The Farm Report

Category: Neko

  • Bug alert!

    Bug alert!

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    This imperial moth caterpillar may be one of the strangest creatures we’ve found on the farm. Ambling across the driveway, it measures nearly four inches long and is covered in fuzz (which some are allergic to, hence the blue garden gloves). Neko was beside herself with not only a new find but the shock value it wields with strangers.

    However, once we discovered it pupates underground for an entire winter, we decided we would not be seeing this one through to its adult stage. But for 48 hours it was loads of fun for our junior etymologist.

  • The letter P

    The letter P

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    Well, THERE’s my letter P. It's been on the kitchen floor this whole time.

  • Butterfly

    Butterfly

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    Neko found this injured butterfly. One wing ragged, it was pretty clear she wasn't going to make it to Mexico. It was the best pet for several days, sitting happily on her hand.

    And then, one day, off she flew. Well loved.

  • My child is a genius

    My child is a genius

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    Okay, admit it. If you have children, you’re convinced your kids are genius material as well.

    I came out of the shop one day to discover this huge drawing Neko had done on the new driveway. It’s a great drawing, but it’s extra amazing because it’s really tough to work that big. When you draw large, you lose a sense of scale and location. Later on she drew a really great, life-size dinosaur.

    And just in case you can’t tell, this is a drawing about someone dreaming about getting a pet chihuahua. (Detail in bottom photo.) That would be my only reservation in calling this genius material, because, lordy, who wants to own a chihuahua?

  • We have fairies in the back yard

    We have fairies in the back yard

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  • Bug of the Day: Tiger Moth

    Bug of the Day: Tiger Moth

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    I know, you are all probably thinking that this is becoming some sort of nature blog. Sorry about that. This is what summer is like around here. It’s beginning to look a bit like a zoology museum, with all the specimens we’ve been collecting.

  • For the designers

    For the designers

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    I can hardly even stand how amazing this card is. I adore every little decorative element on the type. It had to be documented before we handed it off to Sylvie.

  • My parents took me to San Diego

    My parents took me to San Diego

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    …and all I got was to go to the country’s largest zoo. Sheesh.

  • Neko

    Neko

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  • Monday evening, 7:13pm

    Monday evening, 7:13pm

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    Sometimes I forget you’re only six.

    You wake up too early thanks to a little sister with a big set of lungs. You go at a speed I can’t even fathom, and pack more into a day than I do in a week. And then you want to stay up just a bit later than everyone else because you’re older, and that’s a right you’ve earned.

    And at the end of it all, you are so tired. Life just wipes you out.

    You and I snuck off to my bedroom to watch that Nova about monarchs that we’ve watched a zillion times. I left for a bit to help Tom get Shep and Ellery into bed, and when I came back, you were out cold.

    It’s when you sleep that, despite those long legs, I remember you are still so small. There you were, dwarfed in our big bed.

    I need to remember this on days when I set expectations too high. You melt down often. On days when we’re walking down different paths.