Life.

Hello, all. I haven't posted in some time, so here is what I have been doing instead:

We hosted a Christmas Ball! It was essentially a Christmas event, in honor of me and Cori's birthdays, which are three days apart.

(Most of these pictures were taken on a phone, so they're rather blurry.)

Daniel and Sarah, doing Virginia Reel

Korobushka

This, folks, is a photographic example of exactly how much harder I laugh at things than anyone else.

I even got this guy who went to community college with me to come! And since he and Cameron are both huge geeks, he even had someone to hang out with, besides me. 

Virginia Reel

Hannah Joy came to visit us and helped with putting up our Christmas tree, among other things.

Having the tall person put our Captain America star up. 

I also had a birthday.

At the restaurant we went out to.

Yes, Autumn is wearing a top hat. 

Yup. 17 years old now.



Insect update!


Mom got me three Glorious Scarab beetle larvae for my birthday.

And my Hercules beetles have grown quite a bit and should be pupating within the next few months.

Hercules

Mom also gave me cocoons for both Polyphemus moths and Promethea moths, which should emerge sometime between May and June. All very exciting. 

Other than that, I survived my first term at community college and even got all A's. *pats self on back*  We have been swamped with orders for blacksmithing forges from our home business, what with people buying them as Christmas gifts. And the first calf was born this morning! A healthy, 80 lb heifer. 

Also, Christmas shopping, music-ing and CrossFit. 

SO. That's my life.

p.s

Christmas music+Owl City= this

In Which I Turn Robber

reading: Psalms.
- I'm in chapter twelve right now
- Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; and the faithful have vanished among men (12:1)
- which is the distinct feeling I get after interacting with the humans at community college
- But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. (13:6)
- good thing I have that too

enjoying: big storms and power outages
-I love it when the house is dark
-so you cook on the wood stove
-milk your very favorite cow by the light of a dying flashlight
-and write terrible poetry in front of the fire
-also, bugs.

listening to: I of the Storm By Of Monsters And Men
-mostly because of that one line
-Bastille, always
-Phantom of the Opera. always
-Josh Garrels always
-pretty much everything always muhahaha

writing: haaaaaa
-you don't wanna know
-but really, mostly essays and stuff
-some bad poetry but mostly essays

excited for: Christmassssssss duh
-we're having a Christmas Ball
-for me and mah sista's birthdays
-but we're only telling people it's for Christmas
-which is funny to me
-snow
-guys, someone died for you
-

watching: uh, youtube?
-yeah, youtube
-when I have time

learning: how not to die
-no, i'm failing at that
-how not to forget what I'm here for
-how very broken this world is
-but also that there is comfort for the broken
-what kind of courtship ritual crane flies undergo
-the males grab at any other legs they feel to see if it's a female
-if it feels like a male or is the wrong diameter, like a wire (which researchers offered them) they let go
-c'mon guys, don't try and tell me that's not amazing
-...

stealing: the idea for this post from Cally Declan
-kudos and many thanks to her
-just typed cooties instead of kudos and it made me giggle
-k bye

p.s.

Taaagggeeedddddddd

I have been tagged. *waggles eyebrows*

Here are the rules:
• Link back to the blogger who tagged you
• Take some pictures of your favorite thing in your room
• Explain why that certain thing is so special to you
• Tag five other bloggers

SO the person who both made the tag and tagged me, is Embers, of A Dragon's Whisper. Go follow her, etc. 

This was a much harder choice than I anticipated. Turns out, I don't have things in my room, unless I really like them. I went with Bog, who is not technically a "thing", but he's my favorite. So ha. XD

 Here he is, in all his glory. Bog wasn't feeling very photogenic, but I did manage to get a few nice-ish pictures of him.

 Isn't he darling?

NOW, the reason he is so special to me is because he's not only a cockroach, but my nicest cockroach. See, I have several others, but he's the nicest and doesn't try to skitter off when you hold him. Plus, he's adorable and fascinating, both excellent reasons for being a favorite of anyone. XD


I taagggggg...............,

Hannah Joy

  Cally

Jordy

Cassie 

Annddddd The Piano Girl!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some dancing in the rain to do.

Insects and Fairs

Klickitat River

        This weekend was by far the most fun I've had in a lonnngggg time. I was invited by Arthur Dunn to go on an butterfly collecting trip with him, one of his naturalists friends and a lepidopterist, Caitlin LaBar on Saturday. Needless to say, I was a bit excited. 

        

There were lots of butterflies, as well as some very cheeky crickets Arthur and I took the time to catch. I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few

Swallowtails 

Pale Swallowtail

We also saw a rattlesnake facing off with a squirrel. The squirrel was antagonizing the rattler and he seemed to have had about enough of the squirrel and was leaving. 

The rattlesnake. See it?

Caitlin, Arthur and Marianne

A deer that died sometime in the winter. No beetles underneath, sadly.

So yeah. Best day evah.

THEN on Sunday, my family had a booth at the Mother Earth News fair for the blacksmithing forges we make. While nowhere near as much fun as Saturday was, it was still an enjoyable day.

Cori blacksmithing

Lady Em from The Life and Times of Emily C. 

Yours truly, sunburning.

Cori, giving a lesson to this year's guy-who-stays-and-watches-literally-the-whole-time. There always is one.

Mom

Also, I  home with two chicks. Because they're adorable. Their names are John Carter and Jay, even though they're both females. Autumn bought two as well.

Jay climbed up there on the way home,

And then was joined by everyone else. I was so tired and sunburned at this point.

Autumn's face here about sums up how all of us were feeling by the end of the day. 

That's what I've been up to. What about you? 

Dun dun dun