The True meaning of friendship

Source: iknowhair.com via Sharon on Pinterest

Working as a team

I'm not sure if I already told y'all this, so I'm gonna say it again. I am part of 4-H. If you don't know what that is, you'll have to google it, because I can't explain it.

ANYWHO. One of the activities one does in 4-H is something called "team invention". Basically, you and two of your closest 4-H pals get together to form a group. Then, said team is given a non-descript paper bag full of random stuff, a rectangle piece of cardboard, and a 45 minute timeline. Once you and your teammates area given the above supplies, an adult gives you one last thing. A theme, and guidelines. In this case, the only guidelines are to create something according to your theme, and you must use what is in the bag, and ONLY what's in the bag.

For this challenge, the theme was "Michigan Traditions". {the 4-H group I belong to is in Monroe}

So, for the first few of the 45 minutes allotted to us, my teammates{yup, you guessed it! Enter the infamous Zakk and Adam} brainstormed, and, after discarding several ideas, including a secret military base and something else I'd rather not mention, we decided on making a farm. For those of you who live in or have been to Michigan, you will know that Michigan is big farm country.

Exactly 40 minutes later, the three of us stepped back to admire our handy-work. So, enough chit-chat. Let's get to some pictures!!!

An overview of the whole thing

A close-up of Zakk's totally awesome Tractor/trailer, including hay bails.

My Grain silo, slightly less awesome.
You can't really see it, but inside the barn, there are two horses, in their own stalls. One eating hay, and the other peaking his head out from behind the wall. SWEET!!! That was totally Adam's idea. bravo, my friend.

Part of the requirement was that our project needed our team number and the name of each team member

Apparently, we named the farm "Grim Reaper Farms". Yeah. Zakk named the farm.

Well, now all that's left to do is wait to find out what the judges think of our farm. All I can say is, I'm really glad we decided not to make the Monroe county fair{which hosts the 4-H activities}, because when I was looking around at other projects, I noticed several dozen county fairs, and about three other farms, none as awesome as ours, if I do say so myself. :)

See you later, peeps! Wish us luck!

~Erin ♥

It's so hard to say goodbye.....

So true, so true.


I thought it was important to do one last post on the visiting caterpillars, as they will be going home any day now. I will miss you, caterpillars, but I know your "mother" is anxious to see you again!

Almost all the kids are in their Chrysalis now, and it's kind of funny to see them all hanging there! It was so funny, in fact, I decided to take pictures, so you, my readers, could enjoy the site, too! Aren't I nice?!

It's a wall of caterpillars!!!

Chrysalis Christmas tree ♥

The roof of the mesh cages are COVERED in the little green beauties!

I saw for the first time ever a caterpillar turn into a chrysalis. Even after raising caterpillars all last summer, and even into early fall, I never once saw one change, but this year, I saw almost all of the little darlings change! It was so gross! But also way cool. I'll spare you the details. Those who haven't raised their own butterflies wouldn't understand....It may be gross, but it's totally worth it.

It's so hard to say goodbye to my little charges, but I'm ready to get you back where you belong, and go on to the next adventure!

Lost in a forest of caterpillars.....

Almost all of the largest caterpillars have made their "J". It's so funny to see them all glued to the mesh ceiling.

Them times...they are a changin'

Last night, the first caterpillar made his J, meaning he will soon be in a chrysalis! Yay! And another one made his J this morning.


If you would like to learn more about raising your own butterflies, check out this website. It belongs to the same friend for whom I am caterpillar-sitting.

Leaning tower of.....caterpillars?!

I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching the caterpillars. They are so funny! For instance, all the caterpillars gang up on a single milkweed plant, demolish it, and move on to the next one. A couple days ago, there were so many on a flimsy little plant, that the weight was making it tip over!



I would also like to draw your attention to the "leaf" below. This is what the eensy caterpillars do to their milkweed leaves. The big ones eat the whole thing, flower, stem and all. Pigs.

See how they've grown!

This was Sunday, the day I got the caterpillars...{BTB, these are the largest ones.}

And this is them today, Friday, when they all got a nice sun bath and a breath of fresh air as I cleaned out their cage. Getting pretty big, aren't they? Some of them are looking like they might make their J before it's time for them to go back to their family next Sunday.

Caterpillars in a tree.....

It's that time of year again!!!! You veterans of my blog will know that I mean CATERPILLARS!!!
Right now, I don't have any of my own, but I'm babysitting some 50 caterpillars and 6 butterflies for friends while they are on vacation. I've actually had these guys for almost a week, but this is the first chance I've had to post about them. So I'll concentrate on the intro in this post, and I'll update you on everyone's size and condition in the next one. Sound good? Cool.

This is the set-up we've got going on in our dining room. The three shorter mesh cages are caterpillars, ranging from small{as in ennsy-weensy, barely see them} in the cage closest to the camera, to large at the back. The tall cage sticking up in the middle is full of butterflies.

Here's the butterfly house!

This time around, I have a few painted ladies, as well as Monarchs. Painted ladies like hollyhock, and their eggs are blue, rather than white.

This is what the large caterpillars looked like a week ago.

Our supply of milkweed

This pot has every plant you will need to raise a butterfly from egg to butterfly! Cool, huh?

Come back for my next post, where I update you on all the kids!

~Erin ♥

Just what the doctor ordered!

Ready for your daily dose of funny? I don't think you're ready. O.K. Get ready........you ready yet? Good. Here we go!



Go out today and find something funny!

Erin ♥

In which I take pictures of a chocolate unicorn, and discuss the weather

Ha ha! my post title sounds like a chapter name from a turn-of-the-century novel!

A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a 4-H event, taking a class in computers, clay ornament making, and CHOCOLATE!!!!! Needless to say, that last one takes the cake, as they say.

In my chocolate-making class, we made turtles{or frogs} with tiny sugar eyes, chocolate suckers, and a 3D solid chocolate farm animal. Unfortunately, I ate my 3d chick before I thought to take a picture of it. But it tasted so good!! I did, however, manage to restrain myself long enough to take pictures of everything else!



On a completely different note, It has been warm for the past three days here! My mom and I took walks every night!!! It was great! The warm weather seems to be slowing down now, however. Too bad. I was really getting used to it.

What's in the daily news?

I'll tell you what's in the daily news!!! A story about animals that can walk upright, like people! Interested? Then, by all means, watch to find out more!



O.K. So it's not a real story. Actually, this was last week's literature project on the book "Animal farm" by George Orwell. I found it to be very interesting and thought provoking. It's not a large book, only 10 chapters, and the wording isn't too hard to understand, which was a nice change to what we have previously been reading in that class{for example, we are currently reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis}

This video stars, well, me, and my two friends, Zakk and Adam.{Zakk is the "off-camera voice, and he was also our real camera man}

If you've never heard of Animal farm, here's a short summary:

Animal Farm is George Orwell's satire on equality, where all barnyard animals live free from their human masters' tyranny. Inspired to rebel by Major, an old boar, animals on Mr. Jones' Manor Farm embrace Animalism and stage a revolution to achieve an idealistic state of justice and progress. A power-hungry pig, Napoleon, becomes a totalitarian dictator who leads the Animal Farm into "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others" oppression.

To be perfectly honest, the story is more interesting than this summary leads you to believe. However, it does give an accurate picture of the plot.

Just in time for Christmas!

Hello, everyone! Merry Christmas eve!!! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves.

I just wanted to share a video I made on how to make these really great chocolate topped pretzels that are perfect for the holidays. I know it's cutting it a bit short, but it takes only ten minutes to make, and it tastes really good. Please try it!

Finger people

Hee, hee

Suggested reading

This time, it's one you may have heard of!




The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain-Summary:

"The novel begins with Tom Canty, an impoverished boy living with his abusive family in London. One day Tom Canty and Prince Edward, the son of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour meet and as a jest, switch clothes. While dressed in the pauper's rags, the Prince leaves the palace to punish the guard who knocked Tom down. However, the boys look remarkably alike and because they switch clothes, the palace guards throw the prince out into the street. The Prince fares poorly in London because he insists on proclaiming his identity as the true Prince of Wales. Meanwhile despite Tom's repeated denial of his birthright, the court and the King insist that he is the true prince gone mad. Edward eventually runs into Tom's family and a gang of thieves and Twain illustrates England's unfair and barbaric justice system. After the death of Henry VIII, Edward interrupts Tom's coronation and the boys explain, switch places, and Edward is crowned King of England."


I read it as required reading for school, and I found that I heartily enjoyed it, so I really hope that anyone who reads "The prince and the pauper" because of my recommendation loves it as much as I did!


~Erin

An honor I couldn't refuse.....

I've been tagged! By Allison! Thank you, Allison!

So, here are the rules:

You are given 8 questions from the person who tagged you before, your job is to answer them, write 8 questions of your own, then tag 8 people with your questions.


1. What is the weirdest thing that ever happened to you?

Um, the weirdest thing.......Oh! A couple weeks ago, I was helping to sell candy for my 4-H group by going door to door, and this kid poked his head out of a third-story window and shouted at the top of his voice "If you smoke, we don't want any!". He was my only candy sale that day.....

2. If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would you choose?

I think I would like for my family to be more well off. Our house is very small, and I don't really like it :(

3. What is your favorite day of the week?

I don't really have them. I usually enjoy my whole week!

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Like, 12.

5. Can you speak another language?

Yes

6. What is a song you currently love?

In Christ alone, and Viva La Vida(by coldplay)

7. If you could do anything today, what would you do?

Go shopping :)

8. What would you say if I said I was going to take you out to see any movie, and go to dinner anywhere you want? What movie would you want to go see? Where would we eat?

I would say "Gee, thanks!! How nice of you!" Then I would suggest that we Catch the next Harry Potter movie(Which isn't even out yet, so that wouldn't work) and stop for a bit at Chiptle's after!!!


now, here are my questions:

1. What is the largest book you have ever read?

2.What is the farthest you have ever been from home?

3. Favorite Mexican restaurant?

4.Are you a mac, or a PC?

5. If you were a famous singer, what would be your ganre of music?

6.Quick! name the first five songs that pop into your head who's titles begin with an S.

7. What was the last book you read?

8. Are you a couch potato, or an exercise junkie?



O.K.!!! have fun with these!! I can't wait to read your answers!

Now, I am going to break the rules and only tag 4 blogs:

Vixen Vintage
Strawberry Koi
The daybook
Casey's musings

Welcome to Fall!

I thought I would bring in the autumn season by telling you all my favorite things about this time of year:

We'll start off with the ever favorited caramel apple :)



And, of course. Halloween, America's excuse to wear costumes!(Of course, I don't need a reason)



You can't leave out the wonderful colors!!!



And last, but certainly not least, the fashions in fall! My favorite articles of clothing are boots, scarves and tights, so I fit right in to this season :)

Autumn is just a wonderful season, and I'm glad it's finally here!!!

~Erin

Hamster hell

One last update....

I just wanted to give an update on my caterpillars, seeing as this will probably be one of the last posts about them for awhile. You see, it's nearing time for them to migrate to Mexico for the winter, and, if there are any caterpillars even still on wild milkweed this time of year, by the time they were butterflies, they would be very late to the party, and would most likely die in the coming chill. I'm sorry to be so gruesome, I just wanted to explain. And, because of the above reasons, I have decided to stop my "caterpillar rescue mission" until the spring. But, until then, I still have a couple babies in the "nest", so to speak. I've 7 chrysalis, all green as can be, and two caterpillars. One of them crawled up to the top of his cage, and is now preparing to go into his "J", which should happen tonight or tomorrow. The other is still relatively small, and eating like crazy.

My injured butterflies sadly passed on just a few short days after I first posted about them. They are now buried in the back yard. And a butterfly emerged to damaged, I thought it was dead, until I tried to pick it up to take it outside, and it rolled away from me. I managed to get it out of the cage, and layed it on a flower in the sunshine to die in it's natural habitat. I checked to make sure it hadn't fallen out of the flower pot many times throughout the day, until it finally died. So sad.

I may have some final release pictures to show when I have some butterflies to release, so, take heart!! This may not be the last butterfly post after all!!!!

~Erin

My once-again-rapidly-growing family......

ore caterpillars have come!!!!!!!! But, they are all still itsy-bitsys, so they aren't that interesting yet, and WAY to difficult to photograph. BUT, that friend who got me hooked on butterfly raising is currently on vacation, and I was asked to butterfly-sit. So, my babies are having friends over for a two-week long play date :)

I was brought everything from teeny-weenys to fully grown butterflies, and everything in between. But, before I get into that, check out my new caterpillar station!


It's still a work in progress, but it's more organized, and it's not on the dining room table. Everyone on the left half of the picture is mine, and everybody on the right half of the picture is being baby-sat(sitted? Na)

So, I bought this table at a garage sale for $1 for the very purpose to which it is being used.


My temporary charges are about a thousand caterpillars(actually, it's only about 10, but they eat like you would expect a thousand caterpillars would) and these two poor little butterflies. They have special needs. In case you can't see, neither of them have whole wings, one has legs only on one side of his body, and the other has two normal legs, and then two really stumpy legs. They can't fly, and they can't walk, they can only flutter helplessly, and if they want to get somewhere without flying, they have to kind of roll. It's really sad, but they seem to be really "healthy" meaning they do a lot of fluttering and eating. Right now, they are outside in their little mesh cage, catching some rays :) They seem to really like it, because they are just fluttering their little hearts out!

I will continue to keep everyone updated on the butterflies and caterpillars, both mine and my friend's!

~Erin

The release.....

Today, I released all of my butterflies. I still have two butterflies in their chrysalis, and they should be that way for a couple more days. Then, I'll have to go caterpillar-hunting again, if I want to continue raising them, which I will, of course.......

My butterfly forest!!


I took the cage outside and opened the flap, the butterflies clinging to the top for dear life

So I just picked them up one by one and set them on various flowers. Most of them flew away, but two stayed for quite some time.



A close-up


This is one of the butterflies that stayed


Here I got a bit artsy with my camera work



This is what the chrysalis looks like once the butterfly emerges

I hope you enjoyed the posts about butterfly raising! I hope I can add more to this story very soon!!

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