Life has been running pretty smoothly in Oh Valley. Today, however, Gramps is not feeling well and knows the signs. of a dreadful cold coming on. If it wasn’t enough, having to deal with his dang-blasted, itchy chilblains on his jumping legs, now he has a cold too. Gramps is a senior Grasshopper and good friends of Belvedere and Buttercup. He has lived in Oh Valley longer than anyone can remember. Gramps never complains and though he’s not feeling well today, only his little granddaughter, Gracie is aware of it.

Gracie knows her Gramps better than anyone because she gets to visit him every day after school. She likes to hear his stories. He tells her stories from when he was not much older than she is now, stories of the fun things he and his mates use to do. Some of his stories made her eyes bug out!  

He told her of the time he and all his school chums flew to the top of the water tower and stayed up there for 3 days on a dare. Gramps told her about those same friends flying over to Crazywort and eating all the leaves off the huge ‘Crazywort’ plant in the centre of town. (The leaves were green at the time. – Refer back to ‘A Fancifull Celebration’,They all got tummy aches and wouldn’t do that again. Gracie has seen that plant. It’s Huge! There were more leaves on it than she could count. Only recently, Gramps says he learned that the plant that everyone thought was a Crazywort was actually a Deetledag bush. After all these years, he finally had the answer why he and his mates were so sick that day Nobody eats Deetledag leaves!.. Well not on purpose, anyway. These stories couldn’t possibly be true. Could they? Gracie’s not completely sure. Are you?

Miss Phyllis , School teacher at Drone-On Academy and a Phyillium Giganteum Leaf Insect of Malaysia. Photo credit – magnoliabox.com

While she visits, Gramps helps Gracie with her homework. He’s very good with numbers and with his extra help, Gracie can answer all the teachers questions when called upon in class. She feels confident and raises her hand to answer when Miss Phyllis (Phyllium Giganteum – Leaf Insect) asks for class participation. Miss Phyllis is so much bigger than any other Fancifull Gracie has ever met. Some of her classmates think this makes her scary, but Gracey likes her very much. She is kind. She has a very soft voice and never raises it, not even when Gryffin and his friends are acting up in the back of the class. Boys!

Gryffin is her brother and though she loves him, she wishes he would care as much about learning math as he cares about his “Catapulting for High Adventure and Sighting Exercises – CHASE.” CHASE is a game young grasshoppers play to increase their flying and landing accuracy. Gryffin is determined to be a CHASE Champion.

Miss Phyllis at home on Summer Vacation in Malaysia Photo Credit – tropicalherping.com

The Rules of CHASE:

(Honesty is a key component to the practice sessions. During actual event competitions , Adult Grasshoppers, are in the air, ‘spotting’ the reference points chosen by the young competitors. While practicing, there are no spotters. Playing fairly and honestly is important for the game to be fun and challenging.)

For 2 to 4 players – more possibly but it can become confusing.

First Catapultor propels their body as far into the air as possible. While at the highest point and flapping wings for a limited time of only 5 seconds, sight something that you think your challenger will not be able to see. Determine a question to ask about what you have sighted. Easy questions ensure the game takes on a fast pace. Here are some examples:

“What colour is the flower that Bella put in the window of the Insect Inn this morning?” (Answer – Orange. Your challenger must see the flower from aloft, not venture by ground) or;

What is written on the side of the Oh Valley Water Tower? (Answer – Pembroke.) or;

Where did Baxter leave his Pollen Extractor? ( Answer – On the Porch.)

If a challenger can answer your question accurately, they win the round. They have 3 attempts. If they answer on their first catapult, they score 3 points. If they require 2 attempts to get the correct answer, they score 2 points and 1 point is awarded if they locate the missing details on the 3rd and final catapult. After 3 attempts, if challengers do not guess correctly, ‘Sighter’ scores 1 point, and retains their turn to choose another sight. Once a challenger answers correctly, they take over as Sighter.

Gryffin sighting in C.H.A.S.E practices. Photo Credit – Evan McGlinn / National Geographic 

Accuracy in sighting and landing are equally important in the game of CHASE. There is a predetermined Landing Pad. You are not awarded the points you scored with your sighting if you do not land on the predetermined pad. You will, however become the new ‘Sighter’ because your sighting was correct.

There is no time limit to the game. It ends when all challengers are tuckered out, or when they hear the cicadas calling everyone home for mealtime.

Gryffin and his grasshopper friends Gabriella (Gabby), Gwendolynne (Gwen), and Grady are always practicing their exercises together. They concentrate so hard at getting better that they sometimes forget to come home at meal time.

Gracie tries to convince Gryffin that he should come and see Gramps with her but he’s always too busy with CHASE practices. Gramps says he understands. He was young once, too. Gracie knows this is true if the stories Gramps tells her are any indication! She’s still trying to figure out how he and his friends survived without food for 3 days and why a grasshopper would accept a dare to sit on top of the water tower.

Gracie has been knitting a special gift for her Gramps and today is the perfect day to give it to him. He has confided in her that his big old hind legs are always cold and his feet get itchy from a rash and he calls, “chilblains” She has just the thing… Jumping Leg Warmers! This way he can keep his legs warm so the rash will clear up and he’ll feel better.

Gramps loves his new leg warmers. They’re the perfect size and knit with wool using all his favourite colours. He’s feeling better already. Even his cold doesn’t seem to be bothering him as much. The aches and pains are subsiding and he can breathe better through all his spiracles. What a thoughtful granddaughter he has.

( What colours do you think are Gramps favourites? Can you draw a picture of Gramps with his new Jumping Leg Warmers?)

Now! Time to get those math equations figured out. Gracey pulls up a stool next to Gramps’ big old chair and together they tackle the hardest ones with Gramps explaining the bits that Gracie has difficulty with. Before too long, homework is complete and there is time for another story before Gracie has to head home for dinner.

As Gracie waves good-bye to her Gramps, she wonders if Gryffin will be home in time for dinner. She supposes he will because the sun is starting to set. Gryffin is getting good at CHASE but not so good that he can sight in the dark. 🙂

Until next time, here’s hoping your family is gathered around you at mealtime.

Sue, Axie, and the Fancifulls of Oh Valley

My quest this morning for a photo or two of a woolly bear for this post was not successful. I’m wondering if the beautiful temperatures of late have sent them back under leaves and cooler places. I have noticed a few woolly bear caterpillars as recently as a week ago, before this story popped into my head, therefore before I had a requirement for pictures. Also, I witnessed a beautifully pink sky this morning as the sun crested my neighbour’s roof and wonder if caterpillars know to take cover when a storm is brewing? I bet they do. I will update my post with appropriate photos on a later date but for now…. I’ve borrowed pictures from online sites.

“Teddy Bear” Caterpillar found himself in need of a room at the Insect Inn after a very long journey from Wooler, where he and many other Woolly Bear caterpillars live. He was on his way to Fleemschloogin to visit his sister May Beary and had travelled as far as his  little  legs and prolegs would take him. They were all in need of a good soak in some Epsom salts. After a night’s rest, he would continue to Fleemschloogin.

Teddy doesn’t visit May very often. It is very far and Teddy doesn’t like to travel. He’s a regular home-body. He loves his village. It has everything he needs and everything he might not need but wants. He knows everyone – mostly because all his relatives besides May live in Wooler so he sees them whenever he wants. In fact there are so many Woolly Bear caterpillars in his village that the original name for the town was recently changed from Fropdissle to Wooler in a plebiscite vote. Of course, all the Woolly Bears thought the name Wooler was a fantastic name. All the other insects liked the new name too and the vote was almost unanimous. No one could even recall why it was called Fropdissle in the first place, and with the new name of “Wooler,” they would always know how their village name originated… Wooler, for all the Woolly Bear caterpillar residents. Besides it was much easier to spell and pronounce. (*Author’s closest village growing up was Wooler, Ontario, Canada)

May is Teddy’s only sister and he misses her so much and makes the journey as often as he can. Thankfully, as is always the case, there is a wonderful room awaiting Teddy on the ground floor of the Insect Inn. Teddy doesn’t have to climb steps with his aching legs and feet.

After unpacking and washing up, he entered the Dining Hall for dinner and has a good natter with a debonair Bumble Bee named Belvedere who always wears a cravat to dinner. Belvedere, Teddy hears, follows the “dress code” of yesteryear.

“One does not come to the dinner table dressed slovenly,” Belvedere says. Teddy hopes he’s dressed OK in his fur coat. Unfortunately he didn’t bring, nor does he own, a cravat. Teddy has never seen a bee wearing a cravat before. He supposes if he can wear a fur coat everywhere he goes, a bee can wear a cravat to dinner. It seems fair. The chap did look quite dashing.

With great effort, he switches his focus from staring at Belvedere to listening to him. He learns all about Oh Valley, its history and its residents. So many Oh Valley details captured his attention, that by the end of dinner, Teddy didn’t even notice that Belvedere was wearing a cravat. It wasn’t important.

After a filling breakfast, Teddy says goodbye to Belvedere and some other residents in the dining room and continues his journey to Fleemschloogin. He should be there in time for lunch. The Insect Inn’s Continental Breakfast of steaming compost and Thistle Drip was fine but he is already looking forward to his sister’s meal. She always has the best meals prepared for him when he arrives. He’d visit her anyway but it’s a nice bonus that she is such a good cook. Her jellied Snarlguk is legendary. She brings it to Wooler whenever she comes home though she generally reserves it for special occasions. He hopes May thinks his visit qualifies as a special occasion. Jellied Snarlguk, YUM!

Over a glass each of Thistle Drip, May and Teddy contemplate how their lives are changing. They discuss whether the winter will be long or short. They can’t seem to tell as May has a very wide brown middle stripe but Teddy has a much smaller brown stripe. It doesn’t really matter anyway because they’ll both be frozen solid all winter long and thaw again in the Spring when the weather warms.

***This is very true. Woolly Bear Caterpillars, like some frogs, have the ability to remain alive in a totally frozen state. They have a special “antifreeze” flowing in their circulatory fluid, hemolymph, that allows them to freeze solidly but return to munching on plant leaves in spring when the temperatures rise. Pretty darn cool if you ask me! But I wonder… Do they feel how cold it is when they’re frozen like a furry, round popsicle?

May – being older has recently been notified by the Caterpillar-to-Moth Swap Shop that she will be changing her name to “Isabella Tiger Moth” very soon.” She doesn’t need to get a license or anything. She will wake up one day and emerge from her cocoon with a new body and a new name to go with it. Teddy. is very perplexed.

“Why would you want to do that, May?” Don’t you like your name?

I don’t have a choice Teddy, It happens to all of us. It will happen to you, too.

“But I’m happy to be Teddy Bear Caterpillar.” I don’t want to change. I have everything I need in Wooler, all our family and friends, except you, of course. If I promise to visit more often, will you stay as you are?”

“Oh Teddy. You really are a good brother and I love you to bits but I think I need to explain further. When I emerge from my cocoon this time, I will have wings and I will be able to fly to visit you and everyone in Wooler. I will be able to visit whenever I like. When I become “Isabella Tiger Moth,” I will have so much more mobility and freedom. I am looking forward to it. You should too. When you become a moth, you can fly to visit me in Fleemschloogin… . I’m told to expect that I may not prefer to eat the foods I currently enjoy. That will happen for you too. You might not like my jellied Snarlguk once you become an Isabella Tiger Moth.” **

“Whoa!… Stop right there! You mean I have to be called Isabella too?” Teddy thinks that this is another very good reason NOT to become a moth. He didn’t want a girl’s name!

May laughs. Her little brother does have a point. “How would it be if everyone called you, ‘Tiger’, instead? Would that be OK?

Teddy thought about this. “Tiger, yes, that would be great. I might even like that better than Teddy. Besides, tigers have stripes, just like I do.. same colours too!”

“Tiger,” it is then, my little bro.

Teddy stayed with May for a few more days but noticed the nights were getting colder. He waved goodbye to May and headed back home to Wooler with another stop at the Insect Inn to visit Belvedere. He wanted to let Belvedere know what he learned from May. He wasn’t sure when it would happen but he wanted to be certain that Belvedere would recognize him next time if he’d already become a moth. He liked the older Bumble Bee so much he might even stop in for a short visit and catch-up though he wouldn’t need the rest… having new, beautiful wings.

When Teddy finally reached Wooler, he spun his cocoon and in the safety of his beloved village, curled up and prepared to freeze the winter away.

Speaking for myself, I need to find my woolies and be sure they still fit. Can you help Mom or Dad get your warmer clothes out and be ready for winter too. I bet you’ve grown. 🙂

Sue, Axie and The Fancifulls of Oh Valley.

The following paragraph is possibly not a paragraph for the younger children… kind of scary.

** Another Truism , Isabella Tiger Moths, like many moths do not eat. They do not have mouth parts. They have stored energy, carried through metamorphosis, that will allow them to survive for a very short period of time.  

Clothing Moths did not eat your favourite cashmere sweater or linen pants. However, their larvae, hatched from eggs, laid by the adult, have voracious appetites. It is best to store your organic threaded clothing clean… dry-cleaned to be precise as larvae are attracted to the oils from sweat and all other microscopic soil we leave behind after wearing, “only a couple of hours.” 

Adult moths are sustained for only a short life, by energy retained from larval internal food stores and die within a couple of days of their metamorphosis. Their only objective is to mate and lay eggs for the next generation of moths. So sad… but in actuality, humans do the same thing just on a different time scale. We get to eat and enjoy life as we find our mate and have children and they have children…. well you know how that goes. Even so, we have it far better than Teddy and he’s pretty happy about his lot in life.

May I offer you a wish that you are able to recognize the goodness in your life and find that perfect mate.

Sue, Axie and the Fancifulls of Oh Valley

(Update June 21, 2020 – Once I knew the life-cycle of a moth, my heart went out to them. One day, last fall while preparing copper dragonflies under a heat lamp, a moth landed on me and I didn’t have the heart to shoo it away. I remained still for 25 minutes until it decided to fly off on his own. It could easily be a relative of Cinch as it is in the Family of Geometrid Moths – adult Inchworms. I am right handed. it was a struggle taking this picture with only my left hand to focus and snap without disturbing him.) 

So Glad I let him be. Upon researching this little guy, I learned he is in the geometrid family of moths – Adult inch-worms.

Calvin (Caterpillar) has just learned that he has an uncle living in Oh Valley at the famous Insect Inn. He thinks he might like to meet him. Everyone tells him that he’s the spitting image of Uncle “Butter” at his age. “Spitting image?” How could that be good?

Calvin’s curiosity gets the better of him so making sure it’s OK first, he leaves his home in Beetlecrum, heading for Oh Valley. It’s a fair distance but he’s pretty sure he can make it there and back before dark. Calvin’s been on many adventures and believes the journey is half of the fun.

He sets out before first light. Not even the birds are awake and chirping yet. This is good news for Calvin. He knows that, with his girth, he’s apt to be a lovely breakfast for an ‘Early Bird’ who mistakes him for a worm. This early, before the sun is up, Calvin could easily be mistaken for a worm because he is long and low to the ground. He has no hair or feathers or fur.

Calvin, however, has something that true worms don’t have. Calvin has legs. He has six true legs and some others called ‘prolegs’ to help hold his belly off the ground. You don’t see legs on worms, do you? Don’t get me started on the Inchworm. It is not really a worm, just like a ladybug is not a bug. Ladybugs are beetles. An inchworm is a caterpillar. Calvin should know. His best friend is an Inchworm. Calvin even asked him along on his adventure but Cinch, the Inchworm, was busy helping his mom measure for new curtains.

Calvin wonders what it would be like to know from very early on, what your purpose is. Cinch told Calvin he always knew he would be a tailor’s apprentice. He studied hard in school learning both the Imperial system and Metric system of measures. The Imperial was easy. If Cinch got stuck on a calculation, he said he went for a walk and measured his way back to the answer. The metric system of measuring was trickier at first. His body was an inch long, not a centimetre long. It wouldn’t help him with math equations that involved metric measurements. It didn’t take long, though, for him to figure out that metric math is actually much easier to remember because all measurements are based on the number ’10’.

Delta hanging out with Calvin on a Milkweed Plant. Calvin is around back making his bed before breakfast.

Calvin wasn’t sure what he wanted to be. He kind of liked the idea of becoming a certified Milkweed Milk taster. He could help other caterpillars choose the best milk to drink. Some milks taste better than others. He should know, he drinks it all the time… and eats the leaves of the Milkweed plant too. That is all he eats. He drinks water too if he gets thirsty. He can usually find as much water as he needs in the curled up leaves of the plant he’s munching on.

He’ll have to think on his future some more but for now, he had better quit dawdling and make his way to Oh Valley.

Once he stopped day-dreaming, he found he was already on the outskirts of Oh Valley, much sooner than he imagined he would be. He asked a few locals if they knew his Uncle Buttercup. They knew of a resident at the Insect Inn named, ‘Butter,’ but they weren’t certain if this could be Calvin’s uncle. There were no recognizable similarities.

With help, Calvin arrived at the inn and was directed to a room at its very top! Uncle Buttercup, it seemed, lived in a turret like the ones you see on old castle buildings. It was a long climb for Calvin, part of it on a spiral staircase that seemed to go up forever. But that would not deter him. He was not going to miss meeting his uncle now that he was almost there.

Butter answered the door with quite the start. He had almost forgotten about his formative years when he was still a caterpillar. Only the books that lined his round room all the way to the turret peak reminded him of his homey cocoon, a long time ago. Being inquisitive as well as well-mannered, Butter invited Calvin in for a visit. What could this out-of-breath caterpillar want with him?

Hello Uncle Buttercup. You were expecting me?

Calvin is amazed at all the books he sees. Yet, he doesn’t see any way to reach the ones high up. There are no staircases, or elevators, or ladders. He asks Buttercup how he gets to the ones on the top shelves. Buttercup spreads his wings and flies up to the peak and brings down one of his favourite books – ‘How to make Small Spaces Seem Sizable.’ He’s used the information between the covers of this book many times while building shelving in this very room.

Calvin is gob-smacked! “If you’re my uncle, will I be able to do that someday too?”

“Build shelves? Of course. Anyone can do it. I’ll even loan….”

“No Sir. I mean… Will I be able to get off the ground and go into the air without hanging onto anything at all? Will I?”

“Yes, Calvin, I believe I am your Uncle… so yes, you will be able to fly someday too. When that happens, please come back to visit so I can see how you’re getting on. I guarantee that your won’t take nearly as long to get here as you did today,” Buttercup smiles at his nephew.

With that, Calvin and Buttercup sat down for a look at the book Buttercup had brought down from the shelves. Calvin learned all about cross-cutting, toe-nailing and shimming. He learned to “Measure twice or even 3 times BEFORE cutting once,” to be sure you cut the correct length of wood you need. He wanted to try out all the things he read about as soon as he got home. He knew the exact caterpillar he needed to help him with the project, Cinch!

Calvin returned home having made a new friend and relative, Uncle Butter, bringing with him a knowledge of something new. He would ask Cinch to help him build shelves for all the books he had plans to read. In return, Calvin would offer to help Cinch build shelves for all the tailoring patterns he had stacked around his own room.

Calvin thinks he might like to be a carpenter now but may have to get approval from the UCAT, Union of  Carpenter Ants and Termites before he can make a final decision. He looks forward to visiting Uncle Butter again to learn something new over a nice drink of Milkweed milk.

Hope you have a wonderful day with whatever project you’ve chosen to challenge you.

Sue, Axie, and The Fancifulls of Oh Valley