It’s a Boy!
This morning the second M & M broke free of its encasement – while I was not looking.
I had not yet seen it with its wings open, so did not know the gender when I took it outside to be released.
Because he took off so quickly, I almost missed the opportunity to check his tail wing for the black spot that tells me its a boy.
I was glad for these two photos to confirmed it – finally after five girls.
Am I correct – my other butterfly lovers?
Hezekiah
Our twelve-year-old grandson Hezekiah, from Maine, spent the summer with us, just like his older brother and sisters have done when they were the same age.
Yesterday was his last day with us. His parents arrived early this morning and took their six children to Gettysburg as part of their home school program this school year.
We spent his last evening with Cerwin’s mother, partly in preparation for her 90th Birthday party on Sunday. I needed some information for the slide program I have prepared, and we wanted to check out the room we are using for the party – at the retirement community where she lives.
I thought it was a good photo opportunity for these two.
~~~
Earlier in the day, the TFC International office staff surprised him with a farewell party. He mowed yard and helped Cerwin build the chapel for East St Louis (which is finished and delivered) and until yesterday, helped build the new chapel for Quebec.
Howard Moses and Hezekiah – working on the electric of the chapel for Quebec.
The Cake
Sue and Lynn looking on as he cuts a piece of cake.
Most of the staff were in-house for the party.
Each person wrote him a thank you note.
He was given a TFC t-shirt and sweatshirt.
Thanks for the pictures, Inge – and to everyone for making his last day memorable!
Oh, Look!
One of the M & M’s is emerging!
I was in my office early this morning, and when I came upstairs to get dressed and prepared for the day, I was surprised to notice that the first of the M & M’s was emerging.
This is the one I was worried about – the one who fell a few times. Because of that, I had it attached to a stick – making it perfect for removing from the aquarium and photographing!
I almost stumbled over myself trying to get my camera and put it on the “flower” setting.
(Don’t ask about the setting. It’s just that I know when I turn the setting to the little flower logo on my camera, it will target the subject and darken or blur the background.) 
I was pleased with the results. Enjoy!
A few hours later, it was time to go outside and release her – yes, it is another female!
This is the fifth butterfly (all females) that I have released.
I am glad that I still have eight more chrysalis to go.
Munch is a Lady
I went to bed reluctantly last night, thinking Munch would emerge at any minute.
I was pleased that she was still inside this morning ~ giving me opportunity to watch her emerge.
I kept my eye on her for about an hour, then decided to take a quick shower.
When I came back to the aquarium – she had just emerged! 
A few hours later she seemed ready to be released, however, when I put a stick under her legs, she flittered to the bottom of the aquarium. You can see the liquid puddle she left. Considering their size, they drop a lot of liquid while their wings strengthen.
She did eventually climb on the stick, then flew away so fast, I didn’t have time to get a photo of her flying.
I Feel Like a Child!
I am so fascinated by this process ~ as I watch the remaining ten chrysalis.
The one on the right is attached to a stem of a milkweed. If the one on the left survives, I will be so pleased. I accidentally disconnected it when I failed to notice the chrysalis when replacing the screen the other day.
I tried to attach the silk to a stick so it had a place to hang. It stayed for awhile, then fell again. Today when I cleaned the aquarium, I bumped the stick and it fell again! It probably has a migraine by now!
And like I told you last night, Mason is attached to the glass of the aquarium.
The other seven are on the screen ~ plus you will notice the three empty ones.
Tonight I noticed that Munch is getting close to emerging.
I went back an hour later, to retake the photo of the seven on the screen. I couldn’t believe the difference.
Munch has become even more visible.
Chuck E Cheese’s
Saturday Morning
This time the visit was for three birthdays – Ian, David, and Zachary. Jared was along just for fun.
I took Ian and Jared, and our youngest daughter Deb brought David and Zachary. Deb often gives their mom (a single mother) a break in helping to raise them. She lives about an hour away from us, and this Chuck E Cheese’s is just about in the middle – so it works out very nice to meet there.
Ian always ends up at his favorite game – racing cars.
I love to watch him from a distance because he is almost too small for the game.
Zachary was on another racing game.
Jared spent a lot of time at the train.
David tried to see how fast he can pedal the bike.
How would you like to meet these four on the road?
On this picture Deb is asking Jared if he would like to go home with her for the afternoon – his parents were going to her house that evening. After that, I could not convince them otherwise – they were goin’ home with Aunt Deb!
The boys played so nicely, and Deb and I enjoyed a great time visiting over coffee.
Deb and her four crew members ready to go home.
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Mason Attaches to the Side of the Aquarium!
I was kind of concerned when I woke up this morning and saw he had spun his silk pad on the side of the aquarium. (Notice the glass is now covered with caterpillar tracks!)
I was hoping he would be okay there.
Then this afternoon, just after Chaplain David and Mary Ann Roberts stopped in for some brochures, we got to watch him split his skin, wiggle out of it, and transform into a chrysalis.
It appears that everything is just fine. I guess caterpillars have personalities too! Maybe he just likes to do things his way, and didn’t feel like being part of the gang on the screen!
Tonight my last caterpillar, Meadow, crawled on the screen – like most of the others – spun her silk pad – and is now in a J formation.
Two More Butterflies
Yesterday I released Max – who is a Maxine!
This afternoon Molly was ready to fly.
Molly – high in the sky above our house.
Mossy
I remember when Mossy was a tiny egg – now look at her – she’s ready to turn into a chrysalis.
But, for some reason, she had trouble climbing up the aquarium side, and spent most of the evening crawling around the bottom of the tank. Finally, I helped her crawl on a milkweed leaf so she could start over.
But, in the morning she was attached to a leaf – the first of my caterpillars to not be on the screen when they transformed into a chrysalis.
Inge had been reading my blog and was hoping something exciting would be happening in the aquarium when she came to my office for our monthly TFC Communications meeting on Thursday afternoon.
She missed the first butterfly (Michaela) by a few hours, but was excited to watch Mossy turn into a chrysalis.
Amazed is how I still feel each time I watch this process.
~~~
Remember I told you about the new caterpillar (Mason) that hitchhiked along on a leaf over the weekend when our daughter-in-law Kristen got fresh milkweed – while we were in East St Louis?
On Wednesday evening when I walked to Jere and Kristen’s for Ian’s party, I checked out a new area where I thought I saw milkweed from the car. It was milkweed – and there was another caterpillar about the same size as Mason, so I decided to bring Meadow home so they can be partners.
That means I have been foster mother to thirteen Monarch caterpillars!
A Butterfly
Thursday Morning
On Thursday morning, while doing some extra cleaning in preparation for a TFC Communications Meeting at my office, I noticed that Michael (second from right) was ready to emerge from his chrysalis.
I continued to clean, sweep, and dust – keeping an eye on the aquarium – and when my back was turned a butterfly appeared…
L
…leaving only a fragile shell on the screen.
When it became active, maybe an hour later, I found a stick for it to crawl on so I could take it outside before it was quite ready to fly.
It was amazing to watch it prepare for flying.
Look at those amazing, tiny feet.
When it began opening its wings, I noticed that he was a she – no black dots on its tail wings.
So Michael is Michaela!
Then she was off…
…a bit unsteady at first , and when she circled back to me, I held out the stick she had just left, and was surprised that she came toward me, landing on the top of my hand – just briefly – almost like a goodby kiss.
I know, I know, I have a wild imagination, but I kind of like that thought!
Grandchild #14 is Five Years Old
Happy Birthday Ian
Wednesday
We were invited to Ian’s birthday party last night, and since his family lives only one mile away, I decided to walk.
My welcome party
Oh, no, it looks like I am going to get a hat!
Cerwin wasn’t exempt from hat-wearing either.
Ian opening his cards and gifts.
He seemed to get mostly money tonight – which pleased him.
His dad pested him a bit before giving him his last gift.
He was happy with this TV game.
He was also happy with his Candyland cake.
Elwood, a family friend, holding Jesse
Jesse’s first lollipop! He liked it!
His birthday ended with a chair collapse!
