If Michaela looks a little nervous in the above picture, it's because that snake she's holding bit her a few minutes before I took this picture. I'm quite proud of her for being brave enough to still hold it afterwards. 
Same snake, different day. As far as I could tell, this was the same snake that bit her a few days before, but it was much calmer and Michaela expertly caught it, gently holding it behind the head so that it couldn't bite her. As I watched her catch it, she kept whispering to it, "You're alright, you're alright." If any of you have watched the Crocodile Hunter, that what Steve Irwin used to always say while handling wild animals. I don't know if she was even aware she was mimicking her hero. I thought it was adorable. Michaela never keeps the snakes she catches long. She usually hold them for a bit, then we have a moment where she thanks the snake for letting her hold it, she tells the snake how beautiful it is, then she asks the snake to come back and play sometime soon, before letting it go in a safe place. It's really quite sweet.
Michaela caught this beautiful moth, not once but twice, two different days in two completely different locations. I took pictures of it both times and the markings were identical, so I'm fairly sure it was the same one. Michaela was very careful not to touch or damage it's wings, and after the moth had rested for a while, it eventually flew away.
4 comments:
That's awesome. And she's fortunate to have parents as fearlessly supportive as yourselves!
A bit odd about the moth, though. Think it was trying to tell you something?
Good question! I wonder what moths are harbingers of...
Wow - that is truly stunning! Everything about it - Michaela's courage, her fascination, her gentleness, her loving attentiveness, her respect. The look on her face in each of those pictures is like a different facet of her care for all living creatures. This post is a thing of great beauty, as is Michaela's spirit. Did you notice that in one of the pictures, the moth's wing resembles a snake's face? That must be a protective thing. All in all, I can't wait to see Michaela's interests unfold into a life work of caring for creatures in one way or another. I think there must be some kind of inheritance in this, as a fierce love for animals came down to us from Nanie. On Sunday, a chipmunk was actually running up her leg at the nursing home to get peanuts from her! She was so delighted! Unfortunately, our camera hasn't been working well, so the pictures I took are rather dark. I'd also like to say that Michaela is looking so grown-up in these pictures!!! I can't wait to see you all, so very soon now!
I didn't notice that about the moth, but I think Michaela did. She kept referring to the spots on it as "its eye spots."
Thanks Mom, I'm so glad you enjoyed this post. So sweet about Nanie. I'm really grateful that she passed on her love of animals to us. :D
Can't wait to see you!
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