Swallowtail Caterpillar

Isn't he gorgeous? I found this very fat Black Swallowtail Caterpillar in my parsley this morning.

It is also known as a "parsley caterpillar" as it survives on plants in the parsley family.

© Copyright Michael Lindemann, 2006

I suppose he is going to eat all my parsley,

but I just hate to move him!

New Shoes

When he was a baby, my son wouldn't keep anything on his feet. Socks were peeled off within minutes and booties untied. Then he fell in love with a pair of blue slipper boots and wouldn't take them off. He slept in them and wore them everywhere, even when it was 95 degrees out.

By three he needed some real shoes but every pair I tried, he found something wrong with. They pinched or rubbed. They were the "wrong color" for that day, or they were too "big".

Luckily I found Crocs and eureka, shoes that worked everyday, everywhere! Now he has become very athletic and needed a good pair of sneakers. I thought this would be a battle again, but low and behold at 4 1/2, shoes are cool!

Plus sneakers with stripes are "power shoes" and they make him fly! Now if I could just find a pair of "power shoes" with an off button, we'd both be thrilled.

* This is not a product endorsement, we really just love Crocs!

With a Little Help From a Friend

His first time in a pool float, it was a canoe race. He was thrilled!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

For more photo fun visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

The First Watermelon... Almost

I may not be able to grow pumpkins, but I can grow watermelon! I found this tennis ball size baby melon in the garden today. Now for the bad news... ten minutes after taking this picture, my dog "Spirit"

(you have met her before,) also found this watermelon.

Suffice to say, we will now have to wait for the tiny ones to grow as this one is no more! It must have been growing there a while, but she had no interest in it until I touched it.

Now to figure out how to protect the others. The vine has quite a few more little ones and tons of flowers. I know she can jump the fence, so I'm thinking some kind of wire grid to cover them on the ground that she can't get her mouth through. Any other ideas?

Playground Workout

*image credit- stockvault.net

Like most moms, I don't get enough exercise. I hear people say all the time that running around with a small child is bound to keep you fit. Not so in my case. Yes, my legs are strong and my arms are ok. However, everything in between is very much not in shape! I have been trying to take brisk walks in the evening with my son. We have a sidewalk all around our neighborhood and the park, so there is lots to see.

Unfortunately for me, trying to get my heart rate up while walking with a four year old, proves challenging. I spend a lot of time walking in circles around him just to keep up my momentum, while he stops to examine a rock or bug. I have also practiced the walk ahead and then double back routine, while he takes a rest to think about the clouds. I sometimes even get in some strength training when he decides he needs to be carried because his legs "just can't walk another step mom"!

Probably not the ideal way to lift weights, as my back will no doubt pay the price for carrying and un-even 42lb weight load. Still it's better than no walking at all. I would love to get back to running daily like I did before he was born, but I don't think that will happen until he is much older. I did find another way to workout as well, Rocky Balboa style. While he plays in the playground at the park, I can walk/run up and down the bleachers and still keep an eye on him. I can't wait until he is riding a two wheel bike and we can go biking together! Then mommy will really start to shape up.

Original Insect Art

Weird Bug Lady has long been one of my favorite shops at Etsy.com.

I have watched as her shop and amazing talent have grown.

Her latest works are original drawings placed in reclaimed frames. Each one is dated and signed. We are big bug fans around here and love the bold colorful look she has achieved.

Of course her plush insects are unique and fabulous as always! If you have an eye for the not so ordinary world of insects, you must have a look at her shop!

*this is not a paid post, just sharing the good stuff!

Our First Harvest!

It wasn't much but they were delicious. I could only pick enough for one serving, my son was so excited to cook and eat them. Then he only had one bite and decided he didn't like green beans after all. That's ok, more for mommy!

As I said in my last garden post, we have had some losses. The cucumbers developed bacterial wilt and all the vines died. Cucumber bacterial wilt is transmitted by the cucumber beetle and just like my tomatoes, there is not much you can do. So we will try again.

Looks like I will be replanting several things in the fall

(when our weather cools again).

The carrots are still growing, and the watermelon is blooming too. Time will tell how they do. I don't remember South Florida gardening being this hard last time I tried.

Pale Pink Hibiscus

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

For more photo fun visit 5 Minutes for Mom and Momdot.com