Saturday, September 25, 2010

Natural Dilemma

A Monarch butterfly, struggling in a web . . . Of course I released it . . .
 But then I felt bad for the hungry spider. . . 

Sometimes it seems that the beautiful people get all the breaks.
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 Click to biggify slide show and see captions!

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19 comments:

Unknown said...

I did enjoy the slide show of your farm. Marigold is lovely. It made me a little nostalgic for farm life. Life is rather cruel really.. the food chain is a fact of life and life on the farm makes it real. That is how it should be. I watched a TV programme about nomads in Turkey. They killed a goat to feast on in honour of a guest. A spot of blood was dabbed on the guests forehead. To me it made the goat's life a sacrament. Meat from a supermarket is not the same.

Martin said...

The cycle of life and the dilemmas within. Really enjoyed the slideshow. You have some handsome looking cattle on the farm. Fine weather, just now, as well.

Pat in east TN said...

I also enjoyed the slide show ... seems like times are quite busy around your farm, even with the garden either gone or dwindling down.

Fingers are crossed that cooler weather and rains do come as they're predicting.

Brian Miller said...

nice pics in the slideshow...kinda glad you saved the butterfly...and there is plenty of beauty that takes it on the nose...

Alan Burnett said...

A thoroughly enjoyable slideshow. As for the butterfly - we always prefer to think about life rather than death.

Reader Wil said...

Almost romantic slide show! But of course farming is working hard and being there almost night and day. Your cow is lovely and the calf is adorable. I couldn't enlarge the slide however, but I enjoyed seeing it all the same.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

This was just lovely. Thank you!!

Vicki Lane said...

Joan -- a sacrament -- exactly!

Folks, I'm off to teach a workshop today -- I'll be around to visit your blogs later.

BB said...

Very nice pics. I would have freed the butterfly also. They are just so light and airy while spiders are yucky!

Stella Jones said...

I really enjoyed your slideshow; all the lovely animals and the scenery. Marigold is a pretty cow, isn't she. She looks like a Jersey cow. Is that what you call them over there?
More chickens! and the plucker is waiting.
Blessings, Star

NCmountainwoman said...

I loved the "life on the farm" slide show. You guys really work hard.

I would have chosen the butterfly over the spider. Not so much because of its beauty but because the Monarch has so many obstacles to overcome in its life cycle. The spider can catch another meal in the web.

Suz said...

Oh there will be other bugs to come along...you did the right thing in my book..at least I would have....like saving an old lady from a mugger who NEEDS the money
Love your farm...every bit of it

Mel said...

You know I would have chosen the butterfly too! Poor spider, I have no problem with them eating mosquitoes and pesky bugs, but hate to see butterflies and moths in their webs. (though the annoying moths that get in the pantry, those I'd love to see as spider food!)
Thanks for rescuing the Monarch and for the lovely photos of the farm.

Merisi said...

I love your thoughts about the Monarch butterflies, NCMountainwoman, I agree wholeheartedly! ;-)
I like spiders, they are full of beauty too, and not only their webs, but they will survive until the next fly gets trapped.

Vicki, your cows remind me of partents', especially one named Bella, with a dark brown coat and a stubborn character (she once pushed my mom hard against a wall, just out of spite because she didn't want to move for new straw to be strewn under her).

Folkways Note Book said...

I still have not had one Monarch, to my knowledge, visit my woodland/field property. Have had tons of various species since spring but not one Monarch -- so far. -- barbara

Unknown said...

Lovely real life feeling from watching your slideshow and seeing the photos. I always enjoy my visits to your blog and leave pondering about life and living. I just don't get to visit you often enough. Thank you for the thought provoking posts. Hugs, Margie.

Vicki Lane said...

It helped that I didn't see the spider anywhere about so I didn't feel that I was snatching her dinner from her mouth.

Butterflies are beautiful -- but spiders are pretty cool too -- at least to me they are.

Yes, Star, Marigold is a Jersey -- and so tame that she'd like to be a lap cow.

That's so true, NCMountainwoman -- and I haven't seen all that many Monarchs around this year.

Merisi -- I wonder if your Bella might have been a Brown Swiss -- quite similar to Jerseys but larger.

jennyfreckles said...

I'd have done the same - tell the spider there are more fish in the sea...or something! Haven't watched slideshow yet - will be back when I have more time.

Vagabonde said...

What a lovely baby bull. I have never seen one live, I mean on a farm or anywhere else, he is very cute.