Tag: Monarchs

Literal Butterfly Kisses and I’m Creating More Than Food In My Kitchen; Spoiler Alert, It’s Not Edible.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz32 Comments

One day this past week, I was releasing some monarchs, and one of them decided to come in for a closeup. I was all, “Oh, ok. Make yourself at home”. I was impressed with myself that I had my phone in my pocket as she sat there gazing into my soul.

Why did I convert this to black and white? I was in a hideous state when this occurred. I’d been working the yard, flush from the heat; honestly, my hair hadn’t been touched by a comb or brush. Or, as my Dad would lovingly say, “You look like you brushed your hair with the leg of a chair.” 

Speaking of butterflies and weirdness. This is the cool thing I wanted you to witness

The monarch caterpillars LOVE to make their chrysalis on the edges of milkweed pots. Had you heard? They’re famous for this. BUT, this was an anomaly; two of them using the same exact spot for their silk. I wondered how this was going to work out with them being ALL UP IN EACH OTHERS BINESS. 

They always create this “J” formation for a good part of a day before going into the chrysalis state. J as in J’AMAZING. 

I could tell that they were going to create their chrysalis around the same time, and I didn’t want to miss it so I brought them into the kitchen. Which, by the way, they said Holy mackerel, nice digs, lady! Even caterpillars know a good kitchen design when they see it. 

Do you want to see something cool? 

HOLD ON TO YOUR SOCKS. 

Are you wearing socks? No. Then what the heck are you holding on to? 

I recorded it in time-lapse because I care about time. And lapses of judgment time. The guy on the right was SO annoyed with the guy on the left; he kept bumping into him with all his life-changing. Life-changing CAN be messy and wiggly. 

By the way, that’s the guy on the left’s skin that I picked up. Cool right? They shed their outer layer. Talk about exfoliation. 

For real, I’ve been at this butterfly thing for many years, and I have two observations: 

  • It is still amazing to watch
  • I still don’t fully understand how it all works. 

Oh, and guy number two made his chrysalis about 30 minutes later while I was in the shower. I should have taken them to the shower with me so I wouldn’t miss it. They might have been equally impressed with our bathroom but also traumatized from seeing me nekkid. I can hear them now: What in the world happened to her chrysalis? Body shamed by a caterpillar; that’s a new low.

Can I top this with anything cooler for next week? Well, there are rumors in the ‘hood that Sasquatch has been spotted riding a unicorn; I’d better check the surveillance cameras.

Until next time.

XO

The One Where I {should} Finally Get A Network TV Show

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz, In the land of butterflies26 Comments

Tuesday evening I was in the backyard with the pups and they were doing what pups do and I was doing what I do; checking out my plants, caterpillars and having gentle conversations with butterflies passing me by. (I feel the need to tell each one how beautiful they are; I can’t help it) I noticed an old, withered monarch sitting in the grass. They don’t usually hang out in the grass, so I picked her up and put her on a salvia bloom safely out of Lillies mouth reach. I immediately recognized her as I’ve seen her flitting about my various garden areas over the past few days; she was recognizable by her one partial and almost see-through wings. She has seen some days and lots of weather. Monarchs here generally live 2-6 weeks and I’d say she’s seen close to six weeks from the looks of her.

I decided she might need a little help in the food department and who can turn down a juicy tangerine? No one, that’s who.

You can see her proboscis reaching out for nectar; this is the little tube they ingest their food from. I squeezed the tangerine to make more juice for her; this is the equivalent of a bartender filling up my wine glass. MORE, please.

Honestly, we don’t hear that many planes over our house so I can only assume that was the Discovery Channel or Nat Geo coming in close for a story.

*Still waiting for them to make an offer I can’t refuse contact*

I saw her a few times on Wednesday as well; still flying, eating, acting as she should.

On Thursday morning we found her again in the grass and moved her onto a plant for some nutrients. She’s missing a bit more of her wing but seems to be in good spirits. I mean, if she was in bad spirits she was disguising it. One thing I’ve noticed over the last few days was that the males were still coming in hot for her. Just goes to show you, Cougars also have a commodity in nature.

Meow.

I’ve thought about bringing her in and placing her in a mesh cage to keep her safe and happily fed, but decided she was meant to be out there, doing her thing for the rest of her days.

I do have one monarch that I’ve had in captivity for almost 3 weeks. Don’t get all crazy and call PETA this one has a virus (using layman terms here) that is very contagious to all the caterpillars/plants/butterflies in the gardens, so it was either keep her away from the others or go all Jack Kevorkian (freezer) on her.

Suz: making life & death decisions on the daily.

Happy Friday my sweet friends. Wishing you all a peaceful (easy feeling) weekend doing something that doesn’t require life & death decisions, but if you have to: CHOOSE LIFE.

Now leave a note or I’ll put you in the freezer with the others.

XOXO

Still crazy after all these years

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz18 Comments

Don’t you love that Paul Simon song?

Seems more fitting for our anniversary than Fifty ways to leave your lover.

Thank you all for your well wishes for our anniversary and for enjoying our wedding photos; next up, I will share every photo of my children starting on the day of their birth.

I’m just pulling your hair leg.

We had a very nice and quiet long weekend at our condo. Coach was able to fish quite a bit and that makes him so happy; which makes me happy. He doesn’t even keep the fish; he catches and releases in the most humane way. Although, if he were to capture a dolphin for me to have as a pet, that would be just fine.

I was able to get in some walks, (in between heavy showers) read some of my book and I started a new puzzle because it was a rainy, raingy weekend. We also watched some TV together on the couch; 35 years together and it doesn’t take much for us to be content. And how awesome is that?

We don’t usually exchange gifts, but I gave Coach the perfect gift; after all these years, I can still give him butterflies. Four butterflies to be exact.

Corny; table for two please!

On our anniversary day, we needed to bring our boat back to the marina where it lives and we decided to have lunch there; my first meal ‘out’ since this whole world went upside down. We had a great meal outside on the deck overlooking the water.

Shocker, I had a Cobb salad. And for dinner, I had the rest of the Cobb salad; it was as big as my head.

Did you know that Florida is ‘open’? We’ve been open almost two weeks with lots of guidlines per the CDC.

We’ve still been very cautious about going places, as in we’re really not going too many places. But it was nice to have food served to me; I felt like the Queen of England. Except I wasn’t wearing pantyhose. Or a hat. Wait, I did have on a hat.

But also, it was hot as hell and we were sweating our butts off. I don’t think the Queen is allowed to sweat.

But still, I was served food. And it was reminiscent of days gone by.

Passing the still closed Naples Pier

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend as well doing something that brings you joy and hopefully with less sweat.

XOXO