Black Swallowtail, first instar

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~!!



I put out parsley hoping this would happen, and it did! Black swallowtail butterflies loooooove parsley. They will lay their eggs on parsley, because that's what the baby caterpillars eat. These are first instar, no bigger across than my pinky finger (and it's a skinny pinky finger!)

I safely collected 8 of these guys and put them with some parsley in a jar (with holes in the lid, obviously). Last year, we took some of these to Tri-State Christian Camp and the kids looooooooved them. The folks who run the camp already left, but luckily I have a couple camps at my work who'd love to see these guys mature into butterflies.

Joying

Part of the work of healing the spiritual rifts between us and God is en-joying His creation. I believe this is true. When you are invited to someone else's workshop or gallery, it is appropriate and kind to offer compliments on the works you see there. And in the offering of compliments, you will create a bond between yourself and the maker. Shoot, he might even give you something to take home.

So here's one way I've been en-joying creation.



By GETTING SURROUNDED BY IT!

From the right, we have: aloe, bamboo, a tiny little oak which I believe is not living anymore, some scorched basil, and mint out the wazoo. I put them behind the sink because they are all too sensitive to be out in the blazing summer heat, but I now really en-joy having them there, because it makes washing the dishes a little bit more fun.

I scorched the mint pretty badly. Mint is my first love, though, and the cure to all black thumbs, because it is just like the Terminator: "I'll be back" --



I like the image of this little mint bud rising up under the shadow of its shriveled predecessor. As long as it's got one or two roots still living under the soil, it'll rise up again, no sweat no doubt.

I think Walt the fish likes having a little jungle of mint, too:

But I love the smell of burning rice...

In some respects, I am a well-oiled organizational machine. If I latch onto a thing, I organize myself and other people, make spreadsheets, create e-mail groups, plan meetings with prepared agendas so they'll run as efficiently as possible, contact necessary players in the community with polite and motivational messages...

In other respects, I am a complete space case. Always have been, always will be. There's a story from my childhood about how I entered a room to take a test at school, and proceeded to walk across every single chair in the room in order to get where the proctor was. Certain things about normal, everyday life just don't click in my mind.

My mother knows this about me. She's a good mom, so when she saw that I had posted more than one facebook status concerning burnt rice -- instead of judging me and ostracizing me, she decided to love me for who I am instead and bought me a rice cooker.



My environmentalist brain rarely shuts off, so while I am emotionally pleased with the gift (very pleased!! ^^), my brain is ticking away. Having more gadgets doesn't simplify - doesn't it create more clutter and involve more energy to make more things?

This is true. The rice cooker is a product that took energy to make.

However, the rice cooker is also designed specifically to do one thing, and to do it well, wasting less energy than a pot on the stove. The stovetop is not a great energy-efficient way of doing things, unfortunately - it's beaten out by the microwave and pretty much anything else designed for one purpose, like a rice cooker or a hotpot.

So the trading point is: am I going to use this gadget? How much am I going to use this gadget? Is it a worthwhile investment of the planet's energy, or would it be best in someone else's hands?

Fortunately, since my eco-friendly lifestyle involves eating copious amounts of brown rice (less processed = less energy + more natural nutrients + happier digestive system), the rice cooker is totally worth it. I made a big ol' mess of brown rice and it didn't even burn. Also, I steamed some broccoli and it was really tasty.

Thanks for following me through that weird thought process. Here's to the end of the days of burnt rice ^^