The Feetsies

Part of my daily ritual this time of year is looking for monarch caterpillars in my various milkweed patches.  I enjoy watching them eat with such purpose, and meander with seemingly no purpose.  I snipped off the stem this one was on and held it with one hand while grabbing some shots with the other.  I think this is a fun view as it shows all of the many feet - both the "prolegs on the mid and lower part of its body and the "true" legs at the top.  It will retain its true legs when it pupates and they will become its butterfly legs.  The prolegs are just temporary to allow them to move about more easily.  Seriously, can you imagine heaving that chunky body around on just the true legs??

It's been a productive day here.  Hubs took everything out of the shed down by the willow tree and hauled a bunch of stuff up to be put out with the trash while organizing the rest.  As for me?  I cleaned out several kitchen drawers and living room cabinets and then dug up a bunch of phlox in one of my gardens, something I've been meaning to do for the last few years.  The phlox has gotten way too thick and desperately needed to be thinned.  I have a lot more to do, but made a good start on it today.  

We are heading over to our friends' farm for dinner tonight - we're going to stop and grab some take out Thai which we will enjoy on their deck overlooking the farm fields.  And I will get to say hello to little Sammy, their Wheaton terrier.  

xoxo
Debbi