Caterpillar Time!

They say raising caterpillars in a captive environment is much safer than in the wild and we got proof of that this year. Seth found two mourning cloak caterpillars in our front yard a few weeks ago. One was taken to sit in a jar next to the as yet unidentified moth caterpillar in a jar. The other was left alone. Ours immediately hung himself from the stick we provided and transformed within a day. The one outside, pictured above, hung himself under our window box for a bit and then disappeared. A meal for a lucky someone I presume.

Here’s the chrysalis after the butterfly had emerged:

And here’s the best shot I could get of the butterfly itself. He was still damp and flew away while we were gone. Click here for a pic of what his wings look like as well as the whole amazing process.

We recently stumbled upon a Monarch caterpillar. I was astounded by how much that little thing could eat and even more astounded by how much it pooped. 

Since I’m pretty sure  he’ll turn into a butterfly while we’re away we brought him to school where right before the children’s eyes he transformed into his chrysalis state. So smooth and shiny and different from the Mourning Cloak. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll wait to come out until we’re back in town.

I highly recommend raising caterpillars. Even if you don’t have children as it’s the most amazing process. Besides, the world could use a few more butterflies.

Just put a little sand in the bottom of a large jar, add a stick, cover with mesh or poke holes in the lid.  Then all you need to do is make sure to provide the leaves that caterpillar likes (usually whatever plant you found him on to begin with) and clean out the sand every few days.

Western Sculpture Park

 

I’ve been taking lunch walks lately and one of the places I’ve been frequenting is Western Sculpture Park run by Public Art Saint Paul. The good – it’s peaceful and has some nice sculptures to look at. The bad – not so nice neighborhood, horribly cared for landscaping, surrounded by low income apartments. It’s very rare that I see other people at the park, but even so I always feel like I’m being watched from the apartments. That said, I’ll go back next week. It’s a great place for bench monday photos. For that matter, I may even be there tomorrow if I can brave the heat. There will be free art events with an environmentally friendly content through out the summer on certain Tuesdays and Saturdays. Locals should check out the details and download a schedule here. I think I’ll stop by on the Tuesdays during my lunch and also try to bring the kids to a couple of the Saturday events. Here’s a quick peak:

• 6/23 – rabbit wraps, cement discs, storytelling & creative writing
• 6/27 – painting & bridge construction
• 7/7 – pot decorating & planting
• 7/18 – african song & dance
• 7/21 – fabric sculptures
• 7/25 – storytelling, song, movement & recycled bugs
• 8/4 – metal stamping & poetry
• 8/15 – t-shirt rugs & bucket drumming
• 8/18 – textile art & cardboard yurts
• 8/22 – spider marionettes

What do you think the people in the apartments are thinking when I come with my flat fold tripod, setting it up only to hit the timer and jump on top of a bench?

Girly Aprons

Ever since Sew Fab Martha made me my first girly apron, I’ve been hooked. I wear it every day and finally decided to branch out. I picked this one up last month from Jessie at Thistle Patch Design while perusing Johnstock. I think it’s even girlier and I love it. Especially as it’s very flattering to my ample shape. For some reason aprons make a world of difference in my attitude when it comes to kitchen duties.

Knitted Summer Tank

Finally, I can show you the tank I knitted Eleanor for her birthday back in May. Unfortunately I knit it a full size too big. I was worried she’d grow out of it too fast, but I think it would have lasted her through the year had I done the 18 month size. Better too big than too small, right? The downside is she wasn’t a big fan of it when she first put it on. Fortunately, I think she’s come around.

Pattern: Lion Brand Child’s Beach Top (you do have to register but they don’t overwhelm with emails)

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale

Ravelry: here

Easiest Jacket Ever

Yeah! I sewed something! Ever since my mom got me Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules Sewing and I saw this fabric last November I’ve been wanting to make this jacket for Eleanor. I’ve been trying to avoid buying more craft stuff. I have way too much as it is. I also have a terrible habit of buying all the supplies for a project and then never doing it. I tell you I have boxes of never started projects.

Since, this pattern is sized at 18 months I further though for sure  I’d never make it before she grew out of it. Interestingly, at 2 Eleanor is just now wearing 18 month clothing. Yes, she’s tiny – here’s her stats from her 2 year well child check up a couple weeks ago:

Weight – 13th percentile

Height – 9th percentile

Head circumference - 96th percentile!!

Makes me laugh every time I say it. Seth was always low weight, upper height, huge head. I have big headed children. What can I say? Some days I think they have big brains, some days thick skulls. Whatever it is, it explains why I always have to reknit neck opening a bit larger.

OK, back to the jacket. This couldn’t be simpler. Forgot to enlarge the pattern on a copier before hand so my encouraging mother and I did some measuring and math to create a newspaper pattern. It’s one cut piece on a double folded fabric. Just sew up the underarm seams and add the neck binding. The neck binding was a little tricky and honestly, I didn’t do that good of a job. Since the mess up is on the inside and no-one will ever see it other than Internal Gal, I squashed the instinct to pull out the seam ripper. And boy am I glad I did. After 2 weeks I don’t give a care that you can see stitches you’re not supposed to see on the INSIDE. I’m just happy it looks cute, fits, Eleanor likes it and I completed a sewing project!! In fact, I like it so much I plan on finding another cute knit fabric to make this up a size  for fall.