The Taming Of The Butterflies

 Like that Shakespeare play... Only nicer.   

You may remember that I have been gushing about the Mournning Cloak abundance this year here in the Kenosha area.  ( perhaps they are abundant in other places as well....) Well,  they are unique in that they tend to be a friendly butterfly.   That is to say,  unlike most butterflies that fly away when you approach them...   Mourning cloaks tend to stay in the area and circle around you as long as you are not swating at them or trying to catch them with a net.  

Case in point:  Yesterday,  I found this beautiful GIANT SWALLOWTAIL here in Wisconsin ( Near one of my fishing spots..   For those who do not know,  these are a rare southern stray butterfly, that occasionally flies north during the summer.  ( Their food plant is citrus leaves...)  Every time I see one of these beauties,   I give chase and try to capture a picture.   This is made most challenging, because these butterflies are what they call " Horizon flyers" in that, once they feel threatened,  they fly off into the sunset!   Never to be seen again....

But I DID manage to capture a long range shot of him before he took off.   I was so pleases with this picture, I was going to blog all about just that!

 But then ...  This happened:

I noted that this guy was floating around Ladybird and I for a long time.   And I decided to see if I could get him to land on my hand.   

He was flying all around.  And kept landing on a blade of grass that could not support him...   So I held out my hand as a substitute. 

Several times, he nudged my hand or arm with his wings.

And I took many shots,,,  each time, missing the "near miss!"

But then....  This happened!

It was close enough to perfect for me.   With my crappy little phone camera. (The irony of our standards in photography is not lost on me in my own statement...)  

So I made another friend today.   This time with a butterfly!   Hey!   What is the count of wildlife things that I have been able to hold or touch this month?   Let's see:   

A Turkey.

A Chipmunk.

A nest of Baby Robins..  Oh!  Who have since left the nest!    I knew they would begin flying soon.   I'm sure the entire day of rain must of helped motivate them to leave the open roof concept.

And the countless fish that I have been releasing....   

You might think that I'm a "Dr. Doolittle" of sorts.    (There is a joke in there some where... for those who know me.)   I know some are thinking about the "Do Little" as what I have done with my life thus far.    But I was referring to the ability to observe and talk to the animals.   (More than simple communication....)  I guess that is why I gravitated to the animal kingdom more and got that Fish and Wildlife degree.    What can I say.    Some times it is a challenge to make every second count. 

Oh!  And here is an interesting video on the Awesome Mourning Cloak!   Enjoy! 

The Season Of Change....

 Well,  Summer has finally arrived, if you were to judge purely by the weather.   The last two days have been a scorcher! And it looks like the hot weather is here to stay.  I went out for a run this morning (Almost afternoon!)  and only managed to get in about 4 miles.   It appears I am starting from the basics once again. And the pleasant weather we had previously has changed to "unpleasant"!   Adding an additional layer of misery for my exercise experience.   And just when I thought I would be able to get back into the swing of things easily....

Well, to be honest,  I have not been in much of a position to where I can figure out a routine... Under our current situation.   But I believe that is about to change.   You see,   Dave and I have secured a house for rent for a short time.   I called this morning to secure the utilities.  My plan is to move in around Thursday.   And through out next week, when Dave will be on Vacation. 

It should be fairly easy...   All I have are clothes!  Any additional things that are currently in storage ( tools mostly...) I will bring along and store in the basement or garage.   If I'm fortunate,   I will secure a chair and a desk...  and a mattress soon after.   It will be easy!   

And having been in the Army, where sleeping in an abandoned chicken coop was like sleeping at a HILTON instead of being in a muddy foxhole...   I'm used to doing more with less.    ( The coop was on stilts!  And had a roof!  A nice touch when it is pouring cats and dogs outside!) 

In other news,  I did the Haribo assessment... And passed!   ( 86% I believe...)   I can't tell you how nerve wracking it is to take a test with no advanced warning or prep time.   It was 50 minutes long,  36 questions  in length...  And the questions ranged from fairly complicated math questions to "what would you do in this situation?"  Some fo the terms they used were unknown to me, so I did what I always told my students to do....  Process of elimination!  

It must have worked... because they offered me the job.  I begin on July 8th....  After another drug screen and background check. ( Nothing should have changed since the zebra one...So I should be good to go!)  The pay is slightly better and the benefits are about on Par with Zebra.  AND it is a new experience with a new environment and more things to learn and master!   I can't wait!

It will be second shift, though.    Not that big of a deal ( comes with an additional $1.50/hr!)  I have done the second shift thing before and after a little bit of adjusting,  you grow into it.   IT simply means I will be able to sleep in and do my exercise before work, which will probably be better as the summer heat kicks in. 

Scaly Caps!  Pretty, but inedible/

And finally,  Another nature walk with the Ladybird.   We checked out the Robins, ( They are growing so fast!)  and the usually places for mushrooms.    I'm still on the search for the chicken of the woods, which appeared this time of year two years ago.   (Last year I missed it!)   

A Carpenter Bee!  

There are also lots of butterflies out where we hunt.   I have yet to see any Painted Ladies or Red Admirables....  Usually they are the ones dominating the fields and forests this time of year.   But the Mourning Cloaks are a welcome change.    It must be their year to shine this year...

So the rest of the week:   Beat the heat ( And the rain!  There is lots in the forcatst the next several days) Move the stuff into the new place of permanence,  and prepare for any additional tasks Haribo has for me.   With the Sun being out so full and hot,  it makes fishing a little more challenging.   No one wants a 3rd degree sunburn!   So,  I shall see if I can find something to do inside for the time being.   No crafties... Just other things that keep my creative mind occupied.   

In the mean time...   I will continue to try to make every second count. 

Playing The waiting Game...

 "Waiting is the hardest part."  Tom Petty sang that in a song some time ago... And it is so true!   One of the greatest life skills the Army ever gave me was learning how to wait.   "Hurry Up and Wait!" was the unofficial Army Motto.   And it was so true.  Having a sense of Urgency while maintaining a "constant State of Readiness" seems like a contradiction to people outside the military.   But to us... We learned its meaning and value.  

So...   Dave and I have set up residence in yet another host family's house.  That is to say, another family was gracious enough to give us shelter while they were away.    So  here we are...  Thankful yet again for shelter, while also trying to figure out a more permanent solution.   I have to tell you,  being "homeless" is rather stressful!   And it is beginning to creep up on me...  Ever so slightly...

But the best way to combat that feeling is to stay active.   Or at least... Occupied!  And I find that running at a small trail system here in Racine has been a welcome distraction.   Sure, it is only a couple miles..    And I skip out on much of my typical work outs... But it is outside and active.  And the weather has been nice enough to keep it mostly enjoyable.

And then there is the fishing.   I have been hunting down all of these little pockets of water that are used as retention ponds and seeing what I can catch in them.   The exploring is part of the fun.   

Today, I went to a gravel pit nead where we are staying and played around there.   I only caught a few bluegill and small Bass,  But later, a guy came in and was catching trout!  Apparently, they plant them in there  every year and you can catch the ones that are left over.  All of the ones he caught were "barely legal" and almost all the same size.   And they were much deeper than I could reach with the fly rod.  Hatchery fish are also a challenge because they are "not Normal" in their feeding habits.   They eat corn, pink marshmallows, and Rice Crispies! So basically, only the kind of food they are used to eating in the hatchery.   The guy was using wax worms with great success.  

But I headed out to another location where I had some success yesterday.  A small drainage pond near some power lines.   The pond was Filled with chubby green sunfish!   And they were more than eager to take whatever I was offering.  At the very least, the action was fast and furious!  Sure,  Green Sunfish do not fight as well as a bluegill of similar size, but the hunger and willingness to take a fly more than made up for it.  

I was even greeted with a few bonus nature sightings.   A Muskrat made an appearance and did not seem to mind showing off.   

Speaking of nature sightings.   While nature walking with my "Hostage Dog" this afternoon,   I was able to grab and hold onto another chipper!  Ladybird is an eager and willing hunter...
 
 But she SUCKS at the actual location.    She notices the movement and gives chase, but the chipmunk can literally climb onto my hand and she will not notice. A  missed opportunity for her, but a special moment for me. 

It also looks like the Robins are developing nicely.   Pretty soon they are going to be hopping out of the nest and onto he branches above us.    

The Mushrooms are finally making an appearance on the forest floor.   I found Megalaspora,  Black footed Polypores, and an Ink cap.  There were also a number of new oyster mushrooms, but these guys had the brown gills.   and I have read that those are not the best one to consume, as they may make you sick and have a foul texture.  So... Take a picture and leave for the bugs and animals. 

I also found a fairly fresh Dryad Saddle.   I would have thought they would be finished by now, but I guess there are always those late bloomers.   They also begin to pop up later in the Fall. 

Tomorrow is Sunday, and then Monday is the Haribo thing.  I have been able to put it out of my mind for the most part so I don't get nervous or over-think it.   I still have two weeks of grace with Zebra if things do not pan out, so  that is a little reassuring.   Still, I don't want to count chickens before they hatch OR jinx myself with an overly optimistic view of things.  I shall try to focus on one thing as it comes.   And then make decisions as the information comes in and expands. What else are you going to do?   You can only "Be Here Now" and make every second count..

Fish, Dogs, Mushrooms, Bears, and Zebras. Oh My!

I spent the morning fishing the same little pond in front of the Home2.  It was a beautiful day with wonderful breeze.   I simply passed the time catching and releasing the fish while enjoying the zen of Fly Fishing.  It is a  wonderful way to keep you occupied  so you  don't focus on negative things that are beyond your control.  

While I was out there, the Home2 Maintenance guy came out to talk to me.   Turns out, he fishes this pond as well!  And caught a HUGE bass out of it.  (19 inches!  He showed me the picture on his Phone!)  I could see several bass chasing some of the bluegills I was hooking, but they did not want anything I was offering.  Even my largest Woolly Bugger Could not tempt them.  

But it did not matter.   I was having a ball with the chunky bluegills.  I found that the bumblebee fly worked best and every one I caught was more beautiful than the last.   I eventually had to stop taking pics, because there were simply too many pretty ones.  

My depression and my lack of running clothes, and shoes have all conspired to keep me from my routine running regiment.   I have to find my running shorts. ( I know I salvaged them from the basement, I simply do not remember where they currently are!)
  Hopefully they are in my car and not stowed away in the holding garage with the tools.  But all that information is a lead up to say that I got some new running shoes today. 

My old shoes were not so good.   I ran the Half Marathon and had the worst case of Plantar fasciitis!   After the fire, I found ONE shoe.. and still could not find the other.   ( floated away somewhere, I guess.  I doubt it burned up...) It did not matter, because I was hesitant to put those shoes on anyway.   So I think  a fire, compounded with a missing shoe.. AND the fact that the shoes SUCKED are plenty of good reasons to buy new ones.  

And so I did.   The guy at Rogan Shoes was most helpful.   Turns out,  he is a runner!  And has run 11 Marathons and countless Half-ers.    He was even going to run the Racine  5 K lighthouse run this Saturday.. After his double bypass surgery.  ( Runners are CRAZY!) 

I settled on the Hoka Clifton 10.  He said that they allow the toe box to move in unison and the heel is Padded to take the punishment of a long distance.    I tried them, and several other shoes for comparison and chose  the Hoka one every time.   Now I simply have to put them to the test.  My plan is to run at least three miles tomorrow.

Having not run at all since the half marathon,  I think I'm starting from  zero.... and that is probably the best way to adjust to the new shoe.   I hope they work out for me and keep the foot pain away... at least during training. 

I continue to steal the dog and take her for walks and mushroom hunts.  And she continues to be the lucky charm I brag about.    Yesterday, we found an entire Log of Crowned Tipped Coral mushrooms!  

Looks what we found!

 I was euphoric!   I occasionally find a few here and there and toss them into the basket.   But it is a rare moment when I am able to find an entire LOG filled with them!   They are so fragile and tender.   I always describe them as having the texture of angel hair pasta with a crisp snap.( If you don' overcook them.)  We had them over steak once and they were to die for!  I gave them to Dave because he has access to a kitchen, ( I do not... unless a microwave counts.)   I hope he was able to cook them up and serve them up to the host family.   And that they enjoyed them!  (because wild mushrooms are so much more sweeter than the ones that are found in the store....) 

Resting after a long day!

The temps have been hot the last couple of days!  And Ladybird and I have been enduring the heat for a little exercise. ( She does not need it as much as I do... Currently)  But after trail blazing through the forest and finding all sorts of animals and insects.  We both are thoroughly exhausted after each hike.  I should also note that "insects" are more than just tiger beetles and butterflies.  Both of us have been bit by ticks!

Tall grass is where they hide!

Since finding two on me.. and a number of red marks on Bird....  I invested in some DEET this afternoon . (Along with Sunscreen... Turns out, I'm getting a lot of sun fishing and hiking during the day...)  We also are avoiding the tall Grass on our exploration expeditions.  Not only are there annoying ticks, but there is also Stinging Nettle and Prickly Spear. Not the most fun walking through that stuff with shorts on. 

And finally,    Haribo and Zebra.   Earlier this week, I completed all my tasks for Zebra and have been sitting on pins and needles. ( And Prickly spear and nettle....) waiting for them to reply.   Several people have asked me at least once a day if I have heard back from them.  ( Including Zebra Employees!) And what is taking so long....

But tonight,  I just got an Email from Haribo.   They are anticipating an opening on second shift and have asked me to come in on Monday for an assessment.  And since I have no current obligation  to ....Well...  Anyone at the moment....   I told them I would do it.   

The pay is better and I heard that the benefits ( if you count those) are just as generous as Zebra.  Like I mentioned before,  I was holding out for this job originally,  so it makes sense that I would still be interested.   And ultimately,  I have to look out for my own best interest at some point.  

Special thanks to one of my students teaching me AI. 

Still!  There is no guarantee I will be accepted!   I could mess up the evaluation ( I certainly hope not, but it is possible...)  And if things do not work out,  and Zebra eventually lets me know when to come in, I can still take it.   But currently,  I may end up having to choose.    And I do love the people at Zebra.   (And the culture...)  So it will not be as easy as some folks might think.  

So the next few days, I will have to be doing some hard thinking and praying.   I do not think it is a coincidence that this opportunity came when it did.   And, as always, I probably do not know the reason or the purpose of it.   Perhaps God wanted to see just how serious I was about finding a new job... Or He wants me to have to make a Hard Decision...  Of going back to the comfortable and known quantity...  OR the new and unfamiliar...  With all of the challenges that come along with uncharted territory.  But whatever I choose,  I know God will bless me and show me His way.  And this might be His way of showing me how to make every second count.