A new definition

Fire Fog [fahy^uhr][fog, fawg] (not seen in the above picture...yet)

1. A collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass.

2. An unwanted by-product of fires commonly referred to as smoke.

3. A 3-year olds preferred description of definition #2.

We like definition #3.

A Butterfly is Born (FINALLY)

Disclaimer: We like butterflies so I WILL post about them. It's been oh so much fun to learn about them and how to attract them...

After planting some butterfly host/nectar plants last year we've watched as Monarch, Frittilary and Swallowtail Butterflies have visited our yard. So, they were definitely attracted. Got that part down! And, we've seen the caterpillars come and go. But, we had yet to see a caterpillar successfully transform into a butterfly. We were losing the caterpillars too fast to outside elements or the chrysalis just wouldn't develop. When "winter" came (can we even call it that down here?) I just assumed it would be too cold for anything. I should've known better as our mild, wet winter has been perfect!

On New Year's Eve we had some friends over as we sat around my new fire pit making desserts. Robyn loves to pick from my rather large parsley plant and eat it right there. So, the other kiddos joined in. And then they started sharing the parsley with our guests--literally feeding it to one gentleman. He went to eat another sprig when he noticed one of these on it:

I was quite surprised to even see one! I quickly put it back in the parsley bush realizing immediately what it was. To think it almost got eaten by a human!

Robyn and I have watched everyday to see if a butterfly would actually emerge. Our hopes were low because we've had many that have just not survived. In fact our survival rate was 0% (and this was our first Monarch chrysalis). I have to say I totally missed this caterpillar--never saw it! It had a great place deep down inside my bushy parsley (silly me never thought to check my parsley).

We actually forgot to check on it these passed several days. But, we went out this morning and Hoorah! Finally, a butterfly was born!

In fact, we discovered TWO brand new butterflies! Can you spot them?

There was another one that we completely missed!!

Robyn was quick to find its old "house" (as she put it).

Yep, we like butterflies.

Treeless

I know. I know. I haven't posted in months and this is what I choose to write about?! Truth be told, since switching to a new computer (PC to Apple) I just haven't taken the time to figure everything out (especially posting photos) even though it's been a good 8 months since the change happened. I have no excuse only that posting here is not high on my to-do list. Now onto the original post...

For a long while people have come to our front door commenting on our dying tree and ready to cut it down for us. Yes, I know it's diseased. Yes, I know it's dying. Yes, I know it's ugly. Yes, I know it's a safety hazard. Then they quote me a price that just floors me and I say, "No thanks. I'll keep my diseased, dying, ugly, hazard-prone tree." I mean, every time the wind blows, another branch falls--so, nature was slowly doing it for me. We've watched as it slowly loses its branches. 2008 was it's worst year: August, September. And 2011 was tough too. I think I've blogged about this tree since I started blogging. When the last branch that fell almost caused some major damage to someone else's property, I knew it had to go...for the right price.

So, here's what my front yard looks like now...

....anyone need some wood? Not ready to take on this project of re-landscaping it.

Geesh, I'm still peeling wallpaper inside the house.