The Butterflies

I have fun pictures of our first butterfly coming out of the chrysalis, but then the camera went missing, so I have no more pictures. I didn't want to wait too long at letting the butterflies go free, because I didn't want to have them die on my watch.

However, we do have a crippled butterfly. I don't know what happened to the little guy, but instead of the six legs he's supposed to have he has two sad little legs. I know he was "born" with all his legs, because I found a couple of legs in the habitat. Ugh. It gives me the willies just thinking about it.

So we still have this poor butterfly in a cage. I guess we're just waiting. Now the thing is we now have a beautiful, very nice microscope that I used to use when I myself was homeschooled. The truth is I was at first somewhat excited to have a butterfly to look at under the scope. I would love to see the scales on the wings and test how the scales come off like paper. We could maybe even look at the compound eye! However, that means I have to tear apart a dead butterfly. Am I a wimp or what, but I don't think I have the stomach for it. I don't know if Kaeley has the heart to do it either. Maybe I can send Brad in to the kitchen, have us make us a few slides, and then we'll get on with our life.

Ah, the vicious cycle of life. I'm ready for heaven, myself.