Before I forget, I did a post about the Hummingbird Moth last year, which you might want to visit if you want to see a couple more pictures of these intriguing creatures.
Speaking of moths and/or butterflies, I spied this beauty through the kitchen window and managed to snap a few pictures. Again, I used my older camera with the zoom lens, which was handily nearby on the kitchen table.
He’s enjoying the milkweed.
Identified as the Great Spangled Fritillary. And, according to the description, they love milkweed.
The heat and humidity slogs onward here. Unrelenting. Temps in the nineties with 90% humidity make for a tropical rainforest-like atmosphere. I am mostly staying inside but I try to grab a few minutes here and there to pull some weeds, fill the birdbath and water my seedlings. The seedlings I am now thinking won’t turn into anything pretty until after I leave for Hartford.
I can’t go there. Away from home again? Leaving the day after my husband returns from being away from home?
And frankly, Hartford is nice but there’s not a lot to blog about and this will be my third go-round there. I’ll have to resort to pictures of my navel.
Rest assured, I kid. Sort of.
I plopped this Hens and Chicks in the ground last year. It consisted of one hen and one chick. When I checked it out after a long winter, I was pretty sure it would wither away. Things were not looking good. But look! It has revived and there are a lot of chicks growing alongside their mama. Succulents are fascinating to me.
Today is a driving day. We leave early to transport Don back to Williamstown. This is when I wish I could blink my eyes and magically transport myself to another place. Or, in this case, transport Don to another town in another state – all without my having to drive in this awful weather. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just plop ourselves down in another place? No gasoline, no tolls, no long, long drive. We’d arrive refreshed and restored and everyone would be happy.
East or west, home is best.
Happy Tuesday.
Hello, Claudia
In a feeble attempt to distract you from feeling sad, I took a quick look at Hartford. There is a farmers’ market that was established in 1634. Yes, I said 1634. Also, the city has a hand-carved carousel. Would either of those things be of interest for you to photograph, I wonder? If they’re not up your alley, fair enough.
Take care,
Karen
I’ve photographed the carousel several times – it’s right across the street from my lodgings. The Farmer’s Market – I don’t know where it is but I’ll check it out. xo
Claudia, I love the picture of your home. My mom had hens and chicks. She adored them. Probably because you didn’t have to fuss with them. xoxo,Susie
They really are fuss-free.
Your home is so lovely, Claudia!
I love hens and chicks, but I don’t think they would do well outdoors in our temperate rain forest climate. I will have to plant some in a planter indoors. I have a nice photo of some on my Pinterest board of photos I have taken.
You and Don sure get around! It is good to have work, but hard to be away from home and each other. Are you taking Scoutie with you to Hartford again?
No, she’ll be home with Don. They may come to visit me, though.
Claudia, if you are reduced to shots of your navel, I am sure you will find something interesting about it to share with us! Safe travels today and thanks for sharing the photos. I have an interview today at work and guess what is perched jauntily on my suit jacket? My pale green luna moth pin! We must look for joy in the simple things, right? And my pin brings me joy. May you find joy today as well, even if it does involve travel and saying goodbye to Don (again). xxoo, Martha
Hope your interview went well, Martha!
Love the butterfly photos… Great Spangled Fritillary you say?
I must go and read about this.
The Hens and Chicks are resilient.
You home is gorgeous in a tropical setting! LOL…
…drive safe, Pat
Isn’t that the best name for a butterfly?
Yes… and it tested my spelling skills to comment about it. I think I must have pronounced it wrong in my head… I’m a phonetic speller. ;)
…glad to see you’re home, safe and sound. -Pat
Every time I see Hens and Chicks I want some!! How funny is that. Hope your drive today wasn’t too awful. I hate driving in bad weather. East or West home is best!
Hugs,
Linda
Unbelievably muggy and yucky out there. But no storms on the way home, thank goodness.
Avoid that navel at all costs, ha ha … I went to the hummingbird moth story. Fascinating! :) Your place is so lovely in the summertime ….it’s got to be hard to leave it and Don and Scout to boot…:(
Very hard.
Thanks for the link to the hummingbird moth. Very interesting. I also love hens and chicks. They are everywhere in my yard. They seem to thrive in the yard over the winter and do fine in the summer too. They must love the climate here in western Washington State.
I think they are amazing.
I look forward to the naval posts; history of and metaphysical impact of ….
One gets less inclined to leave home as one gets older. I seem to have lost the urge to see far flung places but I wouldn’t mind getting away from the daily rain in these parts for a bit!
Me too. I like being home.
Hope you had an uneventful drive. I love to travel, but I am always anxious to get home. Lately, it’s my favorite place to be. Does that mean I’m getting old? Hope not! I kept my succulents in a pot from last summer, in my garage over the winter, and they are thriving….even flowering! Succulents are fascinating…especially hens and chicks…did you know they also flower? They send up this spike with tiny pink flowers…so beautiful. ;)
Yes, the drive was long, long but uneventful – which is much better than the last time I drove Don up there.
I’ll look for the flowers, Donna.
Absolutely, home is best!
Brenda
Yes, it is.
I believe I saw one of those moths a few days ago..It was caught in a web and I thought it was a Hummingbird because of the way it moved..I went to try and free it and it suddenly broke free on it’s own..That was when I realized it wasn’t a bird at all..I will watch more closely to try and spot some more of these..And yes..There’s no place like home (she said tapping her heels together three times)..Hugs lovely lady..
Your home is so beautiful, I can see why you wouldn’t want to leave it.. I love butterflies. They remind me of my mom.. Your photos are beautiful.
I have to agree..There’s no place like home…Hens and chicks spread pretty fast as I remember..I had them in strawberry pots long ago…