Friday Photos: A Woodland Adventure

Oh, I hope it is as beautiful where you are, as it is here today. It's still relatively mild, but it really feels - looks, sounds, smells - like fall. The skies are an interchanging mix of vivid blue and milky gray, and there's this constant cool, rustling breeze. It was a perfect morning for a little nature walk through the yard. :)

Above you see the basket Earlybird and I carried. We were looking specifically for acorns, and after a while we found some, far off in the northeastern corner. But as we began filling our basket, we noticed closer to the fence, the acorns were not so scattered, but lumped in small piles here and there. Consulting with the older two, we came to the decision that these acorns were actually already claimed - by the crazy gray squirrel we have seen hopping about in this corner of our yard. (It is right behind the playset so he always catches our eye, especially when he - or she for that matter - runs along the top bar and jumps down into the fort).

We kept our acorns for just a short while, admiring them, appreciating their colors and textures - and then returned our plunder to the scrubby little corner that this squirrel obviously calls home. We figured he needs them more than we do.

Next we had a most pleasant surprise! Take a look at this guy:

What an amazing looking caterpillar! Bookworm assured me the "stingers" were not really stinging at all, but soft to the touch. We've never seen one like it, and we're not sure what it is. (If you know, or suspect, please let us know!)

We only handled him long enough to move him off the busy pathway he was entering and into a quieter corner of the yard. He curled up in a ball at our touch, but soon began his slow amble again. He was obviously a caterpillar on a mission!

We wondered at his determination as well as his striking appearance. We thought that perhaps, despite the recent warm weather, he feels old winter creeping through the wood? And this fella knows just what he must do. He must spin his cocoon in some snug secure spot, so that he may be safe until spring. (This was the impromptu story we wove, and it added a fun element to the walk. Now I'm on a mission to make a furry little finger puppet so we can continue the story indoors!)

Just behind our fence, where the deep woods begin, we spied two treasures: this cool capped mushroom:

... and these Michaelmas daisies, just in time for tomorrow!

Now, these are actually New England asters that grow wild all over our state at this time of year. I don't believe they are technically Aster novi-beglii (true Michaelmas daisies) but because they do bloom right around the feast day, I like to point them out the boys and tell them how special they are. (I get so excited when I first spy them - it's like seeing the first goldenrod in August and the first bits of forsythia in spring!)

Later on, as I cleaned the living room, my mind still returned to the woods. I was trying to find something decorative for our front window when I came across some birch logs we had stored downstairs. They provide just the right woodsy perches for our miniature pumpkins!

And here are the three little acorns I saved from the lot. They now sit inside on a sunny windowsill, a reminder of our early fall nature walk.

Well, it's now late afternoon and the shadows are playing on the lawn. It's time to get busy with supper and evening activities, so I'm off till tomorrow - or more likely Monday - it is the weekend after all!

Have a great one, everybody! 

Comments

[Lori]

Nice nature pictures. I was looking through your blog and I came upon a picture of your woodsy tree house and barn set. I think it was in the Jan. 2007 post. I was wondering where you found that, I love it. Thanks Lori

[Lori]

OOPS~
I forgot to ask about all the little stuffed animals you add to your baskets. They are really great learning tools and look very true to life. Could you let me know where you found those too? Thanks much Lori

[Ann C.]

I've been meaning for months to thank you for all the wonderful inspiration you've given to me. Thanks to your beautiful example, I've decided to make weekly liturgical celebrations the centerpiece of our homeschool this year. Dawn, I thought of you today when we made little loaves of dragon bread in honor of the upcoming feast of St. Michael, Archangel. And I smile when I think of your encouragement every time I sit down to plan for a fresh new week.
Many, many thanks for all your efforts at By Sun and Candlelight. It is a treasure.

[Beth]

That's the caterpillar of the American Dagger Moth. They eat deciduous leaves. We found one recently, put it in our butterfly habitat with lots of maple leaves and after eating for a day or two it wove a cocoon! We're waiting for it to emerge.

[Peakmore Academy]

maybe this site will help you identify that caterpillar http://www.whatsthatbug.com/caterpillar_3.html perhaps a type of Tussock Moth??

sorry i couldn't dig up a definite answer for you. i did a bit of google searching but need to move on. good luck in your hunt to identify it!

[residentmuse]

What beautiful forest finds! And Michaelmas daisies, now I know what's been popping up all over my yard! Thanks! Such great inspiration here.

[Candace]

What a wonderful nature walk! Love the catipillar - wow! We took a nature walk today too, I posted about it on my blog - Going on a Leaf Hunt! :) It is beautiful down here as well today!

[Lizz]

http://flickr.com/photos/11956213@N05/1369915405/

This is a picture of our hairy caterpillar that we found earlier this month here in Oregon. Had never seen one of this kind before. It lives on the Snowbrush plant and is rare.

Fun!

[Chrissy]

It sounds like you had a great adventure! Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures.

[Dana]

What a beautiful day you and your family had... and such beautiful finds! I love the caterpillar, and everything else! Thanks for always sharing such amazing photos.