On Second Glance

I spoke too soon. A second look around revealed a Gulf fritillary caterpillar almost ready to make a chrysalis. Looks like we may have enough time for butterflies yet. My powers of observation are underwhelming.

The Butterflies are Late This Year

We have been waiting all summer for the Gulf Fritillary butterflies to show up. Over the last two weeks we have seen one or two at a time. None were laying eggs on the passion vine. Today I counted eight flying around, nectaring, flying in spirals around one and other, and then laying eggs on the passion vine.

We are approximately twenty days from our average first freeze. I don't know if the eggs will have enough time to hatch into caterpillars and grow large enough to make a chrysalis. An internet search did not reveal the length of time these flying flowers need to complete the egg/caterpillar/ butterfly transformation. I am afraid they were too late this year.

Here is a regular pomegranate next to my miniature fruit.

Isn't the little guy cute?

Horror in the Garden

I took Baby Monkey on a trick or treat hay ride along with Monkeys' Uncle #2, sil#1, and two nieces. My brother hooked up the trailer, filled it with hay, covered the hay with blankets, and hauled us all over Combine looking for houses lit up for Halloween. There were kids, trailers, four wheelers, and dune buggies everywhere. It is a small town kind of thing and we always have a good time.

Manly Man and Middle Monkey stayed home to give out candy/watch the Dallas Stars game. We came home to find quite a setup. The jack-o-lanterns were out front lit up with strobe lights. There were neighbors in the yard and in the house. A Halloween party had sprung up while we were gone. We all hung out for a while enjoying the kids and candy. Some cars stopped and let their little ones trick or treat. There were no tricks on the babies, just yummy candy.

Everything calmed down after a while and the neighbors went home. I realized I had not fed the bunnies and went outside to give them some alfalfa. I picked up a plastic cup, filled it with bunny food, and headed out. The rabbit hutch is at the back of the garden. It is pretty dark back there.

I fed the bunnies, talked to them, and petted them. It was the normal bunny feeding routine, all cute and stuff. I had just closed the rabbit hutch and was headed back to the house when it happened. A hideous, bald headed troll leaned over the fence and hollered "What are you doing?" I screamed and almost fell down. I only peed a little. The troll started laughing so hard it was holding it's sides. It was my @#$% husband in a horrible Halloween mask. I threw the cup at him.

Were any bad tricks played on you tonight?

And Then It Burst Into Flames

You might remember I took a chance and tried to grow popcorn this year. I got corn that sort of popped. My first try scorched in the pot. My second try yielded a few tiny popped kernels, which were not really edible.

Sister#2 is a newbie gardener. She started her popcorn in her nice raised bed garden. She got better popcorn ears than I did. I'm not jealous, really, I'm not. She followed my advise. I should have done the same.

Last week she called me with a corn question, "Is it okay to pick my popcorn now?" The Internet said to let it dry out on the stalk, so that was my answer. I gave this advise with the enthusiasm of a seasoned, experienced popcorn grower instead of admitting she knows as much as I do. She then explained about a worm that she found in one ear. No no no, not her ear, but in one of the ears of corn(stop snickering). We decide she should pick the popcorn early and let it dry out in a basket. Problem solved.

Last night, after we arrived at the hospital to take care of baby Jack. She asks, "Did you pop your popcorn?" I said, " yes" and explained my results. She says, "I tried to pop my popcorn and it caught on fire. Did you put your popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave?"

Ummm....no.

Sorry Sister, the smell must have been lovely.

Things Didn't Quite Work Out

I am back home.

My one-year-old nephew, Jack, has pneumonia. We took off this morning worried because he was going for a chest x-ray. We made frequent phone calls checking on him and it seemed like he was going to be okay. However, at about 3:00, just about the time we made it to my friend's house just north of Houston, we got the call. The little guy had to be admitted. We turned around. I took Mamala to the hospital and stayed for a short visit. Mamala is spending the night with sister and Jack. He should be okay, but it is no fun to have such a little guy all hooked up to an iv and pulse ox machine. Sister says he is doing much better than he was earlier today.

So no quilt show this year. Maybe next.

Going on a Quilting Trip

I am planning my escape to a land where there are no monkeys, the pillows stay on the bed, and the socks are not on the ceiling fan. I am going to Houston to visit my good friend Kathy. Mamala and I will be leaving tomorrow morning. We will spend all day at the International Quilt Show. I hope to get a lot done on that quilt up there in the picture. Just think, three days of of uninterrupted quilting, quilt shopping, and adult conversation. Oh the joy of it. I am so happy my head might explode.

I'll be back on Friday in time for trick or treating. Why don't you visit some of the blogs I dig while I'm gone. The list is right over there on the sidebar.

Whyyyyy

Does anyone have an explaination for the pillow I found in my driveway this morning? Anyone? Seriously.

Somebody help me.