Living well Wednesdays

Where has this week gone? The last two weeks have just flown by or so it seems. I know I have the same amount of time as everyone else, but have I really been doing stuff to the point that it seems like my 24 hours are 12? I have been getting to they gym 3 days a week that's something. I have to do it like I have an appointment, otherwise I don't. Today is gym day and shopping day. But not before I make menues. I have found that I'm limiting my trips to the grocery store 1: gas prices and even though I live close enough to walk, not with a large load. Plus my favorite store for large shopping trips is not close enough to walk. 2:If I don't shop as much I use what I have and don't waste as much 3: Seriously I simply have to be in the mood. Grocery shopping has never been one of my favoite things to do, so it is something I do and get overwith.




I forgot to weigh before I ate this morning. I know I have been watching it, but not as well as I should. I made a batch of cookies the other day just because I wanted to. I usually let hubby do that and I am not as tempted. This was a first since Christmas.

Have a blessed day I need to get ready for work. I will visit other posts afterwork.

Yard Art

Dad's newest additions to our front yard, via yard sales and paint.

I forgot to take in mulberry leaves on Friday for the silkworms, yes they are eating that fast now, so I had to make a special trip in on Saturday to feed them. I took my camera and snapped a current photo. They grow so fast now. There are more but they are under the leaves.

Photos of Dahlia

I have now had her for 1 year. She is 1 1/2 years old.

Living well Wednesdays

It hasn't been a great week for dieting, however I have gone back to the gym. Sometimes I need to make a "date" to get me there, but then that works also. This week I neither lost nor gained. Besides working on assessments for school, I will be doing some menu planning tonight. With the soaring cost of gas it is better to go shopping once a week instead of several times. So with menu's at least I know what food to get and what I have in the house. Besides, cooking for 2 most of the week, I don't need as much ~ Keith eats at home maybe 3 times a week sometimes 4. I do need lunch foods for him on the weekends.This morning there is rain, or shall I say showers. Not enough to do any good but just enough to make it messy outside. We so desperately need rain that i wish it would just pour!Check out my previous postto see the ladybug cocoons and silkworms. We released the butterfly's last Friday. As you can imagine with a class of 4 & 5 years old's there are squeals of delight!

Ladybugs and silkworms

Here is a close up of a ladybug cocoon, on a fence post. I took this picture on Monday April 21. Today, the ladybugs were emerging from their cocoons. The wings are extended so they can dry.

the silkworms are finally getting big enough to see. They grow so fast!

And the children can see them without help now.

Bye Bye

Friday we said good-bye to our butterfly's. It all happened so fast I barely got any picture, definitely none in the air. The butterfly's were flying around in their container, the children were excited. So we lined everyone up and went outside. I had everyone sit in a circle and sat the container on the grass (in the middle ) and I took the lid off. I did manage to get a couple photos, before the butterfly's took off.

As they flew away (one at a time) the children waved and said "good-bye & go find a new home" to the butterfly's. One landed on the grass, but then took off again. I had a hard time focusing and getting the light right.

It was a good experience and journey for the children, and fast. They are Painted Lady butterfly's ~ and they have a very short life span. They will complete their life in 3 weeks, from the time they emerged from their cocoons.

Not what you think

When I got into class this morning, 4 of the butterfly's had emerged from their cocoons, and one was still in the cocoon. You can see 3 of the butterfly's in this photo and the cocoon. The 4th butterfly is inside the plastic container at the bottom right of the picture. By 11:15 the 5th butterfly had emerged. The children where so thrilled. Those red/orange spots on the fence post are ladybug cocoons. They will be hatching in a few days, which will probably be Sat. or Sunday so we'll miss that.

The tiny tiny black spots on the green leaves are the silkworms. I took the picture on Monday and they are twice that size by Wednesday. Unfortunately I have no photos as they were on the insides of the leaves and hard to to see. I hope to have some more up to date photos by Friday. You can actually see the big white head on their little bodies. The praying mantis have not yet emerged from their egg. When they do we will let them go because that is what is recommended, as it is hard to feed them in captivity unless you're some kind of scientist or bug person that can get food for the little tiny creatures. I will try and get a picture when that happens. If we let them go they they can feast on whatever is outside. We will let them go next to the pasture.

Living well Wednesday

One day at a time, one flower at a time. I FORGOT to post last Wed. and it has been a ho hum week. At least I started going back to the gym and the first few days the tummy crunches left me a little sore, but am not feeling it so much now.
It has been so windy the last few days, I am hoping it dies down so I can walk some more.
Last week it was in the high 70's and 80's. Sat. or Sun. it was around 94 ~ a bit hot for this time of the year. My D. drained the pool (it was green) and refilled it, which is good. When it warms up a bit more I may start swimming some (as well as you can in a doughboy). I may not be able to do laps but I can do circles, besides it can be refreshing! ♥ ♥ ♥

Women of Faith

There was a Women of Faith conference in Fresno Friday and Saturday. I signed up in January. I was really tired and really needed to do some busywork at home and didn't want to go. But, I did, and am very glad I did. It was very good. Good speakers, good music, good messages. But because of traffic and parking I had dad take me an pick me up both days. Good weekend.

We had a good visit with LaVera and Charles. They came Tuesday by dinner and left Thursday around 9:00. They are going to Sedona, AZ. Bonnie will meet them there. I had watched a special on the DSC channel about UFO hot spots, and Sedona is suppose to be one of them. Do you think that is true? I will leave that up to your imagination, I have no opinion.

Looking good!

Today I gently lifted the lid off the container and attached it to the side. The cocoons are now in proper position. I layed the small container on it's side so the other cocoon is in its proper position, too.
They should emerge as butterflys by
Friday. I will keep you posted.

Coocon's

The flowers are called Sweet William's (????), and they attract butterfly's to gardens. As you can see mine are just beginning to bloom and will continue to do so all summer. They multiply every year so I have bunches and bunches of them. On Thursday towards the end of class all the caterpillars were hanging upside down. They children were jumping so one fell down. I was afraid that was the end of it. When I came in Friday morning, as you can see, they all had made their cocoons ~ even the one on the bottom of the container.
In about a week we will see them emerge from their cocoons. I will gently lift the lid and attach it to the side of the larger container they share with the silkworms, so when they emerge they will have room to expand their wings. I will bring in a bunch of the Sweet William and let them stay in the container for a day or so then we will let them go. Last year 3 of the 5 had deformed wings so we couldn't let them go. I feed them with the flowers.

Living well Wednesday

It has been a so so week. Like my daughters cat, I am needy this week. So much to do and so little time. With gas prices what they are, I find I am not jumping in my car and running to the store every so often to get something for a meal. Of course I could walk, I live that close. I need to get myself up in gear and get to they gym starting today, or else drop the membership. I think I will leave a note of the 'fridge to start working out again and walk to the gym (it is next to the store). Then think if I need to buy something. Instead it is creativity I need in planning my meals. Doing fair there.

My son ♥ ♥

I just would like to know how much food to cook for dinner? Seriously, he is 23 and old enough to live on his own (if money weren't a problem) but a straight answer or statement would be nice.

Critter eggs ♥

Praying mantis egg I know this isn't as clear as I'd like, but the orange clusters are ladybug eggs that will hatch in just a few days. It's hard holding a camera above your head and trying to focus. Plus I enlarged the photo, the clusters are small. There are many of them on the trees in my yard at school.
Look how big the caterpillar's are getting. I expect cocooning soon.