Virginia Tiger Moth in Caterpillar Stage

On my front porch today.

I was sitting knitting and all of a sudden I saw this fuzzy caterpillar crawling across the pillow on the chair.

Google images says it’s a VirginiaTiger Moth in caterpillar stage

Click here to watch the video while this fuzzy creature looks for a place to live. They call it a Yellow Woolly Bear caterpillar

Good news it’s eats low growing plants not wool clothing! Also

I was glad it was crawling on the pillow and not crawling on me! Turns out the wiry hairs can cause skin irritation.

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Meet an Amazing Electrician

Ten years ago Scott installed a circuit breaker box for my house so I could get a new furnace and AC unit put in with the proper connections. My house is 100 years old and used to have knob and tube wiring. It’s always something. Another job Scott added some GCFI outlets in the kitchen, an outside motion light aimed at the garage and driveway and today he installed a new kitchen ceiling light as the other one was shooting sparks. Put a new dimmer switch in the dining room too. He does good work! Plus he comes when you call.

If you live in the Pittsburgh area keep his number handy. (412) 298-3423

Scott Prontiker
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Our First First Cousin is XC

Happy Birthday to John B. Van Sickle.

Our mother Marian and his father John R. were siblings.

Of course I knit him a hat!

Emeritus Faculty in Classics and Author of Virgil’s Book of Bucolics, the Ten Eclogues Translated into English Verse

Why the years are in Roman Numerals!

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Wordless Wednesday

Lethargic bee on last of the zinnias, ooops not wordless.
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Two Types of Bracket Fungus

No recipes today.

Do NOT ingest. Hers a list of edible bracket fungus.

Just documenting natures amazing fungus today.

Have you observed any bracket(also called shelf fungus) fungus lately? I never knew about bracket fungus..there are many cool names-

Chicken of the Woods and Beefsteak Fungus are two.

Google images says “The selected region shows overlapping, shelf-like bracket fungi that are consistent with the False Turkey Tail(Stereum ostrea species complex”

So you ask what’s the difference between turkey tail and false turkey tail. I did not look at the underneath of the fungus so I couldn’t say

“The main difference is the underside: true turkey tail has tiny, visible pores on a clean white surface, while false turkey tail has a completely smooth tan underside with no pores.”

Google images says “
The image shows a grey, hoof-shaped bracket fungus (conk), which appears consistent with a hoof fungus (Fomes fomentarius) or similar polypore, growing on the decaying bark of a tree alongside patches of green lichen”
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Fill in the Blanks

From the archives. Sept 28, 2019 signage

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Lightning in the Clouds a Guest Blog

Click the bold to see Granddaughter Maura’s (15 seconds video of Lightning in the Clouds ) as she flew to Arizona

Here is a still shot below

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The Mourning Doves gather

The Mourning Doves gather outside my bedroom window.

I see them through the screen, the spotty glass,

an impressionist painting.

One paces, one peers in, one struts across

the once red roof.

Gentle warbling coos.

There’s no feeder here.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says many people interpret the coo as a comforting sign

or message from angels, spirit guides, or lost loved ones. 

What message do you carry little doves?

Who sent you?

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A Found Message

Seen in a very cool bookstore-
The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton Massachusetts while traveling. My only regret is I didn’t purchase the notepad. But I did get a wonderful journal, a postcard I never mailed and some sticker books for the grandkids.
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Delightful Bronze Sculptures in Boston Public Garden

A guest blog.

How about these hats?

This is a special guest blog from my friend Vincie who is visiting Boston with a dear longtime friend. Although I’ve seen the sculptures and even had a ride in a Swan Boat with my childhood friend Gail, that was decades ago!

I asked Vincie if she got to see the the ducklings to please share her photos. I’m so glad she did.

If you click the above word ducklings you can learn more about the art work from the sculptor.

Perhaps you’ve read the book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.

Written in 1941-Still in print!

Here is information about the sculptor Nancy Schon.

(I was unsuccessful in adding the umlaut over the o in her name)

Boston Public Garden September 23, 2026
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