Transformations

While working in the front yard, Linus found a stick with what appeared to be insect eggs attached to it. He looked through his Colorado bug book and didn't find a picture of them to help us identify them. Matthew also didn't know. I took photos of them and emailed them to two biology professors we know as friends. They didn't know either. I ended up finding out what they were by looking at scores of bug egg photos online that were taken by a Colorado professor. Turns out they are katydid eggs. We will keep them in a container on the porch and wait until next spring to see if they hatch.

I've been trying to make more progress on my Jane Austen bust business. Now that Linus is older, he is better able to occupy himself while I do trials of rubber products for creating a mold. He also assists me by taking photographs of the process. Even though the plastic gloves were huge on them, he was still able to do a bit of pouring of the liquid rubber, with my help. The materials are messy and not very safe for the skin. He has been trying to wrap his brain around the fact that I'm making busts to sell. "Why do you want money?" I told him we could use the money to pay for extra things like his music class and an iPad for me. So now and then he encourages me by saying, "You'll sell lots and lots of busts and get lots and lots of money. You'll be able to buy lots and lots of iPads and iPhones." He really knows how to motivate me!