One caterpillar started it all :)

Yesterday I found this little cutie on an duke cherry tree while I was picking and eating them, staining my hands red with their rich juice. Then I noticed this colorful little creature, all curled up there, looking almost like a tiny snake with its beautiful patterns.

When I was a kid, I loved caterpillars and lizards. I have no idea where that combination came from, but I remember being fascinated by the way they looked. I used to hold caterpillars in my hand quite often because catching a lizard was almost impossible. xD Over time, people change, or maybe develop new fears, and the same happened to me. These days, I wouldn't touch it with my finger at all. I'd only move it with a leaf or a thin little twig, so I wouldn't hurt it.

I loved the way this caterpillar posed and it immediately awakened the crazy photographer in me. So I started snapping photos all around the yard and ended up capturing this little half-bloomed pink flower. There were fully bloomed ones as well, but this one somehow stood out from others, which made it all the more interesting to me.
Then I continued taking photos, but in a bit of a hurry because the wind had started to pick up and rain clouds were slowly rolling across what had been a clear sky until that moment. So, as you can probably guess, the rest of yesterday's photos of plants and insects ended up in the trash bin.

Honestly, I don't know why that distracted me so much. I'm not made of sugar - I'm not going to melt; pluuus I actually love the rain. I think I was more concerned about putting my phone away. It's still fairly new, so I'm a bit more careful with it. (:

I wonder how long that phase lasts these days when it comes to devices like that, especially in 2026 and particularly among kids who have grown up with a big portable screen by their side from a very early age.

Just as I ran to the covered terrace in front of our house to escape the rain, the drizzle stopped, and this little "monster" came outside looking for a victim to throw a ball for her.

And yes, I call her a monster for a reason. She is smart, but she's also quite cheeky and sometimes incredibly demanding, which can be a bit too much for us anxious types. That's just her breed, I know, and we loooove her, but she is craaaazy girl. 😁 With all that energy, she really seems like the kind of dog that should be out in nature, running free, hunting alongside hunters and enjoying the outdoors.

Maybe I'm talking nonsense because I don't know that much about dog breeds, but judging by her personality and behavior, that's the impression I get. There's no way she'd let a single pheasant get away from her, if only that leash were a little longer, or better yet, if there were no leash at all. (:

This photo isn't exactly the best quality; I only realized that after uploading it, but it would be a shame not to include it and let her wave hello to you all with that goofy grin and tongue hanging almost to the floor after completely wearing herself out chasing her favorite yellow ball.

Aww-awww and bye-bye until tomorrow... or the day after.

Wishing you all a lovely day. 🤗