Caterpillar Dance

This must be the world's most delicious leaf! I wish I knew the variety so I could plant some for the Monarch butterflies.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Yes, I have been very busy with real estate. Yes, I still am madly in love with my new washing machine. Yes, I am still thrilled with my decision to cut the cord with cable TV and Yes I am still glad I have no landline. Yes, I am happy with my new router and Yes, the WiFi is working beautifully. NO, I do not miss TV at all because I still have it with an air antenna in the attic but I hardly ever watch it. Pluto TV is my go-to TV on my iPad. I have been renting lots of DVDs again from the library. I have been sleeping much better too. The DVR I used to have in my bedroom made a noise that most people couldn't even hear but I have very acute hearing and can hear a pin drop in the next county so it disturbed my sleep. I am on Season 2 of JANET KING, an Australian legal drama from Acorn TV. The DVD is from the library. I still haven't decided what streaming device I should buy since I am so pleased without having anything. Yes, I do want to watch Season 3 of THE CROWN but will probably just get a free month of Netflix for that. No, I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week. Yes, I am invited to share it with friends. If I didn't answer all of your questions, leave a comment. xo, Rosemary

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

This looks a lot like something from Alice in Wonderland, doesn't it? I photographed this Monarch butterfly caterpillar munching on one of my milkweed plants and I honestly did not know they had a head on both ends. No wonder they can defoliate a plant almost overnight. But the milkweed always bounces back and produces more leaves for these beautiful caterpillars. Shot with my iPhone.

Sharing is caring. 

Caterpillar Feasting on A Poppy Pod

Caterpillar Absolem feasting on Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). This stunning photo is straight out of Alice in Wonderland, isn't it? I want to save it forever, I love it so. Mother Nature really outdid herself when designing this caterpillar's body and colorful markings. via

Papaver somniferum "Midnight"

Butterfly: Photo + Video

I could never determine whether this was a butterfly or a moth. It stayed in place for a very long time flapping its wings and staying still. My still photo is shown above (click to enlarge). I posted my video on Instagram yesterday. See it here. Click on the white arrow to start the movement of the wings. I love the antennae that look like threaded beads.

Watercolors and A Butterfly

This animated butterfly gif is so mesmerizing it almost puts me to sleep. via

Milkweed Plant, Monarch Caterpillar, Limelight Hydrangea

This Limelight hydrangea is three years old and 7 feet tall. WOW. I love it so and it's wonderful to have something showy blooming in August through the fall. The pink flowering plant is a Milkweed that planted itself. The pink flowers are lovely and the leaves are food for the Monarch butterfly caterpillars. I saw my first ones today and took a video. I don't know how to do it on Blogger but it's easy as pie on Instagram. Click here to see my monarch caterpillar video. Click on the arrow in the center of the photo to start the movement. I am so happy I am helping save the Monarchs. Milkweed is their primary food source and it is being eradicated by farmers who consider it a nuisance. Did you know each Monarch lays 500 eggs in one season and only 20 survive? I hope my little plant, in a very protected location, has a better ratio of eggs to butterflies. See you later. xo

Heart shaped swarm of ants

via Instagram http://ift.tt/29WXCag

Heart shaped swarm of ants on my front walk trying to make me love them. 

#epicfail #foundheart #ants #mycottageinstincts #saturdaythings #ig #iphoneonly

So Many Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies by Claude Bernard

Lovely Butterfly.

Butterfly or moth? I can never tell which is which. Anyway, it's a lovely composition. via

The Myth of Red Clover and The Bee

Remember last week when I told you I always believed bees could not get the nectar from red clover because their tongues were too short? This bee hasn't heard that rumor. Sorry my photo is a little blurry but I'm glad I got him at all. I have fields of both white and red and the bees seem like both equally. The hummingbirds love the red clover too. It's a nice cool breezy morning here at the cottage and the dark clouds are beginning to gather for a thunder storm. Have a great weekend. xo

Chicken in the Red Clover Patch

I have lots of this red clover here and there on my property mixed in with the white clover which is predominant. I'm told white clover is better for bees because their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red clover. I have no idea whether this is true or not because I have seen red clover honey on the shelves. via

Busy as a Bee

I have been very busy outside all week long and things are shaping up very nicely. The weather went from 20 degrees above normal for this time of year to below normal and I like that. I can work all day without stopping if it is breezy, cloudy and cool as it was yesterday. My peonies are up and the buds get a little larger each day. via

Busy Bees

I love this animated gif, don't you? It made me sad to mow my clover field last week but the blossoms came right back, almost overnight. via

Rolling in Happiness

Webster's lucky and he knows it. I love to see him rolling in the grass. I'm not sure if he's happy or trying to get some bug relief. A google search tells me that New York and New Jersey are being bombarded by Asian Tiger Mosquitos. The bite during the day too, not just at dawn and dusk and they are beyond annoying. They are swat proof too. You cannot "get" them no matter how hard you try. They don't actually bite me because for some reason bugs don't like my blood. They never have. These flying tigers just annoy me no end buzzing in my ears, landing on my body, and getting in my hair. The article I read said they can breed in a capful of water. It's very dry here but thunder showers are in the weather forecast. Just what they need so they can multiply and annoy me even more! Do you have them too?

via

1922 Cottage Bungalow, Before and After

How much do you love this farmhouse and detached garage?

I love the lookout tower on the side of the garage. The front is shown below.

This is the BEFORE photo.  Read the story of this amazing renovation by Moore Architectects and Designers here. There are more photos too.

Wonderful Original Video

This is guaranteed to make you smile. It's not scary at all. It's a very colorful spider dancing to YMCA by The Village People. You'll love it.

Click here if you can't see the video above. Original Video by Jurgen Otto

Mantis - Praying for My Cottage

This praying mantis has been on or near the new copper downspout near my balcony since Friday. Is he praying for my cottage or getting some minerals from the copper? I hope it's the former. If he's just admiring his own reflection, I hope he has an alternate plan for the winter!

Praying Mantis

Too tired to post. Carpenters came at 8am. Left at 6pm. Mountain have been moved. More wood on the ground than on the house. Just kidding but it was amazing how much damage this poor cottage had to its wood. Two front fascias have to be replaced. Using Azek this go round. Gutters had to be removed. More later. I don't think I ever showed you this photo of my praying mantis. Good night.
PS...Click photo to enlarge. It really is an alien. My Photo

Praying Mantis Portrait

I discovered another alien among us while pruning the boxwood yesterday. He was very friendly and stayed around watching me work until I finished and went inside.  He was huge, as long as my hand. Click photo to enlarge. my Nikon photo

I took this one with my iPhone.

Dragonfly Photographed at My Cottage

Click photo to enlarge.

I snapped this dragonfly earlier today with my iPhone on an after breakfast walk with the wonder dog. Honestly, these insects are aliens with gossamer wings, for sure. my photo