More Butterflies

Butterfly specimens are always so hard to find, but luckily for us, they've been cropping up everywhere lately.  Or rather, they've been cropping up in parking lots lately.

We've recently stumbled across quite a number of butterflies, deceased or dying, in store parking lots.  Most are injured (probably hit by a car), but some appear to have just reached their end naturally.

I could never collect and kill (that's just not me, I just couldn't do it) so it's always such a thrill to find a butterfly that is already deceased and in perfect condition.  These recent finds have been making me happy:

One we haven't identified yet.  I'm thinking I might try relaxing this one in order to spread it's wings.  I've never tried doing that before!

A Buckeye.  We only found the wings.  I'm assuming that the ants took off with the rest of it.

A Red Spotted Purple.  They're really quite blue and very beautiful.  But as much as I love the top of them...

...the underside is even more beautiful if you ask me.

And a Spicebush Swallowtail.  I love the colors on this one as well--it looks like someone sprinkled blue glitter all over the wings!

I recently looked at a butterfly checklist for our area and discovered that there are at least 100 different species here.  In looking at our "bug book" photos and our specimen collection--I think the girls and I have "collected" about ten species.  Obviously, we have a long ways to go before we've spotted them all!

Fig's Dress

A few weeks ago I started shopping for some fall patterns for the girls.   There are so many adorable, cute patterns out there--I'm having a hard time whittling my wish list down to just a few items!

But, before I started in on the fall wardrobe, I figured I'd better finish up the last of the summer dresses...

And so, at long last, Fig's pink dress (the same as Pookie's blue dress, just pink) is done.  It's still plenty warm here, so she'll probably have a good couple of weeks in which to wear it.  And hopefully, if I'm lucky, it will fit next year too.  In fact, I really hope these fit everyone next year, because I've already bought the material to make a third one with...

Anyway, now that that's done, it's time to make those fall purchases and get sewing!

Oh...and make some Halloween costumes...

Hi

I've been away from this space for a bit, just savoring those last few moments of summer--those final days of carefree nothingness and relaxation.
But now, despite the still warm weather, summer has passed and autumn is undeniably here.  The pool has closed, the schools have opened, the migratory birds and butterflies have been hastily flying by, and the leaves have just begun to change color and fall.
And just as the outside world has been gradually changing, so has the inside of our home.  After a busy August spent decision making, online shopping, and assembling furniture, we now have our very own schoolroom and two very excited little pupils--Pookie and Fig!

We are now three weeks into our homeschooling adventure and we're happily settling into this new routine. 
And now that all of the changes are behind us, I think I'm ready to return to blogging.  More soon!