the chocolate tour.
My mom has a little cookbook with this picture on the cover. I used to love looking through it when I was little, just like a picture book for children, I would study each photo and recipe. Years later, when I was a grown up, I was happy to find a copy of my own at a garage sale.
Of course I texted her this picture, too.
“eight wholesome roasted almonds”
chocolate, chocolate, everywhere
chocolate of all sizes
KISSES !!!!!
And then, back into the park for another day of riding on all the rides. One of which was such a scary roller coaster that Rich went on it alone. I let the kids get their face painted as we waited.
It was a huge mistake for Seth, because by the end of the day nothing was left of his Panda-face but the black around his eyes. He looked like a zombie.
I think the zoo was one of our family-favorite parts. We studied every single animal…snakes, owls, everything. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
On a train ride together while the boys rode “the claw”.
She was soooooooo cute! She had no fear whatsoever. The kids were good sports. It truly was a wonderful experience for us.
Merry-Go-Round with my girlie.
She was full of encouragement for this one last ride of the night; the Scrambler. (I get nauseous on the spinning rides).
That night we ate at a diner next door to the hotel. And I finally got a good picture of my darling handsome Seth. He really is a mama’s boy and the adoration is mutual.
Tasted so good after a day in the park, especially the juicy fruit.
Caleb’s burger.
We went back for breakfast the next day and this is how they served my raspberry muffin–queen style.
so handsome.
On the highway we found ourselves behind a tractor trailer which was shedding feathers…white feathers…we were curious so Rich sped up. It was FULL of chickens.
When we got home, David wanted a pizza right away. I think he missed me pizza.
“…use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence:
Love others as you love yourself.” Galations 5
*****
I went and got my nails painted dark bright pink today. They are soooooo pretty!
House is clean and Caleb should be home soon and then an hour later the little kids will be home and then. . . . .David has his very first soccer game! So exciting.
I want to post the photos we took when we took Grace to college. It’s been a few weeks now and yes it is strange to not have her presence in the home. . . .we miss her. But those feelings of “missing” are balanced nicely with feelings of “so proud of you.”
We drove the truck as she had lots of stuff. She arrived before her roommate did and we were greeted by a nice group of people who promptly carried her things inside for us.
This cozy communal living room is just outside her dorm room. I imagine lots of fun will be had here all school year long.
In no time at all, she had her things put just where she wanted them.
So many times she has stood in the gap for us as big sister/babysitter when necessary, and they have a close bond. They know she loves them.
I say this all the time to the kids only I say it in modern English:
“You’re going to be fine.”
I feel that I must try the medieval way next time.
I told her if she ever feels lonely to just go to the library and….. “all shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.” After all, her mother has been dragging her to libraries her entire life.
Meet the roommate!
Bless them.
*****
The college is close to where Rich and I grew up, so we have some connections to some of the people. When I was a little girl, my young parents spent a lot of time with an older couple from church. Our families at that time became very close and they had an older, teenage son who was such fun, my brother and I adored him.
Well, all of these years later, through our FB connections, we found out that our kids would be attending college together. Literally, as I was moving in Grace, I went on Facebook and “randomly” discovered that Mike was moving in his son Caleb at the same time. So of course we had to meet up later!
*******
Rich spent the entire next morning with Grace continuing to help her out with last minute things like what to do with her iPhone that she dropped and smashed right in the midst of moving in.
And then we had to say goodbye for a little while. (Although we are always only a text away.)
One last family photo in the parking lot of the school. Makes me laugh out loud. I am being motherly and “helping” Caleb get in the photo.
“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.“
Lights are on; it’s 5:30, very gloomy, and raining.
When cars go by they splash up rain off the road, a lovely sound.
I made chicken and dumplings for dinner.
Seth got mad at Sarah because she started to give him a candy and then took it back.
The coffee table is covered in books and toys.
I finished a book today, and started another.
Sarah acted so guilty as she walked by me that I asked her what she had in her hands. It was a package of crackers, a package of fruit snacks, and a granola bar. “I’ll drink some water after.”
Caleb watched numerous youtube videos of football clips when he got home from school.
Seth liked dinner for the second day in a row and gave me a hug. “I’m on a roll this week,” I tease. “You’ve been on a roll with me since I started eating your dinners,” he replies.
I tried calling Rich but he didn’t answer and then he called me back later to make sure everything was okay. Practice is cancelled so he might take the boys for haircuts later.
I took David to the orthodontist this morning, and then drive-thru breakfast.
Then to high school—–HIGH SCHOOL!
I found a vintage fiesta teacup (no saucer) for 50 cents today.
I took a newly hatched butterfly outside.
Seth and Sarah are busy running a bath, for their stuffed animals.
This was after I said “no” to washing the cat.
They are calling it the Shower Pet Shop.
There is a pile of shoes and backpacks by the door.
Mail on the counter.
I heard from Grace today, briefly; she had a quiz in math.
And Ethan got an “A” on a paper. He had interviewed his Dad about being a Manager.
We live about 40 minutes from the Brimfield antique show so I will have at least one post a year (I think this is the second one this year) regarding the show…..it is just so fun to drive up in the morning, walk all over the place, eat lunch, and then come home.
Especially if you’re with a sister or two.
This reminded us of our own Aunt Mary. ❤
Amanda found a nice green table with glass inserts right away for only 40 dollars so we walked it back to the car.
I saw a few pieces of fiesta that I wanted to buy, but I decided not to because I have so much already……
Apparently I can show restraint now and then.
She loves sunflowers.
We thought this was neat…someone “carved” these tins into Halloween jack o’ lanterns. They will look neat with a light inside.
Amanda bought a wool blanket. I found three wooden bats for Seth.
And, I bought this little xylophone. It makes a very pleasant musical sound.
We had lunch right there at the show (hot buttery lobster roll for me!) and then headed home, stopping at the thrift store in town and the diner for ice cream cones on the way.
Yesterday we had drizzly cold rain for 12 hours straight and I was outside in it, under an umbrella, during two football games (for the boys).
By 6pm we were back at home, and to my amazement, the sun started shining through the rain. I ran to the window and bent my head to take a good look, up up into the sky. Would there be a rainbow, too? …..and….yes! Blessings upon blessings. Praises and calls of “come and see!”
My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky… ~William Wordsworth
Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
Blessings to the children, first of all, on another new school year. You have each grown so much over the summer, but still young with lots to learn. What bright and willing minds you have, eager for education and eager to have fun with your teachers and friends.
Blessings to the teachers, who work hard to make the school year as successful as they can, with patient and mature minds, eager to “go forth and conquer” all the challenges that come about each day. Blessings to you as you prepare and teach. Your life’s work is importance and we thank you. You are touching countless young lives.
Blessings to the families who let go and watch their children go forth and experience life, who do everything they can to help. Blessings to the mothers and fathers who nurture and provide a home for children to come back to at the end of the school day. May the afternoons be full of welcome and love. And cookies.
I like to imagine all the good things happening that no one will ever know.
The mom, busily packing school lunches, slipping in an extra package of snacks, “so you have something to share with a friend.”
A music teacher, choosing a special song with a certain student in mind. “He’ll love this one.”
The office ladies picking up donuts to share with any parent who comes in during the day. Adding fresh flowers from the garden to a vase to brighten up the space.
Cheerful volunteers who do what they can to help.
Children picking out their favorite outfits and wondering if their best friend will be in their class this year. Such smiles when they reunite with their classmates.
Janitors keeping things extra clean, who get to know the children by name.
Teachers who purchase extra supplies just in case a student isn’t prepared. Showing a caring heart.
School nurses who welcome the wounded and show patience to pretenders.
Dads smiling over the texts messages; photos of his dear ones.
Mothers left alone in a quiet house, quietly cleaning and working, preparing for when everyone gets back home again. Or off to work, glad to have something to do, with thoughts of her babies always there.
And so on.
Secret prayers, deep thought, problem solving, strings pulled behind the scenes, all sorts of people taking an interest and making good things happen for their communities.
. . . .encourage one another and build one another up . . . . .
“We can only see what we have grown an eye to see.” Rachel Remen
This little boy wants to be just like his older brother, so he found Ethan’s old backpack and claimed it for this school year.
Sarah only likes ponytails, so I took a quick picture just before twisting around the hair ties.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
……encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all……
Time again for an early morning “wave” from the next door neighbors as they get their kids off to school, too. We’re in this together.
……..anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad……
We are leaving to take Grace to college on Friday morning. Jacob will be coming home this weekend while we are gone, to pick up Ethan and take him back to college with him. So we are savoring the last week at home before a very busy weekend.
I’m sitting cross legged on the couch, still in my pajamas. The kids are playing a game and Parker the dog is stretched out next to me, snoring. Gentleman Gray is grooming himself on the end table.
We had rain in the night. The outdoors is fresh and clean and the sun is shining bright. I ate a piece of pie out on the porch and watched the morning birds fly about. I saw a hummingbird chase around a titmouse and a bee sipping nectar from a flower in my garden.
I quartered some baby potatoes and fried them with an onion and some peppers. When they were done, I made a spot for four eggs and cooked them with the lid on until they were just soft in the middle but not gooey in any way (I hate runny eggs). It was a delicious breakfast and so easy.
I was gazing at the monarch caterpillars when I saw Gentleman Gray trot by the window with a frog in his mouth, legs every which way.
Cats are funny.
Ethan spent over an hour yesterday morning learning a new song on the guitar.
It was like he couldn’t stop, he was so focused.
Why yes, she WAS singing “Do you Want to Build a Snowman?”
Caleb got his summer reading assignment done.
Grace and Tessa worked on a puzzle.
Watching a movie with the kids (Lego Batman).
The two swallowtail caterpillars finally stopped eating and began the chrysalis stage. Instead of dangling like the monarchs do, they hang themselves under a stick using a loop of silk.
And then, like magic, they turn into something that looks just like a stick.
I recently got this at Goodwill. “Five little maidens out on the green, Happier maidens never were seen.”
legs
I have about 10,000 peaches to take care of thanks to our one and only tree being LOADED this year! (I made a pie yesterday).
Grace and I finally got her college preparations done yesterday. AND manicures and pedicures.
*****
“The less we are attached to life, the more alive we can become. The less we have preferences about life, the more deeply we can experience and participate in life. This is not to say that I don’t prefer raisin toast to blueberry muffins. It is to say that I don’t prefer raisin toast so much that I am unwilling to get out of bed unless I can have raisin toast, or that the absence of raisin toast ruins the whole day. Embracing life may be more about tasting than it is about either raisin toast or blueberry muffins. More about trusting one’s ability to take joy in the newness of the day and what it may bring. More about adventure than having your own way.”
I invite you to gaze upon my caterpillar nursery! I put it together for myself and the family and anyone who comes over to visit. . . . . . .
Year after year, indeed for the last 11 years we have lived on this property (four acres boarding state land), I have kept watch in the later summer days for monarch caterpillars. (They are only ever on milkweed). If I see a caterpillar, I collect it and bring it home to raise on the counter in a big jar or a fish tank. (We used to have a different fish tank but it broke when someone tried putting rocks in it).
We were fortunate to find perhaps 4 caterpillars, and sometimes none at all. This year, however, this epic summer of 2017, we have found over 20 of them. If I were more scientific, I would do a precise count, but it is rather difficult and confusing to try to count caterpillars when they are all over the place and in various sizes.
I am a busy mom and wife, it’s a wonder that I have time to sit and watch a caterpillar nursery at all….or write a blog! But these things give me much needed rest and enjoyment, they are interests that I have……and no matter what your interest and passion is….big or small….it should be pursued and nourished.
I picked these five off their milkweed (which was almost gone) and put them on the floor of the tank so I could give them fresh food. They looked so cute all in a row that I had to take a photo of them.
Every couple of days I replace the leaves from the three small bud vases I have in the tank with fresh milkweed from the garden, which is conveniently right outside the kitchen door. Caterpillars are naturally very hungry and grow quickly. It’s fun to watch their little heads go up and down the edges of the milkweed like tiny machines. I bet if it were quieter in my house I might even hear them chewing.
Can you see the difference in this caterpillar? Grace and I found two of them on Queen Anne’s lace down by the pond. We are almost positive that they are the caterpillars of Black Swallowtail Butterflies.
An urge that I have so far neglected this summer is to get out colored pencils and draw these beautiful patterns that I see. . . .(maybe today?)
I clipped some cut-to-size screen (from an old window) to the top edge of the tank with clothespins. When the they have eaten their full and are “ready”, the caterpillars go to the screen to “dangle” for a day or two, before bursting their caterpillar skin to reveal a most beautiful green and gold chrysalis beneath.
This one’s small but they start out even smaller…..
I have to laugh when I go out to collect fresh food for them because I inevitably end up bringing inside even MORE caterpillar babies. David says, “Mom, how many do you NEED?” He is probably the child who is most interested in them and I love to see his face peering into the tank.
“Oh no this one looks different, what’s wrong with it?” I watched it closely and realized it was molting. It was gripped to the leaf with it’s “end” and wriggling the skin down, rather like when you or I take off stockings with our hands, and “stepping out” fresh and clean.
Almost done!
Ah, it feels so good.
“fresh and clean”
An empty chrysalis next to six green ones.
This caterpillar is getting ready to “dangle” by finding the perfect spot on the screen and attaching itself to it with its homemade silk. The children get nervous if I move the screen, they are afraid the chrysalises might fall off, but they are firmly attached and “just think, outside they would be safe even in the winds and rain”. So I move the screen in confidence.
This one had attached itself to a milkweed leaf, which wasn’t a good choice, because eventually the other caterpillars ate the leaf causing the chrysalis to drop down to the bottom of the cage. I picked it up and dangled it over the edge of the tank. When I hear the children say, “Mom, one of them is black!” I know that we will soon see a butterfly.
In fact, as I am writing this, a butterfly has newly hatched right in front of our eyes, and three more black ones are ready to come out any minute.
Why just put milkweed in the tank when you can also add flowers?
They make lovely strands of silk. I took a picture right after this caterpillar molted. You can see its bunched up rag of old skin up at the top of the photo.
They eat so much I wondered what I would do if we ran out of leaves (it won’t happen this year) and then I noticed that where I picked the leaves off, new ones are growing!
new leaves!!!
I know, this is a simple gardening concept, but I never thought to apply it to my milkweed! The resilience of growing things is amazing.
Milkweed grows outside the kitchen door, mingled in with our lilac bush.
And more milkweed (tall stalks with long oval leaves) is in the side garden.
I had to laugh when I saw a chrysalis outside in the lilac bush, I guess I missed bringing this one inside!!
I can move the chest of drawers around to get a better view, or better lighting for photos.
It stays like this most of the time. Better than any TV show.
It’s fascinating to watch them split, revealing a bright green underneath.
These changes are done so silently and quickly that we miss it most of the time.
It wriggles in such a strange fashion and the bunch of skin drops to the bottom of the tank.
I did a short video while I was blogging this post.
They first come out with their body much bigger than their wings. I always think of origami when I see them emerge……it’s sort of like reverse origami. Only God could package something up like this and have it come out as beautiful as a butterfly…
The butterfly hangs and dries, once in a while a drip of fluid will fall. Once I see them opening their wings for the first time I will take them carefully outside on a stick and put them up on the lilac bush.
“I look upon a year lived as a year earned; and each year earned means a greater treasury of experience and power laid up against time of need.” Anna Botsford Comstock
“God created the heavens and the earth to be experienced, not just read about or lectured upon.” Bob Schultz
Good to be Home 