A few weeks back we found tiny caterpillars in our garden - we have hatched a few before, so we knew they were black swallowtail butterflies. We brought them inside, and fed them dill and parsley until they formed their chrysalises.
Since then we have been watching and waiting - our first hatched overnight on Tuesday, and was ready to fly in the morning. We released it yesterday and it flew away immediately, as G waved and yelled goodbye, crying to see it go so fast.
This morning as we were all chatting at the table we saw that the second chrysalis had hatched. We watched for awhile as the wings unfurled and straightened. We wanted to take the butterfly outside before it got too hot, so we went out to the deck. The butterfly was not quite ready to fly yet, so it sat on our fingers.
G held his hand out for so long, giggling as it tickled his fingers, and when the butterfly jumped up onto his head, he was in heaven. He blushed and smiled his shy smile, and sat so still.
After a bit the butterfly went down to the pot of flowers we had on the deck waiting for it. This time the goodbye was long and happy. That butterfly sat on the flower for a long while, gently airing it wings...and then it took off, flying high and far, as my two boys watched and waved.
G said to me some things never get old or boring, no matter how many times you do them. I agree.
