tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39742666310126962492024-03-05T12:58:34.910-05:00Simply Enchanted LifeWhere magic is found in the simplest of moments.treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-40255765770488750552016-10-11T13:36:00.000-04:002016-12-26T20:05:26.341-05:00Square Painting Canvases by US Art Supply.<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPffd2070277c89828129e963f1b7d0e45" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" style="display: none;" /></a>
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Earlier this week i reviewed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KONDFS6"> 8 x 10 stretched canvas by US Art Supply.</a> We also received a set of square canvas panels, but the last two weeks have been so busy we haven't had the chance to really try them out yet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3Mr_XESvL5XbrfFPzfnlvJZE71FRaNlOAQ8r06vwZ9kN1pHOMujJJjFhkbXt3efWRnQkZrfzuTDfZE2RrdJlG3k_Ox5mZOTzJ9wgmxqp8t4ASBWirm0WnPhyo-Q_p-SCgMSEyBNusRI/s1600/panels1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3Mr_XESvL5XbrfFPzfnlvJZE71FRaNlOAQ8r06vwZ9kN1pHOMujJJjFhkbXt3efWRnQkZrfzuTDfZE2RrdJlG3k_Ox5mZOTzJ9wgmxqp8t4ASBWirm0WnPhyo-Q_p-SCgMSEyBNusRI/s640/panels1.jpg" width="604" /></a></div>
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These are the Square Variety Assortment of Canvas Panels. The set contains 12-Total Panels (2-EA: 12x12, 10x10, 8x8, 6x6, 5x5, 4x4). They are tripled primed cotton, acid free and medium weight. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzTS5kIXET1rvHKdrhrGA_8gWb8zXq8F2ic5KFP-6uZtVPAdmFVmyFjumci_7jmbGm6YYL5RdHIzQ_6cyh7KWq9OCcUQtKWwNa6S5NxU4FS_olItkpS_3JAV4dA6yW8v4Us07j5CqSn8/s1600/panels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzTS5kIXET1rvHKdrhrGA_8gWb8zXq8F2ic5KFP-6uZtVPAdmFVmyFjumci_7jmbGm6YYL5RdHIzQ_6cyh7KWq9OCcUQtKWwNa6S5NxU4FS_olItkpS_3JAV4dA6yW8v4Us07j5CqSn8/s400/panels.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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These are going to be a lot of fun to work with and should keep us busy for a while. i really love the variety of sizes. i've been playing around with making some mixed media mandala paintings and i think these will work great for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v8kNoEiAhNryQhFNq2Tjzw1Iy1o1C_j5Gk-w7aMXbHDMtD6fAlgt68cwikmq5e2rWvHfDi4d7pJFiVAOopPoEBKaufqNvRambbo5fxoqkJCDPp-8KRTNsUzUgJWBJEOUeJGlas2pgpo/s1600/panels3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v8kNoEiAhNryQhFNq2Tjzw1Iy1o1C_j5Gk-w7aMXbHDMtD6fAlgt68cwikmq5e2rWvHfDi4d7pJFiVAOopPoEBKaufqNvRambbo5fxoqkJCDPp-8KRTNsUzUgJWBJEOUeJGlas2pgpo/s640/panels3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can find this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KONDCJ8">12 pack of canvas panels </a>on amazon. It's only $19.96 right now, and free shipping if you have prime. The set comes with two of each of the sizes pictured. </div>
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i received this canvas in exchange for my review. i was not compensated. i really love working with #usartsupply and have been pleased with all of their products. They offer such a great selection of affordable art supplies.</div>
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<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMffd2070277c89828129e963f1b7d0e45" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" style="display: none;" /></a>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-90395531356894389202016-08-24T07:35:00.003-04:002016-08-24T07:44:03.816-04:00Koram Grow Bag for Vertical Gardening.<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPef517bbbf54d498ffa30c36ae5a5f8ee" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" style="display: none;" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQmgaeybL0EKholWJImvALRnSL1j6I29etb6BiQyG3eCrj407GSbQpFi6dbAuTDGvOtVq0hzV_-l6uCERC05nQLoG4XG58A8gf8oXaZQEyP9ZG-pmr7Trpo51sw9gd4KG7ceGmmfMmAc/s1600/growbag1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQmgaeybL0EKholWJImvALRnSL1j6I29etb6BiQyG3eCrj407GSbQpFi6dbAuTDGvOtVq0hzV_-l6uCERC05nQLoG4XG58A8gf8oXaZQEyP9ZG-pmr7Trpo51sw9gd4KG7ceGmmfMmAc/s640/growbag1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">i was really excited to review the #Koramgrowbag ! The images from the listing make it look really neat. However, when i received it i was a little disappointed in the size. So make sure and pay attention to the actual size of the bag. These images show multiple bags connected together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCVmkigx5gBssct-k4VITnr0x69DcwBbwCFCo_KR-2TLZWVCi1KUhCLhxDREp7joZU20SCYWFKjz_sspwOkXHolla94tOcrrnMlLR1R41nIpIF8yuF2z-ggcNQQNkJhiz-l0RcCSHYPY/s1600/growbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCVmkigx5gBssct-k4VITnr0x69DcwBbwCFCo_KR-2TLZWVCi1KUhCLhxDREp7joZU20SCYWFKjz_sspwOkXHolla94tOcrrnMlLR1R41nIpIF8yuF2z-ggcNQQNkJhiz-l0RcCSHYPY/s320/growbag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">i really wanted to love this vertical garden bag, but i don't like it as much as i thought i would. The pictures in the listing are misleading. They must have multiple bags put together in order to create that look. It's much smaller than i expected (approx 3 ft x 11 inches), which is actually okay because once it's filled with soil and watered it's really quite heavy. It's made from heavy duty felt and has loops for hanging and grommets to secure it in place.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1XlojxWHtYPh4btvX5fiMHwoFCTEzdwTmweqkK1fQsSwBEwBtAH0J9k6pxUiwqOSq98NLZhZz_vXAdeSID3N22T40Z1lPUMZCTLxGyiLTdjWlOekjuFa6JoKgWIknHlKDJnf4-sNx-c/s1600/growbag2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1XlojxWHtYPh4btvX5fiMHwoFCTEzdwTmweqkK1fQsSwBEwBtAH0J9k6pxUiwqOSq98NLZhZz_vXAdeSID3N22T40Z1lPUMZCTLxGyiLTdjWlOekjuFa6JoKgWIknHlKDJnf4-sNx-c/s640/growbag2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">i have it hanging in my greenhouse with some lettuce starts and nasturtium planted in it. i think it would look awesome if i had done all nasturtium. It's really not big enough for veggies (in my opinion). So i may replant it with just flowers. i put the plants in a few days ago, and they are doing well. The lettuces wilt a little if it gets too hot in the greenhouse but is otherwise growing well in the bag.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iGGPMzIvULpXzJkMQPQOxAT3kAo5OKW5L3MEnr8eGmVMZhc-BDi7PQOn35rp9XW3CEOKN5U5K_u2dt4tJgB7l4hJ6Wj60b3G1xyW7n_nmgF_u4QSGKxuN9PROv6PDe36_G0uXlOh7vg/s1600/growbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iGGPMzIvULpXzJkMQPQOxAT3kAo5OKW5L3MEnr8eGmVMZhc-BDi7PQOn35rp9XW3CEOKN5U5K_u2dt4tJgB7l4hJ6Wj60b3G1xyW7n_nmgF_u4QSGKxuN9PROv6PDe36_G0uXlOh7vg/s640/growbag.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">The descriptions shows it being used inside, but the felt gets really wet when you water the plants and so the whole thing becomes quite damp. You wouldn't want that up against a wall without some type of protection behind it. i like the idea of vertical gardening though, and think these could be useful for those gardening with limited space. i attached a picture of me next to the bag so you can get an idea of it's true size. i think it would look awesome on a deck with cascading flowers in i</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">t.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1Si5Pjlr1JGSCGByfwHsgUqxTo57ee7mNRQOvR5jamMfK5hLiqMhktM38QC0ap7stBQLsis9XqmVs73wA8FcWpOX7efmxo-9TR266_ytyA8FwZ4EZT8Cc279QgpVGfEBYaLMYCDR43U/s1600/growbag1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1Si5Pjlr1JGSCGByfwHsgUqxTo57ee7mNRQOvR5jamMfK5hLiqMhktM38QC0ap7stBQLsis9XqmVs73wA8FcWpOX7efmxo-9TR266_ytyA8FwZ4EZT8Cc279QgpVGfEBYaLMYCDR43U/s320/growbag1.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">Overall, it's not a bad product, but be sure and read the description well and don't assume it's going to be the size of the ones in the photos. The stitching is good, and the felt does appear to be heavy well made and good quality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">i received this product for free or discount in exchange for my honest review. i was not compensated.</span>
<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMef517bbbf54d498ffa30c36ae5a5f8ee" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" style="display: none;" /></a>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-84452949077085354402016-08-19T08:38:00.002-04:002016-08-19T08:46:52.584-04:00Mini Hanging Moss Gardens<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP8342e11def37f6ecd66303ced2c8e5d8" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png"></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb7Tk9qu95i4oipVD2MQZ5vqFlf5Fpvm9_g1ke0BLAZZr7H8blBfBldD1G91WDmFCF4oHXlf6AfCSbM-HzBGi2NhxYArdnEj6obF9F2Uk6dDgRufIESDrdNqVXvl9qYMctjO-bAAvyEg/s1600/babubles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb7Tk9qu95i4oipVD2MQZ5vqFlf5Fpvm9_g1ke0BLAZZr7H8blBfBldD1G91WDmFCF4oHXlf6AfCSbM-HzBGi2NhxYArdnEj6obF9F2Uk6dDgRufIESDrdNqVXvl9qYMctjO-bAAvyEg/s640/babubles3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Took a walk in the woods yesterday and could not resist coming home with a basket full of beautiful moss. A few years ago i made moss fairy garden inside jars. i'm always looking for interesting jars and containers to create them in. i recently had the opportunity to review some <a href="http:/#HangingClearGlassBaubleSphere">Glass Bauble ornaments</a> and i knew they would make the perfect terrarium/ moss gardens!! We have so many beautiful types of moss growing in our woods, i knew they'd be easy to make. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8y0N2vsmxXgaVigrldaw5yhScAz93sVbjZsT7NXdgQZB4fksswlbi5ebS2WR62AodRkBib_RFknTvzvuJAO2lZr5ugqhL_rJbrk7SmyVtGnqXOuIM04nueSgDYnUaAUXWTk1MyK7h2s/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8y0N2vsmxXgaVigrldaw5yhScAz93sVbjZsT7NXdgQZB4fksswlbi5ebS2WR62AodRkBib_RFknTvzvuJAO2lZr5ugqhL_rJbrk7SmyVtGnqXOuIM04nueSgDYnUaAUXWTk1MyK7h2s/s400/glass.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>
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The glass <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hanging-Terrarium-diameter-Perfect-Decoration/dp/B01ERV7W30/ref=sr_1_10?m=A10QO72P395NSJ&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1470749775&sr=1-10">bauble/ terrariums</a> i received come in a set of 4. They were packaged well, wrapped in bubble wrap and separated inside a box. They arrived in perfect condition. They are very lightweight and have a thin hoop with twine attached. They also have a flat bottom, so they can either be hung up or placed on a shelf.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3kfn5ZD6iugM8gCbKL6acHSarxcPuEfGxc9vFDZSpULnRwLgWQ5qHUUmSA2poC6sgTBc4Z2x7WSBLhCfutOUELr6F9LyJ43lcPm6EvopUkDfwG7DjPY4F70Z9x3Y2tMZIcy8KI7QqJk/s1600/babubles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3kfn5ZD6iugM8gCbKL6acHSarxcPuEfGxc9vFDZSpULnRwLgWQ5qHUUmSA2poC6sgTBc4Z2x7WSBLhCfutOUELr6F9LyJ43lcPm6EvopUkDfwG7DjPY4F70Z9x3Y2tMZIcy8KI7QqJk/s640/babubles1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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To make a moss terrarium you'll need - </div>
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Glass baubles (you can purchase them<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hanging-Terrarium-diameter-Perfect-Decoration/dp/B01ERV7W30/ref=sr_1_10?m=A10QO72P395NSJ&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1470749775&sr=1-10"> here</a>)</div>
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- potting soil mixed half and half with vermiculite</div>
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- Activated charcoal (You can get this at a pet store or garden shop)</div>
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- Gravel, rocks or those pretty flat marbles for fish aquariums. (this is for drainage) </div>
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- Moss, small plants or succulents</div>
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- Decorative items- mini-toadstools (purchased at Michael's), crystals, stones, marbles etc.</div>
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These are super easy to put together. You put your rocks/gravel in the bottom, then put a thin layer of the activated charcoal over them. Then you want to add your soil. Now add your moss down and plants and give it a misting of water. i use a chop stick to push the plants/decorations in place. Long tweezers would also work. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3A9LH-Mr7fbtMpEKAPqIPl6Vb-KnMA_ZPrzdUEtRJ3cEIjHqHUOONzKyoJoQa4wItnfGv262PsnU17RrJGyD4uPJmYKFEuiaofxFL5s23DM7XLhFXXCx5Af5SOOnImoAQRxm9XK4Ryo/s1600/glass3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3A9LH-Mr7fbtMpEKAPqIPl6Vb-KnMA_ZPrzdUEtRJ3cEIjHqHUOONzKyoJoQa4wItnfGv262PsnU17RrJGyD4uPJmYKFEuiaofxFL5s23DM7XLhFXXCx5Af5SOOnImoAQRxm9XK4Ryo/s640/glass3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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i like to add hens and chicks and sedum. They are very easy to keep and require very little maintenance once they are set up. </div>
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These are super easy to make and they really look pretty a long time. You'll want to place the garden in a spot where it will receive indirect sunlight and mist it now and again to keep it moist, but not too wet. i love to make these, and they make wonderful gifts. </div>
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i received the #HangingClearGlassBaubleSphere for free in exchange for my honest review. i was not compensated.</div>
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<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM8342e11def37f6ecd66303ced2c8e5d8" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="https://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png"></a>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-49617556747593249032010-05-10T10:17:00.002-04:002010-05-10T10:29:28.294-04:00Introductions and where i have been.<div style="text-align: center;">First, i wanted to apologize for neglecting this blog. i have been putting more of my focus on my craft blog, <a href="http://theenchantedtree.blogspot.com/">The Enchanted Tree</a>. i had originally planned to keep them separate. This being my family blog, and the other having more of a focus on business. However, being a work at home mama, i am finding that it is all connected. It is becoming too time consuming to try and keep up with both blogs, and my energy has been more focused on the other. <br /><br />Winter seemed especially long and hard this year, and i admit i did not do a whole lot of crafting or blogging. Now that spring is here, my focused has moved outside to the garden and animals. We have gone through quite a few changes this winter. The lose of three beloved pets within weeks of each, who had all been with us 10 years and the addition of new.<br /><br />When we lost our dog Sampson in the fall, i knew we were going to get another dog eventually. i was not in a big hurry for this, still dealing with the loss and not wanting to have to train a puppy. i had been online researching dog breeds, as much as i loved our dog i was not sure i really wanted another beagle. They are not the smartest of dogs and they are very prone to wander. According to the research i had done, we would do best with an Australian Shepard, Blue healer or border collie.<br />One afternoon, while browsing through the classified for dairy goats i came across an ad for a free puppy. The ad was for a 6 month old Border Collie, great with kids, knew basic commands, all around great dog. Something about the ad, made me feel like we really needed to jump on it. So Kenan called the number, explained that we lived in the country, had goats, chickens and children and would love to give this puppy a home. The folks who had the puppy, explained they found her abandoned, tied to a dumpster. They lived in a trailer and didn't have enough space for her. They also told Kenan they had someone coming out to look at her within the hour, and had over 16 calls on her already. So we accepted the fact that we would not be getting the dog.<br />Then out of the blue about an hour later, the phone rings. The folk with the puppy, said they just had this feeling about us and they really wanted us to have her. So Kenan hopped in the car and drove all the way out to Blacksburg to pick the puppy. We had no idea what a blessing she would be to our family.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocW4NfTfrh7DP59xzv8K8pwu__BpJ7oycWKQkEVSQVBEuddsbMRwEe9q9A3AQGizqV32CKgioI506ZXlekCAUqTwHiywEMS5n4HVUxlbf5ZwkHPRZZzwDjx49-aXlTEiwGTQx9xWVJ_e5/s1600/sookie1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocW4NfTfrh7DP59xzv8K8pwu__BpJ7oycWKQkEVSQVBEuddsbMRwEe9q9A3AQGizqV32CKgioI506ZXlekCAUqTwHiywEMS5n4HVUxlbf5ZwkHPRZZzwDjx49-aXlTEiwGTQx9xWVJ_e5/s320/sookie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466000715472284642" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is Sookie. While trying to decide her name Sage, decided her name was Sushi. Kenan then suggested<a href="http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Suki"> Suki</a> (avatar), which immediately worked for everyone. Our family being a bunch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender">Avatar</a> fans. i decided to change the spelling to Sookie , because i'm a Gilmore Girl Fan and we had two cats named Kali and Sati...and i just didn't want another 4 letter name that ended in i. :) She is a short haired Border Collie, extremely smart and has been a wonderful addition to our family.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEaPQ-f6RItTOiss_p04GLxAGHz9jjutuy8BMx45geNEl3UnBrgbbK_neqN4mFiC00P6y2UTgTVXdVuC72WPm6gv8YKnD0GVDbRNSEiOMMudk8LoEDcoINRRnw-v0JpeuFDikI95WsB93/s1600/delilah1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEaPQ-f6RItTOiss_p04GLxAGHz9jjutuy8BMx45geNEl3UnBrgbbK_neqN4mFiC00P6y2UTgTVXdVuC72WPm6gv8YKnD0GVDbRNSEiOMMudk8LoEDcoINRRnw-v0JpeuFDikI95WsB93/s320/delilah1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466000392403525938" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The next newest member is Delilah. When we first moved to Virginia 10 years ago, i told everyone i wanted a dog named Sampson and a goat named Delilah. :) We got the dog the first year were here, but it's taken 10 years to find my Delilah. She is a Pygmy-Dwarf Nigerian cross, she was 4 months old when we brought her home, so she is not quite 6 months now. We are hoping she will provide us with milk one day. i have seen some mixed reviews about milking Dwarf Nigerians and Pygmies. Some claim they are great milkers, while others claim the teets are too small to milk. Right now we are still getting use to just being goat owner. We won't breed her until next year, so it will be quite some time before we know if we can milk her. i expect that once we get used to keeping goats (it's a constant learning process) we may add a few more dairy goats to our herd. ;)<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasVFLreieVL9SjWfL8JMTkSn9gO27pkY7NlwuaxXZZ2Ch7JCAxi3S03jZOUp-2LkYwESY12HH6D0S5lHCcruUqWjdXbPA-qGvsiEelwxgwOUGjmhSQ2M3h4nm2b_w1BfBC_F1XWiPQrhf/s1600/goats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasVFLreieVL9SjWfL8JMTkSn9gO27pkY7NlwuaxXZZ2Ch7JCAxi3S03jZOUp-2LkYwESY12HH6D0S5lHCcruUqWjdXbPA-qGvsiEelwxgwOUGjmhSQ2M3h4nm2b_w1BfBC_F1XWiPQrhf/s320/goats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466000291767754338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpKKNAI8-qln5eQzhsXhJsW33gI8XWnRSpYCzsA3EUXu76l1dx8Cfhw6ldna393kA7IFZkAvty4S-mIKzzvnyxrudVxfj2EE-B6461dzA3HMKb8X-ZnTNF5-mSlAcyt5fQ10IaPTsrMux/s1600/lawnmovers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpKKNAI8-qln5eQzhsXhJsW33gI8XWnRSpYCzsA3EUXu76l1dx8Cfhw6ldna393kA7IFZkAvty4S-mIKzzvnyxrudVxfj2EE-B6461dzA3HMKb8X-ZnTNF5-mSlAcyt5fQ10IaPTsrMux/s320/lawnmovers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466709741394802738" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We are really enjoying them both. Goats have so much personality. Casper having been raised in the house over the winter, is a bit of a spoiled brat. Delilah was extremely skittish when we first brought her home. However, she is becoming a very sweet and friendly little goat. She runs to greet us and sniff our hands hoping we brought treats. They love treats. We give them a few carrots from the garden, lemon balm, comfry, blackberry leaves and a couple of corn chips now and again.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2awgDsCtLdAxZ-JvDYUlYTBz9BNBUcvu2giFEFlv8JudCAaTIxreAn0gzvBtBoqU0LOWWk26tsZXzah2gKRl71HKQ6X8kmN91JtRGa1pUssZYBjB-WoCe9Ymy8sPC9J5sjL4uSonp5ls/s1600/peep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2awgDsCtLdAxZ-JvDYUlYTBz9BNBUcvu2giFEFlv8JudCAaTIxreAn0gzvBtBoqU0LOWWk26tsZXzah2gKRl71HKQ6X8kmN91JtRGa1pUssZYBjB-WoCe9Ymy8sPC9J5sjL4uSonp5ls/s320/peep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466000118579710866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdTXnHkVOdEh4E5CGx9g8CAjr2r4RwqswkXRxjHh7MqQktAVHHqtAGPZMM9VXLNptVdCMIaE5y8nOZ7JsDqUAJbRrNsM0LrCd57lchLxICb8LHZi1THfYFXriuI41jtvnS4nkdqHJ2fNA/s1600/peeps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdTXnHkVOdEh4E5CGx9g8CAjr2r4RwqswkXRxjHh7MqQktAVHHqtAGPZMM9VXLNptVdCMIaE5y8nOZ7JsDqUAJbRrNsM0LrCd57lchLxICb8LHZi1THfYFXriuI41jtvnS4nkdqHJ2fNA/s400/peeps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465947797408750162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The last introductions are for these three sweet little peeps (although i know they were mention in the last post). They are all unnamed so far. The first little peep is an English game bird. In the last picture, the fluffy yellow peep is a Rhode island red-English game cross and the one to the left with the reddish fluff is an Americana-English game cross. We are pretty excited to see how the crossed breeds grow up. Our RIR and Americana are both great egg layers, but they have very little personality. The English game birds have great personalities...but they are not regular egg layers, they love to hide their eggs, and they love to set on their eggs. So it will be interesting to see what we get with them. It is always fun watching the tiny peeps change, as their feather come in and we figure out if we have hens or roosters.<br /><br />We have had a lot of change already this year, and although i am not always the most open to change i do believe in constantly moving forward. Each year, we move closer to our dream. We progress little by little, sometimes there are road blocks, sometimes we back step...but we always keep moving.<br /><br />This post was taken from my<a href="http://theenchantedtree.blogspot.com/"> The Enchanted tree</a> Blog, you can see more current posts there. i am honestly not sure how much updating i will do here.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-55890966374885878302010-01-14T15:56:00.012-05:002010-01-19T08:05:04.563-05:00Holiday season and a Blessed Yule<div style="text-align: center;">This year, our winter holiday celebrations were quiet, subdued and simple. We had hoped to spend Thanksgiving in Michigan, as it has been two years since we have visited our friends and family there. However, things did not work out and we spent it at home. We enjoyed a semi-traditional mostly homegrown feast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfzyO_-EHeKx3us_r2F2WKCuMCJuSO0L-GperjvbTufuREZovNTktZeuxpngqhyxRc524goYZ-J_zD6e6zva3IPz0MBiG5Bic7rZc_t3haJBm1OyALvmr_q-YZRPntEvSJwrYx5dDUFk/s1600-h/thanksgiving09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfzyO_-EHeKx3us_r2F2WKCuMCJuSO0L-GperjvbTufuREZovNTktZeuxpngqhyxRc524goYZ-J_zD6e6zva3IPz0MBiG5Bic7rZc_t3haJBm1OyALvmr_q-YZRPntEvSJwrYx5dDUFk/s320/thanksgiving09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428088447366553058" border="0" /></a>Mashed potatoes, glazed sweet potatoes, squash, roasted vegetables, garlicy greens, fresh spinach and mixed green salad all organic and grown at home. (the turnips were a gift from a neighbor)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_mxYm1XyeDil_Btg-zmlbHkrwnVBp09ScxqzJrSTqEH89Ewvhb48Vf5RFGNNwcby3MYAF-4xjp7S-8Q0l9UKFvHHEIECZ6FIv5VnJpNa5W-pNxcqUOGIZdIfnSPgOwCXElcDKuDI1is/s1600-h/thanksgiving09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_mxYm1XyeDil_Btg-zmlbHkrwnVBp09ScxqzJrSTqEH89Ewvhb48Vf5RFGNNwcby3MYAF-4xjp7S-8Q0l9UKFvHHEIECZ6FIv5VnJpNa5W-pNxcqUOGIZdIfnSPgOwCXElcDKuDI1is/s320/thanksgiving09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428088679919400466" border="0" /></a><br />As a vegetarian family, we obviously don't eat turkey. Instead of purchasing a Tofurky this year, i made my own version. This tasty meal was created with tofu, wheat gluten, vegetable broth and seasonings. It's stuffed with wild rice and glazed with orange juice and tamari. i loosely used this recipe from <a href="http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/09/hickory-smoked-veggie-turkey-lunchmeat.html">Vegan Dad </a>i always cut the recipe in half, leave out the smoke flavor and add way more seasoning than suggested. It's really good, and makes great leftovers. Sage enjoyed the 'Giving Thanks' part so much, that at almost every meal now...she asks to do the 'thank you's'. Such a sweetie.<br /><br />Sadly, our 10 year family dog, Sampson, was killed on Thanksgiving day and that sort of set the mood for the rest of the holiday season. We went through all the motions, but something was definitely missing. We made gingerbread, decorated cookies, dug and decorated our usual holiday tree. We had been hoping to spend part of the holidays in Florida with family, but again were unable to make the trip. We were snowed in, and spent a quiet holiday with just the four of us.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSDKX8faaZCsYwoAw-fghsYgESG1vkhw1dsPdnexRXaiLG8AT8WaB8zR08JdoXN2AazcZr7UKr5DVAkojsumysJZ7pQtg0C8eO2rFLVZfuHW2lfzM2DN1OqNtHWffUVAVTk_SaiPZwck/s1600-h/yule09i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSDKX8faaZCsYwoAw-fghsYgESG1vkhw1dsPdnexRXaiLG8AT8WaB8zR08JdoXN2AazcZr7UKr5DVAkojsumysJZ7pQtg0C8eO2rFLVZfuHW2lfzM2DN1OqNtHWffUVAVTk_SaiPZwck/s400/yule09i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426661762386302850" border="0" /></a><br />Twas the night before Yule, when all through house...not a creature was stirring, not even a...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z3xPoA_EvlDgPr0YAWOpWvzli0EK92x_25UsccGNY9cTv2tORcV-2OwCTp1PCzQ4O71h0nHwLwGQAl9GFlY3T3IdqStuyZuRrVhdxVQMmGGb2rDrwfjqFPMpJTDDMc7Kb-21tf_jicY/s1600-h/goat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z3xPoA_EvlDgPr0YAWOpWvzli0EK92x_25UsccGNY9cTv2tORcV-2OwCTp1PCzQ4O71h0nHwLwGQAl9GFlY3T3IdqStuyZuRrVhdxVQMmGGb2rDrwfjqFPMpJTDDMc7Kb-21tf_jicY/s320/goat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426659351297366834" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....goat.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This was my Yule surprise. His name is Casper and he's 6 months old. We all adore him.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lQNhss6QiCGHG9XaXBjxd9ALjgmXxVX-2CBcuLLGW6UoSmntFcDN7q-EHPV-92Wl9mbO6k0hPUHnzrQNZziUzMK3NtPWssK-wJ0fQCIe0MUwF7HBXOlrWPclnlRYTblB-vTZw_N8JyQ/s1600-h/yule09b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lQNhss6QiCGHG9XaXBjxd9ALjgmXxVX-2CBcuLLGW6UoSmntFcDN7q-EHPV-92Wl9mbO6k0hPUHnzrQNZziUzMK3NtPWssK-wJ0fQCIe0MUwF7HBXOlrWPclnlRYTblB-vTZw_N8JyQ/s200/yule09b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426658825458438002" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sage was thrilled to find these hello kitty socks in her stockings.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg815g0gt3MPXNrWkzPRvDbXq1rdsz2m5mHneP4YJSEdfUbHvXMbgvvxp6WKyLF2bvknTQQ_TO3qKMrEo_W6c3G9z0kvsshvJhA93_9dNz-UipXuOd_bUDft_E77Qiy0s79dGtXeqrBpSQ/s1600-h/yule09h.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg815g0gt3MPXNrWkzPRvDbXq1rdsz2m5mHneP4YJSEdfUbHvXMbgvvxp6WKyLF2bvknTQQ_TO3qKMrEo_W6c3G9z0kvsshvJhA93_9dNz-UipXuOd_bUDft_E77Qiy0s79dGtXeqrBpSQ/s320/yule09h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426658742868553698" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She immediately fell in love with this beautiful Melissa and Doug dollhouse. This amazing gift from 'Santa' was made possible by <a href="http://www.gummylump.com/">Gummy Lump</a> toys. i came across a link for a contest they were having, and entered...not really thinking about it again.<br />i never in a million years thought i would win. i was completely floored when i read the email saying i had won. This was such an amazing blessing, as with so many people, money was especially tight this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePZLXZdToBBE1cLnjOXISINHkV2aXtrgK5MW6xN3JPzYntbjd8y84P1MiRt8YjsBhyDYteVoLj7QiGdTtCgpPHn_kGiakts3U5qwvuiAgrP4JaCgjHiZYzAHRwNVPYoucqLSfDJc3QIc/s1600-h/yule09dh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePZLXZdToBBE1cLnjOXISINHkV2aXtrgK5MW6xN3JPzYntbjd8y84P1MiRt8YjsBhyDYteVoLj7QiGdTtCgpPHn_kGiakts3U5qwvuiAgrP4JaCgjHiZYzAHRwNVPYoucqLSfDJc3QIc/s200/yule09dh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428122275857627106" border="0" /></a>The doll house came fully furnished and to add to my amazing luck, i came across<a href="http://www.growingtreetoys.com/product/ryan-s-room-family-affair-iii-asian-american"> this set</a> of wooden dolls, still in the box at the thrift store for $1 . It is so much fun watching Sage set up the house and see how she has the dolls interact with each other.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUehtSCb9zux8v6depJfcYi3Yig_0oQFVeoGSAzjKb-ulIH-jp_OTlP6b-q6V8_jBQ-7N4TsldYo1weJvn7huLV92eX3dOXfvV2OlxRHjYjXhPDOJb8tjPPRS-f-leYoi4VwvPbKZjY98/s1600-h/yule09e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUehtSCb9zux8v6depJfcYi3Yig_0oQFVeoGSAzjKb-ulIH-jp_OTlP6b-q6V8_jBQ-7N4TsldYo1weJvn7huLV92eX3dOXfvV2OlxRHjYjXhPDOJb8tjPPRS-f-leYoi4VwvPbKZjY98/s400/yule09e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426658496768049522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5t7YN825X2HZH5sF-j44KJdtxePyh9omBFgOuHpQOGpi3sqZB9ArCZ8HG_WMl73KMj8Xx6DRcFnDum3AWrT0YkqvG96hr7pecmg8pzKbR34nLO_fSM2xcyqVe9ztIKjOLb8RZ6aiOy8/s1600-h/hmgifts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5t7YN825X2HZH5sF-j44KJdtxePyh9omBFgOuHpQOGpi3sqZB9ArCZ8HG_WMl73KMj8Xx6DRcFnDum3AWrT0YkqvG96hr7pecmg8pzKbR34nLO_fSM2xcyqVe9ztIKjOLb8RZ6aiOy8/s400/hmgifts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426657681574719442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Both kids were also very blessed with handmade gifts and toys. You can see more about them on my <a href="http://theenchantedtree.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-handmade-gifts.html">craft blog</a>. The end of the year, the holidays, it always comes too quickly for me. i never have all the gifts finished, never get all the cards mailed out on time. Regardless, this year was nice. For the simplicity, and for the surprises. Although the season started off rough, it ended nicely and once again we were able to feel the magic.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-40008943263880861672009-12-07T10:47:00.010-05:002009-12-07T10:57:19.746-05:00Winter has arrived...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtU9DPHHCKLl_kWpJ_vhtCbKywalAJ5Ng2RZJ8az1vRsKo53vEYFpT4fzkDzYoXtDl6WNzGSVvC6JAE7jZ7CzH4fbbiXjUib053dOO8suYSVzU2ntRZ3WHqI1NmyPxT89mB6-Hdnn1C_E/s1600-h/snow09h.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtU9DPHHCKLl_kWpJ_vhtCbKywalAJ5Ng2RZJ8az1vRsKo53vEYFpT4fzkDzYoXtDl6WNzGSVvC6JAE7jZ7CzH4fbbiXjUib053dOO8suYSVzU2ntRZ3WHqI1NmyPxT89mB6-Hdnn1C_E/s400/snow09h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522288409104722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdm1xuj4gOOiglVPfYo_EhVsOqTR3Jh9LgujPq8gOwmgWnW8k1MX1z0jkwULQx6vKlKk3VW7GbYyPHRApAv5y66hVwl3gUNsGIn83PS6xyUqyjt6-Zf0iob24t4WOlYdeqGOxng5H9wE/s1600-h/snow09m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdm1xuj4gOOiglVPfYo_EhVsOqTR3Jh9LgujPq8gOwmgWnW8k1MX1z0jkwULQx6vKlKk3VW7GbYyPHRApAv5y66hVwl3gUNsGIn83PS6xyUqyjt6-Zf0iob24t4WOlYdeqGOxng5H9wE/s400/snow09m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522151596355906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg941ZEv-FKEcQ8UXSIxsUG0AXMOoSoQxxVOEsUHmg9fvh3UOer1PzjbjlMFRbsET94GMX-iHiT_gIK9D338soAgSp_EIkBHuKkuIYa0o2J77crUnWslTfQrS8CbM_piEdOeJGCZhGxrZg/s1600-h/snow09o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg941ZEv-FKEcQ8UXSIxsUG0AXMOoSoQxxVOEsUHmg9fvh3UOer1PzjbjlMFRbsET94GMX-iHiT_gIK9D338soAgSp_EIkBHuKkuIYa0o2J77crUnWslTfQrS8CbM_piEdOeJGCZhGxrZg/s400/snow09o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522607181432322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxWD90dsH4gsjnnyc7qN7P-uRWExfO6WKKa2lA48Rf52_0_DY3y1wXDScmxlXmEOm6S6D2Ysn3X14dz34553c08P7KayIsMVV5IkShmYe8JloVkWFMEMDbSB8WWuag2BlXdmv6mBHPEU/s1600-h/snow09r.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxWD90dsH4gsjnnyc7qN7P-uRWExfO6WKKa2lA48Rf52_0_DY3y1wXDScmxlXmEOm6S6D2Ysn3X14dz34553c08P7KayIsMVV5IkShmYe8JloVkWFMEMDbSB8WWuag2BlXdmv6mBHPEU/s400/snow09r.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522032687074850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg5cxeDCvvoGw11RAImW-AGWWG1v7RBsXDO8skRJlr7bz39T4RGk0ir9m4SBmeVEfC2MjfAd08iUeNEkaPLq8jI8zDL6qRPQA8CS4EpCVupODJMpKrRchURb_rfn7No2iaHtwvqL7Ejg/s1600-h/snow09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg5cxeDCvvoGw11RAImW-AGWWG1v7RBsXDO8skRJlr7bz39T4RGk0ir9m4SBmeVEfC2MjfAd08iUeNEkaPLq8jI8zDL6qRPQA8CS4EpCVupODJMpKrRchURb_rfn7No2iaHtwvqL7Ejg/s400/snow09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412521902854531506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5zXFcm-vI7FISm21u4Te4DZzhGDpZC50_BOFWUOoWt9zA5JdTvwLKJIhbUHoxy4Su_JkoGkuPkdnGAQcP2klq8o10XCicrl6aYfzYQnB8zzX0BJrcH6ICsqvgsq4dwrBzwvw-GfmQQw/s1600-h/snow09u.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5zXFcm-vI7FISm21u4Te4DZzhGDpZC50_BOFWUOoWt9zA5JdTvwLKJIhbUHoxy4Su_JkoGkuPkdnGAQcP2klq8o10XCicrl6aYfzYQnB8zzX0BJrcH6ICsqvgsq4dwrBzwvw-GfmQQw/s400/snow09u.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412521740666698130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE-UmEWrF8P8r2kRYDb6RhVs5mX3NHkLwXe_qinIoa4xgKDBHi9SqkSdEdG-A4Vv5TXFEBCgXVNE1kECOu1y3nsIVRzX-WyZaFdkHII3RMs9S3ygDXA4cuCyPN-FASG3pfaiGehKl0mA/s1600-h/snow09i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE-UmEWrF8P8r2kRYDb6RhVs5mX3NHkLwXe_qinIoa4xgKDBHi9SqkSdEdG-A4Vv5TXFEBCgXVNE1kECOu1y3nsIVRzX-WyZaFdkHII3RMs9S3ygDXA4cuCyPN-FASG3pfaiGehKl0mA/s400/snow09i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522816136375362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhAOFCgOM7H9QrXAALEzRW5SKuBUMRh_GhWEj7SWBKMdG2fHH5oj4B7f3gSni8huZfq9SzBCvCV-xKvmrpkEiQaWTavpu5DRkTH5fvN9-m_LcAy7K8P4aieHmz9HCtDih5OWfYq6TCLY/s1600-h/snow09j.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhAOFCgOM7H9QrXAALEzRW5SKuBUMRh_GhWEj7SWBKMdG2fHH5oj4B7f3gSni8huZfq9SzBCvCV-xKvmrpkEiQaWTavpu5DRkTH5fvN9-m_LcAy7K8P4aieHmz9HCtDih5OWfYq6TCLY/s400/snow09j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522520882148850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Winter came down to our home one night</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"> Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"> And we, we were children once again.</span><span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />~Bill Morgan, Jr.</span><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-26221099493131287512009-10-12T08:29:00.020-04:002009-10-12T10:47:40.093-04:00Grayson Highlands<div style="text-align: center;">This weekend we decided to check out the Grayson Highlands State park. Besides it's scenic views and great hiking trails, it is also known for the wild ponies that freely roam the confines of the park. It is only about 70 miles from us, and i'm not sure why we haven't hiked here before. We are very accustomed to traveling an hour or so to go just about anywhere.<br />Oddly enough, we had just gotten out of our car when i ran into a girl i know, who had just finished hiking and was on her way home. She clued us in to where we could see a mama and baby pony on the Rhododendron trail.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLvDmq0aZPldbo3vRlkzrlqu72wkywXaZgZhY5tYTR9bkmmFgUlB99YSHcX5AZ_QutZeeHUsj08DET1JUAmrRwxMeqEAYagdrlGNasMHJDEeZ0Dmy3BPmAXNoSmAzgBVIXdUTZVJG5HY/s1600-h/wildponies09b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLvDmq0aZPldbo3vRlkzrlqu72wkywXaZgZhY5tYTR9bkmmFgUlB99YSHcX5AZ_QutZeeHUsj08DET1JUAmrRwxMeqEAYagdrlGNasMHJDEeZ0Dmy3BPmAXNoSmAzgBVIXdUTZVJG5HY/s400/wildponies09b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391694105772336626" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> When we first approached the trail head, we saw this sign. Wow! They were not kidding! The temperature on the balds really dropped! Thank goodness, i had decided to grab the kids sweatshirts on our way out the door..or we would have froze. Regardless, we were very under dressed. Next time we know better. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvizzXSexuvBLkbj6YUehJXigiUrVrBlPmZoA0CMuu-vuVuPf9_96lMKiJAXn4wdcnAkGVH1rZ4kmjOErAd2IEwFYwk7sJ2vKAesAybib6_PaG7qYF6favivlP1ICYEKJ-F2FYO_mM6g/s1600-h/1wildponies09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvizzXSexuvBLkbj6YUehJXigiUrVrBlPmZoA0CMuu-vuVuPf9_96lMKiJAXn4wdcnAkGVH1rZ4kmjOErAd2IEwFYwk7sJ2vKAesAybib6_PaG7qYF6favivlP1ICYEKJ-F2FYO_mM6g/s400/1wildponies09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391724513964947602" border="0" /></a><br />We took the Rhododendron trail, which is only about a mile. Up here on the rocks, we had a good view of the plains and were able to spot several of the grazing ponies. We saw the mama and baby not too far from us, and a couple other ponies farther up the trail.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICLmxLj_eAz8LGRUXXySRv5QvLGy3hkTpQqmG59zBFSWfm6TG3RYQpPCK-2O1q2si5O8ztnfzKZmNOAdQm2RnT_QGZrM6d2wH287QL_gga2c0iqpIGe1Fk68EPZOfmgTntRfbJJTGjb4/s1600-h/wildponies09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICLmxLj_eAz8LGRUXXySRv5QvLGy3hkTpQqmG59zBFSWfm6TG3RYQpPCK-2O1q2si5O8ztnfzKZmNOAdQm2RnT_QGZrM6d2wH287QL_gga2c0iqpIGe1Fk68EPZOfmgTntRfbJJTGjb4/s400/wildponies09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391714779574625810" border="0" /></a>We headed down the trail to get a closer look.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOULlO73ZS9HkT4JmwVVPf3fit2uD1HFfAKBUS1-UIi-fbE6Gw1JTnQe6CHRCiPBPRfeAsa20zsBZiiZ83-V1rm2bhOCc7gJeBhUaQBrMnU1tSoY7LuyhaAwCiRmoDTLnvT04sC4vLO8A/s1600-h/wildponies09c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOULlO73ZS9HkT4JmwVVPf3fit2uD1HFfAKBUS1-UIi-fbE6Gw1JTnQe6CHRCiPBPRfeAsa20zsBZiiZ83-V1rm2bhOCc7gJeBhUaQBrMnU1tSoY7LuyhaAwCiRmoDTLnvT04sC4vLO8A/s400/wildponies09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391693203089322482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TSFh7F7OlRfZSwEWTIl5JMt4ttRkD6V2LjYu2MXuY5TVQZGLe_995k3uYkwE5WkzGMM1RrZwDujBquurPLTXH3djjpKgJZuUueI3EEoKA7fSi9EiX_IwEpiKPIGjYgcuQrv8kn-ccns/s1600-h/wildponies09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TSFh7F7OlRfZSwEWTIl5JMt4ttRkD6V2LjYu2MXuY5TVQZGLe_995k3uYkwE5WkzGMM1RrZwDujBquurPLTXH3djjpKgJZuUueI3EEoKA7fSi9EiX_IwEpiKPIGjYgcuQrv8kn-ccns/s400/wildponies09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391693378386171570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The wild ponies, were very accustomed to hikers and were not really very 'wild'. The came right up to us and followed us along the trail for a while.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxOqxPzRml3zGFjdxVLVtu5Y_ToU5q51hETUDU_u3BT8VVsFQ8V08cxuNrfEFfBWStaCG4JkrbE19dC1wTNLL2_tnbFx2p0KgnZP4PFHUlujCTxKGoqC0DN9OHSrHWj0bRrmtA6oi_RE/s1600-h/wildponies09g.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxOqxPzRml3zGFjdxVLVtu5Y_ToU5q51hETUDU_u3BT8VVsFQ8V08cxuNrfEFfBWStaCG4JkrbE19dC1wTNLL2_tnbFx2p0KgnZP4PFHUlujCTxKGoqC0DN9OHSrHWj0bRrmtA6oi_RE/s400/wildponies09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391693669612357826" border="0" /></a> We only hiked a little bit further before coming to a more ponies. We were all freezing at this point, and it had started to rain so we decided to head back and not finish the trail. Once we left the balds and returned to Massie gap, the rain had turned into more of a mist...and the temperature was about 10 warmer! So we decided to continue hiking on one of the other trails.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRQkzm_jEptqqGUzW5UcGfFHAAEvlkMLTFs5xsyC7V6JDR6ba_bFtd_ncqYXWO3mmIV7GCyxFFKh9TkiFcS7aNJWZAxu9jNSe-lSz5ncjojOsjakPTpV1T0HP6q0_FPR6xIN4uLGHzmI/s1600-h/wildponies09l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRQkzm_jEptqqGUzW5UcGfFHAAEvlkMLTFs5xsyC7V6JDR6ba_bFtd_ncqYXWO3mmIV7GCyxFFKh9TkiFcS7aNJWZAxu9jNSe-lSz5ncjojOsjakPTpV1T0HP6q0_FPR6xIN4uLGHzmI/s400/wildponies09l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391691465130242034" border="0" /></a> We chose the Cabin Creek Trail which is only about a 2 mile loop, and is follows a creek through the forest and is supposed to have waterfalls.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0I7ethm2MzBu86qtaVRapnvyuuGwpXooQ5OE3eYJg15Zgi1nMD2ZNSjODJ1Y-AdSKCu727YnonP1H-gSO5Cw7pmorCcMKg_JEpqrEgqb8mhnFkw4TxI4hmipGXYMHq4NvDAlwsz8Zds/s1600-h/wildponies09s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0I7ethm2MzBu86qtaVRapnvyuuGwpXooQ5OE3eYJg15Zgi1nMD2ZNSjODJ1Y-AdSKCu727YnonP1H-gSO5Cw7pmorCcMKg_JEpqrEgqb8mhnFkw4TxI4hmipGXYMHq4NvDAlwsz8Zds/s400/wildponies09s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391690996149454002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb2CyBzdM0K9dZyzYCdYiinLIYETHa5NgOwaLxXvnKh_wkWvku3l56hg50oQFXmXXm8zL3u8U7RLq94dPSXvRCmw58OjkKFadPXUCWCidFwdRCFVv2KjuFmjVhROnAa5u0LhXLyrUAtE/s1600-h/wildponies09f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb2CyBzdM0K9dZyzYCdYiinLIYETHa5NgOwaLxXvnKh_wkWvku3l56hg50oQFXmXXm8zL3u8U7RLq94dPSXvRCmw58OjkKFadPXUCWCidFwdRCFVv2KjuFmjVhROnAa5u0LhXLyrUAtE/s400/wildponies09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391690854256635010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cjmSMINOUvzXWU5_GfjIzV5BWkZAxx0Xu1AJEdOQymH28LQzvhJ_7L2Sojx6wG58nWNmtEzFUMmc0WdY_icrwCuHXRfUUWfn9NWtqH7LJKWZZy-3OWoRLlI7Pj3a5LCvdhOCOBjSyz8/s1600-h/wildponies09e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cjmSMINOUvzXWU5_GfjIzV5BWkZAxx0Xu1AJEdOQymH28LQzvhJ_7L2Sojx6wG58nWNmtEzFUMmc0WdY_icrwCuHXRfUUWfn9NWtqH7LJKWZZy-3OWoRLlI7Pj3a5LCvdhOCOBjSyz8/s400/wildponies09e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391690710592532658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The scenery and colors were breath taking! The kids enjoyed pointing out all the pretty leaves on the forest floor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzxPAeCrF4Kn7C4_VhU-JNTDMk4kBk-xiS11bmgolR4RE7yaS-92uYpmvSThZ_AEjNn5d_Sm_mVWOiNG41aZI8byRssH8b2LrmC1tJgatQ8MzoLWhbuAX9KW1gmofgnNAmZePE87_WY/s1600-h/wildponies09m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzxPAeCrF4Kn7C4_VhU-JNTDMk4kBk-xiS11bmgolR4RE7yaS-92uYpmvSThZ_AEjNn5d_Sm_mVWOiNG41aZI8byRssH8b2LrmC1tJgatQ8MzoLWhbuAX9KW1gmofgnNAmZePE87_WY/s400/wildponies09m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391691098720102818" border="0" /></a>The trail was gorgeous, the hike was moderate difficulty. Not exactly strenuous, but it was very rocky and everything was covered in slippery wet leaves. It seemed like a good trail for twisting an ankle or slipping and breaking something.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSSbz8gIwVdra_ZTKzliDjzOvxiwiFi8weuhi3Mhkh9PENZ4MK3TRDtk3-Ycot3RTX7KIuhUhx1GXJg5or1Kh5yeXYigwoCJpgpt58kQyzNIOX-Ni1zOK6CcT7WzV5cjVRXYH2rBLcDY/s1600-h/wildponies09p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSSbz8gIwVdra_ZTKzliDjzOvxiwiFi8weuhi3Mhkh9PENZ4MK3TRDtk3-Ycot3RTX7KIuhUhx1GXJg5or1Kh5yeXYigwoCJpgpt58kQyzNIOX-Ni1zOK6CcT7WzV5cjVRXYH2rBLcDY/s400/wildponies09p.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391691273623703922" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw several nice waterfalls. This one behind us is a split stream that tumbles 25 feet over the rocks into a clear, dark pool. It is much larger than it looks in the picture. Farther up the trail was an even taller one, but i was unable to get a good picture of it because of all the foliage. None of the falls were spectacular, but they were all still worth seeing, and the hike itself was really nice. There are many more trails here at Grayson Highlands, and we will definitely be back to hike here again. <br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-76259262507277716362009-09-21T08:58:00.000-04:002009-10-12T10:48:15.900-04:00Goodbye summer.i always have a hard time letting go of the summer. So every year, rather than letting myself wallow in end of summer sadness, i really try to embrace the fall season. This means noticing and appreciating the little things that define the season, the colors, the smells, the stillness. We absorb ourselves in fall leaf crafts, apple recipes and lots of hiking and time spent outdoors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Today we went out in search of the last of the summer wildflowers, as a way to say 'good bye' to the summer, and welcome the change of season.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bz47LJyd72vXQEefEbmTtcHjZHnS_Bn6VVZu9ZYqma0BUE4AljT6tmex65PWYSVfd-RxWfOKbNMiiAKKACF1ySXm6hm5cjMWIfFnL_80Yn3DAvMSRW21y8cE7owH_S5eniDQgNoZh68/s1600-h/hike09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bz47LJyd72vXQEefEbmTtcHjZHnS_Bn6VVZu9ZYqma0BUE4AljT6tmex65PWYSVfd-RxWfOKbNMiiAKKACF1ySXm6hm5cjMWIfFnL_80Yn3DAvMSRW21y8cE7owH_S5eniDQgNoZh68/s320/hike09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390588696136182338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> The cooler weather made it easy for us to accept that summer is officially over. (although i have not yet let go of the garden. :) ) We took a walk to the bottom of the hill in search of any last monarch caterpillars. We found none, and the milkweek has all gone to seed now. The kids gathered wild asters, knapweed, goldenrod, fleabane, chicory and ox eyed daisies.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qw6hruNJ55M_6fwzC6hfmzkrQLbbz-cpSZMYyq8XphPGXhARU8BRewkUmldvGcb2gejGEUtZ44h1zWR-hhmoAlK2OXDj55H7AD9jxZm5bFQlQQVlejCPV0PIs8nIvmwUakxZ2rN5HT4/s1600-h/hike09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qw6hruNJ55M_6fwzC6hfmzkrQLbbz-cpSZMYyq8XphPGXhARU8BRewkUmldvGcb2gejGEUtZ44h1zWR-hhmoAlK2OXDj55H7AD9jxZm5bFQlQQVlejCPV0PIs8nIvmwUakxZ2rN5HT4/s320/hike09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390584290732655154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Leaves are just beginning to fall and cover the ground, but the woods are not barren yet. There is still much green creating a canopy above us. The sound of birds and life in the forest is still everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyXhl1gA7vrSvQFcbHOdlSS1wowT7vDKhzWuc864x6P4YD1jpPydsgPtuY-MQXSnwh_KKqeKkdCEATxcA0Qd7Jm4tEUhLPPn0Xyn6SMs8SaWVRvtggcI23UdzVk5Ps8Ge3lkEK7cRJy8/s1600-h/hike09c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyXhl1gA7vrSvQFcbHOdlSS1wowT7vDKhzWuc864x6P4YD1jpPydsgPtuY-MQXSnwh_KKqeKkdCEATxcA0Qd7Jm4tEUhLPPn0Xyn6SMs8SaWVRvtggcI23UdzVk5Ps8Ge3lkEK7cRJy8/s320/hike09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390590975099655426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped at the rhododendron grove to climb trees for a bit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtUfzsNPZ3blxgkxhlYYCiu2RCVrGHhvPotRZRJ_VTvH6VeIuXC33wHJ3HPUi6NF6BD0-GXNTPFLiBCa_w8u8RbTeS3myGaoRuUh36VfltFoB2zYx4xacSD24VVJa5g2OV2r9YbS3VSc/s1600-h/fungus09b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtUfzsNPZ3blxgkxhlYYCiu2RCVrGHhvPotRZRJ_VTvH6VeIuXC33wHJ3HPUi6NF6BD0-GXNTPFLiBCa_w8u8RbTeS3myGaoRuUh36VfltFoB2zYx4xacSD24VVJa5g2OV2r9YbS3VSc/s320/fungus09b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390587198042402690" border="0" /></a> The kids pointed out all the potential fairy homes, toadstools and just really cool looking fungus.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE1Np6XgGEwkM1lgF14TUhoeOjig7v9WZA8Md2-bBDvpqk0EVdRfWx9p96S5QBTzAcQB9k_fIUvkQc4ZJduVD6eEXZlbAaj0LdoZ_nuMBdRrCLa0LwreEgRymlZ1YvsCb83dTgMQVcMc/s1600-h/fungus09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE1Np6XgGEwkM1lgF14TUhoeOjig7v9WZA8Md2-bBDvpqk0EVdRfWx9p96S5QBTzAcQB9k_fIUvkQc4ZJduVD6eEXZlbAaj0LdoZ_nuMBdRrCLa0LwreEgRymlZ1YvsCb83dTgMQVcMc/s320/fungus09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390587041357208658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">i snapped a few pictures of our favorites. These are the flowers of the fall, appearing everywhere in a variety of colors and shapes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGJ-xwdv1LqyY_gquc1aYyksfpOZg6i6fxtkBmOtsY7XxAPHeCueAPlrSBmt2EHcvlhc2hxn_XsVvU_tn8t2k1Zn-v3fMddezUAFY54vSZGfHVFtAYzhTmKp-tsOUD_QZEoAzSFL2tDQ/s1600-h/fungus09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGJ-xwdv1LqyY_gquc1aYyksfpOZg6i6fxtkBmOtsY7XxAPHeCueAPlrSBmt2EHcvlhc2hxn_XsVvU_tn8t2k1Zn-v3fMddezUAFY54vSZGfHVFtAYzhTmKp-tsOUD_QZEoAzSFL2tDQ/s320/fungus09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390588265117909202" border="0" /></a><br />i believe this is called Turkey tail, but i'm never been good at identifying fungus. Most of them change so much as they grow, and many look similar so i don't really try to identify them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXZZaLDkBdQowHqacVclRbgw-QgEihsvnPSa0LCFx57q_y-FCYqmI4GaA1-TmI7s58tBiMRqLYumMDEDY1v4cPLknj9bqM5vloFRP6LNWadyIU16DS5sUYm8kpXkduWIrnaauutk87sc/s1600-h/hike09f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXZZaLDkBdQowHqacVclRbgw-QgEihsvnPSa0LCFx57q_y-FCYqmI4GaA1-TmI7s58tBiMRqLYumMDEDY1v4cPLknj9bqM5vloFRP6LNWadyIU16DS5sUYm8kpXkduWIrnaauutk87sc/s320/hike09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390591612170324242" border="0" /></a><br />Many of them appear to be blooming. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCnHqvT3i80znFx-0b_DkjOc6uzu4CdGvcqo3em9YR6vx02YHahAj_TrpVxBnIRYp0P4UhMwElzbJ945l9bhcQak42viGwPGlu22YWUkw-qnr8OCnAre3-OntrkTsvSfe4pZo5d-gSgU/s1600-h/hike09d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCnHqvT3i80znFx-0b_DkjOc6uzu4CdGvcqo3em9YR6vx02YHahAj_TrpVxBnIRYp0P4UhMwElzbJ945l9bhcQak42viGwPGlu22YWUkw-qnr8OCnAre3-OntrkTsvSfe4pZo5d-gSgU/s320/hike09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390591119374315266" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were eight or nine of these fabulous toad stools all in line. Sequoia was the first to find them, and Sage wanted to hop scotch over them. We are quite certain the fairies dwell here.<br /><br />As the weather turns cooler, we will be spending less time outside and more time curled up by the wood stove. As much i look forward to the quiet moments of cuddling, crocheting and reading with a child or two on my lap...i am already missing the butterflies.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-84488511695418149392009-09-12T07:50:00.000-04:002009-10-09T13:46:35.341-04:00Day in Greensboro<div style="text-align: center;">Over Labor day weekend, my mom was in town visiting and the kids really wanted to take her to the <a href="http://www.natsci.org/">Greensboro Science center</a>. It is not too far from where we live, and the kids always really enjoy it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPYb_6-jhhJuQRLUgOshPfHZKki-AkLH35zYxB3PSPkqCgn_0yRQpFYBF_65us4V8JH174Yelg1R7sotYKEz0cfSFpt-hDIA3rp1RoEJjr-sY7Urt9Ynxp20ecaWXxZNcuZg_DmiRAQY/s1600-h/greensboro09i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPYb_6-jhhJuQRLUgOshPfHZKki-AkLH35zYxB3PSPkqCgn_0yRQpFYBF_65us4V8JH174Yelg1R7sotYKEz0cfSFpt-hDIA3rp1RoEJjr-sY7Urt9Ynxp20ecaWXxZNcuZg_DmiRAQY/s320/greensboro09i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570999572316290" border="0" /></a> The inside science museum has exhibits for all ages, lots of interactive hand on stuff. They have several really fun play areas that encourage imaginative play, and learning activities for kids of all ages.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRokJh1TUtYHyEiX8AKEEEu1p3_xbTuDvO9NOuX_3ODdyUKVJcYDzy_yhyphenhyphentYoMJ_dynZq61axgqrMj40anUg15xDpLmVD1xgOVXYFWeoN1FHR1yGBWIUkiJrlZwQVc4HIwVGV4-Bdu-M/s1600-h/greensboro09m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRokJh1TUtYHyEiX8AKEEEu1p3_xbTuDvO9NOuX_3ODdyUKVJcYDzy_yhyphenhyphentYoMJ_dynZq61axgqrMj40anUg15xDpLmVD1xgOVXYFWeoN1FHR1yGBWIUkiJrlZwQVc4HIwVGV4-Bdu-M/s320/greensboro09m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390580762256192386" border="0" /></a><br />Outside, in the zoo, they have a farmyard, and discovery center. The zookeeper took out a variety of animals for the kids to touch and interact with.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6AfmmHMZumAr9o2okWsVeIG8bvTI7iO15-yMjcqxBOH_106a0PXew8Z2cEwTSf7aIUD2ZpidMIA6Tl2YCX8Hg2eAOAd5XOYj1cmVg__oeLrBYNO7bWYerIrIngNI19fLYyMG1hkPT7M/s1600-h/greensboro09g.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6AfmmHMZumAr9o2okWsVeIG8bvTI7iO15-yMjcqxBOH_106a0PXew8Z2cEwTSf7aIUD2ZpidMIA6Tl2YCX8Hg2eAOAd5XOYj1cmVg__oeLrBYNO7bWYerIrIngNI19fLYyMG1hkPT7M/s320/greensboro09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570912826600370" border="0" /></a> This one is a bearded dragon.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHCaxcxWLh8uDP9jlt_KJZ6gUSwyxxWQTGBUSjQoAhtX4DrNBk6nKt-R28c6Q7Y0-c9LzmIZ4NCokNTZC9qpus4X-WIMVR12A1V8c9ZR8i0Z53s_cKIEJdq4_H_Ei3jDd42skTKFeGuA/s1600-h/greensboro09z.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHCaxcxWLh8uDP9jlt_KJZ6gUSwyxxWQTGBUSjQoAhtX4DrNBk6nKt-R28c6Q7Y0-c9LzmIZ4NCokNTZC9qpus4X-WIMVR12A1V8c9ZR8i0Z53s_cKIEJdq4_H_Ei3jDd42skTKFeGuA/s320/greensboro09z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390573501929898018" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> This Iguana was huge! Sage adored it! The kids also got to pet a ferret, bunny, rat, and ball python. They were encouraged to ask questions, as the keeper explained a bit about each animal.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxrljqRtvOTMP_Fg9R4VbgY0YDQmX31lp5OzAJnDdmHIs2KStIzvY0g74Z6V1m2Y_PftaDxEK-sx8EjhZeXcDejnk-GoouBeiyz91nq1D1eAyGq9K_-MbiYYfgSlIV9GOhY5o4AoITnI/s1600-h/greensboro09n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxrljqRtvOTMP_Fg9R4VbgY0YDQmX31lp5OzAJnDdmHIs2KStIzvY0g74Z6V1m2Y_PftaDxEK-sx8EjhZeXcDejnk-GoouBeiyz91nq1D1eAyGq9K_-MbiYYfgSlIV9GOhY5o4AoITnI/s320/greensboro09n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390571174353630274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Outside in the barnyard, the kids both tried their hand at milking.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEqoAM0k0ukboaCokjw8z-F1UeFMLQsuSd9inXEVYx91PDXPKu5fZcSrrYl64-I71IqcjA6UhkFGd8YdDNcKELmmXIqGWRGCg68UGtRtssA4tLsG73tL5GpiAoxVx7J79VcZkZizrwE8/s1600-h/greensboro09u.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEqoAM0k0ukboaCokjw8z-F1UeFMLQsuSd9inXEVYx91PDXPKu5fZcSrrYl64-I71IqcjA6UhkFGd8YdDNcKELmmXIqGWRGCg68UGtRtssA4tLsG73tL5GpiAoxVx7J79VcZkZizrwE8/s320/greensboro09u.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570812749363666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVzciTfEeyfbvTQahPxdQcds7GThwzTKTMS5w3X3HILTKVuPN-z1ZVO87Y7lRbx3D3hGW4xorfO6dNqcrlZiFJpI28Ur9OTFotFPVeEKqrQQGjBJ34KcW2V1khDncq7qa9tzDruvlEm0/s1600-h/greensboro09j.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVzciTfEeyfbvTQahPxdQcds7GThwzTKTMS5w3X3HILTKVuPN-z1ZVO87Y7lRbx3D3hGW4xorfO6dNqcrlZiFJpI28Ur9OTFotFPVeEKqrQQGjBJ34KcW2V1khDncq7qa9tzDruvlEm0/s320/greensboro09j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570551427441426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We all had fun brushing the goats and sheep. Sage gave a kiss to every one.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gEmaoKBnXB-BRle43-e6eS0XtDpkRwwWro3d8TuL61jS7L36LkuYyZOpWe8NGTrnjMGwJiUBA9jaenUI03zhDMU1uawh8BevnjLRdGnel80_fR7x8WNnD4soqN-liNpe4TkJL9sDtM8/s1600-h/greensboro09p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gEmaoKBnXB-BRle43-e6eS0XtDpkRwwWro3d8TuL61jS7L36LkuYyZOpWe8NGTrnjMGwJiUBA9jaenUI03zhDMU1uawh8BevnjLRdGnel80_fR7x8WNnD4soqN-liNpe4TkJL9sDtM8/s320/greensboro09p.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570270496620642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There are lots of displays through out the zoo, with bits of information about the animals or interactive for the kids. These giants ears show the different ways that ear shapes/size affect sound.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2yM47dR7h1_jPr5WnCEJt5BVHKrzeLBSfudgzZl4BeIrNFLki3t19U55VROHjPKBKpWePPwATa07rGEVS8v-lKvpQesOhYsFK2VX05fMeddRXkXiyBvcSfcSm9qn9GsdcVZA5a08R0k/s1600-h/greensboro09q.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2yM47dR7h1_jPr5WnCEJt5BVHKrzeLBSfudgzZl4BeIrNFLki3t19U55VROHjPKBKpWePPwATa07rGEVS8v-lKvpQesOhYsFK2VX05fMeddRXkXiyBvcSfcSm9qn9GsdcVZA5a08R0k/s320/greensboro09q.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390570069496116770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful day to visit, and surprisingly un-crowded for labor day weekend. The Wallaby exhibit was closed, which was disappointing. ..but we were able to see many other animals.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9TYg69PzMu_E8FekpN0h5T_WoYcaf_pukbWcrO9vagriSNt8w61xVKthbMhRTAjIP0QsGJYhIRw2G95IryOv7i_-4Ev7EPRvIadydqUex4kE0m4OU6kPJXwMZGcGSriMVS2KwKVXiII/s1600-h/greensboro09x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9TYg69PzMu_E8FekpN0h5T_WoYcaf_pukbWcrO9vagriSNt8w61xVKthbMhRTAjIP0QsGJYhIRw2G95IryOv7i_-4Ev7EPRvIadydqUex4kE0m4OU6kPJXwMZGcGSriMVS2KwKVXiII/s320/greensboro09x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390569873989840002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">As we were leaving, we noticed what looked like a pond at the back parking lot behind the Science center. So we headed over to see what what was there. We were quite surprised to find a lovely park. It has a large pond, with paddle boats and several different play areas, picnic shelters and hiking trails. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing here, and enjoying the outdoors before heading home.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Dub-o-Uh1LSCzzCD-T-92nLEuCU-Ph9kJaGubGt1gideFXF4bOBEOCQiqBDlcbkWetN-ep32AUIj6DvyCYUemKd3sYMggVJFmf2Hna9FuKmHHvDJ1zRBT1yjQ106IUNGt4kvedwa4E/s1600-h/greensboro09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Dub-o-Uh1LSCzzCD-T-92nLEuCU-Ph9kJaGubGt1gideFXF4bOBEOCQiqBDlcbkWetN-ep32AUIj6DvyCYUemKd3sYMggVJFmf2Hna9FuKmHHvDJ1zRBT1yjQ106IUNGt4kvedwa4E/s320/greensboro09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390569692829880946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">As we started to head back up the mountain to Virginia, i snapped this shot of Pilot mountain behind us. This has become a familiar landmark on our weekend travels.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-73319986564178256922009-09-01T12:15:00.000-04:002009-10-09T07:49:50.652-04:00Growing more than vegetables.<div style="text-align: center;">i am so behind on this blog, you can expect to see a few older blogs come through while i play blog catch up. i actually have 5 or 6 half finished blogs saved in my drafts. So it's just a matter of me sitting down and adding words or pictures. The end of August was very busy for us. Lots of picking, freezing, canning and jam making. Sequoia started back at school, Kenan began a new work project outside the home (wow! what a transition to not have him here all the time), we are still working on house construction and my mother came and visited for several weeks. So although i continued to take pictures everyday, the blogging aspect was somewhat neglected.<br /><br />Earlier this spring, i posted about our <a href="http://simplyenchantedlife.blogspot.com/2009/06/kids-garden.html">Kid's garden</a>. You can find more ideas about planting a kids garden <a href="http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/Dimensions/Article.aspx?contentid=2465">here</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ahQXhB6FTLHv2Of-MMwuBxOL8fJOj0N0dpvbmNVR9kVmx_cTmjPurIYeRiFGnZ0gewoy1HAHtkDv1htwywlkvpjleoOo6W5ZgH5AmlStYyJkfLzBBWVldKnZQWYgoo3Y55sATUauFzc/s1600-h/sequoias1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ahQXhB6FTLHv2Of-MMwuBxOL8fJOj0N0dpvbmNVR9kVmx_cTmjPurIYeRiFGnZ0gewoy1HAHtkDv1htwywlkvpjleoOo6W5ZgH5AmlStYyJkfLzBBWVldKnZQWYgoo3Y55sATUauFzc/s320/sequoias1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373504323584023234" border="0" /> </a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sequoia asked for his own garden this year, so we created a space that was about 5x5. i took him to the local garden nursery to pick out some seeds and flowers and gave him a few suggestions on where to plant, but otherwise let him do it himself.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtXFsyJOKn97xhwECDeALL5xwfZf0J9gFzZN3UWS9ouGCIvCG_pYuOOvY0UBUoj2pcRV4r8cLJU0usF70zw0h3mXwp6IvE2dJD5W62uhe4FN5olgJpiBXvBvxHrcClYE58kMMCSebJiE/s1600-h/seqioiasgarden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtXFsyJOKn97xhwECDeALL5xwfZf0J9gFzZN3UWS9ouGCIvCG_pYuOOvY0UBUoj2pcRV4r8cLJU0usF70zw0h3mXwp6IvE2dJD5W62uhe4FN5olgJpiBXvBvxHrcClYE58kMMCSebJiE/s320/seqioiasgarden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373500594470516178" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The garden grew and produced extremely well. Here he is standing next to his sugar snaps peas as they began climbing the bamboo tee-pees.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95PXvi1sZnFSOeec7LWuaxmwHZI5ZCvilLpeNLzWQMXHHSeTg1gKXeWXaEhGKPgPTCXHvOR9hoMRRIB2OQuVLtMEWaM6Q6hcCFkyyZsv_oiFcU-eevTaCufHprdX80qmIXoFPaxb38LA/s1600-h/sgardenfirst.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95PXvi1sZnFSOeec7LWuaxmwHZI5ZCvilLpeNLzWQMXHHSeTg1gKXeWXaEhGKPgPTCXHvOR9hoMRRIB2OQuVLtMEWaM6Q6hcCFkyyZsv_oiFcU-eevTaCufHprdX80qmIXoFPaxb38LA/s320/sgardenfirst.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373500419014853362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">First harvest, he picked enough green beans for dinner. He also picked a couple banana peppers, some chard, lettuce and broccoli. He was very excited, and even more excited to eat some, (not the peppers) of the vegetables that he grew himself.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm6CdY1cvPCct-qGoqaGKTF0Yl5lJ3wUZXWv_0rMYJdh7tAhuc7noGAswdUG_y08VMPUEZFX_BVSNzVKXLCK1WRqxwrEUJek8q-fw1Src-Y3JxB3EluVYTD0zN8fVu4cxyXmHKVUbL5A/s1600-h/sequoias3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm6CdY1cvPCct-qGoqaGKTF0Yl5lJ3wUZXWv_0rMYJdh7tAhuc7noGAswdUG_y08VMPUEZFX_BVSNzVKXLCK1WRqxwrEUJek8q-fw1Src-Y3JxB3EluVYTD0zN8fVu4cxyXmHKVUbL5A/s320/sequoias3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373504469167506642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This little garden produced two more meals worth of beans, at least a pound of sugar snaps, several small heads of broccoli, enough lettuce, cucumbers and yellow pear tomatoes for many salads, and lots of banana peppers. The only things that did not do well were the melons.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnTuEe8Bywv13kF_nF3yeRC0irrJZoRFlfCvMsq1oeNBuKA-sKZXnsJJybfs46uo89D6IHw2uSFzfZspFth342LZJTm2_0Pdzfe4Gn4cddVLh4hqjFmpMHDcT6Lp1GhIxXSHohgKh-eQ/s1600-h/carrotharvest09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnTuEe8Bywv13kF_nF3yeRC0irrJZoRFlfCvMsq1oeNBuKA-sKZXnsJJybfs46uo89D6IHw2uSFzfZspFth342LZJTm2_0Pdzfe4Gn4cddVLh4hqjFmpMHDcT6Lp1GhIxXSHohgKh-eQ/s320/carrotharvest09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382434073904963202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While mom was visiting, she helped Sequoia to pull the old plants and weeds, and get his garden ready for fall planting. He was pretty thrilled when we found some <a href="http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/beans/purple+bush/bush+bean+sequoia+-+%281+packet%29.do">purple 'Sequoia' beans</a> at the store, and has planted them in his fall garden along with spinach, lettuce and peas.<br /><br />Letting kids have their own garden space is a great way to help connect them to nature, give them a deeper appreciation of the earth and where our food comes from, teaches responsibility and patience, and nothing can match the excitement and sense of pride a child has when he picks his first vegetable.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-69312527408358104322009-08-18T13:34:00.028-04:002009-08-21T09:56:22.636-04:00Made with love...<div style="text-align: center;">i really love simple toys. Handmade, knitted, crocheted and wooden. i love them more than my kids, as they, like most kids...are far more drawn to bright colored plastic, anything with batteries..that lights up and makes annoying noises. However, that never stopped me from making them toys. So in our home, we have a happy mix of both.<br /><br />Every great once in a while, they surprise me and put down the Legos and the Little people and pull out the toys that i made for them.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTxXES2wZJsBjRbYm8c-_S4qkiNKaJKuTz7gy_qdC-gDZvwBAga-FY1bonRCUd82zClNiAu-wXWQ29Fzd0wmNma4YGnIoh6KbQvoAR7xMdF07wLXOUfE999LcHAFxNnOooqXAb4-vbMI/s1600-h/teaparty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTxXES2wZJsBjRbYm8c-_S4qkiNKaJKuTz7gy_qdC-gDZvwBAga-FY1bonRCUd82zClNiAu-wXWQ29Fzd0wmNma4YGnIoh6KbQvoAR7xMdF07wLXOUfE999LcHAFxNnOooqXAb4-vbMI/s320/teaparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371359032581759570" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sage preparing her tea party.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRV3ePWeaLPPC4qWW0xtMCj4Q0iW7zy0Tm2XzqPKC-V2oRm1u0Ko4IhFTh_iRZQdFxl9EhMtI-LpQyaTnAszY5XSQMhkXZbjO_CcVjCu_WFkJWjBvlRDAFJ0AZSjJQqQoyyt92UaGoa8/s1600-h/teaparty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRV3ePWeaLPPC4qWW0xtMCj4Q0iW7zy0Tm2XzqPKC-V2oRm1u0Ko4IhFTh_iRZQdFxl9EhMtI-LpQyaTnAszY5XSQMhkXZbjO_CcVjCu_WFkJWjBvlRDAFJ0AZSjJQqQoyyt92UaGoa8/s320/teaparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372397857197713922" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The tea pot and cakes were Yule gifts i made her last year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88LVF_4dIeH2cDMxoL3vgZRNC1pEDBoUuvpqYjhl9_BL2Vup_WEEvLiqOD5gkPxJHbkFDTTUA2grsk4VnSaDZOzoCaWCt8h0Bb-FL4vlRTyqfiTHMYd31MVL5QL60M8n-Mo5j5FY8wzU/s1600-h/teaparty2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88LVF_4dIeH2cDMxoL3vgZRNC1pEDBoUuvpqYjhl9_BL2Vup_WEEvLiqOD5gkPxJHbkFDTTUA2grsk4VnSaDZOzoCaWCt8h0Bb-FL4vlRTyqfiTHMYd31MVL5QL60M8n-Mo5j5FY8wzU/s320/teaparty2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372394039632473186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FBJY1RR3qvxr9DYR1p26pE69bCxlo3jOcLv44LfqZlpnubZ0G7DmYd-PqXv5nEbRDPXdZBXIdSlN9Qa-7wgCFzgjtzMEVns8Zw3fURbaWdBZi8QI0f_Edl6RFSpVKUwWU_YLZ3uQV8o/s1600-h/teaparty2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FBJY1RR3qvxr9DYR1p26pE69bCxlo3jOcLv44LfqZlpnubZ0G7DmYd-PqXv5nEbRDPXdZBXIdSlN9Qa-7wgCFzgjtzMEVns8Zw3fURbaWdBZi8QI0f_Edl6RFSpVKUwWU_YLZ3uQV8o/s320/teaparty2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372400474278525810" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The dolls were made for her, before she was even born.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTdXUzcqJbkZ8JKQdAXde-7EVEBOnwfnInrZ97n-g3qyvxF0iJh8uc6NnA1fseGQxSvG9jEzq5zI4nRuFKubyZTGnM7zTzYmi1P-au5x3nFnaSxE5KNfe9PCQZ4sEgN7F2k-KP63CHcw/s1600-h/teaparty1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTdXUzcqJbkZ8JKQdAXde-7EVEBOnwfnInrZ97n-g3qyvxF0iJh8uc6NnA1fseGQxSvG9jEzq5zI4nRuFKubyZTGnM7zTzYmi1P-au5x3nFnaSxE5KNfe9PCQZ4sEgN7F2k-KP63CHcw/s320/teaparty1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371358735853122610" border="0" /></a> Sage spent over an hour sharing tea and cakes with her friends the mermaid, faerie and gnome. It's moments like these, i can't help but smile.</div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-71392355616869112472009-08-10T15:05:00.011-04:002009-08-11T10:03:37.860-04:00Rescue peeps<div style="text-align: center;"> A day or so after our new chicks hatched both hens abandoned their nests, to take care of the surviving chicks. They take them out of the coop to scratch around in the yard and teach them to hunt for bugs. i had gone out that day to remove all of the old/unhatched eggs and was surprized to find a newly hatched and half dead looking chick laying on the floor of the coop. She was bloody from being pecked at, and her feathery down was dry but caked to her. There was no sign of a shell. We have a couple hens that are egg eaters if the eggs are not removed quickly from the nests, and we believe one of the hens actually ate the egg away...causing the chick ( that would have otherwise died) to hatch.<br /><br />i brought the chick in the house and created a makeshift brooding box, to keep her warm and comfortable until she died.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRTvfuNp_2pix3JNU-SC4LRWXITUYa4rFAOKNOXqiUUe0ttetvGUK_gdnAKasrM_BqX01lDWQ5fBkDDP9pfg_Qbw4ilMwlFCl2Z_de5WxakXCmKXrzy-NDFA7gCw0-9ViRIhAx7r4uyM/s1600-h/newpeeps09d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRTvfuNp_2pix3JNU-SC4LRWXITUYa4rFAOKNOXqiUUe0ttetvGUK_gdnAKasrM_BqX01lDWQ5fBkDDP9pfg_Qbw4ilMwlFCl2Z_de5WxakXCmKXrzy-NDFA7gCw0-9ViRIhAx7r4uyM/s320/newpeeps09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368423422373187026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i didn't take pictures when we first brought her in, because i never expected her to survive. However she did, and is doing well! We named her Lucky, because she is truly lucky to be here.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HD6peYiKzCAoBGkBPu5D9wUkZHN-LrSJas0zU5Vkcassm2qVW-TMSejckVZmVGNSoXoIW2CCxlkEl5AZcaXlgYsfHjVld6j-MihmCX5B62be8f3hiFtfJ4yL5rJwvNlmbxChuoB_yqw/s1600-h/newpeeps09g.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HD6peYiKzCAoBGkBPu5D9wUkZHN-LrSJas0zU5Vkcassm2qVW-TMSejckVZmVGNSoXoIW2CCxlkEl5AZcaXlgYsfHjVld6j-MihmCX5B62be8f3hiFtfJ4yL5rJwvNlmbxChuoB_yqw/s320/newpeeps09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368420106002724258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our second little rescue chick, Bumbleberry, was brought in a day after Lucky. We believe he was stomped on by one of the larger birds. Kenan found him laying on his back in the mud outside the coop, both eyes swollen shut and dried blood around his head and beak. He was in really rough shape, and again we didn't really expect him to survive.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WSps-t0Lr3TENb1MS7a38Ql2A0-PFB24qH8OqjXv0GEOMxFq831JAC7zmY4BewmFf4fwXRpAY9AuDwS68-kKKQpCWim4y-8sZbSXF-evixMvWlz1FBkk9YR_4c_8aPA2unVg3DsgGEQ/s1600-h/newpeeps09c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WSps-t0Lr3TENb1MS7a38Ql2A0-PFB24qH8OqjXv0GEOMxFq831JAC7zmY4BewmFf4fwXRpAY9AuDwS68-kKKQpCWim4y-8sZbSXF-evixMvWlz1FBkk9YR_4c_8aPA2unVg3DsgGEQ/s320/newpeeps09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368418481884151266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> However, both chicks bounced back, and were comforted by each others company. The first night we had just Lucky inside she peeped all night, even though she had food and water and the temp was good...she was lonely. She would quiet as soon as i spoke to her. Once Bumbleberry was put in the brooder with her, she would cuddle up to him and they both stayed quiet all night.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2zB2xUp2DzPaY6ZN5yamCHHx8FKSY2KYeUJiRcOSvJ2XvAhyphenhyphenQfpbYyZzRaAcsDtX2gVx0q0WOkBKUgHzuFiIdlIbUr4QrjxyRIpLMKvLQCErO4rUgUgNZzoWtyxouprQ_52YIs0X5bE/s1600-h/peeps1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2zB2xUp2DzPaY6ZN5yamCHHx8FKSY2KYeUJiRcOSvJ2XvAhyphenhyphenQfpbYyZzRaAcsDtX2gVx0q0WOkBKUgHzuFiIdlIbUr4QrjxyRIpLMKvLQCErO4rUgUgNZzoWtyxouprQ_52YIs0X5bE/s320/peeps1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368413972211886770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We kept the chicks inside in the brooder for about a week, then decided to try and re-introduce them back with mama. i was really happy to see that she accepted both chicks, somewhat amazing as she had never even met Lucky before. Hens can often be very brutal to chicks that are not their own, and will peck them to death.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJn-6hetC-_zPbH2FxBHV7qbq6xQDP9tSc1vSpqTGcJ7jpNt0vDws7O_3wnJm97JSbpY2WMCKoLcG0nuHiCz23hH0wkoT0Y7dLWUI4gslSxf9qli0EaClb4X4doQZCxgP-m6Oejjr6nc/s1600-h/peeps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJn-6hetC-_zPbH2FxBHV7qbq6xQDP9tSc1vSpqTGcJ7jpNt0vDws7O_3wnJm97JSbpY2WMCKoLcG0nuHiCz23hH0wkoT0Y7dLWUI4gslSxf9qli0EaClb4X4doQZCxgP-m6Oejjr6nc/s320/peeps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368413456501089314" border="0" /></a><br />i re-introduded the chicks slowly, allowing them a few hours with mama, and then back in brooder for the night. After a few days of this, i realized they were ready to go back in the coop. i admit i was a bit worried about Lucky, who was smaller and more fragile than the other two chicks. She seemed to have a hard time keeping up, and with the amount of predators in the area...she would have no chance if left behind.<br /><br />So, we were all very amused to see that Lucky has taken to hitching a ride on mama back anytime she feels she can't keep up.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-41609318382965723002009-08-09T13:05:00.004-04:002009-08-14T13:20:59.346-04:00Afternoon walk.<div style="text-align: center;"> This afternoon, the kids and i took a walk down the road to pick up trash and recyclables, scope out the wild blackberries and look for monarch caterpillars on the milkweed patch at the bottom of the hill. So we set out, equipped with trash bag and gloves, bug house and berry basket.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_2O5jFc0jpl9JUZU4Te98LiBE9yMcL8xba271nXP-hcGnlPCz0zICAJc-tHjLxUZknjrJ1EQAvUEjcW8qfAFDr9ftU4ne6oY9pJOLQPgcGFa5ri-WleKEMBtYkeJdGTKnENr5DPSmGo/s1600-h/recyclehike1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_2O5jFc0jpl9JUZU4Te98LiBE9yMcL8xba271nXP-hcGnlPCz0zICAJc-tHjLxUZknjrJ1EQAvUEjcW8qfAFDr9ftU4ne6oY9pJOLQPgcGFa5ri-WleKEMBtYkeJdGTKnENr5DPSmGo/s320/recyclehike1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368388918782177650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sequoia wanted a bandanna to hold his hair back, and so of course Sage needed one too. :)<br />It's is only about 1/2 mile to the bottom of the hill, but we picked up enough trash and soda/beer cans to fill our garbage bag. We could have easily filled a second, had i brought one.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzWEilPoTdl0LQuPZvQx9T8BHA5qBjfIdc-t_sMP22DEXZ2sLsswcK1L03w2WSGX2ioVprSui-NUhkVDJjrHlLHgOIZgtudgEYAQJQNJ-avaw2EeWPnhTathT3ZsNnyar5EX0x8pt39A/s1600-h/recyclehike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzWEilPoTdl0LQuPZvQx9T8BHA5qBjfIdc-t_sMP22DEXZ2sLsswcK1L03w2WSGX2ioVprSui-NUhkVDJjrHlLHgOIZgtudgEYAQJQNJ-avaw2EeWPnhTathT3ZsNnyar5EX0x8pt39A/s320/recyclehike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368388313730385618" border="0" /></a> The kids are both very enthusiast about picking up litter. We've been doing this since they were tiny. Sage liked to spot and then yell each time she found something, and then Sequoia would collect it.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTbUeW8xwwom5GxKc9rcz8cY2sde9QjuvayEnYlzdXuRrzHBmb10fOfandsVkE16EPPbBmlN8ladT_RniDoVrtZRSquD0kKtrMU0yLeBIfLrhM51NRE2836bHldw03uuJpEPmNLeOJAo/s1600-h/recyclehike2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTbUeW8xwwom5GxKc9rcz8cY2sde9QjuvayEnYlzdXuRrzHBmb10fOfandsVkE16EPPbBmlN8ladT_RniDoVrtZRSquD0kKtrMU0yLeBIfLrhM51NRE2836bHldw03uuJpEPmNLeOJAo/s320/recyclehike2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368388813354498194" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We found a few blackberry along the way, though not many. The kids had stopped and eaten them all before we made it home. :)<br />We checked all the milkweed on our way down, and didn't see any caterpillars. When checked the large milkweed patch at the bottom of the hill and were disappointed<br />that we still hadn't found any. So we headed back up the hill. About half way up, i wanted to check the milkweed one last time..and somehow spotted a tiny 1/2" caterpillar on one of the leaves. So we gathered him up, to bring home.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb0o2TSUXk_a3npNIhSaXw6okE1GjN5xg7zVahF-IaXAaHo5mBYGYl33HMx6-TtdNUMQDK9JpWM_H0U0zZ4kFoN7UutB0OStDDY8pbiVGUEyV_eEmPsFBivPK74iHWp4GPubOX5i4g2U/s1600-h/monarcheggs1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb0o2TSUXk_a3npNIhSaXw6okE1GjN5xg7zVahF-IaXAaHo5mBYGYl33HMx6-TtdNUMQDK9JpWM_H0U0zZ4kFoN7UutB0OStDDY8pbiVGUEyV_eEmPsFBivPK74iHWp4GPubOX5i4g2U/s320/monarcheggs1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368387845127250146" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">i found a young milkweed plant and snipped of the top section to bring back to feed our caterpillar. If you place it in some water it will stay fresh for several days. Then you need to replace the leaves with some fresh milkweed to keep your caterpillar happy.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryNKtyg4bH4WBFhpVODGAXxSPB7kpo9NU1GaUIYxsBXsZL6M61pR-ub0SLX7pFsucKAIpY4-9Q5lfLNFbQjCswuQi267AnYMR27aUnMNEGSoVeErqsHan0CimhlX-EydgF1SePknGtj4/s1600-h/monarcheggs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryNKtyg4bH4WBFhpVODGAXxSPB7kpo9NU1GaUIYxsBXsZL6M61pR-ub0SLX7pFsucKAIpY4-9Q5lfLNFbQjCswuQi267AnYMR27aUnMNEGSoVeErqsHan0CimhlX-EydgF1SePknGtj4/s320/monarcheggs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368387304824550994" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While examining our milkweed, i was delighted to find two monarch eggs! Not long after discovering them, one hatched! If you click the picture above, you can see one egg and one newly hatched monarch caterpillar. This impression in the leaf is where the egg was, after the monarch hatches...it eats it's egg. This little caterpillar is only about 2 mm long. We look forward to watching them grow, and transform.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-85408794472464006692009-08-07T13:07:00.023-04:002009-08-14T13:10:29.306-04:00Butterfly morning.<div style="text-align: center;"> So it's probably no surprise to anyone that we love butterflies. We have butterfly attracting plants and flowers planted all over our yard and garden. It is not at all uncommon to walk outside and be able to count numerous butterflies, of every size, shape and color. i love sitting outside in the morning, and watching them flutter about.<br />This morning on my butterfly bush, i counted over 20 butterflies. In just a few minutes time i captured pictures of several different kinds, and even spotted someone new.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkQik2wsAxJEUx6PoqMYjpHc2Abf1Donffg4vLrPdBCek5Yr_k9b5oy4EcDeLtiE5YVVSDcDSDYQrfYy-jHn6yXjZKu9TsAueGSv1mOgsuSxNYQYtnOCBql5wyFEdN0YTVu_C1OudiGg/s1600-h/bflybush5diana.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkQik2wsAxJEUx6PoqMYjpHc2Abf1Donffg4vLrPdBCek5Yr_k9b5oy4EcDeLtiE5YVVSDcDSDYQrfYy-jHn6yXjZKu9TsAueGSv1mOgsuSxNYQYtnOCBql5wyFEdN0YTVu_C1OudiGg/s320/bflybush5diana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367279820774558210" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> This is a female<a href="http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Arkansas/butterfly-diana-fritillary.html"> Diana Fritillary butterfly</a>, and this is the first time i have ever seen one. It looks very similar to many butterflies we frequently see, so it took me a minute to realize it was something new. It was the little black spots on the wings that gave it away. We had a difficult time identifying it, because it looked very similar to a red spotted purple, and i thought it must be in a similar family. It is actually a type of fritillary, and the males look quite different from the females. The pattern is the same, but the males are a dusty orange. i am very eager to spot one of those as well, now that i know they are in this area. It's always very exciting to find something new after all these years of chasing butterflies.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiIgfOoea4a0bzR1LlEMdkQ8dc85IF8uOPjPVWSa2JIjLJn4G5ckh-bm1SWsPAin7RoEuTWe3VwbfkKdnEERfZ8-mDTcMbR33hoxmF00mOZms0-cy0uu6z_Xg8RVBC686oqdcnep_SQQ/s1600-h/bflybush2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiIgfOoea4a0bzR1LlEMdkQ8dc85IF8uOPjPVWSa2JIjLJn4G5ckh-bm1SWsPAin7RoEuTWe3VwbfkKdnEERfZ8-mDTcMbR33hoxmF00mOZms0-cy0uu6z_Xg8RVBC686oqdcnep_SQQ/s320/bflybush2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367279003458115394" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This lovely monarch has been fluttering about for the last two days and i'm quite certain this is the one that we released.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SdtRT8jrIrqmjNtsWr55aZEstHg6GXWewER6-poaejvBWGvoqlKExbYjiY3gep4IhTJT35m4pQZ3S9ZQMa0taGbrVWFxXeBLW3SjmIPWhF1glICYYFWN-wb7P5q-9CGyiw525vMB_yg/s1600-h/bflybush6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SdtRT8jrIrqmjNtsWr55aZEstHg6GXWewER6-poaejvBWGvoqlKExbYjiY3gep4IhTJT35m4pQZ3S9ZQMa0taGbrVWFxXeBLW3SjmIPWhF1glICYYFWN-wb7P5q-9CGyiw525vMB_yg/s320/bflybush6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367279656371015106" border="0" /></a><br />American painted lady and silver spotted skipper, although they are both looking a bit weathered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ4B-QcXpFayy2pf1pGvYfgoanCS-GUKqKDeDcb3YXdB-KrowJ4WFmDV5hkD4bRVq_RxlRRJXZe0CZK2snXRwWWlo1nGPySdezF2bYvxHS1Hqq7Co1b_zHSnHdfXCqGXnI_3LJGoBxN4/s1600-h/bflyb11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ4B-QcXpFayy2pf1pGvYfgoanCS-GUKqKDeDcb3YXdB-KrowJ4WFmDV5hkD4bRVq_RxlRRJXZe0CZK2snXRwWWlo1nGPySdezF2bYvxHS1Hqq7Co1b_zHSnHdfXCqGXnI_3LJGoBxN4/s320/bflyb11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368428509078201314" border="0" /></a><br />This American painted lady is a bit more vibrant.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScdEP4IDf1ZlDIRSNShTy78Aad7gEZzVSzO8X4uNLJ3KIKe-mQg1p802uJOjoh3OotU7fldyLn9VuUSlAz4BPYmtC_gejJsmWk6X6XNGLmokDcU4ArwZBJqg7WKxh2bxaQmS_AxBgzbA/s1600-h/bflybush3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScdEP4IDf1ZlDIRSNShTy78Aad7gEZzVSzO8X4uNLJ3KIKe-mQg1p802uJOjoh3OotU7fldyLn9VuUSlAz4BPYmtC_gejJsmWk6X6XNGLmokDcU4ArwZBJqg7WKxh2bxaQmS_AxBgzbA/s320/bflybush3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278716749825314" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Spicebush swallowtail, we have several of these fluttering around. They are smaller and usually darker than the Black Eastern Tiger swallowtails. They look similar to Black swallowtails, but lack the defined double row of spots.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLXKbHsHCFKf7_pgLKg-eITCDBCr7f8XN99JJU1xjI4ue9MFIZKyFG10QTKM4zQ29woCl-XD73AnJ5q04TBx3crFuXdTD_9N475bsBDQZ-EjLshGXvrncPTznk3BCf9kRN48ZAbPeC4U/s1600-h/bflybush4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLXKbHsHCFKf7_pgLKg-eITCDBCr7f8XN99JJU1xjI4ue9MFIZKyFG10QTKM4zQ29woCl-XD73AnJ5q04TBx3crFuXdTD_9N475bsBDQZ-EjLshGXvrncPTznk3BCf9kRN48ZAbPeC4U/s320/bflybush4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278402964173138" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Eastern Tiger swallowtail black form (female).<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKrcR0qe_EPub3ZZi5MjD78dT6nPewKfmUjBihNMkPRUBhV7yreOxGgHQl586LNnv4opHsPBYnF4d6iUS49C8PpYYTKY1IEcbcGxqLBwDppo3ntEN0zc9fxZfBwcTVS8aYekliLJ3t1c/s1600-h/bflybush7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKrcR0qe_EPub3ZZi5MjD78dT6nPewKfmUjBihNMkPRUBhV7yreOxGgHQl586LNnv4opHsPBYnF4d6iUS49C8PpYYTKY1IEcbcGxqLBwDppo3ntEN0zc9fxZfBwcTVS8aYekliLJ3t1c/s320/bflybush7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367277848777633042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF5Z4bP0M3oabxmfFOVeqfay5HGKW4sdWw3VI5NIdwBXOm9kvd5H6UcwLy8yADZJBgpVdF3LtwZYU6tLRJ_IA31EUQh4Be-e1vhjrXzbLsrPaWTjQdDEdXpnAAhnMKwZu6MyPQEjIUzY/s1600-h/bflybush10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF5Z4bP0M3oabxmfFOVeqfay5HGKW4sdWw3VI5NIdwBXOm9kvd5H6UcwLy8yADZJBgpVdF3LtwZYU6tLRJ_IA31EUQh4Be-e1vhjrXzbLsrPaWTjQdDEdXpnAAhnMKwZu6MyPQEjIUzY/s320/bflybush10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367582795008377842" border="0" /></a>Red spotted purple.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCDr_Vkha1Pw_99X99THoxabM9WDD6YwSzDTY3GiZG52TXQK6bPDJZ8aE0DjMv9G5DCK_quX8-RiyDsJA8bJw4sFD2Lvc6Mda5kAWjDP72m7Jzz_WTTJzI5YnUBf-XCpDf-hetZx0clU/s1600-h/bflybush.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCDr_Vkha1Pw_99X99THoxabM9WDD6YwSzDTY3GiZG52TXQK6bPDJZ8aE0DjMv9G5DCK_quX8-RiyDsJA8bJw4sFD2Lvc6Mda5kAWjDP72m7Jzz_WTTJzI5YnUBf-XCpDf-hetZx0clU/s320/bflybush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278009252569298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />hummingbird moth, not a butterfly...but still a common visitor to the butterfly bush.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqpFtrGR4uoX1J7OjDXRZehzamjoO16SRUgZSX1vWuwEsPffwxCS1sC7hg3CzQfDeJzoKozS3QIXefq37dNlYMxK72wmMeXPoO31lD2s6z7FkqAyRddsZiYJl6CaRxJIwOuh6r731Za8/s1600-h/bflybush9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqpFtrGR4uoX1J7OjDXRZehzamjoO16SRUgZSX1vWuwEsPffwxCS1sC7hg3CzQfDeJzoKozS3QIXefq37dNlYMxK72wmMeXPoO31lD2s6z7FkqAyRddsZiYJl6CaRxJIwOuh6r731Za8/s320/bflybush9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367582303888276658" border="0" /></a><br />Fritillary and Spicebush swallowtail.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq83FOTK5pX7E7SswJSgvL0b4M4deqOc8vKY893NxZxAyqDzvKM_ygQj1GKgSt8iYV3LQX_xBUtDwgx766vnRUzRDoC6exqn_nJgg-0D6Gw8m5bCNRY6d4MAa8_WBx0JJCEX9p2v1VMe8/s1600-h/bflybush5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq83FOTK5pX7E7SswJSgvL0b4M4deqOc8vKY893NxZxAyqDzvKM_ygQj1GKgSt8iYV3LQX_xBUtDwgx766vnRUzRDoC6exqn_nJgg-0D6Gw8m5bCNRY6d4MAa8_WBx0JJCEX9p2v1VMe8/s320/bflybush5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367277615860697826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Three of the many fritillaries that frequent my yard.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_hFE1zy7Ytx5KvDnXm2d7GX2Xn-ZH3GH7EmbolZNO5EqdApv04mE2Q9XaUV6TQ4sratZomFPpKnURZHHNXwhyphenhyphenwdU0aNHlKfmLw5-e-NvN-LIX9wZE8CQ-QDDV70pXaZvFse86IZ13jk/s1600-h/bflybush8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_hFE1zy7Ytx5KvDnXm2d7GX2Xn-ZH3GH7EmbolZNO5EqdApv04mE2Q9XaUV6TQ4sratZomFPpKnURZHHNXwhyphenhyphenwdU0aNHlKfmLw5-e-NvN-LIX9wZE8CQ-QDDV70pXaZvFse86IZ13jk/s320/bflybush8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367277377036135234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Butterfly line up! Fritillary, Eastern tiger swallowtail and monarch. Everytime i approach the bush, they swirl around me and seem to dance with each other before setting back down on the flowers.<br /><br />This is just one more simple reminder that life is beautiful.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-78026237019632331922009-08-05T08:03:00.001-04:002009-08-07T10:07:57.268-04:00Monarch Emerging.<div style="text-align: center;">Last week we watched our monarch caterpillar <a href="http://simplyenchantedlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/munching-crunching-caterpillars.html">transform into it's chrysalis</a>, it was amazing to watch and kept the kids quite mesmerized. We've been watching our chrysalis for any sign that it was getting to close to emerging.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZNNl4Ls1GhH5fCrEksiu3mq1NYEbFK462Yk89DzYCkAS_YrzyahjsHLTdlHMl2rodfJ91QYuR_qTQUHtgDs3dqPPtbUXZzILcR02x7LKEjzHWHFyfhSvM1VhqEBDw0C8-6zw1I2vnds/s1600-h/monarch09t.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZNNl4Ls1GhH5fCrEksiu3mq1NYEbFK462Yk89DzYCkAS_YrzyahjsHLTdlHMl2rodfJ91QYuR_qTQUHtgDs3dqPPtbUXZzILcR02x7LKEjzHWHFyfhSvM1VhqEBDw0C8-6zw1I2vnds/s320/monarch09t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367199259032622994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few days before, we begin to see the faint colors of a monarch inside.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOXQBex9ENfQiZe7zx4yNZouyOek8SpEFJy16OH6UcHwTOxUAzBoy-LIujrvaIxJb9c_xGMsq4l2U8rLYB9Cakeq1cxGIYGU8L2mhgjkTh-b5OtlBawyMAM-tBj0C9JJ2tdAipMODfEQ/s1600-h/monarch09m.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOXQBex9ENfQiZe7zx4yNZouyOek8SpEFJy16OH6UcHwTOxUAzBoy-LIujrvaIxJb9c_xGMsq4l2U8rLYB9Cakeq1cxGIYGU8L2mhgjkTh-b5OtlBawyMAM-tBj0C9JJ2tdAipMODfEQ/s320/monarch09m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367199005506506770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the morning that it emerges, the chrysalis becomes transparent and the butterfly inside is quite obvious. When we saw this we knew that our monarch would be emerging at anytime.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zH-5wAXjotA0buBNd-52_035Fc1CihWuV9QgMyEyvG3k6OaBqqkVrhv5Ota64ZjETDErglWlwAqMIUgu1nsb-FL44NlSNdOr9AhyphenhyphenNmbAANEaxj8uxLLo1lcEk-IPM-XHW3VRQG3UQmk/s1600-h/monarch09l.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zH-5wAXjotA0buBNd-52_035Fc1CihWuV9QgMyEyvG3k6OaBqqkVrhv5Ota64ZjETDErglWlwAqMIUgu1nsb-FL44NlSNdOr9AhyphenhyphenNmbAANEaxj8uxLLo1lcEk-IPM-XHW3VRQG3UQmk/s320/monarch09l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367198556979730946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Only a few minutes after i took the picture of the translucent chrysalis, i glanced over and saw the chrysalis split. The kids gathered round and we watched in amazement as our monarch emerged.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl0dQGQbQeGCfNheQy4POmD9ofNBOGDAUsJb8JUyw-N3VE-xn6uYgddnvT4C1vc65lte4TFIqohSG7QKLKHipzZtCGhpAIqeVK7KcoEnzdxjcq1UakfM9x-bPC8-dd6gYhtrIDgQ8nE4/s1600-h/monarch09n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl0dQGQbQeGCfNheQy4POmD9ofNBOGDAUsJb8JUyw-N3VE-xn6uYgddnvT4C1vc65lte4TFIqohSG7QKLKHipzZtCGhpAIqeVK7KcoEnzdxjcq1UakfM9x-bPC8-dd6gYhtrIDgQ8nE4/s320/monarch09n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367198416350769346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It dropped out head first, but held on with it's feet. It abdomen is very swelled when it first emerges.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBE6pLZdtMfnEsAksqmqZS6FGzOl9Js2Kmo4tW5ef5AhTgBJKYdXsIeocG6UoIbcDWvKSE8OubsVeQ4XXhbOMu0B5yP3JZSMEZfB37e-ZN-thG5f3FOgPb-wnPU8UvGsWHyCY8EkwzQw/s1600-h/monarch09o.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBE6pLZdtMfnEsAksqmqZS6FGzOl9Js2Kmo4tW5ef5AhTgBJKYdXsIeocG6UoIbcDWvKSE8OubsVeQ4XXhbOMu0B5yP3JZSMEZfB37e-ZN-thG5f3FOgPb-wnPU8UvGsWHyCY8EkwzQw/s320/monarch09o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367198171843006978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As it begins to uncurl it's wings, the blood from it's abdomen is pumped into the wings. So the abdomen becomes thin and narrow, as the blood is redistributed.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnfRWfIETYCRSxChfuyuz-t3GVVP2dwjp_yEf_jeWzZRmME0DGbkO5Op1Lxio8XTIUS1_sWNg9OiKY6KNz7fmHiWUVeIhBJejKpBAjKcMj5G9GPki0cC16_ynMhK0KQ2ux7XpR01PrwA/s1600-h/monarch09q.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnfRWfIETYCRSxChfuyuz-t3GVVP2dwjp_yEf_jeWzZRmME0DGbkO5Op1Lxio8XTIUS1_sWNg9OiKY6KNz7fmHiWUVeIhBJejKpBAjKcMj5G9GPki0cC16_ynMhK0KQ2ux7XpR01PrwA/s320/monarch09q.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367196196879065314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It takes a few minutes for it's wings to uncurl and stretch out.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Nt9FMpThhBoX7b2fFYxR2NU8GTj-MnLp5SK69gyEMbBaazolA7c96uRkZn7eTcZla5-L2q3EfD82gIUyK7FEU52MSHldHBFNskjVPz12cqyh3KU24ZZJLs2Q4NjD3iPjJ2-OyrcCUP4/s1600-h/monarch09s.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Nt9FMpThhBoX7b2fFYxR2NU8GTj-MnLp5SK69gyEMbBaazolA7c96uRkZn7eTcZla5-L2q3EfD82gIUyK7FEU52MSHldHBFNskjVPz12cqyh3KU24ZZJLs2Q4NjD3iPjJ2-OyrcCUP4/s320/monarch09s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367195938887242850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once the wings are out, it sits in this position for about an hour or so to let them dry. Then we bring her outside to release.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJPGLldyp2aZ8EWucYPubRcR23Ha4DdbPpAa9zs2BkE-2AdtNxjBn5R0bHURj_uyubdO80RQb74s63PVxPYrU1Vw7pI1QKi3fptpYi2v6toXmaRtZqFborAK9l9GElsd77B_H64p2Oi4/s1600-h/monarch09x.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJPGLldyp2aZ8EWucYPubRcR23Ha4DdbPpAa9zs2BkE-2AdtNxjBn5R0bHURj_uyubdO80RQb74s63PVxPYrU1Vw7pI1QKi3fptpYi2v6toXmaRtZqFborAK9l9GElsd77B_H64p2Oi4/s320/monarch09x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367194867957696370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sage begged me to put it on her nose, like the swallowtail a few weeks ago. Always a classic picture in our household. :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DR80sqMEH-94wNsHHp-eVYb0FtspHeRif-ZYTlL7vpo2HCEaG-eJNk9Lqi70mq36BmsF5QJGgK_rqtW_2KJLvxHynTlNUEwbRIBHnCzpNwCvOdtKMJGxFMQcxTIlTLxDJx1gHiiw4g/s1600-h/monarch09u.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DR80sqMEH-94wNsHHp-eVYb0FtspHeRif-ZYTlL7vpo2HCEaG-eJNk9Lqi70mq36BmsF5QJGgK_rqtW_2KJLvxHynTlNUEwbRIBHnCzpNwCvOdtKMJGxFMQcxTIlTLxDJx1gHiiw4g/s320/monarch09u.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367194363680791186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Time to fly little monarch! Fare thee well!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Nz1f7Njf9yQAlIoLxQlhE7whKlXY8q-_UHPpYVdDEBx9jjzH16ytJ_TCeAoRIUY2D1fXvz8WW42tzulnvzlMEIse9r7Us_cCud1qVv914Lzsmba9DKH2cgR3q_LY9fIg6gocNWZU5BM/s1600-h/monarch09w.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Nz1f7Njf9yQAlIoLxQlhE7whKlXY8q-_UHPpYVdDEBx9jjzH16ytJ_TCeAoRIUY2D1fXvz8WW42tzulnvzlMEIse9r7Us_cCud1qVv914Lzsmba9DKH2cgR3q_LY9fIg6gocNWZU5BM/s320/monarch09w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367193907752010530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It flew away, but didn't go far. She seemed quite happy to hop from flower to flower in our garden. For the last two days while we are outside playing, we see her flutter by while dancing with swallowtails and fritilaries. Sequoia is certain that it is 'our monarch' that we keep seeing fly by. It always makes us smile.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-36102062804459603262009-07-28T11:51:00.001-04:002009-08-03T11:22:36.110-04:00Peep, peep.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every once in a while, one of our hens disappears. Sometimes they are gone for good, having become a meal for some local predator, and other times they reappear from a secret hiding place with a brood of cute fluffy chicks. i just happened to find this missing hen, Sunny, setting on a clutch of eggs in the weeds around our compost bin. She was sitting on a ton of eggs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvHFuoJ1kTG_NlrHb96LrFK7RZ9b5jEnKtJQSSEGlSLEpH7tw88vsrQbJsl2ffJKZh_cab0g9DuhOVfRXH10JRgRovNIrvdHu1tHH2G6N6GgiMN70JmcNkbWy-hApBKVvzsYq51L3xxg/s1600-h/broody.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvHFuoJ1kTG_NlrHb96LrFK7RZ9b5jEnKtJQSSEGlSLEpH7tw88vsrQbJsl2ffJKZh_cab0g9DuhOVfRXH10JRgRovNIrvdHu1tHH2G6N6GgiMN70JmcNkbWy-hApBKVvzsYq51L3xxg/s320/broody.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365406190563453106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />i knew that she wasn't big enough to hatch that many eggs, so i pulled a few and stuck them under another hen who has been broody for almost two months now. Poor Peepers had been setting without any eggs for so long she must really want to be a mama!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNICaDurwLSNWq1D8eGwU5J8b-UmTjHWbUwKV7YeeDLQHtm-QrJeg3OmmFX0cIAUoaI0gcQ6zoshyJVaYI6mqynoBKxepv6visjQ1ae3JKHqsGhEfWAbVeMGc2G1CpzjzBOJZuli8RbA/s1600-h/newpeeps09a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNICaDurwLSNWq1D8eGwU5J8b-UmTjHWbUwKV7YeeDLQHtm-QrJeg3OmmFX0cIAUoaI0gcQ6zoshyJVaYI6mqynoBKxepv6visjQ1ae3JKHqsGhEfWAbVeMGc2G1CpzjzBOJZuli8RbA/s320/newpeeps09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365400947678239554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Her eggs were the first to hatch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2awXUUf9cbbzeDpOqov0ppYyNvp8F9ry-15Ov2WTaS0H8aul-6z7u1euCTHj9t-NbIsFlx_0AhRLIV9oiStV7k5jMXuB2IYfnLpLmPQ7aAMlfRuFL6ihgYw4ODPn2utQlmof-hrUuJc/s1600-h/newpeeps09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2awXUUf9cbbzeDpOqov0ppYyNvp8F9ry-15Ov2WTaS0H8aul-6z7u1euCTHj9t-NbIsFlx_0AhRLIV9oiStV7k5jMXuB2IYfnLpLmPQ7aAMlfRuFL6ihgYw4ODPn2utQlmof-hrUuJc/s320/newpeeps09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365401058921957570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When i went down to check on Sunny, she only had one chick out of her clutch hatch. When i checked a bit later i found that she had abandoned the nest. We had gotten a ton of rain during the weekend, and i was worried about them setting out. So i moved the eggs into the coop, where it was dryer and put her and her chick back in there with them and she again began to set.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhnadw3h4ouKFND8Ov0zFnXbIk6glnRnVkiQYDVOlyUto1ID4Pn1UqkZqJpeya27810dRFSkHvMUG87M1sBV9sHkV1qeKbADsWeZXteMK8ZuSez5EqE6DocZFrJH7B6g2kEsMR0xOF_Q/s1600-h/newchick09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhnadw3h4ouKFND8Ov0zFnXbIk6glnRnVkiQYDVOlyUto1ID4Pn1UqkZqJpeya27810dRFSkHvMUG87M1sBV9sHkV1qeKbADsWeZXteMK8ZuSez5EqE6DocZFrJH7B6g2kEsMR0xOF_Q/s320/newchick09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365401280627053330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids love to see the new peeps. So, not long after that, we went back to check on her to see if there were any new hatchlings. This is what we saw.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTKETiocrJ5BBktbptdXLARGN336tjzouie3kGzcHh1YlSaMRwhuiF7cbsr_jynGFxuhgPbOVDcnJVtniKfdE-uJuBdJZFpjViMRZdtHHZxM3h17grqNHQZiW6VoJE0oewn84HbhqdIw/s1600-h/newchick09a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTKETiocrJ5BBktbptdXLARGN336tjzouie3kGzcHh1YlSaMRwhuiF7cbsr_jynGFxuhgPbOVDcnJVtniKfdE-uJuBdJZFpjViMRZdtHHZxM3h17grqNHQZiW6VoJE0oewn84HbhqdIw/s320/newchick09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365401433943040450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As i was snapping pictures of the hatching chick, a peck hole appeared in the egg next to it, and we heard the faint, 'peep, peep' of a new tiny peep trying to break out. Such an amazing sight to witness.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-86297028942514295012009-07-25T08:14:00.002-04:002009-08-02T11:14:30.125-04:00Floydfest 8 Revival<div style="text-align: center;">This year, we were blessed with free tickets to <a href="http://www.atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=ffhome">Floydfest</a>. This local music festival has grown immensely over the last 8 years. We attended the festival the first few years as vendors, and haven't been in a couple of years. It was amazing to see how far it has come, and the progression of it all. It is truly a wonderful festival for people of all ages.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8ADx447zxVBAg7Hk9DJThfKd5ywNpK_eQqANYaEMYtxaTEiYtFk7DqgKUoFWL-sx5eyZVEG8pE5C0GxoZ_yHOV84pxRLXeQ98WGIeXwRiGYBr0aAYck7W3B-k7O6zAkKjRFHKxB9Rxo/s1600-h/34ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8ADx447zxVBAg7Hk9DJThfKd5ywNpK_eQqANYaEMYtxaTEiYtFk7DqgKUoFWL-sx5eyZVEG8pE5C0GxoZ_yHOV84pxRLXeQ98WGIeXwRiGYBr0aAYck7W3B-k7O6zAkKjRFHKxB9Rxo/s320/34ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365352476281606930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are 7 stages around the festival grounds providing a variety of live music all day, and sometimes late into the night. There is a dance pavilion, and many free workshops offered including yoga, belly dance, juggling, hooping, drumming, Tai Quan Do and much more!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-oa4V0bRFaETffYH0bT4EY7XZ_VKfePwOa-Wf4Af-so4X0mKujAmQdjaS04W531wehXOASffbbY2Im9S90jdANLrC-kpvubMiAp7xcGJjlRBedp2U88KkiiMykqSOZ-xh12EzDhghnc/s1600-h/47ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-oa4V0bRFaETffYH0bT4EY7XZ_VKfePwOa-Wf4Af-so4X0mKujAmQdjaS04W531wehXOASffbbY2Im9S90jdANLrC-kpvubMiAp7xcGJjlRBedp2U88KkiiMykqSOZ-xh12EzDhghnc/s200/47ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365383051432804562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsjCTkqOwXKHDUwQYtEoxvVxTaGJTx28k-OOOa3HZW3I1zq8J-NkOvJlqaI4nr_HNT5oUmyeoc-pXc9Acz_xVTQN9KnjIyDvVJ5C61rSXziXujnpUhHlyKQ-ECIje0OJBfOE0Wy-3h0Y/s1600-h/48ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsjCTkqOwXKHDUwQYtEoxvVxTaGJTx28k-OOOa3HZW3I1zq8J-NkOvJlqaI4nr_HNT5oUmyeoc-pXc9Acz_xVTQN9KnjIyDvVJ5C61rSXziXujnpUhHlyKQ-ECIje0OJBfOE0Wy-3h0Y/s200/48ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365383179053707330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The festival grounds are absolutely beautiful! There are fountains and ponds, herb gardens and wildflowers everywhere. Not to mention, the natural beauty of the area. The festival is located just off the Blue ridge parkway, there are mountains and rolling hills surrounding the a festival grounds, woods to camp in and wild blackberries all along the trail to Global Village. Truly the best festival venue we've ever been to.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsRk005ZPu5ulCIA0ho5mVfbyABekkYildfbLlb7UV4CwDAMzW_EkFrGr0CVyU1ygGk1MzZnoNt6LXnUxiqezLaUdZb-T30TU2unNE2uyotF-UFuv9ZM9ns1rK1afbgNkAwAaXM-KmMw/s1600-h/10ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsRk005ZPu5ulCIA0ho5mVfbyABekkYildfbLlb7UV4CwDAMzW_EkFrGr0CVyU1ygGk1MzZnoNt6LXnUxiqezLaUdZb-T30TU2unNE2uyotF-UFuv9ZM9ns1rK1afbgNkAwAaXM-KmMw/s320/10ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365350509302441874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year there was a small petting zoo in the Children's Universe. There was a camel, llamas and donkey. We loved the camel, and Sage spent quite a bit of time petting it and chatting with it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFdsQUon-Zyjri1sqYYiPKd6XHVnVLOp9VBjePz03dJFnMxfnrtS5puRmmJIfX5TJJ_EssNhl99JTt1qUqmitaCN9_zlJLyAuC8MF5wtIC_Q1CZRSO3LQP0ieSZiqlQJFMr6kuWSBZOA/s1600-h/16ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFdsQUon-Zyjri1sqYYiPKd6XHVnVLOp9VBjePz03dJFnMxfnrtS5puRmmJIfX5TJJ_EssNhl99JTt1qUqmitaCN9_zlJLyAuC8MF5wtIC_Q1CZRSO3LQP0ieSZiqlQJFMr6kuWSBZOA/s320/16ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365350358191456162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of my favorite parts of the festival is the Children's parade. The dress up tent is opened up, and all the kids chose or create costumes. The adults hold flags, balloons, hola hoops and other props and we all march along the festival grounds.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt-0FE7vavYmFpdGmIa30y6JMVq3JLQzt0LZD8GlV_KvxUgzIPu-wsIlWToNH4lFJaeKswE7Ci89y8NwUsIK-WVhNsHjGxFgltXpoCsYfj2tgtw_Qme4QJ4jXw46VDHk4RclK9B0pTs8/s1600-h/19ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt-0FE7vavYmFpdGmIa30y6JMVq3JLQzt0LZD8GlV_KvxUgzIPu-wsIlWToNH4lFJaeKswE7Ci89y8NwUsIK-WVhNsHjGxFgltXpoCsYfj2tgtw_Qme4QJ4jXw46VDHk4RclK9B0pTs8/s320/19ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365350127619789746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year, right before the parade the sky opened up and the rain poured down! It was brief, but intense with thunder and lightening. We all huddled under the tent at the Kids stage waiting for it to pass. As soon as it ended a huge rainbow broke out over the Main stage.<br /><br />The kids parade began, and we enjoyed the music of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/donnathebuffalo">Donna the Buffalo</a> while the parade marched on.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGV-SjJ4TXn84yluPhRPVYy2hFhmSkAx15iZWZtPHduJScBfQL4T5U1_9TJsKPoASaI1Zbpic2sA5cTDQevUzEzrxpeXi12zdg-b87ajFUcSYm3Y19b99Ayc6x8jRMWKHVKfgIJFZepE/s1600-h/22ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGV-SjJ4TXn84yluPhRPVYy2hFhmSkAx15iZWZtPHduJScBfQL4T5U1_9TJsKPoASaI1Zbpic2sA5cTDQevUzEzrxpeXi12zdg-b87ajFUcSYm3Y19b99Ayc6x8jRMWKHVKfgIJFZepE/s320/22ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365349964876054466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ2wUUGWAIz-IkuUJjknkoIOCpkmGHw1hh9KsGyleRI3nMrJw8W5SL4iklKU8_wL3oyyb2XnLVEnGJ6ABv3yKmJGS10LwVL6lvwOwV7MVogKbMpEK_DqHJLb5LiTtuW4SK3iK1YzyY_c/s1600-h/8ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ2wUUGWAIz-IkuUJjknkoIOCpkmGHw1hh9KsGyleRI3nMrJw8W5SL4iklKU8_wL3oyyb2XnLVEnGJ6ABv3yKmJGS10LwVL6lvwOwV7MVogKbMpEK_DqHJLb5LiTtuW4SK3iK1YzyY_c/s320/8ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363856656189197026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids universe offered all kinds of fun activities for the kids. The have a swing set, and giant wooden ship play structure. A large covered sandbox area, arts and crafts workshops, the dress up tent and the stage area with all kinds of workshops.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR_PLShZbUr7pJlEujq1vrF60_LQ35Z7IYN0F62Xa191ItW3Iv8dHrdRzJy5krwtTL06X_-p3NSRZLsktLhuCMb2OEylNeh0fwrcOJzvNsOfaOKdI2OdznAsw33I9Z1supp076lLBXtc/s1600-h/6ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR_PLShZbUr7pJlEujq1vrF60_LQ35Z7IYN0F62Xa191ItW3Iv8dHrdRzJy5krwtTL06X_-p3NSRZLsktLhuCMb2OEylNeh0fwrcOJzvNsOfaOKdI2OdznAsw33I9Z1supp076lLBXtc/s200/6ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365373837535247810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVUrQWRHFtikt8YrhIXftG6eDXZ6gL9O2Z_XIVanqsr51_rbMQqwCcvMvseykTB2EDF9o3YarUn7rgDQmhuYy0oBYINfOZDzFQK6SneSaLKq-Nabrp0JZNSfzCewHaSQBKwd_rNgnLFQ/s1600-h/52ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVUrQWRHFtikt8YrhIXftG6eDXZ6gL9O2Z_XIVanqsr51_rbMQqwCcvMvseykTB2EDF9o3YarUn7rgDQmhuYy0oBYINfOZDzFQK6SneSaLKq-Nabrp0JZNSfzCewHaSQBKwd_rNgnLFQ/s200/52ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365373510491809730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sequoia really enjoyed the jugglers workshop, and Tai Quan Do workshop. The instructor was really good with the kids, he taught them a punch technique and then each child got to break a board a half with their punch. Sequoia was very pleased with himself, he broke the board on his first chop.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXaVdriy7bODbP_9SfQQdmr3Y2RJM2Z3qLPcI_Wtsj5yhGBsmp-V6rPaw-SjxZpx9poTLlIUcp9xzVLp-mKR_Kq5219X0NjXOLKq5Fxs140ZxN0oTinLscEYy0Tzzn9AhYEXcoIrlGks/s1600-h/1ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXaVdriy7bODbP_9SfQQdmr3Y2RJM2Z3qLPcI_Wtsj5yhGBsmp-V6rPaw-SjxZpx9poTLlIUcp9xzVLp-mKR_Kq5219X0NjXOLKq5Fxs140ZxN0oTinLscEYy0Tzzn9AhYEXcoIrlGks/s200/1ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365371959422835922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUUjhRwlHyeAvDdqLSuxEvDkm0xqoUPwtBy1Fm6VWn1YnEGas4M7FjYWPmKmm3r-1R0j0Pw2gcJCA1_u4hvvJY6Glnr9GVwNVinjw51dU4KouU4l4aCip7cA906RrLPmO6YdJWKusdZ8/s1600-h/17ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUUjhRwlHyeAvDdqLSuxEvDkm0xqoUPwtBy1Fm6VWn1YnEGas4M7FjYWPmKmm3r-1R0j0Pw2gcJCA1_u4hvvJY6Glnr9GVwNVinjw51dU4KouU4l4aCip7cA906RrLPmO6YdJWKusdZ8/s200/17ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365372146601987154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdM5uCpDbR8f7zjAR1beQb9E-y_rNCI6vGiLvhxUhspGnIuWWgcSQ_e6Dy9SLlLUrKqxY_6tmpU36Cf9_nYfkHHm6DdQmMfZOv9k1muICb6x8WLUgaGA-s0_TFpQR6JnT2pBf5udMv6s/s1600-h/43ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdM5uCpDbR8f7zjAR1beQb9E-y_rNCI6vGiLvhxUhspGnIuWWgcSQ_e6Dy9SLlLUrKqxY_6tmpU36Cf9_nYfkHHm6DdQmMfZOv9k1muICb6x8WLUgaGA-s0_TFpQR6JnT2pBf5udMv6s/s200/43ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365373023168450690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sage loved the dress up tent, and chose several extremely amusing outfits through out the weekend. You can see more of our weekend in our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=131745&id=608289408">Floydfest photo Album</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD7ot4affLePNlO2Tg84XOh1KcnpATngHYuDPCPGosWGZU3XfbwDKoeAjKnOkT_zB8CabKEU454cXoIf4Xvj2hi1J1IKlgqjn5sZvi2mjJKAbQ99TA_mqctdanIWPgLy-2no3X02LCI8/s1600-h/38ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD7ot4affLePNlO2Tg84XOh1KcnpATngHYuDPCPGosWGZU3XfbwDKoeAjKnOkT_zB8CabKEU454cXoIf4Xvj2hi1J1IKlgqjn5sZvi2mjJKAbQ99TA_mqctdanIWPgLy-2no3X02LCI8/s320/38ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363856270312819538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By the end of each evening the kids were wiped out!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7zsGMBZIShXzdqyjBH8oRuSCRodYs0W8axJ6edTZAMbP10rwMXWprAnNWrl5zMK2MRjr-XIwOVqQFeiCLvMePI_s38_KiMOFUu5-Q0C1kCr2kBSeleZo8vbBIeF0VrJnrNDo7s7M09U/s1600-h/70ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7zsGMBZIShXzdqyjBH8oRuSCRodYs0W8axJ6edTZAMbP10rwMXWprAnNWrl5zMK2MRjr-XIwOVqQFeiCLvMePI_s38_KiMOFUu5-Q0C1kCr2kBSeleZo8vbBIeF0VrJnrNDo7s7M09U/s320/70ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363856065768149874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div id="photocaption">Blues Traveler was the only band we actually sat through the whole set. The kids were passed out on our blanket, and we sat under the stars and enjoyed the music. It was awesome!<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj943ST09esuGG8MhXgnr1w_-hjNTAPiRkXCMzsbj-nYhIs0ZgGBtJ10ULtDKMkFA2z-b26EN1ZCBRbaWp0PNFvtflna7WYWXmcq_b0TjKxAHxdmht-bv-IY2ur84D0qpGBTta8FoW7tWM/s1600-h/7ff09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj943ST09esuGG8MhXgnr1w_-hjNTAPiRkXCMzsbj-nYhIs0ZgGBtJ10ULtDKMkFA2z-b26EN1ZCBRbaWp0PNFvtflna7WYWXmcq_b0TjKxAHxdmht-bv-IY2ur84D0qpGBTta8FoW7tWM/s320/7ff09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363855580624663746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Sunday afternoon, the sky suddenly turned black and it quite obvious something nasty was on it's way. We packed up the tent, and headed to the shuttles as quickly as possible, but didn't make it. The rain came down hard and we got completely drenched. We returned wet, exhausted, but happy.<br /><br />To see more Floydfest photos, and get a better feel for the entire festival (rather than <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> the Children's Universe) check out these amazing photos by <a href="http://richardfcox.smugmug.com/Music/843342">Richard Cox photography</a>. His pictures really seem to capture the beauty and energy of the festival.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-80319699610915799212009-07-20T08:23:00.003-04:002009-07-31T20:22:38.567-04:00Munching, crunching caterpillars.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Earlier this week, we took a walk up the road to go berry picking. However we came home with more than blackberries. We stopped to look at a patch of milkweed that was in full bloom, and Sequoia quickly spotted the first monarch caterpillar, and not long after that we spotted another. So we gathered them up and brought them home. In the wild only 1 out of every 10 monarch caterpillars survive to adulthood, because of the many predators and the lack of milkweed which is the monarch caterpillars only food source.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuvsUhXg-aiSAyV2CtDIMc0bw15ivDP3CG5Omnlk29P9-uqldZtp6I59_75BrW4Zr-MThItSZ04Mx4gqsxrzG_DUbPTE15lUGORBF_oSfglokkbsdkr-i2BnWQ_3qu0lB84ig9vGqzeI/s1600-h/monarch09j.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuvsUhXg-aiSAyV2CtDIMc0bw15ivDP3CG5Omnlk29P9-uqldZtp6I59_75BrW4Zr-MThItSZ04Mx4gqsxrzG_DUbPTE15lUGORBF_oSfglokkbsdkr-i2BnWQ_3qu0lB84ig9vGqzeI/s320/monarch09j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363864763104018754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We gather, raise and release these caterpillars almost every year. Last year was the first year we didn't, because the county mowers mowed down the entire patch of milkweed before we could find/collect the caterpillars. We gathered milkweed seeds and have helped to plant and spread them around the edge of our woods and yard.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip96ntGsoRUUmRT5vhQbFDwZjkMkKJ1Er1bJJJWjZOD0_JN16ba7VV4Rm7TPsp1yrBx0j5xp_u7xIPYm_wW5sayD9GenrWfiuulr_jXr-hGEWolY-Ap8tCUcip42MXdLfCoYHBfzPykGI/s1600-h/monarch09a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip96ntGsoRUUmRT5vhQbFDwZjkMkKJ1Er1bJJJWjZOD0_JN16ba7VV4Rm7TPsp1yrBx0j5xp_u7xIPYm_wW5sayD9GenrWfiuulr_jXr-hGEWolY-Ap8tCUcip42MXdLfCoYHBfzPykGI/s320/monarch09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860890555636194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We love watching the little caterpillers munch and crunch all day and night, until it is time to transform.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEAMehyphenhyphenUxnM2tCw82IRP-pXFuYIlqFV3gKmpcwI4r4Crm2glIPn_T_XIknxmdI59ArXM84iQV9ZeUCnhANX_u-zssi26yWHH90uB38E5XFqgCzBoxwN_grOim-Pp29K1f_v56MqSyPqY/s1600-h/monarch09b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEAMehyphenhyphenUxnM2tCw82IRP-pXFuYIlqFV3gKmpcwI4r4Crm2glIPn_T_XIknxmdI59ArXM84iQV9ZeUCnhANX_u-zssi26yWHH90uB38E5XFqgCzBoxwN_grOim-Pp29K1f_v56MqSyPqY/s320/monarch09b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860722299513474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This fat little caterpillar has chosen this spot to rest. He spins some silk around his back feet, to secure himself.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_osbnNPzEALAhQjMvWjH9iFUpQAnWSMg_ysb0GZp3a3C2ntyzEOgNB5blkC7DScOIE4sSuibTBNZwoujDBJfHJNer72hi_jL4cU6zT8_cqZ_jPtvWlleHkSUxgdG9OyjWUW821HcOQ/s1600-h/monarch09c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_osbnNPzEALAhQjMvWjH9iFUpQAnWSMg_ysb0GZp3a3C2ntyzEOgNB5blkC7DScOIE4sSuibTBNZwoujDBJfHJNer72hi_jL4cU6zT8_cqZ_jPtvWlleHkSUxgdG9OyjWUW821HcOQ/s320/monarch09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860564781534194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then he drops down into the familiar J shape. He remains still for many hours.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm20Coe30zQ7IWnRw2N8jUBVTdpp-0cUqhhbDJIiptBC2RuDDwAUUqKQIoyCSnLNSXtHNVbdDVmV9u4fIBb5MW34skoWiZXttfeZCkNhWAik09D_Twya9tlxLmtu0LmJsO9rdKTqPzHU/s1600-h/monarch09d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm20Coe30zQ7IWnRw2N8jUBVTdpp-0cUqhhbDJIiptBC2RuDDwAUUqKQIoyCSnLNSXtHNVbdDVmV9u4fIBb5MW34skoWiZXttfeZCkNhWAik09D_Twya9tlxLmtu0LmJsO9rdKTqPzHU/s320/monarch09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860239474687186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then he begins to puff up, and straighten out. He skin splits, and he begins to wiggle.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EKvT47lSL-nQP9O_7C8RQl7Tf9TYnsWm2YCFSShSFotd5bWDBXf1buMD41r5jXbWFkQofFXrGnDVMtFVWrS6E-FTYVmwot0XUr7vaj6-rz-x2HZrmZOVXD2b_cC5dyF1Q_p5P3fb-NM/s1600-h/monarch09e.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EKvT47lSL-nQP9O_7C8RQl7Tf9TYnsWm2YCFSShSFotd5bWDBXf1buMD41r5jXbWFkQofFXrGnDVMtFVWrS6E-FTYVmwot0XUr7vaj6-rz-x2HZrmZOVXD2b_cC5dyF1Q_p5P3fb-NM/s320/monarch09e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860027308584002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and wiggle.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JckwiJGC-gvy9Tt_gF-05kH3aT7wy2hmdcuyvlhU04F6c0KS4sSXyJotEiQwvvIsIjhWJVWfaqEGgyyY9K2uhZ-8FyRdcYadpCgnMKwNfNHK8Xs8gGI0TXThdZPRLqxCsPIUNz3N5nA/s1600-h/monarch09f.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JckwiJGC-gvy9Tt_gF-05kH3aT7wy2hmdcuyvlhU04F6c0KS4sSXyJotEiQwvvIsIjhWJVWfaqEGgyyY9K2uhZ-8FyRdcYadpCgnMKwNfNHK8Xs8gGI0TXThdZPRLqxCsPIUNz3N5nA/s320/monarch09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363859893850391378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and wiggle.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFwuiTHD5o5D6VboMr-ZvnZPnnTOSTnv0y5DuB35xU4_1a8vWLxnFqUKLgmptjtqc60b1jLG1p9xhRjyhDjXXDIa08afpaY0_wkEJDSnx5dUm_k9zIqLVAOAlR0_aRhFkWZxVQmcSBhk/s1600-h/monarch09g.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFwuiTHD5o5D6VboMr-ZvnZPnnTOSTnv0y5DuB35xU4_1a8vWLxnFqUKLgmptjtqc60b1jLG1p9xhRjyhDjXXDIa08afpaY0_wkEJDSnx5dUm_k9zIqLVAOAlR0_aRhFkWZxVQmcSBhk/s320/monarch09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363858816749547106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Until he has has completely shed his skin. Then he rests.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMQwcxtvdvQYs9Y2WIqvbVmM9Ef6Gz6cIwLVlZLhT5ycqzbbYCLlfci4GsC5FbtdGItoSNYMNRxgxaS6nbpgeJv1iJ0jXqwNlZAgxetKMFN-rDu3JlC2Xa-tM1Rk_qLgwJixo9vpEd5c/s1600-h/monarch09h.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMQwcxtvdvQYs9Y2WIqvbVmM9Ef6Gz6cIwLVlZLhT5ycqzbbYCLlfci4GsC5FbtdGItoSNYMNRxgxaS6nbpgeJv1iJ0jXqwNlZAgxetKMFN-rDu3JlC2Xa-tM1Rk_qLgwJixo9vpEd5c/s320/monarch09h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363858591576740498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this point he is still very soft, but over the next hour his skin will begin to harden.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97wSvZj4nYhAWUD4zGPYOdYeSL0WbKYgDT5OBTloksHu6LEUJIaUrIrGP8kQoTSNaATp1iPrZLrJou8S_MFwFYnxv46gCJY99SryqAKxp4hr3EY7zFRD9ifDVIo_oSa3tR0mUPMg5KHg/s1600-h/monarch09i.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97wSvZj4nYhAWUD4zGPYOdYeSL0WbKYgDT5OBTloksHu6LEUJIaUrIrGP8kQoTSNaATp1iPrZLrJou8S_MFwFYnxv46gCJY99SryqAKxp4hr3EY7zFRD9ifDVIo_oSa3tR0mUPMg5KHg/s320/monarch09i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363857385368851058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As the skin hardens and tightens, he begins to take on the familiar monarch chrysalis shape.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_IUDOZL0NNg0dvE-8vqx0zOEg1HwWazTfgzizu2KPuwzwfupf8pi18QGQI13T2HR5pVYue-t3xoVYumNTAUOqXxW3fu768_omZTE9L5h0VlZReicsMLJ09YY10r4EhrPj0cZN01sZ90/s1600-h/monarch09k.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_IUDOZL0NNg0dvE-8vqx0zOEg1HwWazTfgzizu2KPuwzwfupf8pi18QGQI13T2HR5pVYue-t3xoVYumNTAUOqXxW3fu768_omZTE9L5h0VlZReicsMLJ09YY10r4EhrPj0cZN01sZ90/s320/monarch09k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364781784585998050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the past our caterpillars have all shed their final skin during the night or early morning, and we've never witnessed the actual process. This was really amazing to watch, and both the kids were totally fascinated by it...and amused at the wiggling dance the caterpillar seemed to do in order to shed his skin completely. When it was over i printed up this <a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook/sketch_butterflies.html">coloring page </a>that shows the entire transformation. Although we raise caterpillars every year, it never ceases to amaze us or seem any less magical.<br /><br />We look forward to meeting these new butterflies when they finally emerge.<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-70230386513615287172009-07-13T08:55:00.003-04:002009-07-30T10:15:08.763-04:00Fairystone Park<div style="text-align: center;">During the summer we like to visit Fairy Stone Park<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>. It is just down the mountain from us in Patrick county.<br /> <span class="redbold"></span>Fairy Stone State Park is the largest of Virginia's six original state parks and is home to the mysterious Fairy Stones. Fairy stones are staurolite, a combination of silica, iron and aluminum. Staurolite crystallizes at 60 or 90 degree angles, giving the stone it's cross-like structure. Found only in rocks once subjected to great heat and pressure, the mineral was formed long, long ago, during the rise of the Appalachian Mountains. (info taken from the <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fai.shtml">Fairy stone website</a>.) You can read about the Fairystone legend at the state park website.<br /><br />We have never found a Fairy stone, but still enjoy swimming and hiking around the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXQ7Msw1VpgS9WnIjfmxDij_m3hiPrtHEmKmKtoGJWFfKz5DlM0h1LuuZuHoM97sgMoM0JqVXuTU_g-QhN1ahFuaD7hHDY74IuPrPWl5-TP1_me72ifxbbhfItGdkAJitDeQ605bkAbs/s1600-h/fstonepark09g.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXQ7Msw1VpgS9WnIjfmxDij_m3hiPrtHEmKmKtoGJWFfKz5DlM0h1LuuZuHoM97sgMoM0JqVXuTU_g-QhN1ahFuaD7hHDY74IuPrPWl5-TP1_me72ifxbbhfItGdkAJitDeQ605bkAbs/s320/fstonepark09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363877584678694242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I33AbXB6kLEAohzNqY_mWoZ7fL-gZW2xx6ZOyjiqbyuLahRl53AYC6YsubKgCZ-r7ygCdGugjm0EZur7k0BOJiUOhJR3PIyRARyBDNIb9cWel3GceqTgldLHGKb2DsJCEqABfzymWEI/s1600-h/fstonepark09f.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I33AbXB6kLEAohzNqY_mWoZ7fL-gZW2xx6ZOyjiqbyuLahRl53AYC6YsubKgCZ-r7ygCdGugjm0EZur7k0BOJiUOhJR3PIyRARyBDNIb9cWel3GceqTgldLHGKb2DsJCEqABfzymWEI/s200/fstonepark09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363877243170684418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ01VczGiBEjmUFt7-FeJoXkjQF0yNcGRJfetvn5e-Zdwv7WXHr2OWfGmw3_zQlmWmMndkyA59bG8_Ea2UdQ87FRXZwVGJqB438BscqpFpFWwFRu8JRtv9d_78dzvJN1Zw7SRhtj4qDVw/s1600-h/fstonepark09e.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ01VczGiBEjmUFt7-FeJoXkjQF0yNcGRJfetvn5e-Zdwv7WXHr2OWfGmw3_zQlmWmMndkyA59bG8_Ea2UdQ87FRXZwVGJqB438BscqpFpFWwFRu8JRtv9d_78dzvJN1Zw7SRhtj4qDVw/s200/fstonepark09e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363877326228593874" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The children swimming area is very shallow and has all kinds of fun toys to climb on. A giant frog, turtle, snake, beaver, logs and lily pads...a 'tree' fountain and a small 'log' water slide. Lots to keep the kids occupied, and lots of fun to be had. The beach in front of the swimming area is also full of fun things to climb on and play, although they tend to get really hot during the middle of the day.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRJOrItixbIodQqt3WxHosufJeN5QBpq3ug9tNUkyZWts0ybS1UAxkN1yIboUSRVq5yI0FymI2li9c-LiK5fQI_w59TC9y5TziR2ApNmvtgmXetSPRQkmZhhtN8SuzNL4uA9j2D61aYM/s1600-h/fstonepark09b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRJOrItixbIodQqt3WxHosufJeN5QBpq3ug9tNUkyZWts0ybS1UAxkN1yIboUSRVq5yI0FymI2li9c-LiK5fQI_w59TC9y5TziR2ApNmvtgmXetSPRQkmZhhtN8SuzNL4uA9j2D61aYM/s320/fstonepark09b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363876834371252850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year we took a break from swimming to take a paddle boat (the type you peddle) around the lake. They also offer canoe and kayak rentals, water bikes, fishing boats and more.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtWiiUrerzvcOLxCAV-TtpFh0ldN1AIXODOn9sjBQEJTlz8nEki_MyKzpm31pJNS9gtfaxk4hOYfkl-wQh3sGLmhBc-W2467Q90puK77bzuMTF9xuQA2tA5onxLvJ-22gE0CBi1AcE2g/s1600-h/fstonepark09d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtWiiUrerzvcOLxCAV-TtpFh0ldN1AIXODOn9sjBQEJTlz8nEki_MyKzpm31pJNS9gtfaxk4hOYfkl-wQh3sGLmhBc-W2467Q90puK77bzuMTF9xuQA2tA5onxLvJ-22gE0CBi1AcE2g/s320/fstonepark09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363876599827943186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's really a gorgeous area, and we enjoyed the paddle boat. We saw a couple turtles sunning themselves on a long, and there were several beautiful dragonflies dancing around us.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcBkLDLWnmWCxOVPYhMitZfrfQ7JAPCivGVwSkvmxKJBEvkaVsqxcCiOf6h3IVxdTQjdxxlJMYuWat4kDHd_xmiO7t9k5K_hxZ8GV9O8gtEbNeyOb56cBGibmZ9RSFtgnSIjG4GEqPxg/s1600-h/fstonepark09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcBkLDLWnmWCxOVPYhMitZfrfQ7JAPCivGVwSkvmxKJBEvkaVsqxcCiOf6h3IVxdTQjdxxlJMYuWat4kDHd_xmiO7t9k5K_hxZ8GV9O8gtEbNeyOb56cBGibmZ9RSFtgnSIjG4GEqPxg/s320/fstonepark09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363876733983796034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sequoia wanted to paddle, so i sat in the back with Sage.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPUzytHDYgLBPSmrsHoBED6mStqnc-S8WbwYEJBb_8nQ2YVUTlwCITXqlsEmd79kYno0n8ieAExhBkewyOs8uTb23iOd91K9Uhp7r2ziF5fhwzB1WQ5EDV9hj0cEVm2UlHQ7PvmOz-d0/s1600-h/fstonepark09h.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPUzytHDYgLBPSmrsHoBED6mStqnc-S8WbwYEJBb_8nQ2YVUTlwCITXqlsEmd79kYno0n8ieAExhBkewyOs8uTb23iOd91K9Uhp7r2ziF5fhwzB1WQ5EDV9hj0cEVm2UlHQ7PvmOz-d0/s320/fstonepark09h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363875836979517170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />i think Kenan did most of the paddling. :) It was really hot, and after our tour of the lake and dam, we were eager to get back into the water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9izNFnVEcIByKq_G8KYahlB0Gud2vo01L3NyB_Mz4xWfH-4iKK1DmZLsxrkkC9JgHq4pnDMuRiCRmoYpSDchNxyv84fQv6pZwjgNH3D0lcS182bhyK6I0P-cXO0qu0V-qOgKzUFDdPU/s1600-h/fstonepark09c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9izNFnVEcIByKq_G8KYahlB0Gud2vo01L3NyB_Mz4xWfH-4iKK1DmZLsxrkkC9JgHq4pnDMuRiCRmoYpSDchNxyv84fQv6pZwjgNH3D0lcS182bhyK6I0P-cXO0qu0V-qOgKzUFDdPU/s320/fstonepark09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363876956761437202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We always love coming here, and hope to make it back again before the summer is officially over.<br /><br /></div><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Add_Image" title="Add Image" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addImage();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);;ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Add Image" class="gl_photo" border="0" /></span></span>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-25356193538803792362009-07-12T11:58:00.001-04:002009-07-30T09:25:17.546-04:00Time to wake up, little swallowtail.<div style="text-align: center;"><br />When we watched our <a href="http://simplyenchantedlife.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-swallow-tail.html">caterpillar</a> turn into it's chrysalis a few weeks ago, we explained to Sage that it would need to sleep for a while then it would wake up a butterfly. For the last week or so, Sage has been talking to our swallowtail chrysalis, telling it it's time to wake up. 'Wake up little butterfly, wake up!'<br /><br />Yesterday morning when i glanced in at our chrysalis, i was surprised to see a butterfly! We completely missed watching it break out of the chrysalis.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrS97bcImxC4sq4nY5_CvVgaMfZOlbwjU4xl9oauaCFuzjmEnVk3W2tTXDtPDYTq1g1VDwndgfjGrMjebwIdh3Zz6_R_brGNn-l1JEyaGPo0TXTlEhmasGb4871k3dNuImhaQu4PyPZ0/s1600-h/stail09g.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrS97bcImxC4sq4nY5_CvVgaMfZOlbwjU4xl9oauaCFuzjmEnVk3W2tTXDtPDYTq1g1VDwndgfjGrMjebwIdh3Zz6_R_brGNn-l1JEyaGPo0TXTlEhmasGb4871k3dNuImhaQu4PyPZ0/s320/stail09g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358350695898343026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2uSUq0j4TAqz9fwfXwUiquwpsADUtbm3BR4tdhyphenhyphenRQV0cEam-FNJyTcFOvjbMsH5tJw-pe_bGLwt67_CFHj1HIDr7H_xO1AlFvN1tuqH3Y1QM8p0kNLZMECk_jKgA2zVzsDiZb1ie-ro/s1600-h/stail09f.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2uSUq0j4TAqz9fwfXwUiquwpsADUtbm3BR4tdhyphenhyphenRQV0cEam-FNJyTcFOvjbMsH5tJw-pe_bGLwt67_CFHj1HIDr7H_xO1AlFvN1tuqH3Y1QM8p0kNLZMECk_jKgA2zVzsDiZb1ie-ro/s320/stail09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358347412917744338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was already out and drying his wings.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO676TlHP3qUSl2R-t1Gs8KI2P3yas7o-8ZCY3WAHgGnF3b6rE1GjTTIKdLn77JrtR9jt4erghKlV1-sizaHVJRH5kmpszNdQnPO1yQBCNwpJ7cUv4Tr9wgcTjJFeu2J37FyNCwQ89Kk/s1600-h/stail09d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO676TlHP3qUSl2R-t1Gs8KI2P3yas7o-8ZCY3WAHgGnF3b6rE1GjTTIKdLn77JrtR9jt4erghKlV1-sizaHVJRH5kmpszNdQnPO1yQBCNwpJ7cUv4Tr9wgcTjJFeu2J37FyNCwQ89Kk/s320/stail09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358347158711035106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, we took him outside to release him.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxUKrNBdNu2oCSPVUSALWOgeC_rHC39ucTteMlLixQiT15UIvkZ6BHOpYtX7JvUvXMRLmOalSISBxZvAlV6Lumr7oDRkQoSRZm3zATPhpFwV_cy7D2NEhji7ZeShthmH45wnOrmCQqCI/s1600-h/stail09a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxUKrNBdNu2oCSPVUSALWOgeC_rHC39ucTteMlLixQiT15UIvkZ6BHOpYtX7JvUvXMRLmOalSISBxZvAlV6Lumr7oDRkQoSRZm3zATPhpFwV_cy7D2NEhji7ZeShthmH45wnOrmCQqCI/s320/stail09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358346302689304322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He seemed quite fond of Sage, she liked him too.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzRfj47dQ-CzqLfqkQdINdWp0KBuVKmIwecDBSA3XYwidr93ncrXjcWhAE1OhpkqedIkud7X59mdaaMEMxNglKghsxZT4brf-TdCB23Wtdnx2WnrWlxPvVTIR4YPWVRH3_Snk2aGWIps/s1600-h/stail09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzRfj47dQ-CzqLfqkQdINdWp0KBuVKmIwecDBSA3XYwidr93ncrXjcWhAE1OhpkqedIkud7X59mdaaMEMxNglKghsxZT4brf-TdCB23Wtdnx2WnrWlxPvVTIR4YPWVRH3_Snk2aGWIps/s320/stail09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358346133136265954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our beautiful swallowtail enjoying his first nectar feast among our flowers. He stuck around quite awhile hopping from flower to flower.<br /><br />Good bye little butterfly!<br /><br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-52395129029596962742009-07-05T19:17:00.001-04:002009-07-14T11:57:44.957-04:00Floyd Fandango<div style="text-align: center;">Summer is such a fun and busy time for us, i just can't keep up with this blog. So again, i am trying to play catch up, with a few back posts.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7nBpl8-1UuvmbeW2MAwreVEGzSzRSW7mWHl90Eb5tU-oj2QB5ZPyt4RL7fTN72w71BiiI0kR26LwQ50vsHxLHRuIv1fN9OMqmgjbYqo6g0dZNxpaujCzq4TyjO-o2QqTUXv9ZpuQ62M/s1600-h/fandango09l.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7nBpl8-1UuvmbeW2MAwreVEGzSzRSW7mWHl90Eb5tU-oj2QB5ZPyt4RL7fTN72w71BiiI0kR26LwQ50vsHxLHRuIv1fN9OMqmgjbYqo6g0dZNxpaujCzq4TyjO-o2QqTUXv9ZpuQ62M/s320/fandango09l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236107791467298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fourth of July Weekend was spent at the <a href="http://www.atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=fand_home">Floyd Fandango Beer and Wine festival</a>. This is a local event, located at the same beautiful grounds as the <a href="http://www.atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=ffhome">Floydfest. </a> We were given weekend passes for volunteering a few hours time helping to park cars for Sequoia's School PTA.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmVv6vS-udzput-_RD6o1n9nbrn3bQlKSDEql6-3U1Cf8YuF3srNyrmw_nZ0tTYpsMhRHi-ZU9LTVGvUh0UTPpMdrtRqHj-WAoLEtvSYyc8uFKm7iKPBpXfUs9cS8qS_9NjUdU9BrLos/s1600-h/fandango09h.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmVv6vS-udzput-_RD6o1n9nbrn3bQlKSDEql6-3U1Cf8YuF3srNyrmw_nZ0tTYpsMhRHi-ZU9LTVGvUh0UTPpMdrtRqHj-WAoLEtvSYyc8uFKm7iKPBpXfUs9cS8qS_9NjUdU9BrLos/s320/fandango09h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236297143551362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Most of our time was spent here, at the Children's Universe. They had a nice area for the kids, with swing sets, a wooden ship play structure and large covered sandbox. The area was fenced in, so the parents could kick back and enjoy the music, while the kids played. We got to sample some beer and wine from the local breweries and wineries, and also enjoyed a Dogtown pizza made from local organic ingredients cooked on a traveling woodfired oven. Yum!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k8FMIxq3WgOda4zcl9OokA87lqVTzNn4lEH_UmjMAv6TRCinI1Az_qYMRCm17GZZXmWL8ZQOlZqBnvj3a1Gz7TwD2NFPEMD7FHg04vtJ11XaIlq3vwn_vJ42flcMYqnbYQzvKH4fdP4/s1600-h/fandango09a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k8FMIxq3WgOda4zcl9OokA87lqVTzNn4lEH_UmjMAv6TRCinI1Az_qYMRCm17GZZXmWL8ZQOlZqBnvj3a1Gz7TwD2NFPEMD7FHg04vtJ11XaIlq3vwn_vJ42flcMYqnbYQzvKH4fdP4/s320/fandango09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234979026862850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids played.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gEHwLFgfSLsUJJaZGZzqCARjoGPgyzxNyd_VmRIiX_OlwDWW9cmX6qZ8VVWqLV89CAGe576StQQOm9U9VTfVOCofSuCGgRGB853iv4Sxe1MJZ68u4tMTw8Ly8_hwwRcvboiaxzOjyGA/s1600-h/fandango09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gEHwLFgfSLsUJJaZGZzqCARjoGPgyzxNyd_VmRIiX_OlwDWW9cmX6qZ8VVWqLV89CAGe576StQQOm9U9VTfVOCofSuCGgRGB853iv4Sxe1MJZ68u4tMTw8Ly8_hwwRcvboiaxzOjyGA/s320/fandango09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234878882281346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and played.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG2_BCdUJ9ubcbmDdiqerB2GigBFnVISSyqTDrxCrOyaKEyaoKkSD0lW8icKRwng39tAfro_bljwbKgXrc3WgZhplcfVfhRlUVANGn1xSCvwp9-L5Eb8ounR3tWcAoV91ACLq0YSJDlI/s1600-h/fandango09i.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG2_BCdUJ9ubcbmDdiqerB2GigBFnVISSyqTDrxCrOyaKEyaoKkSD0lW8icKRwng39tAfro_bljwbKgXrc3WgZhplcfVfhRlUVANGn1xSCvwp9-L5Eb8ounR3tWcAoV91ACLq0YSJDlI/s320/fandango09i.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234607264300994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We brought bubbles and extra wands, which are always a big hit!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq69U70fZBy3Wwm1ujNMaChDRb60YQ06PaoTQ138s9v0ATSX8yt_w3TBdGYUEqLdoXU291wZIxNGu1IlXix1L1eJKfJzPffMitj8ybNVoTqRoJXUQRauHLp_LyFbG0SbKaIjyXUtuyN6k/s1600-h/fandango09d.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq69U70fZBy3Wwm1ujNMaChDRb60YQ06PaoTQ138s9v0ATSX8yt_w3TBdGYUEqLdoXU291wZIxNGu1IlXix1L1eJKfJzPffMitj8ybNVoTqRoJXUQRauHLp_LyFbG0SbKaIjyXUtuyN6k/s320/fandango09d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235176045154994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sage loved the music, and stopped to shake her booty every now and again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM0iiJB-8P8rljGBs6LhBDCzRER6wGmtusktbg2cZl9zGaQfYNFQSDLleo8LhFXnqAtGtmx6TRbnHiBMWwtLnfRqJfWm3FEecD0WbsyRpNqC2jH5JU1oyPaEgU2yMFeIm12x-R5jdJM8/s1600-h/fandango09c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM0iiJB-8P8rljGBs6LhBDCzRER6wGmtusktbg2cZl9zGaQfYNFQSDLleo8LhFXnqAtGtmx6TRbnHiBMWwtLnfRqJfWm3FEecD0WbsyRpNqC2jH5JU1oyPaEgU2yMFeIm12x-R5jdJM8/s320/fandango09c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234435873248690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids couldn't resist rolling down this big grassy hill near the second stage. There lots of space for just running around and enjoying the atmosphere of the festival.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGW2QinuZdrWgaYe1sXALg6y-rTZbIcev1VGC9IYUqXUEOZxHvaxUN_2-Nj1LLV6L7QR9bTKnfl5HoSW1YOVqlArdeFGaNSfS6UjBkbWYOrhglQTjx5y834T8kvjBwMrXVp33iCEva10/s1600-h/fandango09f.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGW2QinuZdrWgaYe1sXALg6y-rTZbIcev1VGC9IYUqXUEOZxHvaxUN_2-Nj1LLV6L7QR9bTKnfl5HoSW1YOVqlArdeFGaNSfS6UjBkbWYOrhglQTjx5y834T8kvjBwMrXVp33iCEva10/s320/fandango09f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356233972441378066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After leaving Fandango, we headed into Floyd to watch the fireworks at the annual 4th of July town celebration. It is your classic small town community celebration, sitting out on blankets at the high school grounds. Live music (provided by the local churches), food venders, face painting, games for the kids and of course fireworks.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-62823195860711297102009-06-30T10:34:00.003-04:002009-07-14T14:02:51.244-04:00End of June<div style="text-align: center;">Just a few pictures taken near the end of June.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkRno6wRyUrNaQQ_PJsGLveuLHiOK8-S_OW7-vk1V4vMkc_Rwbd0BDqEXokLlmwZ9ugm2FaEWoEzMGl9qmXMeyMojMlySYwOnLj51rVe-e-LOEZsEbVxsQ3XGtiRRGHqZiahhEOwx_KA/s1600-h/color1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkRno6wRyUrNaQQ_PJsGLveuLHiOK8-S_OW7-vk1V4vMkc_Rwbd0BDqEXokLlmwZ9ugm2FaEWoEzMGl9qmXMeyMojMlySYwOnLj51rVe-e-LOEZsEbVxsQ3XGtiRRGHqZiahhEOwx_KA/s320/color1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355355819252489298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We have been harvesting a ton from the garden. Beans and squash are just now coming in. Lettuce and peas are on their way out. My deep freezer is already filling up with our spring and early summer bounty.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZdW43mKcZouXYvfheqpWh4T4GX_1_mIQJSd-mLyUv3m0FONNmVjkzhqzdR21_b7ryAURCmxVBTc_E2p70igUb3NYfaIFH3YeYh2M4kOZzSwucBRLug-5oMZ9Aayyr31nw05K3sz7Fw/s1600-h/color09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZdW43mKcZouXYvfheqpWh4T4GX_1_mIQJSd-mLyUv3m0FONNmVjkzhqzdR21_b7ryAURCmxVBTc_E2p70igUb3NYfaIFH3YeYh2M4kOZzSwucBRLug-5oMZ9Aayyr31nw05K3sz7Fw/s320/color09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358341922715218322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />i'm loving the color of the Purple Derby beans. They are the deepest eggplant purple. We also planted yellow wax beans and regular green beans. i love lots of color on the dinner plate.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUIooOcWenLJm_mU7zglTDdlH6FMU5yTUOgj7t3QPLB12HSwryubQQsa3BukMlotrUc3t8rPtVQUgxB28khmRwkEu2ZVCLrLFHwl2vhQhGQnhMNbDKliHJxefFtA9eraFPsw2rPGUNI0/s1600-h/harvest6-27-09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUIooOcWenLJm_mU7zglTDdlH6FMU5yTUOgj7t3QPLB12HSwryubQQsa3BukMlotrUc3t8rPtVQUgxB28khmRwkEu2ZVCLrLFHwl2vhQhGQnhMNbDKliHJxefFtA9eraFPsw2rPGUNI0/s320/harvest6-27-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356435547685336034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Blueberries and raspberries are here. The kids raid the bushes every time we step out the door. i've been freezing as many as i can. Sugar snaps are also a favorite. Sweet fresh peas with crunchy edible pods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o_nhg0k-FRWujKtfQFJT9s272X2TcbYBdiCmy_9ecMQtxBlNFqbyAg35oTHysZe_x3yH_nx2rsy-JXbDVryWbjEVjzhB95Q3mpkmXnT8dja0RbbB1cXPrko-L2kGDJ63tSi8jQwzXLU/s1600-h/sugarsnaps.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o_nhg0k-FRWujKtfQFJT9s272X2TcbYBdiCmy_9ecMQtxBlNFqbyAg35oTHysZe_x3yH_nx2rsy-JXbDVryWbjEVjzhB95Q3mpkmXnT8dja0RbbB1cXPrko-L2kGDJ63tSi8jQwzXLU/s320/sugarsnaps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356435172910844338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sage loves the sugar snaps fresh, and loves to help in the garden. We blanch these and freeze them, then enjoy them all winter in stir frys or lightly sauted in olive oil with garlic and a dash of tamari. Around the first week of July i'll pull all the sugar snaps and put in a second planting of green beans, then plant peas again in the fall.<br />July is just begining and i'm already planning out my fall garden. :)<br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-657486904391458462009-06-29T09:26:00.000-04:002009-07-01T11:52:01.170-04:00Late night visitor.<div style="text-align: center;">Last night, i went to close the front door and i found this huge <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antheraea_polyphemus">Polyphemus moth </a>hanging out on the glass. Moths use the moon to guide them, and sometimes get confused by porch lights/street lights. So i called the kids over and when we opened the door to get a better look it came right in!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0hWsZOXgeui2vNAmulklozZ4Xp-KyDPGJNTIne04dtwG6yBpSVB27HMFSj3frIFTu77NL5gFmG6yZEzdEYpeCTVdOaqaYBmVTrQ7bvPJ_JR2-__nHSaVu-VaEDCkkRBjr9SbA5A5wE4/s1600-h/giantmoth3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0hWsZOXgeui2vNAmulklozZ4Xp-KyDPGJNTIne04dtwG6yBpSVB27HMFSj3frIFTu77NL5gFmG6yZEzdEYpeCTVdOaqaYBmVTrQ7bvPJ_JR2-__nHSaVu-VaEDCkkRBjr9SbA5A5wE4/s320/giantmoth3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353484084825388818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT8y3xZrxMqm5W6aFdlP0xVgCW0YvD0mong2cLAOvQXWLkO72kt3SPVufl-CVeTqKgNc63c1XyQPosJxxOejYLWB0RMI6vHAmZpJOOoyPHPlRlgGTkjokkob0vgeIbr18yXyqdL2nHuk/s1600-h/giantmoth2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT8y3xZrxMqm5W6aFdlP0xVgCW0YvD0mong2cLAOvQXWLkO72kt3SPVufl-CVeTqKgNc63c1XyQPosJxxOejYLWB0RMI6vHAmZpJOOoyPHPlRlgGTkjokkob0vgeIbr18yXyqdL2nHuk/s320/giantmoth2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353483967012136242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These things are amazing with a wingspan of almost 6 inches! They fly really slow and this guy kept landing on us. he had a really furry body and tickled as he walked up our arms.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ731IzpN84DHEsXDfLszM_dJSwIU1X7Lyoik49StkMHhwSUgUW-DJb8onq6ftLqwh5fiD84e81zyO2OGfIahnMsHSlrTyqsvtoHhs4nQGkbCp4l4wAFBinP0Y4CWeq8LBZjS4ujLJ8EY/s1600-h/giantmoth4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ731IzpN84DHEsXDfLszM_dJSwIU1X7Lyoik49StkMHhwSUgUW-DJb8onq6ftLqwh5fiD84e81zyO2OGfIahnMsHSlrTyqsvtoHhs4nQGkbCp4l4wAFBinP0Y4CWeq8LBZjS4ujLJ8EY/s320/giantmoth4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353483830484627522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sequoia was a bit hesitant to hold it, but eventually did. Sage absolutely adored it and didn't want to let it go.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhxUHQG-n5Hm1ES2o50FdOnFDqnG9jjaTglIyRkiEDpk27xlPy10rrJEX8hYX5F5tz_nwyoo06EWkIW4cuu9GYzCzzZtB9QU4FgCq7SdjLkupPU6uNTQpB27klRQfD9XO-srZPaILsEc/s1600-h/giantmoth.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhxUHQG-n5Hm1ES2o50FdOnFDqnG9jjaTglIyRkiEDpk27xlPy10rrJEX8hYX5F5tz_nwyoo06EWkIW4cuu9GYzCzzZtB9QU4FgCq7SdjLkupPU6uNTQpB27klRQfD9XO-srZPaILsEc/s320/giantmoth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353483683899691298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These guys are most recognizable by their huge purple eye spots. They get their name from the Greek myth of the Cyclops <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus" title="Polyphemus">Polyphemus</a>.<br /><br />After a few minutes of dancing with it around the house, it was time to say goodbye. So we opened up the door and sent him on his way. i turned off the porch light, so he wouldn't be confused again and could go back to following the moon.<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-34514875298467935102009-06-21T10:16:00.012-04:002009-07-01T11:52:45.128-04:00WV trip, Solstice baby.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend June 20-21, was a busy one for us. On Sat. we headed up to the West Virginia/Ohio border (5 1/2 hour drive) for a family reunion. The weather was perfect for it. We hung out with family, filled up on delicious food, played bingo, socialized and spent lots of time outside on the playground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dsImmorN3X4pOpv3uUGfUGOrzfHHO2W8HAeIfZnHHA5U20cSH9x4LukrBdfcD6eQM0BfsnWbSixH6j0O1_W4F7GyR97FCA3YLiGQjb1fpocXZOxE00aZwn-vb95lEzOhUCQkj0OXvgM/s1600-h/reunion09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dsImmorN3X4pOpv3uUGfUGOrzfHHO2W8HAeIfZnHHA5U20cSH9x4LukrBdfcD6eQM0BfsnWbSixH6j0O1_W4F7GyR97FCA3YLiGQjb1fpocXZOxE00aZwn-vb95lEzOhUCQkj0OXvgM/s320/reunion09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353507696995715426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids were thrilled to spend some time with Nana and Pap and Auntie Kris, as well as getting to see some Great Aunts & Uncles, and second & third cousins that we only get to see once a year.<br /><br />Sunday, June 21st was a pretty special day for us. It marked the Summer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice">Solstice</a>, the first day of summer. This year it also happened to be Father's day and Sage's third Birthday. We found a lovely park and celebrated together.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qJtXeSRImas66B6F1UPTPX0YTtx1br3U154D2c0y7PGoKyW-ol19D0CR9JXbJ-YTi7gWSa4GpmZOQsBbOxDym5EvgJpSS1mPpmJNMu5y8o5H3dVfrGBHHBL261NadagsgMtbuFS1ecQ/s1600-h/3bdaya.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qJtXeSRImas66B6F1UPTPX0YTtx1br3U154D2c0y7PGoKyW-ol19D0CR9JXbJ-YTi7gWSa4GpmZOQsBbOxDym5EvgJpSS1mPpmJNMu5y8o5H3dVfrGBHHBL261NadagsgMtbuFS1ecQ/s320/3bdaya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352754020582613234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My little Sage was my spring baby, with a mind of her own. She waited 5 days past her due date to be born, not in the spring, but instead on the first day of Summer.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiBt1RD1eq8tJOGivEaZ16T72grsshnvQx-rbdzTdmSrdFi18sDN1PPPY1DGMkGBOqLwz0_X6d5NYF3qpA4LG9Rjz2K6YyNwHtqS_aZpdvgJI2zDDHQqGLsjX-LN8dyeaH2kk7wCTS34/s1600-h/3bday4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiBt1RD1eq8tJOGivEaZ16T72grsshnvQx-rbdzTdmSrdFi18sDN1PPPY1DGMkGBOqLwz0_X6d5NYF3qpA4LG9Rjz2K6YyNwHtqS_aZpdvgJI2zDDHQqGLsjX-LN8dyeaH2kk7wCTS34/s320/3bday4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353515312458602546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sage with her Nana .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ4Q94U5phJJRPuNoWUDOX0Bwzi_RoYGxOdWNjcYcJyyHjFVFeBiJDI6np3nfYUj2VUkmWP-TcrjPJTnJpoRWZaNb4mGJohWEg784UjRUP2sJM64vSGGEvfP7zIJUlF2TvamcC1NVmyg/s1600-h/3bday5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ4Q94U5phJJRPuNoWUDOX0Bwzi_RoYGxOdWNjcYcJyyHjFVFeBiJDI6np3nfYUj2VUkmWP-TcrjPJTnJpoRWZaNb4mGJohWEg784UjRUP2sJM64vSGGEvfP7zIJUlF2TvamcC1NVmyg/s320/3bday5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353515854002316162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Getting a kiss from her second cousin. They are only a few months apart, and played well together. Sage was thrilled to have so much family at her 'party'. We enjoyed cupcakes, and the kids played on the playground and fed ducks at the pond.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIwuJmMBAtNRTQHxk6iUABSL7IoCgwcmpJaxQRplcpMB_81fBlzoOQsJemetzUEqD50nOxHahHOUnK-zGYj0CGqjZMSLowNeaPKbWU_sxjTXnPGCqVDGbPGVHVfpJNv6i_p3IX1Uxpw4/s1600-h/3bday.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIwuJmMBAtNRTQHxk6iUABSL7IoCgwcmpJaxQRplcpMB_81fBlzoOQsJemetzUEqD50nOxHahHOUnK-zGYj0CGqjZMSLowNeaPKbWU_sxjTXnPGCqVDGbPGVHVfpJNv6i_p3IX1Uxpw4/s320/3bday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352753860823739874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy 3rd Birthday little princess!<br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3974266631012696249.post-8812239421152296652009-06-19T09:36:00.001-04:002009-06-30T15:42:30.018-04:00The Hungry Little Caterpillar<div style="text-align: center;"> Almost every summer for he last 5 or 6 years we've collected monarch caterpillars, and brought them inside to raise and release. It helps the monarchs by providing a safe, predator free environment, and is a fun way to teach the kids about the life cycle of a butterfly. Last summer was the first in many years that we did not find any monarch caterpillars. Just about the time we had begun to go out looking for caterpillars, the county mowers came through and mowed down all the milkweed! Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed, so without it....no caterpillars. We are hoping to find some this year, and rescue them, before the mowers come.<br /><br />Early this week, i was out in the garden checking my carrots and i found two black swallowtail caterpillars munching on my carrot greens. i have never raised them inside, so we decided to leave them where they were, and check on them regularly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDs8J2h8W-gk64c-lDUr1u4fdPRv7ygxWOJPFwoa9L-0lRhgWASxs1VRhRTMhRGjdKkRtM1UprrBkC4iB4bXFSGmXa64I_pvel0vNEp4H_aJaQ263bnxiN7M68MVhXMQMQspOmIOXp1mU/s1600-h/stcat1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDs8J2h8W-gk64c-lDUr1u4fdPRv7ygxWOJPFwoa9L-0lRhgWASxs1VRhRTMhRGjdKkRtM1UprrBkC4iB4bXFSGmXa64I_pvel0vNEp4H_aJaQ263bnxiN7M68MVhXMQMQspOmIOXp1mU/s320/stcat1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352744398705026994" border="0" /></a><br /> Yesterday when i went out to check them they were gone.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_cavg0y3hAn3jcH8u5RGxIldXfNQnGZMl11zjfNZLKdwntibkf4R6-h_y-cZDf-olixgZWXUdYJUHrM7EllpsMHvlMnA2WVIZDMZvxZeeH2EsiryORr-o_9ijso_hjNzw49ht13q0nk/s1600-h/stailcat4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_cavg0y3hAn3jcH8u5RGxIldXfNQnGZMl11zjfNZLKdwntibkf4R6-h_y-cZDf-olixgZWXUdYJUHrM7EllpsMHvlMnA2WVIZDMZvxZeeH2EsiryORr-o_9ijso_hjNzw49ht13q0nk/s320/stailcat4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352744271840571170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not long after that, Kenan found one crawling across the deck. i knew that having left his food source, he was probably getting ready to pupate. So we brought him inside.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVQgtuhS_mU3LnkCjOh8oUurOFrbPmCjAu1sS_OBknJWAEuGlokSE_mSjItwaEFWC1yuCdjEmuWhILJIcpfSH8TyzMH0JhFvOPbL7S6uOKIAEbN-msnllXe46Wnrd_ACiH2xW9tDVI0/s1600-h/stailcat3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVQgtuhS_mU3LnkCjOh8oUurOFrbPmCjAu1sS_OBknJWAEuGlokSE_mSjItwaEFWC1yuCdjEmuWhILJIcpfSH8TyzMH0JhFvOPbL7S6uOKIAEbN-msnllXe46Wnrd_ACiH2xW9tDVI0/s320/stailcat3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352743503038223826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids were fascinated watching him crawl around the sticks and plants trying to find a perfect spot. Sage was too little to remember raising monarchs, so this was quite new to her.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9eZZltR4euwRoLcIdnT8drqRzZtg_0UZUOR-1QfabEoU8ASQLV4ErYq_PduFWUbkDxBh_m-1oA7_B7gUK8WsiSkjvvesAvZsCVQZlHPppo5rgXrUFtA9CXT99tPecydrtE1fdW-jjKg/s1600-h/stailcat2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9eZZltR4euwRoLcIdnT8drqRzZtg_0UZUOR-1QfabEoU8ASQLV4ErYq_PduFWUbkDxBh_m-1oA7_B7gUK8WsiSkjvvesAvZsCVQZlHPppo5rgXrUFtA9CXT99tPecydrtE1fdW-jjKg/s320/stailcat2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352743375941263666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He spent several hours hanging out on this stick, then eventually his legs pulled away from the branch so he was suspended. If you look closely you can see the silk holding his feet in place, he also created a silken sling to support his body.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyEC6goRDJBON98lfFGj1aXkjUs975ZtwDAvwX2p8NRtxltffuZz9m-fDXU3LBVh0w4o5InP-QzYQCap0qFBJZUUdkGvHMqJ0gpg_Zg8MGutdAH_Wg5KZL1MOdOpsJm923EhhHZgWI2E/s1600-h/stailcat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyEC6goRDJBON98lfFGj1aXkjUs975ZtwDAvwX2p8NRtxltffuZz9m-fDXU3LBVh0w4o5InP-QzYQCap0qFBJZUUdkGvHMqJ0gpg_Zg8MGutdAH_Wg5KZL1MOdOpsJm923EhhHZgWI2E/s320/stailcat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352743220779522274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> We hoped to witness the formation of the chrysalis, in which he actually sheds his skin. However, he decided to wait until we were sleeping, so we woke up to find him in this form. He'll stay snug in his chrysalis for 9-12 days, then hopefully we'll get to witness him emerging as a butterfly. It is always magical, no matter how many times we witness it.<br /><br />We have this fabulous book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Butterflies-Grow-Picture-Puffins/dp/0140558586">Where Butterflies Grow</a>, by Joanne Ryder and illustrated by Lynne Cherry. This is a great children's book showing the lifecycle of a swallowtail caterpillar, and the illustrations are absolutely fabulous! We have enjoyed reading this book, as we watched our own little caterpillar transform.<br /><br /></div>treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403506013028317754noreply@blogger.com1