Metamorphosis

 

This is half of my book club enjoying live music overlooking Saratoga Lake. 

Last week our book club was supposed to discus James by Percival Everett, but there were so many of us at 2 tables, very little discussion took place. Our next book is On Your Left by Jack Rightmyer, a local author and journalist and long time friend of hiking leader Jim. Jack is joining our book club discussion so it should be a bit more focused and interesting to hear from the author himself.

Labor Day weekend was a quiet one. I did some more renovating - this time my pantry. My kitchen storage has remained sub par for the past 29 years, so I decided to address the issue rather than keep living with it. I found a shelf in the garage, painted it white, and installed it in the pantry for better organization. I'm pleased with it, and just found another identical shelf at the same store I bought the first one from - 28 years ago. I may buy it to add to the pantry rehab.

Before - Dark and lacking organization.

After - Extra lighting, more shelving, and a bit more organized.
Now I can stock up for the winter months.

Sunday night a few friends and I drove over to Tanglewood in Massachusetts to see Bonnie Raitt perform. She was amazing, at 75 years old, to be belting out her songs as strong as ever. I last saw her 35 years ago in Canadaigua NY.

We watched her on the tiny screen from very far away - the place was packed! We brought a picnic dinner
and shared some sweet treats. 

A monarch caterpillar on milk weed in my garden. 
I left it to nature as it was already about full grown - 2 inches.

I have a few tenants living with me for a few weeks. I cannot resist the little Monarch caterpillars hatching in my garden. They are susceptible to being eaten when they are tiny (3 mm long), so I take them in. I found six, but gave 2 to my friend Janice to raise. I now have 3 in the chrysalis stage and one scarfing up all the milkweed I can stuff into its jar. They have always fascinated me - I watched one shed its skin today and turn into the green blob which hardens into its chrysalis in about an hour.

This afternoon, this one shed its skin, then  hardened into its chrysalis
with beautiful golden spots.


These two should emerge as monarch butterflies in about a week.

I went to my friend Janice's house to join her for a bike ride to Samascott Orchards where we met up with Dale for lunch. I used to work with them both so long ago. We had a two hour lunch and caught up on each others lives. Then Janice and I set off for our 11 mile ride back to the car. Before I left her house, I got to meet her flock of chickens and one rooster, along with 9 chicks getting ready to be introduced to the flock. There will be many eggs at her house!

As the weather cools and the days shorten, the end of my flowers grows near.
I had to pick a bunch of tithonia to enjoy inside before they are gone.
They are just pure sunshine and joy to me.


Comments

  1. MargaretSeptember 2, 2025 at 10:53 PM

    Wow, that first photo is stunning! The light is beautiful. "James" was a good book, but I didn't love it as much as many others. I'm impressed with what you're doing to help the monarch butterflies along; they are even pretty as caterpillars. What an improvement in your pantry! Mine is essentially just a closet with shelves. And very disorganized!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM

    I wish I could claim credit for that photo, but it was just shared with me. My pantry is also just a closet but I've been channeling my engineer father lately, and optimizing neglected spaces in my home.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PamSeptember 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM

    Oh, not very sure about caterpillars. I don't like the way they move! Of course, I like butterflies, so this is very illogical. Re your comment - I do FB and just lurk on Instagram but never put anything terribly personal on anything. I find this online weeping very strange. Is it a generational thing? - not sure. I can't see my daughters ever doing it. Maybe it's just that people who are inclined to broadcast their tragedies are now able to do so. Each to his/her own, I suppose. And maybe it makes them feel better; I suppose it must.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maureen MSeptember 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM

    I've always found the social medias a double edged sword. It can be nice to connect, but rife with misconstrued comments.

    ReplyDelete

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