Sunday, November 17, 2013

Let your heart guide you...

...it whispers, so listen carefully
Littlefoot's mother~Land Before Time

It's not often that my head and my heart are on the same wave length.  A battle between the two usually ensues when a tough decision has to be made & there's never a clear winner. I've made the decision to discontinue raising Monarchs & an amazing thing happened-there was no battle, no tug-of-war, no loss of sleep...just solidarity between my heart and my head.  


It's not something that just came to me. It's been a slow realization. I mean-look at this handsome guy-I could sit (I often have) and spend hours observing the critters to chrysalis to the emerging.
 Raising Monarchs has been a life changing event for me~It got me through some of the darkest, bleakest and most desperate times and now that those dark days have passed, I'm looking ahead. There will be a time in the near future that Frankie & will be moving from California to find our bliss elsewhere. I know with my whole heart and soul...and yes my head...that any new homeowners couldn't possibly love and devote the amount of time to nurture these beauties that I have...and still do. 
Can I tell you...I'm sweating the last 6 critters-
It is like the Depression Era around here.


There is nothing left to eat-It's been unseasonably warm so the bigger plants have tiny buds-
I am literally rotating the critters to the plants that get the buds and hope the other stalks grow fast-


It's crazy-Who else would ever do that~Besides Kim 
She raises Monarchs in Texas. We celebrate & commiserate often!
The weather is eventually going to turn cold, rainy and windy & not good releasing weather. It's stressful to me wondering if my critters are going to be ok & hoping for a warm day to release the butterflies. 
I've had enough stress this past year to last a life time...It's time to let go. 
So, it is with both sadness and a contented heart that I resign myself from this experience and hope that it doesn't create to much confusion among the mama butterflies if/when they come back to lay eggs. 


I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have done everything humanly possible to help populate the world with these beauties.  Frankie...my dear husband, has been right there by my side. He's helped me troubleshoot, build, move, shield and any other hair-brained thing that needed to be done...all I had to do was ask and sometimes I didn't even have to. 
I will be forever grateful for the knowledge and deep meaning the Monarchs have taught me. 
In the meantime, I'm taking boatloads of photos so I'll have plenty to share off and on.

My heart is happy
xo
Kelly


7 comments:

  1. I'm sure you will be on to new adventures, and I'm also sure the Monarch world thanks you :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a lovely, heart-felt post. A tough yet easy decision to make and you made it .... no regrets.
    What an awesome experience you had and I for one want to thank you so much for sharing it with us and making us feel like we were right there with you. It was amazing! I have a deep respect for these critters .... and a deep respect for you, their human Mama!
    Much love ♥ **hugs**

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your monarch photos are so gorgeous! I've never raised them, but it sounds really interesting. I'm glad you have made a decision that feels good for where you are in life right now. It sounds like a big commitment but a fulfilling one as well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a very wise decision for you. I am thinking that you and Frankie will find a new project to work on together, which is a very good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Everything has it's time and purpose... You should celebrate the beauty you added in the world and yours. Butterflies are transforming. Now you can enjoy the freedom and an open heart. And looking forward to a new chapter... How exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this, Kelly! This beautiful transformation that you have nurtured, will bring to you an incredible transformation for your very own soul that will make you happy, happy beyond your wildest dreams! Be alert, be aware...the signs and symbols are out there and they are speaking to you at this very moment. Evolve...that's my word of the day! And SMILE BIG all the while! Aloha

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh I know you didn't make this decision in haste, and I completely get it. I know this experience got me through all Sams illness and I don't know what I would have done without their distraction/miracle. I'm ready for a little break, but it probably won't be a long one. I've been trying to figure out a way to let them do more of their thing without me, but when I didn't bring them in, there truly was only about 1% that survived outside by themselves. I would really love to find a wild patch somewhere and sprinkle it with dew ( I mean seeds ) - maybe they would have a better chance than in my garden, that attracts just about everything else that wants to eat them. All I know is right now I need my dining room table back for Thanksgiving! haha

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. Your comments always put a smile on my face. Hope to see you again real soon.