Learning about Insects is Everywhere, even at the Dentists Office

My boys are at their semi-annual dental checkup and cleaning. Mom is settling in, grabbing a magazine to read while I wait. (I'm so lucky they don't just carry the style and feel horrible about yourself lady magazines and actually carry intelligent content like Smithsonian and Kiwi.) Meanwhile my older son came across this bug book. Buzzing Insects was written by a Local Chicagoian Tom Greve. Its all about insects that sting (and don't).

We were reading the page about a Bee and a Horse "Mimic" Fly. This little boy who just finished his appointment, as is often the case with me and kids, he wandered across the room to see what we were chatting about. He loved hearing that the look-a-like bee was actually a mimic.

My older son proceeded to explain that his huge black eyes are different from a regular bee. Also the fly has 2-wings and a real bee has 4-wings (2-pairs). His mom stood nearby - as is also the frequent case - when the kids come to talk / listen to us. We love reading these books anywhere we find them because we always find a new tidbit inside for our storage bank of bug knowledge.


Make mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud

Frozen Bugs - An Alternative way to Kill Jars and prepare Specimens for Pinning

Our Summer 2014 bug collection is getting enourmous! We have exceeded all expectations and crossed the 1,000 specimens mark. Our two biggest finds with nearly 200 insects each added a whopping 400 insects in a brief 2 month (or so) period. We don't always use my unique kill jar method (Acetone nail polish remover on a cotton ball). We often use the freezer method when accessible.

Frozen Bugs - An Alternative way to Kill Jars and prepare Specimens for Pinning 

Which luckily freezers seem to always be accessible. Once we capture an insect, either dead or injured, we put them in our jars, or mom's makeshift bug envelope and freeze them. Freezing is a nice humane method. The insect nearly instantly gets drowsy / gets stunned from the cold. Their so small, the chill affects them instantly. The freezer method is also sterile because the jars (which we clean with soap and water after each capture) don't use chemicals like with traditional kill jars. Any bacteria the insects carry is within the safety of the jar.

In this picture I removed the lid and one fly for a size example. As always, I prefer plastic jars when working with my kids. We simply keep and clean plastic containers from what we love to eat - Nutella containers (with the paper lining from the inner lid removed), a Polish mustard jar (I make my awesome salad dressing with it & of course use a schmear on grilled Polish Sausage), and the blue point is a quickly made envelope (from paper we looked for when we found the Western Conifer Hemiptera).

Insect Pinning Disaster - Fixing a Dragonfly Tail and Leg

At the beginning of the summer I knew this years goal was to:

1. teach the kids hands on pinning and

2. catch a dragonfly.

Insects have their seasonal cycles, so dragonfly's wouldn't be found until August through September.

Insect Pinning Disaster - Fixing a Dragonfly Tail and Leg

Our first goal was achieved and fast. Baby girl started pinning quickly. We organized and outing with our cousins to go bug collecting and pin some specimens (that I gathered previously) to pin when we get back home. That was a fun day helping get others addicted to our hobby.

Back to dragonflies. We had a wonderful friend send us a "Lion Ant" dragonfly she found near her home in McHenry County. We talked about packaging him securely in a plastic bag, adding him to a box a firm envelope so he doesn't break further. Yes we get everyone involved in our collecting! ! ! And all are welcome!

You can see that the specimen had its limb and tail broken off. However, no worries, we can easily fix these kind of problems.


First pin the dragonfly. Luckily I didn't have to rehydrate (soften) the specimen.

Then using as little clear nail polish as possible, I attached the limb. I tend to blow on the glue spot (where the Nail polish is added) to quicken the drying process.

Ladybug Collecting at the End of Summer

We were recently at the beach along the Chicago lakefront. Late August is a nice time to find lots of dead bugs. . . especially ladybugs along the shoreline. It was an average Tuesday, last week of August. It did storm in the morning, so the sand was very wet, wet enough for the kids to make sand castles without water, well into the afternoon when we arrived. I don't think we found this abundant supply of ladybugs because of the rain. I think this is a seasonal effect and our timing is spot on.

Ladybug Collecting at the End of Summer

Baby girl was very helpful finding all the bugs and gathering them into our bug jar. The lady's are along the shoreline, where the waves meet the sand and leave marks along the shoreline. They are usually found upside down with their wings unfolded, exposed and their elytra (the hard wing shell) also up / exposing the body. These most likely drowned because we saw so many walking towards the shoreline. The water was warm for this time of year, but still stunned them as they went into the waves. Lady's overwinter in hiding places and lay eggs in spring. They get their water for hydration from the few on plants and from what they eat. I still haven't uncovered why they were so drawn to the water.

LaPorte County Fair, Indiana: Fun Things to do from our Summer BucketList. Part II

Just beyond the schoolhouse is the barn. We explored old fashioned tools, and barn purposes. Then we hit the laundry area... We were here for over 45 minutes, just doing the laundry. Yes my kids got soaked, but we hit the car to change our clothes before the carnival. I always have extra clothes in the car, which I rotate as the seasons change,... And their growing sizes!

The kids had small sized era- appropriate costumes to wear! They could walk a nearby "master gardeners" typical family food and health garden, growing their food in the traditional way, and their wellness herbs too!! Again city kids exploring survival on a whole new scale, cause you can't just run to the grocery store in those days.

We experienced an old post office, showing the methods of sorting and delivering mail. Need a job? How about the pony express? I loved explaining to my older son why being an orphan is referenced...

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Outside the old post office was an ol' fashioned checks board on a tree stump.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Old washing tubs with plungers for rotation washed the rags with feldspar soap (which is still available in today's supermarkets!). Then rink out thru rollers into the rinse tub. For tough stains scrub on a waRsh board ;-) I lived when I heard "Mom, they have our drying racks" for air / line drying the laundered rags. Then there was a small ironing board to press the clothes after washing.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Not pictured here, my Younger son took too the outdoor style laundry tub - a large steel basin - and got in with his feet instead of using the rotating plungers.

As we left, we saw an outdoor kitchen with a grill and water kettle, boiled by a fire. A volunteer lady in costume rinsing the evening beans for tomorrow's meal - happy to explain her process.

We loved today's Pioneer town visit - this will be a must do for years to come! Off to the carnival, older son loved playing games, younger son too. It wasn't about winning, they knew that was nearly impossible. But older son promised our neighbor friend a prize from the carnival - which he reminded me about for days prior to Our Visit!!!


Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

City Kids Exploring the Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014. Summer Bucket List Item. Part I

Pioneer town is a fantastic set up of turn of the century life in America at the LaPorte County Fair, in Indiana. The fair is an annual summer bucket list item because we can experience so much rural traditional fun, less than two-hours from our Windy City home. We experienced a school house, post office, ol' fashion wood games, and chores like laundry.

After feeding the animals, bits of corn from a quarter machine, we headed to the next game area. Simple spinning tips, a wooden Sliding gingerbread man and catch the strung ball in a cap ol' fashioned games kept us going for another 30 minutes.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

The volunteer teacher truly embraced her role! My children sat in the hard benches, and experienced using a small chalkboard to practice their penmanship.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Here my older son is experiencing classic ol' fashion corporal punishment: the classroom volunteer teacher said put your nose on that dot on the chalkboard. "mom, this is hard!"

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

More punishment...
It's the dunce hat. You could be expected to sit here for the entire class period, or stand facing the wall. Torture!

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do. Part III

We love the LaPorte county fair! It's rural fun at it's finest. Apart from the junk food joy my kids like we also really like the nature centered and REAL life learning for us City Kids. Entry is $5 for adults, kids under 12 Are free. Carnival rides And games are extra.

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

1st stop is the gold fish fishing challenge. If you fish in the morning, you're guarenteed to carry around your $1 goldfish winning catch all day.

My younger son didn't like the authentic smell of the animal Showing Area

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Fun ol' fashion games

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

In the back of this 1st stall were some crafts. Exit the back door into the carnival OR we turned right and walked the Prarie flowers and explored the path. And look at this great bee identification sign, helped with IDs for our recent burrowing beetles found in evanston, and the all black worker bees found collecting earlier this year.

One of our first stops was the 4H fair. Here younger son discovered the Lego builds that kids made.

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

It was one of his highlights of the day. He's our Lego monster! We also found over 50 boards dedicated to bug collecting... Moms spent 30 minutes exploring :-)

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, 2014

Our next day was spent driving into LaPorte Indiana, in advance of the annual county fair. We took the side roads in and enjoyed some scenery and rural living atmosphere. This year we took in route 2, east bound off 421 south and arrived just to catch the tail end of the parade. People watching was just as fun when the parade was over as during. The main strip thru town is closed for the occasion.

Off of route 2 driving in we caught a train.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

A float full of army brats and a Marine Corp soldier in the front Seat.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Farm equipment sales, which we forget how huge those pieces are sometimes.

The whistle stop restaurant off the tracks.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

And an all American farmers float heading home.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Tomorrow is the start of pre-fair festivities, but we'll be back next week for the fair fun - hog contest, horse rodeo, and car derby here we come!!

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

Summer Fun: July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana. The day before theLaPorte County Fair

We enjoy visiting Indiana towns, walking, exploring and enjoying. Downtown Chesterton has some great shops with fun signs. The Dog Days ice cream shop has yummy homemade gelato - trust me when I say it's worth a visit!!

The owner is of Polish Heritage, and Very Proud

July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana Part I, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Then, exit there back door and walk down to the nature center boardwalk (some parts elevated above swamp like marsh land), a part of the coffee creek conservation.

Great signage along the strip:

July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana Part I, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana Part I, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

It ends at a park with rubber mulch for the kids!! It'll only be two blocks over to the main Indiana Blvd., and 2 blocks North back to Dog Days.

We often visit the Texas coral steakhouse for some family restaurant fun. While it's probably a germ town, we do love to dig into the peanut barrel and throw our shells on the ground, as do all the patrons here.

July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana Part I, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

We frequent the Michigan City location. Highland Indiana's is nice too with deer antlers for door knobs.

Our visit was planned around the LaPorte county fair, which we try to visit every year!! Elephant ears, farm animals, animal contests, cowboy keepsakes, and car derby included. It's loads of authentic rural fun. There's a carnival that is attached and a great pioneer town we discovered this year for a flavor of authentic Pioneer life. The kids spent over an HOUR at the pioneer town alone!

July 4 Holiday in Chesterton, Indiana Part I, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

More posts from our holiday fun to follow.

Make
Mistakes.
Breathe!
Reflect.
And Laugh.Out.Loud

Wisconsin Dells Bugs Insect Display Box

Our summer adventures took us for a week to Wisconsin Dells. June of 2014 was cool, so surprisingly we didn't spend a lot of time at the Waterparks. Also, we discovered the Dells closed the Riverview Waterpark which we loved so much for their buy one day, get one free tickets. 

We enjoyed walking in town, playing in our pool at our cottage, and of course, collecting bugs. When we arrive at the cabin there's always little visitors who have entered the mobile home - mostly lady bugs and flys in the summer months. This year we did find 1 cockroach and a few fire flys. We also surprisingly found a wasp too.

Wisconsin Dells Bugs Insect Display Box 

We pinned over 100 bugs from the dells. There were a few evening I found grasshoppers that landed ON the house siding! At dusk the kids would run around and try to catch grasshoppers. Amongst five kids, they caught 4 tiny grasshoppers.

A Beach Outing And impromtu Bug Collection - The Insect results

After our wonderful morning, where just baby girl and I enjoyed the beach, and found and impromptu bug hunt, I am happy To report the bug count. We should taken estimates at home for some math fun :-/ next time. It turns out this bottom full of bugs yielded a count of 198. Most we card point pinned using the rest of my plain stainless steel pins. Those even ran out and I did have to use my good bug 002 pins. I just did t want to Run out before summer collection season is over.

A Beach Outing And impromtu Bug Collection - The Insect results

These photos show the 198 before they have been sorted by species (color and size sorting). That'll help when i need to create all their labels. In the 2013 bug collection season I made the mistake of waiting until the end of the season to print all my labels - never again!! 

Insect Cemetery - a Bug Collectors Goldmine at Indiana Dunes State Park

On a visit today to babcias house in Indiana, baby girl wanted to visit the beach. It was a chilly start to Memorial Day weekend! We sorted through some rocks, and were parked for maybe 10 minutes when she wanted to leave!!

Insect Cemetery - a Bug Collectors Goldmine at Indiana Dunes State Park

On our way out we decided to climb a sand dune. But we were suddenly interrupted when we came across this pile of sticks. You can see how small of a pile it is compared to baby girl. There were dozens of dead lady bugs, ants, and a wife variety of beetles.