A butterfly in February

A butterfly emerged out of its chrysalid in class this week as I read to my students. I brought a butterfly cage back into the classroom and fed it all the while knowing that we could not release a black swallowtail at this time of year. It feeds on lilac nectar. Everytime I handle it to feed it sugar water it loses a few more scales off its gorgeous wings.

Vincent, age 10, was the student who brought the chrysalid inside last fall. He has since learned to mount butterflies in frames. He brought our little friend home and put it in the freezer. It, actually she, would have frozen had we released her outside. It was minus 22 C yesterday and no lilac blooms in view. The average snowbank is up to my shoulder and it is still snowing.

We were graced by her fleeting beauty.

La semaine de relâche/ March Break

Yeah!!!! It's already March break. I'm still in my new Pepto-bismol jogging pants and old Roots sweatshirt. I've been reading La Presse (Montreal) and double checking what I read by doing searches on the web. I hope to do more snowshoeing and use shredded pink pyjamas to mark a new shortcut trail through the forest to the lookout bench.