transition

Painted Lady Butterflies to Join My Garden Soon

I was inspired by a blog post that artist Maria Wulf shared and the butterfly garden kit she was gifted. When I watched the video of her releasing the butterflies that were once caterpillars into her garden, the joy on her face and the excitement in her voice was contagious. I knew I had to have a butterfly kit of my own.

I felt like a little kid waiting for it to arrive and even more excited when I saw it on my doorstep yesterday.

The instructions said that the caterpillars will be small and inactive for 24-48 hours and to place them away from windows, drafts, and direct sunlight, and to also be sure to handle the Cup of Caterpillars gently.

I placed them on top of the woodstove in the living room which we don’t use this time of year. I was surprised when later in the afternoon I’d noticed they’d already begun to move around. Within 7-10 days they will make their way to the top of the cup and attach themselves to begin their transformation into chrysalides at which point they will need to be transferred to the butterfly garden habitat which is included in the kit. This whole process from caterpillars, to chrysalides, to butterflies, should happen within the next three weeks.

While I don’t know that they will stick around in my garden once I release them, I’m going to enjoy the process of nurturing them as they begin their metamorphosis. Also, a reader of Maria’s blog said that butterflies will lay eggs in the garden and those will hatch next year. So in a way, they will be back!

And just as I wrote that last paragraph I thought about how interesting it is that we don’t always nurture ourselves during times of change or uncertainty. Those times when we are in transition, we sometimes forget to be gentle with ourselves and enjoy the journey instead of worrying about what comes next.

I, for one, am going to enjoy this reminder. Thank you, Painted Lady Butterfly, I needed that little nudge.

xo,

Barbara

 

 

 

The Blooming of New Life

The Booming of New Life

Every time I visited my dear friend Miss Marie’s home, I’d marvel at her Christmas cactus in the south window of her kitchen. I remember how she told me it was her grandmother’s. When her grandma died, Miss Marie inherited it. That cactus was well over 100 years old!

The past two years my Christmas cactus hasn’t bloomed. Recently I decided to re-pot it to see if that helped. Perhaps that is what did the trick to entice this blossom to burst forth, along with two other small buds that will eventually bloom, also.

But I can’t help but think it’s a wink from Miss Marie who passed away three weeks ago today. Not a day has gone by since she died that I’ve not thought of her. While her transition has her blooming in a new way, this cactus bloom has me thinking of how absolutely beautiful it must be wherever she is.

Signs of spring are showing up more and more each day. Just the other day, the sun abundant and warm, the snow melting and the sound of water rushing through the sewer grates, and the chirp of Robin’s who have returned, I found myself talking to Miss Maire. “Oh, Miss Marie!” I said. “I wish you were here to see spring just one more time.”

She loved birds and I’m sure she would have been tickled to see them. But then I smiled and tried to imagine how exquisitely beautiful it likely is where she now resides.

Spring is in bloom just as Miss Marie is blooming in a new place in the cosmos.

P.S. I hope to be back to more blogging again. I’ve missed it. But I also needed to center my focus on the writing of my new memoir. I’m happy to say I now have the manuscript printed and am editing it line-by-line with a brand new red pen. Next, it will be off to the editor. But now without the actual writing of my book, I’m feeling the call to return here to write when the niggle tickles me!

XO, Barbara

 

Animal Wisdom and Personal Growth. My Interview Airs Live Today!

Just a reminder that my interview airs live today for The Animal Wisdom World Summit. What a week it has been so far of many inspirational speakers, with more to come today and the rest of the week.

My interview will air live here at 2pm cst/1pm est/Noon pst.  It will be live for 24 hours in case you can’t catch it at this exact time. You can also still join the upcoming interviews that continue to the end of the week, for free, just by registering here.

My topic is all about how so many of my dogs have been pivotal in my personal growth – as you likely know being part of my community! 🙂 From transitional times in my life, each time, I’ve been transformed into a better version of myself because of them. 

I hope you can join me and all the other fantastic speakers to come!

XO,

Barbara