Butterflies are born!

When we were at the butterfly farm we took four caterpillars home to watch "hatch". Well, today was the day. They are painted ladies and there are two of them. We have two pupae to go. We have a little butterfly garden so hopefully they will stick around.

zoo day

Since our Bronx Zoo membership is about to expire, I figured it was time for one last hurrah until we renew in the fall. I was also looking for some creative inspiration and I wasn't disappointed.

I had to be very sneaky to get this close.

Yes, a black swan.

Awesome bug carousel.

Thanks Julie

My Octo-bag is among the featured etsy pieces on this lovely blog, check it out!

Rainbow's End

Yesterday we went to Rainbow's End Butterfly Farm. If you are anywhere in the area you should definitely check it out. In any case go to their site and see what you can do to make a butterfly habitat. My husband, who is a very very talented illustrator always gets annoyed when people refer to him as an artist. He believes he is a technician. As he always says "an artist puts a piece of his soul into his work". Well, if this is true then I saw a bit of God's soul at the butterfly farm and it is beautiful.

afternoon

We are busy doing a whole lot of this before the weather gets too hot.

fairy houses everywhere

Ever since I took this book off the shelf we have been fairy house crazy. My little one who is 5 likes to build hers in the bottom of trees. While the big girl who is 9 only makes hers up high in the trees so that the birds will visit. 

pretty food

Most days I will make myself a salad of whatever I find in the fridge. On this particularly colorful day I found a purple egg (dyed with purple cauliflower), a handful of cous cous, and a radish "mushroom". Sometimes the things unplanned are the nicest.

Scary?

The Strawberry Festival has come and gone. I met lots of people, sold a few things, ate strawberry shortcake, and got a very sunburnt forehead. Having done it, I must say it is not something I am likely to repeat. I did get a lot of great feedback, but the best thing for me was overhearing this conversation: One lady said to her friend, "WOW, did you see those dolls?". The friend replied (as she ran past my table, averting her eyes), "They scare me!". Besides making sales, that was definitely the highlight of the day!

the blue broom

My philosophy is this: if I have to look at or use something multiple times a day,  it better delight my eye or amuse me. Enter...the blue broom. I told my husband that I wanted it for my birthday. He was apprehensive, thinking he would be looked upon as a chauvinistic cad.  I assured him he could direct any accusers to me and I would set them straight. I got the broom and I love it. It's 100% natural, plant dye was used for the awesome color.

backyard babies

About 3 weeks ago a robin decided to build her nest directly in front of my kitchen window in our old magnolia bush. Since the parents are quite protective I planned my photo carefully. As soon as Betty and Arnold flew off to pull worms I ran to the nest and quickly clicked 3 pictures. In the first picture the birds were still with beaks down. As you can see by the third picture one was roused up hoping to get a meal from me. I thought how like them we people must appear before God. Blind, helpless and always hungry.