An Easter Visitor

I was outside tending to the garden when out of the corner of my eye I saw this Red Admiral {Vanessa atalanta} butterfly walking on the dirt towards me. He was flapping his wings like a beacon yelling "Hey, do you see me"?

I talked to it for a few seconds and then put my hand down on the ground and he walked onto my finger(s) with a little encouragement. I was more than floored because most butterflies are skittish.

He rested on me for a few minutes. It was both beautiful and ugly. And, so peaceful and brave.

I could not help but think of my Dad. It is a long story; but, butterflies remind me of him.

I think both Dan and I were amazed at this little visitor.

Macro: Long-tailed Skipper {Urbanus proteus}

As mentioned in a previous Macro post, I have a HUGE butterfly bush. On October 29, I spotted a very unusual butterfly fluttering about and grabbed my camera. It turned out to be a Long-Tailed Skipper.

Macros: White-striped Longtail {Chiodes albofasciatus}

As mentioned in a previous Macro post, I have a HUGE butterfly bush. These pictures were shot on October 30, 2016. Much to my surprise, It is not the same species as the one shot the day before. It was hard to get a good picture because it was constantly moving. This is a White-striped Longtail butterfly.

Macros: Gulf Fritillary {Agraulis vanillae}

I have a HUGE butterfly bush I planted years ago. It was loaded with a variety of butterflies recently. Abby Gail loves to roost underneath the bush and watch them flutter about. It is as if she has her own butterfly zoo and will often make a beeline for the bush when let outdoors. She's fairly good about not attacking them and even go so far and to approach slowly, stretch out her neck and sniff them out of curiosity.

The pictures don't quite do justice as the whites of the undersides of the wings shimmer when the light shines upon them just right.

{All pictures shown shot on October 30, 2016}

Gulf Fritillary

Macro Monday {Checkered}

Vesta Crescent or Vesta Crescentspot (Phyciodes vesta)

Shot at Garner State Park on June 1, 2015

Note: One of my field guides, copyright 2012, lists "Phyciodes vesta" and has this exact butterfly pattern pictured. However, upon further research with another butterfly I snapped (and had difficulty identifying), I believe the correct classification is "Phyciodes graphica". The common name (Vesta Crescent) is still the same. Yes, I wasted bandwidth. But, at least, I feel better about the identification of this butterfly.

Macro Monday {Phyciodes}

Vesta Crescent or Vesta Crescentspot (Phyciodes graphica)

Shot at Garner State Park on June 2, 2015

Note: This is the butterfly I had difficulty identifying and in the course of research, found what I believe is the "correct" classification.

Garner State Park, June 2, 2015

Garner State Park, June 1, 2015

A striped (possibly whiptail) lizard.

I was shocked I managed to snap one lone picture of one as they are lightning quick. I was doubly shocked that it came out okay.

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

A white butterfly in a field of (lazy?) daisies

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

A Pipevine Swallowtail {Battus philenor} on Horsemint

The "Wascally Wabbit", Jack Rabbit

Unidentified

Texas Bindweed {Convolvulus equitans}.

This is part of the Morning Glory family!

I snapped this one to identify later. I still have not been able to identify this flower.

Brown-eyed Susan {Rudbeckia hirta}

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

Unidentified Moth

For more information on the differences between butterflies and months, go here.

Heavy Laden with Pollen

I believe this is a bee fly {Bombyliidae}.

A Pipevine Swallowtail {Battus philenor} on Horsemint

Vesta Crescent or Vesta Crescentspot (Phyciodes vesta)

Note: One of my field guides, copyright 2012, lists "Phyciodes vesta" and has this exact butterfly pattern pictured. However, upon further research with another butterfly I snapped (and had difficulty identifying), I believe the correct classification is "Phyciodes graphica". The common name (Vesta Crescent) is still the same. Yes, I wasted bandwidth. But, at least, I feel better about the identification of this butterfly.

Macro Monday {White}

I believe this is a Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

{To see a larger image, go here.}

Garner State Park, June 1, 2015

I was not feeling the greatest while camping; but, I am so glad I went because the younger kids were so friendly and adorable. They hung around our campsite a LOT which pleased me to no end.

In the mornings and late evenings, I would wander around looking for flying flowers (butterflies). I actually channeled Elmer Fudd and hunted down some "wascally wabbits" and succeeded. In the afternoons, a woodpecker would regularly invade our campground and I attempted to capture them. Unfortunately, I only took one picture of people. Maybe next time I'll concentrate on capturing people in moments of time.

These were taken on June 1, 2015

Horsemint

The "Wascally Wabbit", Jack Rabbit

Bordered Patch {Chlosyne lacinia} butterfly

Unidentifed

A faded Bordered Patch {Chlosyne lacinia} butterfly

A faded checkered butterfly; most likely Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes vesta)

My field Guide also calls it a "Vesta Cresentspot"

Macro Monday {Anthanassa texana}

A very tired (worn) Texas Crescent (Anthanassa texana}

Note: This butterfly is also referred to as "Phyciodes texana" in some field references.

Shot at Garner State Park on June 2, 2015

{To see a larger image, go here.}

Macro Monday {Chlosyne lacinia}

A very worn Bordered Patch {Chlosyne lacinia}

Shot at Garner State Park on June 2, 2015

{To see a larger image, go here.}

I know that I've taken pictures of many of these same butterflies; but, I cannot seem to help myself as they are extremely beautiful.

Phone {Picture} Dump IV

Camera {Picture} Dump I

Camera {Picture} Dump II

Camera {Picture} Dump III

A Gluten Free Bakery, Red Oak Bakery, in New Braunfels, Texas. April 22, 2015

Butterfly, April 23, 2015

I wanted my camera so bad! All I had was my lousy phone as I was waiting for my new camera at this time.

A Minion trying to get into my room! Ha! April 26, 2015

My new garden Hat – not so floppy! April 25, 2015

Upcycle: Old drawers into shelving units. April 26, 2015

Note: I had purchase four old drawers from an antique/junk store for $35.00

My new camera finally came in and what do I do? Snap a picture with my phone. Shaking my head (SMH) April 29, 2015

Pickling cucumbers (first harvest); May 6, 2015

Turned them into pickles! May 10, 2015

Yummo! May 10, 2015

Note: A total of eight jars of pickles were made.

Note II: We had a second harvest of pickling cucumbers and made relish.

Dug out an old UFO (Unfinished Object) to work on. May 15, 2015

"You can take the cat out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the cat". – Dan

This was his response to my text concerning Abby losing her mind when she attacked me. I had to put her in time out for the first time in ages after she attacked me again a few minutes later.

This lousy picture is of her being loving and "asking for forgiveness" after being released from time out and slinking back into my room. She had worked her way onto me while I was on office chair and on the computer. She purrs, kneads, and snuggles my neck. How can you resist a mischievous bratty loving cat like that? SMH

This is what happens when a ripe pickle is missed in the last harvest – it gets huge and overripe! SMH May 20, 2015

And yes, that is Abby photobombing the picture.

T-shirt. I saw this and immediately thought of my eldest brother… And then one of Dan’s brothers… And then, Dan himself… and then, a nephew….

In case you don’t know, sarcasm tends to run in my family. SMH. May 22, 2015