Thanks. This season my 5 and 2 year old have been helping me raise some monarchs and black swallowtails. This is my first time raising them as well, so we're all learning a lot in the process...like how to ID milkweed and that I need to plant lots more fennel and carrots next season. :) We are all much more excited about getting out and seeing what we can discover. I think they're learning a healthy respect and appreciation of nature. I can't think of a more fun way for us to spend our summer together. Thanks to everyone for answering so many of my questions here and for posting such great pictures and questions of your own. I learn something new every time I check in. This is a great resource! Kim Here is a link that might be useful: My garden and caterpillars

Donna I'm so sorry to here of your loss. Last yr. was my first yr Blue Birding and my first nesting was killed by wrens and I cried as if one of my kids....your right they bring so much joy. I had'nt seen my mama blue today so this evening I went out and raised up the wren guard still couldn't see inside to dark so I ever so gentley open the door slowly and she was in there sitting on her eggs....I was so thrilled to see she was ok. I worry even though I have the baffle, wren guard and spooker up. Like Al said hawks or owls worry me, had a hawk yesterday almost fly into my pic window. But I hope your Mr. Blue finds a new mate and you have a new nesting soon.

I'm with des--I'll hold my chin up too--that was so cute! I am glad to know about the Old English for scrapes and scratches. I've used the Old English polish to "antique" some of my painted crafts for years .Will keep this in mind for anything I find that just needs a little TLC. Thanks for sharing your find.

Excellent! Buehl, people did think of that. You can purchase an "induction disk" which is a flat iron disk that you put on the induciton burner to get non-magnetizable pots and pans to cook on induction. There are quite a few brands and sizes available. Of course, if you have your own ferrous disk, that's even better yet! :-)