Any Guesses?

My mother taught me when I was young to look closely. Really closely. I remember getting down on my hands and knees on a sidewalk to watch ants busy at work in a crack. I don't always trust my memory, but I think I remember her kneeling with me.

Now I'm looking closely with my own children. Above is this week's closeup.

Any guesses what it is?

They look like beautiful flowers to me.

The correct word for the picture above is frass.

And frass is a fancy word for . . .

Yes, you guessed it. Poop. Caterpillar Poop.

Meet the Tomato Hornworm, our newest pet.

The kids are smitten. Anika has already created a habitat for our friend. Hornworms need 3 inches of dirt. After eating for 3-4 months, they bury themselves in the dirt to begin metamorphosis. Some day our pet will transform into a huge moth.

If he survives through our children's curiosity. . . that is . . .

The Forgotten Eldest

I've had a lot of comments this week: What about Anika? Where are her pictures?

Most of the pictures below are from this week, and she's been at girl's camp. But I pulled out a picture from a couple of weeks ago to edit and share with you.

Over the River and Through the Woods

I saw Henry this morning pulling his little red suitcase toward the door. I guess my mind was on other things--I thought nothing of it. He was just playing.

A little while later, Jackie frantically ran into my room: "Mom, Henry got in the car and turned it on!"

Oooh . . . scary. . .

I jumped up, ran down the stairs, through the kitchen, past my purse, the contents of which were strewn around it, and out the door to the car, which was indeed running. Henry was climbing out of the front seat.

"Henry!!!! What are you doing?" I asked.

Henry calmly answered: "Going to Grandma's house." (What do you THINK I am doing?)