I need to start this blog with my “brush” with a distressed Monarch butterfly. I was pulling weeds and suddenly realized I was perilously close (for the Monarch, that is), to a gorgeous butterfly. I moved around and he never stirred…
As I moved my hand under the Hosta leaf, he slowly moved to the ground..and I do mean slowly!
This is how close I got…and he only moved his wings.
I have heard that there are a shortage of Monarchs this year and I really haven’t heard why, but I found this whole experience unnerving…I moved away and checked on him an hour later…He was still in the same spot. How do you save a butterfly’s life? I finally decided to let Mother Nature take her course. She has the best judgement, after all, but I will check later this evening to see if he is still alive, rest assured…
I came home from a morning of garage sales and found this little fellow/gal?? pecking around our yard…
I managed to get pretty close and as you can see, he/she has a red head….and also had dark on his eyes and forehead, and a dark spot on his breast..Obviously this is a Woodpecker (I’m not THAT dumb) but just what kind is the question. I think it was a young one because he didn’t fly well as I tried to move in closer. And while I’m on the subject of flora and fauna, we were also growing mushrooms in our backyard…
…and the mushrooms were growing much better than our vegetable garden, as you can see….Too bad they aren’t Morels…I LOVE those darn things, but where they grow around here is a closely guarded secret to only the seasoned Morel hunters…and they won’t tell…even after water boarding.
Last evening, Den’s 2nd cousin, Randy, was visiting Aunt Neenie, who lives just one house away from us. I was busy getting dinner started, but Dennis saw him pull in the drive. Dennis knows how much I slobber over vintage 50’s 60’s cars, and he told me I should go over to Neenies…and to take my camera….I was clueless until I came around the house….
What we have here is a 1959 Chevy Corvette….purple and white….and purtier than any new one! I totally had to wipe the slobber off the camera lens after this photo shoot. I love the 1950’s and 60’s cars…Before and after that time frame, I could care less. Ain’t she sweet???
This weekend is going to be pretty busy for us here at the Cave Dwellings. Our three oldest grandkids are spending the night Saturday so Terrie and Tim can go to Terrie’s class reunion. This means deviled eggs, pizza, fries, and ice cream abounding..Hey, it’s not my job to watch their nutrition, it’s my job to spoil them …and we do! Also, Sunday morning we will drop the kids off at their house in Sugar Grove on our way to Montgomery-fest, where our Uncle Jr. (Clarence) Bark is the Grand Marshal of the parade this year…
Uncle Jr. is Den’s Mother’s Brother….and was a member of the Montgomery township planning commission since 1979. (They have lived since they build a new home in the 50’s.) He is also a WW II Navy Veteran, serving in the South Pacific on board two air craft carriers, the USS Bennington and the USS Lexington. Our whole family is sooooo blessed and honored to have him still among us…And as for Aunt Jeanette….she is just about the youngest 95 (96 in Sept.) year old I have ever met (Jr. will be 88 this month)….They never had kids and have been married 52 years this September…OOOOH, I LOVE A PARADE….!
The above photos were taken Thanksgiving 2007 at our home…Jr. and Jeanette don’t drive out here hardly at all anymore ( and shouldn’t!), so we go to Montgomery to visit them. Sunday at noon, Dennis and I will drive Jr. to the parade line up and Jeanette will come with us to find a good viewing spot…Den will be driving them in their 1987 Cadillac…neither one can get up into our GMC…(I’m finding it a real feat/feet myself!)..Of course, I will be taking my camera. Some of our family members are going up too and it will be a very fun afternoon.
As you can see, when I am deprived of a computer to blog on for 4 days, I tend to take advantage of my followers and ramble on a bit…But, guess what…My next blog of the Montgomery-fest will be a record breaker…bring your jammies and some snacks for that one…!
I SNAPPED THIS PHOTO OF THE THUNDERHEADS JUST OVER OUR TREES A COUPLE DAYS AGO…NOTE THE VAPOR “HALO” OVER THE CLOUDS…NATURE IS SURELY AMAZING AND I AM ALWAYS HUMBLED BY IT’S MAGIC.
“Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do.” ~Michel de Montaigne
I love those old 50s and 60s cars too. Used to be they changed the design enough every year so you could actually tell what year the car was just by looking. Those days are gone I guess.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a lot of fun at your parade and festival.
What a great weekend first the kiddo's, and then the parade. What an honor for Uncle Jr and your whole family, He deserves all the attention he will receive, Tell him this old Navy veteran sends him a snappy salute. And also a "Heart Well Done"..Hope you have good weather for the parade. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.
ReplyDeleteYour bird looks like a juvenile ladderback woodpecker. Aren't they gorgeous?
ReplyDeleteI want that car!!! It's my favorite color. So I think he should just give it to me. Looking forward to your parade pictures. I, too, love a parade.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've got a great weekend planned. Lot's of family time a lot of good food too - can't beat that.
ReplyDeleteLots of great pics in your blog - the thundercloud, the corvette, butterfly, mushrooms and Uncle Jr. too!
I doubt that there is any first aid for butterflies. You are right-nature will decide.
ReplyDeleteGreat cloud picture.
I hate to disagree with another commenter, but I believe that is a male Northern flicker (yellow-shafted). Ladder-backed woodpeckers are found in the Texas/Arizona area, but certainly not in Sandwich, IL. :)
ReplyDeleteTake a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodpecker
ReplyDeleteGreat cloud photo and definitely love the other shots, too!
"How do you save a butterfly’s life"? With a Butterfly kiss of course. We have Morels growing in our yard & we have those Northern Flickers around our place as well. Had a female in our Sunburst Locust tree this morning. That's quite a cloudburst shot.
ReplyDeleteI think you would look good in that car .
ReplyDeleteyour posts always make me smile!..thanks for that!..enjoy the weekend with the kids!!..got my happy pants ready for the next one!!!
ReplyDeleteAwww :( Poor butterfly :( It makes me so sad when I can't help an animal that needs it. If only they could talk. You are a sweet soul for worrying over it.
ReplyDeleteI love your Uncle Junior! He's a real cutie! I'm glad he's gonna be the Grand Marshal. I bet he's popping his buttons at the honor.
Missed you lately...glad you're back in business! :) xoxo
boy did that car bring back memories. my first crush gave music lessons to boy down the road. he had a vette just like that except red and white. talk about 'butterfiles', but they were all in m stomach when I saw him and that car.
ReplyDeleteDonna