Butterflies

My latest creation is actually a set of creations: a butterfly net, cage, four butterflies, and a moth. They're for sale in my etsy shop but I'm not sure I want to give them up!
The insects are:
Cabbage butterfly (white with black spots)
White admiral (black with white stripes)
Common wood nymph (brown with yellow and black spots)
Gray hairstreak (gray with tails and red spots)
Luna moth (green with white spots and body)

As a child, my dad taught me how to catch butterflies, using a net my grandfather made for me. That butterfly net was my companion for many years, until in my teens it started to fall apart and I bought myself a professional one. I'd spend nearly every summer day outside in my backyard, patrolling. Butterflies, and just about anything else that moved, were chased down, captured, and examined.

I think it's really important to take the time to observe the world around us. Appreciate the little things, the unexpected things. Too many people are in a big rush these days, there's always somewhere to go or something to do or someone to talk to on facebook. Slowing things down and letting yourself feel like a kid is important once in a while. I still go out and catch bugs, because there's always something new to learn.

As my professor says, "get out there and poke nature!"