a grasshopper visit

It was such a nice fall afternoon yesterday we moved our school out on to the front porch.While we where working, along came a grasshopper he started out on my candle holder and then Grace persuaded him to climb on her thumb. He was pretty content and seemed to not mind. I know they can pack quite the bite when agitated, but he was pretty docile.






He seems to be checking over Grace's math assignment and giving her a few pointers. He would not move off her finger which was a bit funny.




He did hop off on his own, after he was done visiting with us. He was quite an exciting quest to have visit us yesterday.

daddy long legs has dinner

While Doug and the others where in Pennsylvania, Shawn and Madeline and I had dinner at my moms house, she is such a good cook its always a treat. While we where there we witnessed a daddy-long legs, get his dinner too:-) He is here under the bench on her deck with a caterpillar which he stunned.We where all so fascinated by this dinner was held off till we where done watching this guy get his meal.





Now to haul this caterpillar up the side of the house to his home in the eaves for dinner later.




This was very neat to watch, nature in action, I had actually never seen a daddy-long legs actually catch anything. I was as excited as the kids Shawn as you see was enthralled.I always feel so amazed when I see gods perfect world in action and am invited to witness it.

our swallowtail caterpillers

I had not seen the three we had in the garden for a long time and had thought the birds had eaten them.But I was out picking tomatoes and happened upon this fellow hanging on what was left our dill- i had planted it just for them so it was okay. He is huge and seems to be getting ready to cocoon soon. I am thinking he will be sleeping this fall/winter and emerge next spring.





Not sure where the other two are - well I do know our duckling had one for lunch, though I will never tell the kids;-}- . And this fellow may well be one laid by the many butterflies we have in the yard on our flowers and butterfly bushes, but, that's okay.We think he is quite spectacular all the same.:-)

three little surprises

we went to a local garden center yesterday to visit. - they have a petting farm there and some play structures to climb on, -. When we left we walked in the greenhouses and i purchased a dill plant, I love dill and its hard to find some years, and these where nice sized and healthy. So we purchased one to take home an add to our garden.




upon getting the plant into the car the kids discovered three hitchhikers. Three swallowtail caterpillars, they are very pretty, I had never seen them before up close.So very cool to watch them. We came home and planted our dill plant in with our tomatoes and we shall see how the visitors do.




if nothing eats them this is what they will be , very exciting, and unexpected . I just wanted some fresh dill, and got a very special surprise. The kids are very excited and watching them very closely and also watching Lydia who loves bugs, and caterpillars alot. They have been named Snap,Crackle and Pop,btw. Cannot tell you who is who they all look the same to me.