Thursday, August 4, 2011

Observant


Sometimes, you just have to sit and observe the world from a good vantage point.

Yesterday, as I stitched on the front porch, I saw four different varieties of butterflies in my garden! Four! They really seemed to love my salmon and pink impatiens.



I went in to the house and consulted one of my trusty Golden books. This method may seem very "old school" to some folks, but believe me, books can be a big time saver. If I were to look up butterflies on the internet, I'd find way more information than I needed, and I'd probably waste a lot of time in the process. But with an actual book in hand, I was able to quickly identify the four different species.

The first visitor to the garden was a Tiger Swallowtail, yellow and lovely. Next, the orange Monarch stopped by. After that, I saw what the book tells me is called a Meadow Fritillary. Finally, I saw the fastest Black Swallowtail as the sun was setting. Of course, every time I reached for my camera, they fluttered away.

I learned from the book that each caterpillar has a very specific food plant. Monarchs, as we know, need to eat milkweed. A black swallowtail eats parsley (I have plenty of that in my garden!), and a tiger swallowtail eats wild cherry (which is more than likely the tree I have in my front yard).

Aren't books wonderful things? I have a wall of books in my basement, and it's such a pleasure to have a home library right at your fingertips.



Today's card uses two varieties of butterfly. And guess what? That strip of First Edition paper is actually a column of information on butterflies. Am I good or what? :)

{recipe:products from Stampin' Up, Nature Walk stamp set, Clearly For You stamp set, sahara sand ink and card stock, basic black ink and card stock, black organdy ribbon, houndstooth embossing folder, rhinestones, scallop circle punch}

Thanks, Mom, for teaching your children to be observers of nature. I'm passing this skill on to my children, too.

I hope your day is filled with amazing sights!

"Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as Heaven whispers 'Do you like it? I did it just for you.' "
-Max Lucado

3 comments:

  1. So funny...I was sitting on the deck with a friend and we both commented on the many butterflies that flew by us. Monarchs...Swallowtails...beautiful! I may have sold some books, but I held onto my Golden Guide Books! Classic go-to's.

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  2. Mary- sounds like you had a great day! Now I just have to say "really Jenny? You are up reading blogs at 3:28AM!!!!" No wonder we can never get her to leave early in the day:). Maybe she was fretting about the BIG DAY today. Love you- see you soon. Tina

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  3. I love the Max Lucado quote Mary. Which book is it from? My goal today will be to find just such a moment.
    Jenny and Tina, you 2 are way earlier birds (or in this case, butterflies) than me.

    Happy Birthday sweet Jenny

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