. . . on my front porch,
all day.
Yep, I made some coffee and went and sat on my front porch all day long.
ALL day, I'm not kidding you!
I listened to the mockingbirds sing, and argue a little with one another.
I watched a little mouse, scavenge for acorns that fell from my Oak tree.
I brought out my Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar and watched him eat Fennel.
I did bring my camera, of course, and took some pictures . . .
. . . but mostly I just relaxed.
And this is my little swallowtail caterpillar. He surely doesn't like to be bothered though. I'm excited to watch this one grow as he will look nothing like this before he pupates.
I have some African Daisies I haven't planted yet, so I brought them to the front porch for a little photo shoot . . . this was the evening light and it was just so gorgeous!
As you know, I really love a shallow depth of field, sometimes to where the subject is barely in focus. The above and below photos have no textures, just cropped.
On this one I used KimKlassenlove texture and one from Nancy at a Rural Journal NC_L131, both ever so subtly.
I guess I just needed a day, or maybe I need a week....to just chill after my boy has gone back to school full time and we're not running to the doctor several times a week. He is doing really well, but trying to catch up with a months worth of work when you are in High School is no easy feat for sure. And trying to get back in shape (read muscles) for Spring ball (football), (serenity now!). His inflammation markers are all continuing to trend downwards, I just hope that once we cut back on med's that his body will sustain back to normal inflammation markers or we will have to make decisions on a whole new class of drugs I'm not thrilled about....AT ALL!
If you follow me on instagram you know I'm now what my son calls a "Monarch Farmer", oh yes, I currently have 18 caterpillars, and 2 chrysalis, and have had 4 butterflies already eclose. I'm constantly on the run to the nursery for more milkweed...I'm going to go broke, haha! Check back soon, as I am going to start a series on this incredible adventure, I just have sooo many photos to go through and some videos to figure out...and a little relaxing still to do! ;) In my defense though, I did clean some toilets yesterday!
Until then, Happy Tuesday my friends!
Love, Kim
XO
So pleased your son is doing so well, fingers crossed. Your shots are glorious thank so much for sharing...
ReplyDeleteI am glad your son is doing well..My sister went thru similar experience 13 years ago , she has psoriatic arthritis and she is on biologics..She has to have a Remicaid infusion once a month..Having these infusions enables her to lead a completely normal and active life :)
ReplyDeleteyeah!!! for clean toilets. Glad to hear that your son is doing so well, that was a nightmare at best. You captured those daisy's in the perfect light. Hugs, friend!!
ReplyDeleteDr's Brionez and Sessoms are awesome specialists in rheumatolgy , they practice in the Houston area, although Dr Brionez's practice is closer to the Woodlands
ReplyDeleteI meant to add in my last comment that I love your photography work :)
ReplyDeleteDear Monarch Farmer - I love your African daisies! Wow! And so glad your son is making progress. I wondered about the football ... hope that works out.
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by your work! I'm glad you're taking some time to sit, relax and enjoy nature at it's very best!
ReplyDeleteOh those daisies! I too am a huge lover of shallow depth of field and you have done that to perfection here. So glad you stopped for awhile, that you took some time for yourself. It does do wonders for the soul. So glad S is doing much better!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I don't know how you did it. So good to hear how your son is doing, too. Bees buzzing and butterflies fluttering... now that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThose are some of the best days, sounds like you more than needed it. Love the monarch farm you have going on, you're truly special.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm off to the UK tomorrow for three weeks so might not be by as often until I get back.
You deserve a week, no a month to just sit on the porch and soak in all the wonder and nothing in particular. Your floral images are magical.
ReplyDeleteContinued well wishes and positive prayers for your son's steady recovery.
Kim, how wonderful for you that you finally could relax for a whole day and outside to boot!! Life is so precious and I am glad you are taking advantage of that.
ReplyDeleteGlad he´s doing better, must have been hard on you all. Beautiful shots as well!
ReplyDeleteThose shots are delicious! Glad your son is on the mend!
ReplyDeleteSo glad your son is doing well!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that you were able to relax on the porch :)
Beautiful images!
awesome lighting in the views. so gorgeous. love these so!! have a great day! ( :
ReplyDeleteCool bokeh here and sweet shots!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you have had a day just to vegetate... well , I shouldn't say that as photography and nature is not vegetating... but just to relax and enjoy the moments. So glad that Sam is doing better and know that he is too. Will keep praying for things going very well. Your photos are amazing and love your little swallowtail caterpillar. How fascinating this has been to watch these! Hugs from Dallas
ReplyDeleteHave you tried growing your own milkweed? We have tons of it around here!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you son is doing better. Thanks so much for taking time to share at Tues Muse this week Kim. xo
Kim these are so beautiful, that third one down is AHHHHHHH lovely
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos!!! truly lovely!
ReplyDeletewow kim! the light in your photos is just magical. really stunning shots and fab DOF.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day! And...these are simply gorgeous! Oh my! The light is yummy! You always amaze me. I'm so glad to see some normal creeping back into your lives! It is exciting to hear!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just need to do nothing...and then relax afterwards. Toilets are very patient and good at waiting :)
ReplyDeleteYour images are simply breathtaking! Beautiful focus and bokeh! I can't wait to see more about your butterflies! Happy to hear your son is better; will continue to pray for your family!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day. Catching up about your son, glad to hear he is doing better. Love the Monarchs we always watch a few grow every Summer.
ReplyDeleteTiffany
Sometimes, we just need to take some time for ourselves. Great photos. I will be looking to see what the caterpillar becomes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day you've had. It sounds like it was much needed. Glad your son is doing better. Your photos are beautiful as always. I especially love the first one of the African Daisies. Stunning!
ReplyDeleteP.S. So sorry to hear about the toilets...when will they come out with the self-cleaning kind?
What a dream of a day! And dreamy, lovely photos, too. I love the purple tones!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are a Monarch Farmer. Wonderful. Beautiful photos. Does your caterpillar have a name ... not what he is but his own name? I especially like your photos with the green-gold backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteEarl
Kim, I'm so glad that your son's health has taken an upturn - I am sending prayers that it continues. You most definitely deserved a day (or two, or three!) of rest to just sit and do nothing. It sounds wonderful...I wish I could sit a long time like that without feeling restless. It would do me good, I'm sure! Your photos are so beautiful...I can't wait to see all of your butterfly images. Have a lovely day, OK? :)
ReplyDeleteSo pleased your son is getting better. Love, love, love these images. Those those purple flowers in that golden evening sunlight are just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your son is able to go back to school...catching up isn't so fun to do though.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful you were able to just sit. We need that to heal our body and soul, especially when juggling all the things we do in a day. I never forget what a blessing it is to be able to do that.
Your photos are beautiful! I too raise Monarchs but we have (in the summer) an abundance of milkweed on our property. When you have a minute, check out my monarch photos on my sidebar. They are really amazing creatures, aren't they?
Amen that your son is doing well! I am in total awe of your photos. I only wish I could take photos as beautiful as yours. As far as the caterpillars, chryalis and butterflies....I am loving your documentation of this entire process.
ReplyDeleteSo happy I found your blog!
Love, love, love your flower photos! I love that shallow depth of field too!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your series!
I have been fascinated by the swallowtail caterpillars I get on my lime tree for the past couple of years! Everytime I see a butterfly hovering around depositing eggs I get a little excited! But these are the caterpillars that look like bird poop! Not as cute as your caterpillars! lol!
Glad to know your son is doing better :)
ReplyDeleteThese photos are amazing! It must be really exciting to be able to watch the caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies! Can't wait to see how this one turns out.
These are beautiful pictures, I like the caterpillar.
ReplyDeleteGlad your son is doing better !
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos, those African Daisies are so pretty, wonderful colors !
Nice week,
Sylvia
Hey girl! Love those African Daisies. I have boat loads of them on my hill side...Painted Ladies lay their eggs on them...I've yet to see a a single PL though. I can't wait to watch the swallowtail eface...So glad your son is doing better. I'd SO sit with you on the front porch all day... :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done Kim! Glad you had a day of rest and used it so well!
ReplyDeleteWow! Gorgeous, gorgeous photos! : )
ReplyDeleteYou are a master at this type of photography - stunningly beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that your son is doing well. Wonderful photos... would love to see caterpillars turn into butterflies...
ReplyDeletesuch gorgeous photos this week - we did that last year with the kiddos and looking and searching out caterpillars - I had about a dozen and every day I would walk along our bike paths searching for milk weeds. Even trips to the forest preserve in search. This year, they burned all the areas down - I'm really hoping all comes back so we can do it again!
ReplyDeleteSo much gorgeousness! :)
ReplyDeleteI think we all need a day to just sit, listen, focus and just be... I know I do!!
ReplyDeleteYour images are so beautiful & soft!!