A New Creation

Monarchs ….. in my eyes, one of the most awesome wonders of God’s creation!  From one day in August watching them as  little caterpillars munching away on my milkweed leaves, transforming into these gorgeous black and orange butterfly angels just a few short weeks later, will never cease to be a miracle to me.  What a truly amazing transformation that goes on from within its chrysalis – and one day appears as a totally new creation! 

My 13 yr.old granddaughter got me interested in raising monarchs this summer.  I’ve given thought to it before, but always imagined that there was too much involved, or more work to it than I was willing to give it.   But all it took for me to get hooked was 4 little caterpillars that my granddaughter and I brought in from the butterfly weed (asclepias) in my garden and placed in an old 20-gallon fish aquarium.   She went home from her stay here right after that, and I was left to take care of these little guys… and from that point on I found myself totally smitten with a new hobby, and raising nearly 30 caterpillars to monarchs till the season had ended.   And I’m already looking forward to next spring and summer, with new garden and flower growing ideas for their eating pleasure, as well as saving every kind of container that I think will make a great caterpillar house. 

Anyway … in the midst of raising all of these caterpillars and monarchs, I had the awesome privilege of watching this wonderful miracle take place – the transformation into a new creation!  And of course, many photo opportunities as well.  Here is a collage that I made with some photos I shot of the ‘birth’ of the monarch.   Enjoy!  

                                        Keep facing the SON ! 

                                                  ~ Deb

Come, rest a spell ….

If you’re familiar with hummingbirds, you know how ‘speedy’ they are.   “Zoom, zoom, zoom” was written just for them.  They can fly from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds, it seems.  (Okay, maybe just a bit of an exageration.)  Their zig-zaggy, speedy ways make them  not the easiest subject to shoot; at least if you are trying to shoot them being still.

After a nice summer rain shower, I took my camera out on the deck for a quicky photo shoot (no tripod), and stood very near to this feeder with my 200mm zoom lens . . . so, although the result isn’t perfect, I am fairly satisfied.

Hummingbirds give us so much pleasure and enjoyment, it’s always so sad to see them leave.   Here in our corner of Pennsylvania, they will begin migrating around Labor Day/the first week of September.   We continue to leave the feeders out for the whole  month of September, however, as the ones from up north come thru and stop in to fuel up, before continuing on their long journey south.       I sure will miss them.

The Bells of Spring

I wait so anxiously all winter for Spring to arrive.  When it finally gets here, time sure doesn’t go slow enough to suit me….and before you know it, the melting heat of summer seems to be upon us.

I love macro photography, especially of my flowers.   I luv seeing the awesomeness of the way God has articulated His creation with so many details.   And the coral bell (seen here) is just one of many beauties that are ringing in the season of Spring.   I never realized until I got up close and personal to this guy, just how hairy he is.  =)

What simple joys I find in my garden.   And even more, I find God there……everytime.

Keep facing the SON!   ~deb