We've had our little friend sitting in a jar on Emma's nightstand. We knew "hatching time" was close because the chyrsalis had turned black. What we were really seeing was his black wings.
The next morning, Mary went upstairs after breakfast and yelled, "THE BUTTERFLY IS HERE!!!!!!" We all ran upstairs to see a little, soggy, limp butterfly laying at the bottom of the jar. We felt terrible that our friend was confined inside our claustrophobic jar. It was the moment that we had been waiting for since we first set our eyes on the helpless cocoon. It was time to take the jar outside, unscrew the lid and sing, "Born Free."
It was a bit chilly, but hey he chose to make his chyrsalis here, right? Now, is as good a time as any to get to know the weather around here.
"Fly, oh thing of wonder! Fly away!"
tap-tap.
"Yoo-hooo! It's time to use those black and orange things, little guy."
"Please, don't thank us! Goodbyes are hard enough....Now FLY!"
"Mommy??? Why isn't the butterfly flying?"
Unfortunately, we all missed the memo that a butterfly needs to dry upside down for SEVERAL HOURS before releasing him.
We stuffed him back in the jar, hoping he'd crawl right back onto his little stick and drip dry.
We gave him a lovely, warm, sunny spot and waited for him to pull himself back together.
OH Yeah! and we gave him a craisin...just in case he got hungry. I'm no dummy! I read Eric Carl's book, "The Hungry Caterpillar."
Several hours later, his wings looked like they needed ironing.
Well kids, we've done all we could do. It's time to say goodbye...
I'm sorry that you will never get a chance to fly little butterfl...I mean butter"walk."
Oh how we'll miss you!
Thank you for teaching us about metamorphosis.
We love you!
WAIT! before you leave! There's just one more thing I've got to do.
Ok, gross. You can go now.
6 comments:
Very cute!! Now I know why A Beka will not let us do science projects involving live animals. . . . . . .
Our condolences. . . . . to Emma, Annie and "Butterwalk" (LOL--to funny!)
. . . and just for the record--we are incubating chickens for Allie's science project--so much for listening to A beka!! :)
Well, at least if things don't go well over there, you can make scrambled eggs. What in the world am I suppose to do with a butterfly that can't fly?
You'll be getting a memo from the folks at PETA if you keep publishing these cruel stories! Just chalk up the experience as "knowledge gained", press the thing between two pieces of wax paper, and make yourself a bookmark!
I'm depressed....between the fin-less fish and this poor butter walk...I just don't know what to say....sniff.
Press it between two pieces of wax paper! What a great idea!!!
Here....Butterwalk, Butterwalk....(clap, clap)
Where are yoooooou, little Butterwalk?
Oh, and Mom, I think it's PETI (People for the Ethical Treatment of Insects). . . ha ha
Taken from a butterfly website:
"Within seconds the adult insect slips free of the spent chrysalis. At this point the abdomen is very large and filled with fluid it must pump into the wings. Even as the butterfly emerges the wings begin expanding. The insect twists side to side to help facilitate transfer of fluid from the abdomen into the wings. Unless of course the butterfly is prematurely snatched up in eager anticipation by two very cute, large-eyed girls. In which case, he will then be permanently disabled for life."
Ok, so I added the last part. . .
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