Metamorphosis

Bluebirds, Butterflies and Me (#15)

Something About My Journey

I’ve been “raising” bluebirds for years, following in my mother’s footsteps who did the same when I was growing up. She instilled in me an interest in birds, animals and nature in general. My mom got started with bluebirds fifty years ago, when an “Audubon” guy stopped at our house and asked if he could put up some bluebird boxes. He explained that we have a great location for Eastern Bluebirds to breed. Our property has open fields with nearby trees providing perches so the birds can hunt for insects. My mom readily agreed. He explained the boxes should be on smooth metal or plastic posts, so critters like racoons and snakes can’t climb up and get the eggs or baby birds. He further explained how to tend the boxes, and my mom was off to the races.

Twenty years ago, when we bought our current house in southeast Connecticut, we also put up a couple boxes. Since then, we’ve watched bluebirds successfully raise two clutches a year. It’s so enjoyable and relaxing to watch the parents build the nest, sit on the eggs and then feed the newly fledged young. Unfortunately, my mother has had a streak of bad luck caused by the dreaded House Sparrows that kill the babies or break the eggs. It is heartbreaking to see just how cruel mother nature can be.

A few years ago, my mother and I expanded our focus to include helping the rapidly declining Monarch butterfly population. We both planted patches of milkweed plants that is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat. We eventually learned to bring any eggs and baby caterpillars inside when we spot them on the milkweed leaves. This keeps them safe from predators and nasty parasites that can disrupt their life cycle. After ten days or so the ugly caterpillar spins itself into a lovely green cocoon that hangs from the top of the hatchery and ten days after that, the cocoon turns black and out of this tiny capsule an orange and black Monarch butterfly slowly emerges unfurling its huge wings to dry. After a few hours or overnight, we release the butterfly outside to face the perils of mother nature on its own. This metamorphosis is a true miracle we get to witness and help out with. Below are my pictures of the fascinating transition.

There are many programs trying to save Monarch butterflies. Below is one that is informative and lets you donate to help the Monarch’s cause.

Polinator.org website on Monarchs

It felt right to talk about metamorphosis in this newsletter not only because it’s Monarch season, but also because I’m getting really close to launching my book into the world and that feels like some sort of mini-morphosis of my own. I think I’ve done everything necessary for a successful book launch and now just need to trust the process and trust my support structure that has been tending to so many different aspects of my journey. I’m ready to find out what “the world” has in store. I know just like mother nature, the world can be cruel but like the baby bluebirds and the new butterflies, you just need to take the leap.

While the bluebirds and butterflies will never know the many little things that my mother and I have done to help them survive, I’m very much aware and truly appreciate the support that I’ve received over the past months and years. Here are some of the ways my transformation (from business executive to author) has been supported by others.

• My family who read my early drafts and didn’t tell me it was crap even though those early drafts were.

• Those that helped me “learn” (kinda) social media.

• Everyone who stepped in to help in the other areas I was weak in, which is anything crafty or requiring visual acumen. Here is my author banner that my girls designed.

I thought the banner was great after the first draft, but my kids went through

ten more iterations before it was finalized.

• Everyone that comments, likes and reads my newsletter. (Hint, hint)

• Folks that read my ARC and posted early reviews, giving me a good base before my book launch

• All of you that preordered my book! I stayed #1 in Sri Lankan Travel Guides, but also made it to #67 for New Releases in the much more appropriate and competitive category of Coming-of-Age Fiction and #17 for Metaphysical and Spiritual fiction. Huge thanks to everyone that helped with that.

Update

Here is an updated event schedule. Again, I would love to see you at any of my events next month.

Tickets are now available for my book launch and here is the link.

Flour Girl Tickets for Launch