We officially have a blue devil in the house!

 

After YEARS of work -- since 4 year old tee-ball.... to "playing up" as a 13 year old in the Senior League (on a 15-18 y.o. team)... Mercer made the JV team at the high school! 

They had a tough week or so of conditioning before try-outs and then fielding one day / he pitched another day of tryouts.  He said he did well.  I'd say so! 

He will be taking the bus over from the middle school every day.... EVERY DAY.... (eek!) to come practice.  So, in addition to him getting up and out the door by 6:30 in the morning, he has to have all of his baseball stuff to take with him -- carry around the halls each day -- and then ride the bus over to the high school with all of his school stuff (to keep up with!) and change / join the practice in session.  Whew.  It's going to be a lot! 

We were reading the player packet though... they will feed the boys on game-days that are Monday through Friday and then bus them to wherever they need to go!  We would have to drive over to the visiting school... but they would bring him back to the school on the bus and we'd have to pick him up there.  

From our understanding, the 8th graders may not get a lot of play-time.  But - it's still a good experience for them.  There are several people that we/he knows from the Little League where he was playing for all those years.  There are others that I know as students / former students.  As it turns out - there are 3 JV players that live on our street!  We've already cashed in on a "can you bring my son home" exchange / reciprocated!  

The boys had picture day today.  The JV team's uniforms haven't come in yet... so they were possibly wearing the Varsity team's home or away jerseys?  (The varsity team chose to be photographed in a cream-colored throw-back style jersey.)

But - I snapped a quick photo... his FIRST in "Marietta blue." 

It will be an interesting year!!

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We "celebrated" Saturday night by taking him out to dinner - he chose hibachi.  

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On a completely different note.... look what happened at school this week!! 

I taught science at my previous couple of schools... so over the years, I've collected / keep / display some science-y things in my room. When Isabella & I were raising the butterflies earlier this fall, everything was "done" in early October.

The chrysalises that did not do anything... I took to school to add to the display. I put them at the back of my classroom on a ledge with a bunch of other stuff that's already there. I assumed they did not survive -- they would not emerge.

To OUR surprise one day in class this week - a 10th grade boy says nervously "um, Ms. Groves.... there's a big bug in the window sill." I was a little nervous - b/c although I'm fascinated by bugs & nature - I don't love BIG bugs. I was so relieved to see that it was a PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY!

Y'all.... this thing.... was "hibernating" for OVER 3 MONTHS. (The typical time inside of a chrysalis is 10 - 14 days 'til they emerge.)

*** NATURE IS FASCINATING ! ***

I caught it in the window sill in a dollar-store pencil tray w/ holes. And made a "make-shift" cage 'til bringing home and putting back into the butterfly net that we put away 3 months ago!

Unfortunately, this guy (or gal) will not survive if we put outside in 30+ degree temps of January. So, he/she/it is here at our house...nectaring on fruit slices 'til his time with us is done. Until then, we'll nurture and enjoy this beautiful creature.

(Adult Lifespan of Pipevine Swallowtail: 6 - 14 days)