Tag: Save the planet

The one where nature made me ugly cry.

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

I started this post last week with some positivity and excitement in my heart.

A very happy and exciting event this (last) week was that I’ve been seeing my Polydamas flying around and I’ve got a boatload of babies on my Pipevine. Remember the last time I tried to video she/he, it didn’t pan out so well for me. I compared the butterfly to Sasquatch because I couldn’t verify she existed. But, on Sunday afternoon, I turned into an award wining cinematographer.

So, where’s my award? Kidding. Two showed up, surprised me and really made me look like I know what the heck I’m doing! Kids, dont’t try this at home, I am a trained professional.

That was last Sunday.

Yesterday, things were different.

–Insert Debbie Downer background music here–

Yesterday, I shed tears.

The polydama caterpillars ate every leaf.

I know. I know that’s what they’re supposed to do. And I’d hoped that I had enough vine for everyone at the table, but that didn’t happen.

Every piece of green on that vine was gone and there were still hungry caterpillars looking for food. The kitchen is closed…no food to be found. It hurts my heart seeing the hungry babies. *sigh*

There is no other food source for them and I tried to locate some Pipevine, but none of my local nurseries carry it.

I can’t even bare to go out there today and check on them.

I know the state of our world is a dumpster fire right now, but this, this is what was keeping me staying patially sane.

Yes, the plant will most likely grow back, but before it’s a full sized plant, the butterflies will most likely find it, lay a billion eggs and the vine won’t be able to support them all.

People keep telling me this is how nature works, but people, do you not realize I AM NATURE. OK, maybe I’M just TRYING TO CONTROL NATURE.

Ok. That’s enough of my pity party. I promise. Today is a new day let me see what other type of caterpillar I can starve.

KIDDING!

I hope everyone had a pleasant July 4th. Our Callie is still recovering from all the freaking people who love to shoot fireworks; I need to get her some CBD or Vodka. Happy Independence day, let’s light things on fire! ‘Merica

XOXO

I saw some of my people and witnessed what should be a bucket list event.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz23 Comments

We went out of town this past weekend; it felt so decadent. One of our dearest friends had her 5oth birthday and 12 of us surprised her at a little B & B in a sleepy little beach town on the East Coast.

We’d been planning this since February while watching the world tumble around us hoping we’d still be able to pull it off. WE DID IT.

This particular county had just moved to phase 2 on Friday; the timing couldn’t have been better. There were still a lot of stipulations and rules, but we worked around it all.

Saturday morning we walked over to the beach for a look; the weather was not glorious; very gloomy and overcast, but who cares when you’re out of the house and with friends AT THE BEACH?

We took a little walk down the beach and noticed all the turtle tracks going up and down from the ocean…hmmm…it took us a minute to remember that it was turtle nesting season. Then we started noticing all the protected nests. Can’t get much past us…

They almost looks like tire tracks, right?

Saturday night we set up a picnic at the beach; it was so awesome. Good food, good wine, good friends. We started at 6:30 and just about the time we’re finishing up, it was pitch black outside.

Since it’s turtle nesting season, there are NO lights on or near the beach. If you have lights inland, the newly hatched baby turtles will become disoriented and head in the wrong direction and not survive.

When loading our goodies back into our bags, boxes and buggies, we noticed in the dark a few large objects coming our way from the ocean. STOP THE PRESSES: mama turtles were heading our way to lay their eggs. We sort of froze not knowing what to do. One Mama just stopped about 15 feet from us and started digging. The other one put on her blinker and turned right after she saw us.

It was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed. THEY WERE GIANT; probably 275 lbs. The mama was so close to us, now I know what a midwife feels like.

The next day on our drive home I researched loggerhead turtles and I’m not ashamed to admit that now I’m an expert. They live 47-67 years, they are omnivorous and spend ALL of their life in the water aside from laying eggs.

Not my video, but it’s interesting if you feel like learning something today.

I was thinking of asking for a baby turtle for my next birthday, but realized that our pool might somewhat boring. So, I’m still holding out hope for a baby dolphin.

But, I’m for sure adding Loggerhead Turtle Midwife to my resume.