Today before we went to the fair with Grandpa, we got to see four butterflies emerge. We had two girls and two boys! We already had three boys. They were in a separate container.
Here are their names: the youngest is Little Dude then Adrian. Then Ruth and then Renee and then Mr. Marky Mark and Daddy then Mommy.
Here are all seven of their pictures. If you want to see the whole butterfly, click on their picture.
Today one of our caterpillars died while he was making his chrysalis. He fell. I am sad.
We have twin butterflies. They are boys. I got to hold one of the butterflies and he flew away by our window. I caught him and gave him to Andrea and she put him back in the cage. They like to eat watermelon. We had two girls and two boys so far this year.
Right now I have 14 chrysalises. One may emerge tomorrow. We have one roaming caterpillar, and three making their webs. We have 7 small caterpillars.
I will try to post better pictures of the twins tomorrow. It was too hot this afternoon and they kept flying away. They usually play in the morning better then in the afternoon.
For Exploring 4-H, I learned how to make Rice Crispy Treats. They are easy!
These in the picture are the ones I put into the fair.
Here is how I made them:
1/4 cup butter melted
40 large marshmellows
5 cups Rice Crispy cereal
Candy sprinkles
I started to put some marshmallows in the pan with the butter. (Eat the extra marshmallows 😉 ) Stir until they are melted. Pour Rice Crispys in. Mix well. Pour into a large buttered pan. Smoosh them in. If you want sprinkles, add some sprinkles on then let them sit for a half hour. Then you can cut them and eat!
Today we let Curious George go. We played with him before setting him free. He took a little while before flying away because he was on some watermelon. He was hungry, ’cause we did not feed him until we took him out. We were hoping he would stay longer. And he did 🙂 !
This is my new butterfly, Curious George. My cousin Joshua found him. We were at the fireworks and Joshua was down by the water where some milkweed was growing and he found a caterpillar. He brought it over. I did not know he found it until I came back to the blanket.
I was holding the caterpillar, ’cause we were looking for a cage for him. Then we found one.
Joshua went somewhere with his parents and his big brother. We got to babysit the caterpillar. Then when Joshua and his parents and big brother came back he was already in his chrysalis.
The first picture is when he is in his “J”. He is getting ready to get in his chrysalis. The next picture is when he is getting into his chrysalis. He is molting for the very last time.
He stays as a chrysalis for about a week. His chrysalis looks like it is turning black, but it is actually see through. Usually in the morning sometime, the butterfly will emerge. They can be very fast!
After their wings dry, we get to hold them! Then we let them go. Sometime we let them go the same day. With Christopher Robin it began to storm and pour down rain and rain so we kept him for another day. We got to keep Curious George a few days.
It looks like we may have two new butterflies tomorrow. I will let you know!
We have moved the bigger caterpillars into a bigger cage (an aquarium with a screen). Right now we have one almost ready to emerge, eight new chrysalises, one caterpillar in a “J”, 7 “piggies”, and a bunch of little ones.
We have a zoo of caterpillars! We have four chrysalises and around 18 caterpillars from just hatching out of eggs to almost ready to eat like pigs. (Momma won’t let me open them up to count right now!). Most of them have come from Oma’s house.
We only have one that did not come from Oma’s house. We found it down by the school when we were looking for milkweed. I don’t know why they are all at Oma’s house. I think it’s because they think Oma’s milkweed is much sweeter!
This is about our third year raising them. Mark is letting me take a lot of the responsibility this year and Momma said I am doing a good job. I learn a lot from taking care of them.
Uncle Kai and his family came down to visit us. They brought Uncle Kai’s cousin, Morsal. She lives far away. She lives in Holland. She knows how to cook Afgan food. I like it a lot! Mark is yelling behind me, “I like it lots and lots!”
Here is a recipe for Mantu that Morsal taught me to cook. It is the picture on the left. The rice is Kabli Pulau.
Fry some hamburger with diced onions, carrots (if you want), chopped garlic, salt and black pepper, cumin seed and Garam Masala. Taste and make sure it tastes good.
Drain the grease if needed and cool a little bit.
Using wonton wrappers, place a little meat in the middle of each wrapper. Use water to seal and bring up two opposite corners, then the two other corners to seal well. Make a lot!
Using a large steamer, steam the mantu in batches and eat warm!
To make the Mantu extra fancy and extra good, make a sauce for them. Cook yellow lentils and add tomato sauce and spices to taste. Use the sauce over the mantu and then pour natural yogurt over the top of that.
Our first butterfly emerged! Even though she is a girl, we call her Christopher Robin still. She emerged in the night before we could watch her.
Momma let me play with her a little bit before we let her free. We see her a lot still!
Hoping for more soon.
Here is a picture I drew for Daddy.
Happy Father’s Day!