An Uninvited House Guest

Well, we have been the hosts to an uninvited guest for a little over a week now. The kids call him Hermie after Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends series.

Last Monday afternoon while swinging out in the yard Kiersten & Isaiah noticed a caterpillar climbing on the swing set. I don't recall which child did it, but the caterpillar was brought inside with a lilac leaf with pleas to keep it. We had no jars to speak of that would be roomy enough and I had no clue how to keep a caterpillar. Thankfully all this is so easy to learn with internet access.

So a few minutes later I was a bit more informed on how to take care of caterpillars and on what types of leaves they generally prefer. We were given the hint that a small plastic fish container that can be carried and has breathing 'holes' on the top would do a rather wonderful job to house a caterpillar. So off we went to the local pet shop to purchase said container, I mean house. :)

After we got him situated in his new house I went exploring around our yard to grab some different food for our new friend. Lilac leaves were not on the list of favorite or common caterpillar foods. Fortunately for me my first choice was the right choice and our hungry friend went on a feeding frenzy.

Needless to say 1 week exactly after we brought Hermie into our house he formed a chrysalis. It was funny though because the night before he had hung himself upside down and formed what looked like a J. His little head was curved up. Well, there he stayed and when we woke in the morning he was in the same position. So the kids and I headed off to swim lessons and when we got home....wouldn't you know that little bugger had transformed himself!

We figure he must have been a little shy about showing any man business so he chose the opportune time to change when all family members had vacated the premises! :)

We'll be keeping a close eye on him to see if we can't catch the last bit of metamorphosis and discover if our furry friend is a moth or a butterfly. Thinking and hoping butterfly, but time will tell.