The eighth butterfly emerged this morning. Another female. That makes six females and 2 males, so far.
She didn’t seem to mind at all when I stuck my camera in her face.
Beautiful.
~~Rhonda
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did i tell you we’re painting our bedroom?
September 29, 2008 – 6:05 pm
DH started the project the other night. We’re going from pinky-rosey-mauvey to brown. This is just the first coat. I don’t like white ceilings. I am really liking this dark brown one!
But the painting is all we’re doing in there…except for new curtains…
~~Rhonda 🙂
the girls are home :)
September 28, 2008 – 5:03 pm
Our two older daughters are home for the weekend. A short visit, to be sure, but a good one.
When DH made pancakes for breakfast, DD requested a butterfly. Not bad, hmm? 🙂
The girls leave tomorrow morning for home. We’re glad to have a visit, even though it wasn’t long enough.
~~Rhonda
the garden in autumn
September 27, 2008 – 3:21 pm
The air has taken on that “autumn feel.” Sort of golden, and a little dusty and sweet somehow. Lots of pretty things yet to see when we walk the yard. The hydrangeas were beautiful this year. Most are fading to a soft rosy pink and a pretty green color.
I want to pick some for a winter bouquet and also need to get some for the Victorian Christmas tree. I might spritz them with a little white glitter spray for the tree. There is one fresh blossom. Seems a lot of the plants put out a few spring blossoms in the fall. Refreshing when everything else is fading.
The crabapple tree looked puny all summer. The leaves didn’t develop well. But it has put out a showing of fruit. Not as prolific as usual and maybe not as bright red as usual, but the birds will still enjoy the feast.
I think I showed you the asters before, but they are too pretty to ignore.
Surprise! A mushroom village erupted in the front yard this week. I like them so much, I mowed around them. 🙂
The little iris ‘Baby Blessed’ is blooming. It’s a great rebloomer. About 12″ tall, it will bloom off and on all summer. This week, we have quite a few blossoms. A whiff of spring in the midst of autumn.
Butterflies number three and four were released Thursday. They didn’t wait around for a photo op, but flew off as soon as they were out of the container.
The fifth butterfly to emerge (yesterday) was our first male. The male Black Swallowtail has a lot less blue than the female. Not sure why some are content to sit for a long time and others can’t wait to leap into the sky.
We still have twelve chrysalises and two caterpillars. The other day, DD watched one emerge, but I missed it. She pointed out another one and told me to watch it during the morning. She was sure it was ready to emerge. Well, sure enough…I walked into the kitchen about 10:00 a.m. and there it was, slowly waving its wings back and forth. Maybe I will be able to catch one of the remaining ones as the butterfly emerges. 🙂
~~Rhonda
apple cake
September 25, 2008 – 5:40 pm
This morning I was perusing the internet and came across a recipe for apple bread on Kitchen Parade. I had the ingredients necessary so decided to try the recipe.
The recipe called for Granny Smith apples. I didn’t have those on hand, but did have Galas, so I used them instead.
I mixed the wet ingredients, the dry ingredients, and chopped the apples (left the peel on). The only change I made to the recipe, other than the type of apple (and leaving on the peel), was to add some freshly grated nutmeg with the cinnamon. Freshly grated is a whole ‘nother animal from ground nutmeg. Not the same at all. FYI, I also like to add freshly grated nutmeg to fresh peach pie…oh, yum!
I mixed the dry into the wet, added the apples and stirred, and poured it into a pie plate sprayed with cooking spray. I would have used my dark red pie plate for this if anyone had been home to fetch it down for me. But this one was already on the counter and I don’t climb up to fetch pie plates (or anything else for that matter), so this one was elected by default.
The topping was an easy mix with this favorite kitchen tool. The recipe called for mixing by hand, but I don’t like the feeling of buttery stuff under my fingernails. 😛
Ready for the oven.
Smelled so good while baking! The recipe calls for 30 minutes at 400*. My oven runs a bit hot, and I should have taken it out at about 27 minutes for a lighter top, but it didn’t affect the flavor adversely.
Had to taste test it, didn’t I??…
Delish! DD had a slice for an after school snack and pronounced it “very good!” 🙂
I think I will make it again and try a few other changes…I want to try a T. of veggie oil, and 3 T. of apple butter (or applesauce) instead of the 4 T. of butter in the batter. Maybe I’ll add a tablespoon of milled flax. And I think I’ll try it with 1/4 c. of brown sugar and 1/4 c. of honey instead of 1/2 c. of white sugar…the honey might add a nice flavor.
I’ll let you know… ~~Rhonda 🙂
bye bye, butterfly
September 25, 2008 – 9:49 am
The first butterfly emerged two days ago. Another one yesterday. And another one this morning!
We waited until DH came home after work to release the first one. He had to carefully take the screen off the top of the tank as two caterpillars have decided to attach to it to pupate. Silly bugs.
The butterfly is a female, which you can tell by the blue on her wings. She sat on DD’s finger for a long time. When we released the second butterfly yesterday, it didn’t wait for a photo op. It sprang into the air and took off for the top of the maple.
DD set the butterfly on a butterfly bush blossom and she seemed quite content to rest there.
DD was able to watch the third butterfly emerge this morning before I came downstairs. When I asked if she took pictures, she said, “No, I was too excited.” 🙂
~~Rhonda
autumn picture gallery
September 24, 2008 – 10:15 am
Cathy, this one’s for you. Savor autumn. ~~Rhonda 🙂
A walk through the little woods behind our house…
Goldenrod.
Elderberry bush sans elderberries…isn’t the pinky red a beautiful color?
The sassafras are beautiful every year.
I love to take pictures at the end of the day. The soft light is so pretty on everything. The trees are just beginning to show some real change. More pictures to come in the days ahead. ~~Rhonda 🙂
first butterfly!
September 23, 2008 – 10:42 am
We now have eleven chrysalises in our butterfly tank and the first butterfly emerged today.
I’m posting this photo in a large size so you can see the amazing beauty and detail of the wing scales. Isn’t God’s gift of creation amazing?
Buttercup is fascinated!
We put some butterfly bush blossoms and a couple of purple coneflower blossoms in the tank to provide nectar. When she gets home from school, DD will release the butterfly in the back yard.
We’re hoping to watch a butterfly as it emerges. If we do, I’ll post some pictures.
~~Rhonda
it’s bethany…calling from the philippines :)
September 22, 2008 – 10:32 pm
Sunday evening, the mission team that went to West Virginia this summer gave their report to the church. Bethany, who was on the team and is now in the Philippines, joined us via Skype which John set up. DH especially liked John’s high tech bucket. 🙂
After the report, while we had snacks, everyone got to talk to Bethany, and she was introduced to Margaret who was born after Bethany left. 🙂
It was great to see Bethany “face to face” and to have her input in the mission report. We all miss her a great deal!
~~Rhonda