Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Monarch

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I was out watering yesterday morning – high of 91, heat advisory – and I approached the birdbath. I was going to empty it and fill it with fresh water. As I walked to the birdbath, I startled a monarch butterfly who had been on the ground. I watched it fly to the ground by my car. I quickly realized it was a newly transformed baby, just emerged from the chrysalis. He (identified by the dots on his wings) was opening and shutting his wings in order to dry them.

Then he flew to my tire, where he remained for a couple of hours.

It’s all in the timing. If I hadn’t been out there at that time, I would have missed it. One of the caterpillars I showed you a couple of weeks ago is now a butterfly! I wish I knew where the other chrysalises are. Interesting that he was beneath the birdbath, where the chrysalis of a couple of years ago was hanging. I’d already checked the birdbath and there was no chrysalis there this time, so he came from someplace else.

A beautiful little moment in a sea of hot, dry, drought-ridden days.

This dress arrived in yesterday’s mail. A beautiful creation from The Pumpkin Belle, aka Helen, who is a dressmaker in England. I’ve always wanted one of her creations. She uses silks and she hand dyes and ages the fabric. So gorgeous!

Holly won the toss and I must say she looks beautiful. (There was some jealousy amongst the girls, but I assured them that each girl would have her turn.)

I have to coach two people today. I was so tired after the trip that I used up any energy I had coaching and promptly turned into a vegetable afterward. I find I need a day to recover, so I’m scheduling next Tuesday as the recovery day after the next round of driving.

We’re so sick of this heat. Yesterday was particularly humid and unbearable. Today will be the same and then I think we drop to the low eighties on Wednesday. Sigh.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Caterpillars

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I was outside watering yesterday – no rain in the forecast for at least 4 days, the drought continues – and I stopped to check out the milkweed. This isn’t something I do religiously, but I do like to see if there are any monarch caterpillars in sight.

I saw three of them! I don’t think I’ve ever seen two at the same time, let alone three.

All of them were chomping on the leaves.

Most of the caterpillars I encounter are on the large group of milkweed that grows at the bottom of the big garden bed. There’s also some milkweed growing on the far side of the porch, but I’ve never seen a caterpillar there. (Doesn’t mean there aren’t any, of course, just that I’ve never seen one.)

This group of milkweed is where I’ve seen Monarch butterflies laying eggs.

I’m happy to know we’ll see at least three new Monarch butterflies emerge this season.

I took a video of one of them eating and it’s on my Instagram Stories, if you’re at all interested.

Today, I work with Jim in the afternoon. Should be fun!

Okay, my friends. I’m off to do some more prep, make Don finish his deductions, and water everything. Again.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Butterflies

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From the other day:

An eastern swallowtail.

And a blurry red admiral, taken from a distance. I’ve never seen a red admiral on the property. I had to google to figure out what kind of butterfly it was. Very striking! Thank you for visiting!

The news that the monarch butterfly is on the endangered species list is heartbreaking. We do our part here by letting all of our milkweed plants stay in place, wherever they pop up. Currently, they’re hiding a lot of the flowers in the big garden bed, but that’s the way it is. I’d rather provide a habitat for monarchs.

The fact that the honey bees are back in the catalpa is good news. I realize that the eco system on our property doesn’t reflect the rest of the country and the planet, but I take heart when, right here on our patch of acreage, a caterpillar transforms into a monarch butterfly and honey bees fly in and out of their nest in the catalpa.

Speaking of the catalpa, we had a storm last night with unbelievably high winds. While Don was outside, a limb from the catalpa fell to the ground. It’s a smaller limb. Nevertheless, my heart breaks a little when any tree limb falls.

We’re supposed to get more rain today. I welcome it. The ground and trees and plants and animals sorely need it.

The phone call from my sister yesterday was to let me know that Little Z tested positive for Covid. He was exposed earlier in the week at camp and started to feel poorly on Saturday after a morning at the beach. But he tested negative. By Sunday morning, he was feeling miserable and Mere tested him again. Positive. So she’ll have to stay home this week to be with Z. He’s been vaccinated, of course.

Poor little guy! At the age of eleven, he’s not quite so little anymore.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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