Super Sunday

After a lovely morning at church--more on that later--we headed to a great hawk migration fest, though the weather was threatening.  I had been excited all week about the bird festival.  And it really was wonderful, with many of our favorite things.

 

Butterflies:  First, we saw the butterflies in a lovely flowering garden, with butterfly bushes and echinacea.  In fact, the volunteers were catching and tagging butterflies!  I must admit, I wasn't sure how they would tag butterflies, but Bud and Sis knew because their butterfly-loving teacher had done it before, with little stickers.  And indeed, they put on a little sticker.  Note:  do NOT try to remove the sticker if you come across one.  Just report the number.  Bud and Sis know so much about butterflies because of the three-year study they've done with their teacher--the black dots which indicate the butterfly was male, the difference between various cocoons, the three generations it takes to make the full migration.

Arts and Crafts:  While waiting for a tour of the lighthouse, we did some arts and crafts.  Sis made a pine cone squirrel that she wants to give to Pop for the cabin (don't tell!)  We also all made buttons with animal pictures from magazines.  I made a grumpy Snowy Owl, Bud a penguin.  Sis made a Gyr Falcon for Mama and a Bald Eagle for herself.  It was sweet.

Carousel:  The magnificent carousel in the park is 105 years old, with original horses complete with real horse-hair manes, a working organ, and apparently all the original mechanics and floor.  So pretty.  I loved the lights and the music and especially the little name plates over each horses.  We rode it twice.  Sis and Bud sat together, while Mama and I sat behind them on the sleigh.  You could see the Sound as the carousel went around and around, with that great twinkly music.  I could almost imagine it was another era.  I love carousels.

Lighthouse:  Dating to 1847, the lighthouse was replaced just thirty years later, because it was essentially invisible, being in the wrong place!  It has a stone stairwell, with 72 steps, about a foot high, ending with a three-step ladder.  I stayed downstairs while Mama and the kids ventured up.  They liked the view.


Sea Glass:  Meanwhile, I looked for sea glass.  I found a nice little green piece right off, but it was my only piece of the day.   To paraphrase my dad, "A bad day looking for sea glass is better than a good day doing chores."  I also found a ton of fishing line caught in seaweed; that's bad for birds so I threw it away.

Gyr falcon, with jesses visible

Raptors:  We ended the day with a fantastic raptor show.  He showed off a Barn Owl, a Spectacle Owl, and a four-month-old Sakr Falcon.  Then he flew a Eurasian Eagle Owl (coming to the glove), a Harris Hawk (chasing a "rabbit" on the ground), and a Gyr Falcon (chasing a "bird" in flight.)  It really was amazing.  I don't get tired watching falconry, especially having read H is for Hawk.

What a wonderful day!  It had so many of the things we love.

Eurasian Eagle Owl going by

Though, ice cream or the Ixtapa taco truck would have been perfect.

Harris Hawk

36 Hours in WMass

Spring Break 2016 is nearly over for us.  Today is the last day before school and we're home, playing videogames, lazing around, and enjoying a beautiful spring day.  From the couch.  Because the last day and a half were pretty packed with activities.

On Friday morning, we slept in, packed, and left for Northampton in the western corner of Massachusetts. It's a pretty and pretty easy drive north and would have been even prettier in almost any other season--spring isn't really here yet, so there's barely grass and the trees are still mainly skeletal brown.  At least there's no dirty snow anywhere.  And it's warm enough to go without a jacket in the sun.

Because of the timing, the first thing we did in this college town (home to Smith) was eat.  In fact, we ate somewhere the kids and I had eaten before--at Sylvester's, a breakfast and lunch place in an older building on one of the main drags.  It's where Gommie and I had gone with the kids and our minister many, many years ago, in 2009, when Mama was in Thailand.  Of course, the kids didn't remember it.  But it was as good as last time--clam chowder, chicken caesar salad, Irish eggs benedict (with corned beef hash), Cubano sandwich, and a bacon cheeseburger on a brioche.  And a delicious hot chocolate that Sis really enjoyed.  I hadn't realized last time that the building housed the original manufacturer of graham crackers, Dr. Sylvester Graham.  But I didn't notice any extra graham-y-ness on the menu.

The kids and I strolled the street as Mama drove a few blocks to the Hotel Northampton, a 1920s mainstay that is now an Historic Hotel of America.  We stopped at a yarn store and picked up a few skeins for a scarf.  And a felted wool sheep for Mama.  There was also a Newbury Comics store, but we didn't have time to stop because we had a few things to do before our big evening activity.

Rice Paper

Blue Morpho

Glass Wing

We went first to Magic Wings, which is a butterfly-arium--thousands of butterflies in a rainforest-like garden inside.  It was lovely, the largest one we've ever seen (including AMNH, Bronx Zoo, Norwalk Aquarium, Boston science museum.)  I do like being surrounded by butterflies.  And I "met" a few new ones--the lovely white wings with black detailing of the Rice Paper and the completely transparent and surprising wings of the Glass Wing.  There were also gorgeous Blue Morphos that flit around in indigo and violet luminescence.  But they rarely land and keep their wings open but for a split second.  So they are really hard to photograph.  And I tried.  Sis and Mama had more luck, even found a few sunning their wings open.  So, in the end, I did manage a few glorious photos.  None really landed on us this time, though, which disappoints Bud, but since they didn't land on any of us, it was ok.


Then we kicked off the warm-weather family putt-putt golf season!  And we started it with some actual time on the driving range.  Who knew hitting a ball with a driver could be so hard?  I don't think we were making contact more than 50% of the time!  But it was fun.  Putt putt was better, though, more our speed (and by "our," I mean "their"--I just watch.)  We had the course almost completely to ourselves and had fun comparing strokes to par.  I'd say they were mostly at par.  Sis even got two holes-in-one!

And then it was time to go to our Owl Prowl at a nature center in Canton, CT.  We got there early, but Mama had to rush out for flashlights (the lady on the phone had said not to bring anything; the leader of the group said we needed them.)  She missed our first foray outside, when we visited the habitats of the rescued owls and then actually saw at a distance of about 20 yards the silhouette of a Barred Owl in a tree.  We watched for a few minutes before it flew off.  Mama got back in time to hear the presentation on North American owls and we definitely needed the flashlights in the dark woods behind the center.  Our leader has perfected the Barred Owl call, something akin to "who cooks for you?" he said.  And one of the center's rescued Barred Owls responded (the leader could recognize the owl Harry's slightly warped call.)  But then a symphony arose as at least one wild owl if not more joined Harry in song.  Gorgeous.  And you could still hear it deep into the woods as we saw where some owls used to nest in an old sycamore and then went into the meadow and looked at the stars, still hearing some of the symphony back and forth.  Really quite magical.


It was late by the time we left and so we grabbed fast food and headed back to our hotel, having a good night's sleep before the east-facing windows brightened the room (worst room-darkening curtains ever.)  We had a leisurely continental breakfast downstairs--some pretty good glazed cinnamon bear claws--and eventually left the hotel for our Saturday's big activity:  Patriot's Day celebration and programming at Historic Deerfield.  We had never been to the house museums that make up Historic Deerfield, thinking they were rather dry house museum tours focusing on obscure genealogies and decorative arts, but there were many other things going on to mark the anniversary of the "shot heard round the world" at Lexington and Concord. We made "liberty" tea bags with mint and lemon balm, talked to a docent about powder horn carving (which I compared to scrimshaw and was vehemently corrected.  I still say the crafts are similar--they're both carving on bone), and had a very lively interaction with the docents doing the cooking demo, who both discussed making drinking chocolate and then actually demonstrated how they made a coal bed for a baking kettle and put hot coals on the lid!  Really very interesting, even though I'd heard it described a dozen times.  Then we visited just one house because, indeed, we were right--a dry-as-dirt PAID docent droning on about clocks and wallpaper and portraits to ten-year-olds. Mercy, if I were the education director . . . .  We rushed off to the encampment where Sis enjoyed seeing a weapons demo on horseback--Mama and I learned about the efficacy of a sharp steel blade back by an 800 lb horse and a 200 lb man with gear--as the re-enactor said, he doesn't even have to exert much effort to be deadly (we laughed about how he decapitated that bad ol' Tory Watermelon in his demo!  I think you had to be there.)  I liked seeing the women cooking cornbread and beef stew outside.  And I LOVE the fife and drum music played by the Nathan Hale Ancient Fife and Drum Corps.  We also enjoyed our wagon ride up and down the preserved street, enjoying all the 18th-century houses.

And lunch was good, too!  We had a very tasty repast at Champney's in the Deerfield Inn, with French onion soup, chowder, a charcuterie, fish and chips, fried calamari, and poutine with maple pulled pork.  Mmm, mmm good.  While we were eating, the re-enactor rider from Lexington arrived announcing the beginning of hostilities at Lexington and Concord and General Gage's maneuvers.  The kids and I watched from the porch of the inn as the rider encouraged the captain to call up the local militia and then everyone marched off.  But instead of going to war, we went back to lunch.


Winding up our trip, we stopped at Richardson's for some ice cream (mmmm, purple cow and burnt-sugar and butter, which tastes like maple) and chocolates.  And we went to Webs, the largest yarn store in the country, which I had shopped online (at yarn.com) but didn't know was in Northampton!  Ooooh, what a place!  So many wonderful colors and textures.  So much temptation.  I chose a few skeins to make mandalas but didn't have an exact project in mind to go buying a dozen skeins.  I did learn about their line of Valley yarns, in all the different weights and lovely colors.  I'll be dreaming of things to make with those (I even took some photos so I could remember which weights I liked.)

Lastly, we stopped for Tibetan food at our favorite restaurant halfway home.  We got there just at 5 and so didn't have to wait as we usually do.  Another great meal:  mango dhara drinks, iced chai, avocado potato salad, spicy noodles (Thukpa Dhrangmo), chicken with noodles and veg (Gyathuk Ngopa), dumpling soup (Mokthuk), fried dumplings (Sha Momo), fried bread (Bhaklep), steamed bread (Tingmo), and vinegary slaw (Dhang-tsel.)  So, so good.  And the perfect end to another great 36 hour vacation!

At least we have today to ease into the work week tomorrow . . . .

Gommie's Weekend: Bunnies, Burgers, and Butterflies

It's been busy since Gommie arrived on Friday.

Zoar the bunny

She actually got to the northeast on Thursday--during that crazy thunderstorm, which delayed her flight for hours--and went straight to see Fun Home on Broadway, which she loved.  She stayed in the hotel that now occupies the building where I lived in graduate housing--it's much swankier now.  And then came to see us Friday midday.

We actually picked her up on the way to the open house at Sis's animal camp, where she and her fellow campers were providing information on a variety of animals, mainly small and wild.  Sis's group was in charge of the African pygmy hedgehog, named Biscuit, which could fit in her gloved hands.  Cute, spikey, and blonder than I think of hedgehogs being, we  learned that they can eat scorpions with no problems.  Sis was particularly good with holding and caring for Biscuit, who seemed a bit concerned with the noise as the exhibition continued.  She's the "hedgehog whisperer."  

After we had visited the ferrets, chinchillas, red-footed tortoise, corn snake, guinea pig and such and after her duties were over, she took us to see her all-time favorite, the bunnies.  (They weren't one of the animals the groups presented.)  Her favorite was the gray one named Zoar (I liked the big one named Winston, I think, a Flemish big one or something; he reminded me of our cat Mr. P.)  She had visited the bunnies and the otters, too, everyday on her way into camp.  Mama would send me a morning photo of the animals, especially because I'm partial to otters.  Sis loved this camp and asked if she could volunteer at the nature center--I know she'd love it.  And I didn't even mention that they have horses and sheep!

We got Greek food on the way home.  Saganaki (burning cheese!), patates (french fries), Bud's sauteed octupus, my tiganica chicken (lemon, onions, oregano), orzo, Sis's souvlaki, Mama's gyro, and Gommie's three dips (tzatziki, skardalia, and eggplant.)  Plus rice pudding!  We ate on it for two more days.

On Saturday, we had our usual ice skating and kung fu morning, followed by lunch at a burger joint.  A kinda fancy burger joint with truffle oil fries, lobster macaroni and cheese, Wisconsin cheese curds (but not really), and even duck burgers!  My burger had a fried egg, avocado, and kalamata mayo on a wedge of lettuce.  Sis had a humongous shepherd's pie.  And Gommie got a "flight" of burgers so she could have three different tastes.  She also taught the waiter how to make a milk punch!  Dessert was this pseudo-Ding Dong with flourless chocolate cake and a white chocolate mousse that was more like a cream-cheese filling.  Sis got the pineapple upside-down cake.  All pretty good.  We recuperated by watching Brave together.  Toward dinner time, we were invited to our neighbors to sample his latest brisket, which we all indulged in.  Gommie also got to meet their chickens.



Today, we went to the aquarium, so Bud could show us where he'd been to Oceanography camp.  We couldn't go out on the research vessel, but we could visit the touch tanks, sharks, sea turtles, jelly fish, otters, and, most importantly, the seal feeding that he'd wanted to see (though, we've seen that a dozen times over the years, but I'm not sure he really remembers.)  He knows each seal by name.  My favorite part this time was the butterfly exhibit.  Colorful insects made the flower bushes shimmer; butterfly shadows danced on the floor.  Several even landed on us--some on Gommie's hair, some on my bright skirt--we were told that some butterflies are attracted to white.  The kids were kinda disappointed not to attract any, though one brushed against Bud a few times.  I took lots of pictures and some even came out.  The one of the Monarch is actually from outside the butterfly tent; he's just a local!  I liked how the Blue Morpho-like ones seemed to flutter and dance in pairs.  There was also a small purple, black, and white couple near the exit.

For lunch, we headed across the street for Southern food.  Bud continued his seafood hat trick with PEI mussels in a saffron sauce--twice the manager commented on how amazing it is to see an adventurous kid.  They almost never even look at a children's menu now.  Sis had chicken fried bacon over hashbrowns with scrambled eggs, Gommie and Mama had a Low Country Eggs Benedict on grits, and I had shirred eggs and some biscuits.  Plus a mini-skillet of peach cobbler and a very moist and delicious tiered lemon cake.  We sure do know how to eat well.  Like yesterday, we came home and rested to a Disney film, this time Tangled.

And both nights were capped with a visit to the legion of fireflies in the yard, dozens of them, in our yard and in surrounding yards.  It's fun to see them at dusk because you can actually see the beetles flying between flares.  Several times tonight, there be a group practically blinking in unison.  Last night, we saw two bats (not coming out of our house!)  There are some mosquitos, too, so we don't stay out long.  Mama learned at the bird festival last week that there are actually as many barred and barn owls in CT as red-tailed and shouldered hawks, only you rarely see them because of the darkness and trees.  Haven't seen an owl yet here.  But we did see the mama raccoon cross the road by the stream.

And the week has only just begun . . . .

Two Nights at School

We've been to school a few times in the last week as part of the back-to-school routine.  The first night was a visit to their old school to help with the annual read-a-thon.  They were very short volunteers and so both Bud and I were helping out.  I dressed up in my colonial outfit and read stories about museums and life in the "olden days," including A Night at the Museum, Ella's Trip to the Museum, and Hornbooks and Inkwells, with Sis as my companion and time keeper.  I started each discussion with a question about my outfit, since most readers came dressed in their work clothes--what did the kids think I did?  Most guessed farmer or gardener!  I loved that they recognized the agrarian or pastoral quality associations of the time period.  And I hadn't really expected anyone to guess historian or docent.  Bud did his own reading to other classes, selecting We are in a Book, The Lost Boy, and a book about a penguin discovering colors which title I forget.  I'm told that Mama and Bud actually read the first book as a kind of duet, one as Gerald and one as Piggie, doing the voices.  The kids all loved it!

Last night was our annual open house, our chance to meet the teachers and hear about the curricula and expectations for the year.  This year we had three teachers to meet, as part of the advanced learning program in which both the kids are enrolled.  We heard about the need to study multiplication facts, upcoming units on energy and also electricity, plus Connecticut geography, and about the Columbia Writers Workshop model.  And, best of all, we heard all about the butterflies.  The reading teacher engages the kids in a study of butterflies as inspiration for both informational and reflective writing.  She told us all about how that very day the kids had noticed a butterfly wasn't doing well and so they weren't sure it would leave when they released it.  So, they carefully took it outside and placed it on the butterfly bush at school and . . . lo, and behold! that butterfly took off.  Joyful pandemonium broke out as the kids collectively celebrated (and no doubt the teacher breathed a sigh of relief.)

As encouraging and supportive as all the teachers sounded, I have to admit to strong feelings of academic pressure arising, all from my own memories of seeking approval and good grades in school  I was one of those students you read about who studied and worked for the high grades and teacher approval, not for the learning or joy; as a group, we stressed about failure, cheated to get ahead, and weren't always very flexible or creative, looking for the right answer.  And I was pretty good at all of it.  But it's not what I want for Sis and Bud.  Still, as I heard about rubrics and quizzes and the Parent Portal through which I can check grades in real time, those old feelings of getting good grades came right back.  It will be my struggle this year and many more to come.  And I will try to keep in mind the teacher's story about the person who damaged the butterfly by trying to help it (without letting it struggle on its own.)

Best of Boston, Part 3

I totally forgot to post the last day's pictures!  We had our breakfast buffet and then spent a long afternoon at the Boston Science Museum before heading home in the dark . . . and snow!

Not a great picture, but I loved the roses in the Parker House's lobby for Valentine's weekend.  Even more, I love their rolls!

My favorite part of the Boston Science Museum was its Butterfly Garden.  I love watching butterflies and moths.

This is my favorite picture, with the frozen Charles River and snowy Boston skyline in the background.

Camera phone!

A moth--because it lands and mainly keeps its wings open.

I don't recall all of the names, but this is a Common Morpho, bright blue on the inside.

Bud reclining like a Roman in the "Global Kitchen" show (yes, we saw it in NYC, too.)

Kneeling before Kublai Khan's meal

Our own meal, later that evening, at Rein's NYC-style deli, north of Hartford.  Half sours, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, a chocolate egg cream, and rye bread.  We also had lattkes, borscht, corned beef sandwich, and kugel, with brisket and stuffed cabbage frozen to take home.  As a friend says, "Jewish soul food."

Our Butterfly Garden

I've seen more butterflies this year in our yard than every before, mainly orange painted ladies.  Perhaps a warm winter is good for butterflies.  And now we're trying to make our yard an even better home for them.  To our existing salvia, azalea, phlox, and butterfly bush, all of which are butterfly friendly, we added another salvia and an awfully-named scabiosa, or pin cushion plant.  More beautiful purple!

Fly Away Home

Saturday morning we released our butterflies. It was a beautiful, dry day, the first one in awhile. The first butterfly out of the tent stayed stuck to the plate with oranges so we let that one just hang out while we released the other ones. And most of them immediately took to the sky and darted around, including the one that Sis helped release. One did stay on my hand for a bit and then danced off. The butterfly on the orange was the last to leave. Apparently, they'll stay in the general vicinity for a few days but we haven't seen them since; too many beautiful flowering gardens to choose from, I imagine.

The kids weren't upset at all at their departure, more intrigued and excited. Mama and I were mainly relieved--relieved that the caterpillars did their thing and didn't get too hot in the little container, that the chyrsalids hadn't been disturbed by our constant checking and our cats' curiosity, that the butterflies "hatched" and ate the sugar water and fruit we left them, and that they were all able to fly away in the end. Success! We definitely do it again next year, with its great lessons about life cycles and transformation and fragility. Lessons for all of us.

 

A Star is Born

Actually, two.  Two Painted Lady butterflies emerged from their chrysalids in our butterfly garden tent today.  We've provided them with orange segments and napkins soaked in sugar water (1 cup water with 3 teaspoons sugar; extra refrigerated for later).  And have watched them walk along the netting walls of the tent.  It takes awhile for their wings to harden, apparently, so there hasn't been any flying yet.  But we'll be watching.

And watching the cats, who have thankfully slept the day through and do not know the butterflies are here.  We keep the tent in the basement landing for safety but have had it out a lot in the event that the other three butterflies emerge sometime today.  Nothing yet.  

Depending on when the others "hatch," we'll probably do the release this weekend with Mama.  And hopefully then we'll have some of our own pictures of them.

Memorial Day

If Memorial Day is the unofficial first day of summer (the official one, of course, being the summer solstice in June), then we have kicked off the season in high style.  It was a glorious, mild, clear day, most of which we spent outside.  

First thing in the morning, we transferred our pupae from their plastic container to their new tent, where they will emerge from their chrysalids as butterflies in 3-5 days.  Then as Mama prepped our new deck canopy on the front porch (thanks to Ma and Gong, for the Mother's Day present), the kids played butterflies in their new sleeping bags (we'll be having our first sleepover at Ma and Gong's one weekend in June).  They would crawl into the half-size nylon bags (hers pink and green, his red and gray-blue), wriggle around a bit--"Mommy, look what's growing in your backyard!--and then emerge as butterflies and fly with arms outstretched and flapping around the porch.  "Tell us to 'go, butterfly, go' and 'faster, butterfly, faster.'  Then say 'butterfly, my friend, it's time to end.'"  At which point, they'd climb back into their cocoons and start all over.  

We headed to the back deck, having put the cats in "their room" while we went in and out of the  back door.  There, Mama put up the canopy, Bud played basketball on the newly-raised plastic basketball hoop, Sis narrated a story with various toys on boats in the water table, and I planted strawberry seeds (with some help from the kids).  We all played bubbles.  Sis went back to her story play and Bud grew increasingly frustrated trying to make various "machines" to shoot or flip toys using plastic buckets and shovels (big dreams, bad materials). Then, we paused for a snack--homemade vanilla ice cream!

Mama and I had prepped the custard the night before, realizing the kids would not be able to delay ice-cream gratification, and had frozen the core of our ice cream maker.  We plugged it in outside and all stood around watching the miracle of custard become ice cream.  The kids were fascinated.  Sure, it's not the old wooden bucket with ice and rock salt and drip spout (and loud motor, we didn't even have a hand crank back in the "good ol' days."), but it makes great thick ice cream right in front of your eyes.  The stuff of childhood summers! 

After a picnic of cheese sandwiches under our new canopy (and on newly-cleaned table, thanks to Sis and Mama, some vinegar and baking soda) and a generous rest time, we headed to our local Memorial Day parade.  We  immediately ran into friends and neighbors and found a good spot to watch all the happenings.  Bud and Sis stood glued--no need to put down the blanket or pull out the snacks--watching the police cars, firetrucks, local groups, and, most excitedly for Bud, marching bands!  Sis's favorite part?  Candy.  Yep, it's Memorial Day-cum-Mardi Gras, where we throw caution to the wind and encourage children to:

1. Rush out into the street.
2. Take candy from strangers.
3. Eat off the ground.

But, as a neighbor pointed out, we then confuse them by insisting that they not litter with those same wrappers, having allowed the breaking of all other ordinary rules! 

And what did we do when we came home?  Played parade, of course.  Focusing on the music and the candy.

What more could you want from summer?

-=-=-=-=-=-

Vanilla Ice Cream #1 (Pure and Simple)

2/3 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 2/3 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs until thickened and pale yellow.  Beat in the flour and salt.  Set aside.

Bring the milk to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan.  Slowly beat the hot milk into the eggs and sugar.  Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat.  Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly.  Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble.  Remove from the heat and pour the hot custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl.  Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the cream and vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight (my note:  don't forget to put the core of your ice cream maker in a plastic bag in the freezer, if that's the kind you have).

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1-2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions (ours takes about 20-30 minutes).  When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat.  For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe contanier and freeze at least 2 hours.

(Final note:  I think my Penzey's vanilla extract overpowered this recipe, which was probably designed with your average vanilla in mind.  I almost think this would be good as a sweet cream recipe, no vanilla, since the book must have come out before that was a trendy flavor, and one of my favorites).

Bruce Weinstein, The Ultimate Ice Cream Book (one of our favorites!)

We Have Chrysalids!!

Yep, our five caterpillars are continuing their transformation into butterflies by hanging from the lid of their container and starting to develop irridescent cocoons.  It's the pupal stage.  We're going to move them to their transitional net home tomorrow, and add oranges and such in a few days.  We should have butterflies (though not necessarily 5; apparently 3-5 is considered normal) within 7-10 days.   Let's just hope it warms up some more--they need it to be 55F to survive (and there have been a few chillier nights).

Butterfly Boy and Girl

We've been reading Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis a lot recently, a wonderful story about a girl's imaginative adventures in her big backyard.  And we've been trying to have our own backyard adventures.  We planted some squash and sunflowers and I picked up a strawberry kit today, just to watch some food grow (not that I think we can beat the squirrels to the sunflower seeds or strawberries).  And we also are growing our own Painted Lady butterflies.  We received the tiny caterpillars in the mail from Insectlore and have been watching them eat, grow, and molt for about a week, waiting for them to spin pupae and hang from the lid of the jar.  Then we'll move them to our butterfly net and watch the metamorphoses continue.  Sis, Bud, and I have read all about it in our Fly, Monarchs, Fly! book by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (who wrote our favorite Apples! book) and are excited about watching each one emerge from its chrysalis and eat oranges with its proboscis.  We're even looking at getting a butterfly bush for the yard.   Which might help us with our summer project to be certified as a national wildlife habitat.  Now that's a great backyard adventure.