Lots of caterpillars lately. They're curling up, tucking themselves in. This one we found on our purple basil in the garden.

This one was in the park where we had our nature walk this week. The colours are changing, becoming more brown and golden and orange. The seeds are developing as the flowers fade. I used to think of Winter as a dead time. I now see Fall as preparing for that time of Deep Rest where Nature prepares herself for the burst in the Springtime.

Just moments before, as we were walking down the path, a Great Blue Heron took to its wings from this spot.

A walk

As we wandered yesterday through a local park with some good friends, we didn't get to see much by way of animals. Only a black squirrel was brave enough to stay amidst the running, shouting and splashing of sticks and stones into the river. Four little and not so little boys and two older girls who forgot they were "older" for a moment can cause quite a racket. We let them run off steam for a while before reigning them in. Still, this Great Blue Heron flew on ahead of us twice before the kids realized that quietness would get them a better sighting. This time, the heron walked away from us before flying, enabling us to get a couple of decent shots. It circled away and then over our heads (us adults at the back got to see that part--the kids missed it). Later, on our way back to the cars, we were startled to hear the sound of a branch cracking above our heads. Looking up we saw again the heron flying off away from us. He must have been sitting in the tree directly above us. I'm sure he was glad when we drove off!

Our friends have been doing a study on monarch butterflies. They "bought the kit" that included a tropical milkweed plant, caterpillars and a tent to let it all live in in their house until the butterflies "hatch". They have been in awe by the awesomeness of the process. So, as we passed a milkweed on our walk, of course we had to stop and look. (The milkweed plant is such has such funny little elves-hat seed pods.) We quickly saw these fuzzy caterpillars--not monarch--on leaves here and there. Then I lifted one and saw this colony of fuzz. They moved a bit so I tried to be quick to take the photos and leave them in peace. My guidebook tells me they are Milkweek Tussock Moth larvae.

And then I spotted the wild cucumber vine twining itself around the other plants. I remembered it from previous walks in this park but had forgotten about it until I ran across it on a website somewhere. The round, prickly pods dry to a lovely brown and the bottom pops open to disperse the seeds. The pod is then left looking like a loofa sponge with these neat cavities inside where the seeds had been. So of course I had to take a picture.

Over the way you will find our reasonable facsimiles of some of our finds from this walk.

Morning Calisthenics?

I can't go to bed.

I painted the floor that is between here and there. I'm hoping it dries quickly with the fan on it. Tomorrow I can move all the stuff back onto it but for tonight I get to still trip over things that are out of place. Not that I'll be going anywhere during the night across that sticky paint. If I have to I'll be able to get to my bed by going outside and through the side door. But I won't make any midnight trips to the loo that way.





So here I am, you lucky people!





Three of us had passport photos taken today. Why do I always forget to put my head in the more flattering position? And since my hair is blonde and fine, that white background makes it seem to disappear and I look scraggly. Ugh. The kidlets are cute by default but their shots aren't much better. Shh. Don't tell the grandparents.





Before going to our morning's appointment and then the photo shoot, the kids tried to chase the uncooperative (and very smart) chicken back into the coop from whence she had escaped when they went in to feed her. We left her out. One of the hens has taken to digging up my hosta garden so they've been confined again. They're much happier when they can run around though so I may have to build a fence or something. Happy chickens lay more eggs. The renegade came back at suppertime.





Only 4 more days till Pieman comes back.





Some shots I like from our nature walk the other day:

We stopped our bikes for this one. He didn't like the camera so close. First he tried to make like a leaf, then he put his dukes up, then figured the best thing was escape and scuttled away. We let him to. Figured the road wasn't a very safe place for him anyway.

Standing up straight like little soldiers at attention.

Why do I take pictures of fungus? I suppose 'cause it's so weird. This is just a cool shot. The weird fungus didn't look so weird on camera.

I love this one. I suppose it's my mother's heart. They look so independent.

Canary Bird Vine growing up my shed

Our first cherry tomato

And I ate it without stopping for a picture. It was good.

We continue to work through establishing a school routine. It has been fairly simple this year, thanks to some changes on my part. As in: a timetable on each child's weekly schedule. There is no doubt about when we start the day and when recess starts. (very important) Basic scheduling stuff, I know. We've for some time been operating on a timetable for school but I didn't think the kids needed to see it written down. Makes it much easier you know. For one thing they don't argue with me about what time recess is if it's written down. They have to argue with the paper and that doesn't answer back.