Sooo, this happened...

We have had a lot of activity in the Monarch Caterpillar department!
It's funny how they all bunch up. (The loner was taped in place.)
They also social distance, keeping the length of their body apart.

Today, the first chrysalis was clear, with butterfly markings showing through.

Then, voila!

However, this one hatched out at 4:30pm in a rainstorm that won't let up completely until morning, and with a night on tap just a tad too cool for flight.  So, we have given her private accommodations for the night.  She is safe in her habitat, but out on the screened back porch until temps warm to 60ºF around 9:00am. 

  

And suddenly, it's August!

Buh Bye, July!

Mt Mansfield is in there somewhere...behind the smoke haze.

 

American Robin with Fledgling

 

Bubble

 

Sailing Race

         

The Schulte Boat is in first place here!  That's Root*Center*Son on helm.

              photo by Wil on the foredeck flying the spinnaker sail.

One Happy Cat (much loved by a 5 year old)

 

Teeny (the tiniest Monarch caterpillar, just hatching!)

 

 

Chickadee Fledgling

 

Peace Rose

 

Whirling GrandDervish (turns 3 today!)

Grace Roses

 

Air Quality Index 151 looks like this!

 

Mind you, this is a sunny, blue sky and puffy clouds sort of day
...only not.  All the mountains disappeared.

Then we had a bit of weather, in the form of a wild thunderstorm deluge (which I drove through),
which brought down tree limbs by our house and changed our Orange level air quality to Yellow!

Views of Mount Mansfield

 

 

Sailing ⛵️

🌈 Cat, this rainbow photo is posted in honour of your Mom. 🦋

Coneflower: Cheyenne Spirit with Purple

 

Feed Me!

 

Newly Minted American Cardinal

 

Here Kitty…

Made of tin!

 

Lavender Wands

I'd never heard of these until my best friend started making them and sent me one.  Last year we planted Lavender, and due to some movement of plantings in her yard she has only a small amount this year.  So I decided to make one for her, and one for my daughter.  They are a LOT of work!  But they make a nice sachet for a sock drawer or to scent one's stationery.  I think I've made my lifetime's amount, though.  I think I'll stick with quilting!  
You start with an uneven number of Lavender fronds.  You bend the stalks down over the fronds to make a kind of cage around them.  Then you weave 1/4" ribbon through the cage.  It secures the Lavender inside the weaving and it smells really nice.  It's really fiddly, though.  Would be much better if I had young eyes.
 

Monarch Butterfly egg and newly hatched caterpillar

 It has begun!

The Champlain Bridge, connecting NY and VT

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, male

 

Eastern Kingbird

 

Black Bear at Eldest's House

We were taking a family photo on Sunday
when suddenly we had a new subject to photograph!

 

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower in the Garden

 

Great Big Bunny having a rest

It makes me happy when a wild creature feels safe in my yard.

 

Pollinator in the Meadow Sage

 

Newly-minted Bluejay fledgling in the rain

 

Independence Day!

 

The Joy of a Carousel!

Second to youngest Grand 💖 

Blue Delphinium

Youngest Grandson & Youngest Granddaughter are visiting!!

🌟Welcome July! 🌟

The eldest granddaughters are visiting!!!

 

The End of June (*sniff!*)

Hooded Merganser Mom

 photo by Matt Duffy in Vermont. Shared with permission.

This is a Hooded Merganser mom tending her two ducklings

plus two adopted Wood Duck ducklings!

47 Years ago today, listener and Wil said they do.

Japanese Willow