July 31

So, yeah, I'm really into nature pictures these days.  It is summertime, after all.

This beauty (not sure what kind of butterfly it is) was flitting around some milk thistle with 2 other butterflies.

July 30

I have been staking out in Keira's bedroom all week trying unsuccessfully to get pictures of the goldfinches eating my sunflowers (they are right outside Keira's window).  But the birds are either hidden by leaves and I can't get them or if I do manage to get a shot, I'm too far away and once I crop the photo, it gets blurry.  Even with my 55-200 zoom.  Ugh!

But today I was outside grilling supper (corn on the cob and turkey burgers, in case you were wondering :) and they remarkably didn't fly away when I approached them.  In fact, this female looks like she's giving me attitude.  Like, "what are you looking at?!"  :)  But when I tried to get a little closer, they all flew away.  I'm going to keep trying to photograph them as long as we have sunflowers to feed them.  One of these days, I will get the shot I'm after.

July 29

Alex trying to get a drink from the fountain at the little purple park.  He's too cute!

July 28

We spent the day at Moraine State Park today.  Keira and the boys had a blast playing in the lake.  And I'm a bit crispy this evening.  Even sitting in the shade of my newly purchased beach umbrella with #50 SPF sunscreen on.  Yoy!  :)

July 27

Typically bunnies in our garden make us very unhappy, but this cute little baby bunny was in our garden tonight.  And yes, I was this close.  I only had my 18-55 zoom lens on and it let me get this close to it.  
The kids wanted to catch it so they could pet it.  Of course, we didn't let them try.
Oh, and yes, we know our garden needs some serious weeding!  :)

July 26

All 3 kids together!  Smiling and looking at the camera!  We went to the Pittsburgh Zoo today.  FUN!  (Alex is all wet because he had just gone through a sprayer to get cooled off).

July 25

Tired of my bug pictures yet?  :)  I just cleaned the caterpillars' box and thought I'd get a few more pics of them before they move on to the next stage.  (And, yes, I know this isn't a great pic).  Soon they will be forming a "J" from the ceiling, shedding their skins, and beginning to weave their chrysalis.  Hopefully I will be able to get photos of their different stages.  

This caterpillar thing has been a bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions for me.  I posted the other day that the little baby died.  :(  But then we found 2 more big ones.  :)  Well, the wind gusted yesterday and knocked the box down (again!) and we lost 2 more caterpillars.  :(  Literally lost them.  We looked all over and were unable to find them.  But Nick found another big caterpillar today.  :)  Perhaps it was one of the ones we lost?  I doubt it though.  Anyway, now we have 4 big ones (pictured here) and one smaller one who is living alone in another container.

I was reading online that monarch caterpillars in the wild have about a 10% chance of becoming butterflies, but in captivity they have about a 90% chance.  Of course, that isn't taking into account kids at the Vensel household.  :)