Caterpillar Hunting
I don’t want to do it. I don’t even want to think about doing it. But I have to for the sake of these guys:
I have a little “get to know me better” tidbit to share with you today. I have an intense fear of creepy crawlies. I’m talking of any kind. Ones that fly too. Gosh especially ones that fly. I’m just not a fan of any insect of any kind honestly.
My garden has been sadly neglected these past couple weeks. The schedule has just been crowded and I haven’t had it in me to play in the dirt lately. (this kind of makes me sad). My grandfather was over this past weekend and we went out to check things out. I was so excited to spot a huge tomato growing and went in to get a better look with my hand when I disgustingly touched a ginormous green spotted gross caterpillar. It’s head was buried into my pretty green tomato.
I got pissed.
I don’t like bugs. They completely freak me out and turn me into a crazy person. Just yesterday at the park I spotted a neon green spider crawling up the leg of my shorts. All I could think of was screaming, tearing off my shorts and rolling around on the ground to kill it. I swear I still feeling it crawling on me right this second. Is this normal?? My husband has been dubbed “spider killer” in my house (in exchange for me catching lizards – is that normal???).
I completely panic when there is a wasp or bee even remotely near me. (Today’s encounter with a queen bee in the backyard immediately brought me back to being paralyzed on my aunt’s front porch when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old and screaming for my dear life, in front of the neighbor kid I used to play with. I don’t think we played much after that). This intense fear of bugs apparently goes back pretty deep.
So morale of the story is this. That stupid caterpillar brought me back out to the garden today. I had to move past my uncomfortable feeling to take care of things. And in return it gave an hour of peace in my mind that I haven’t really stopped to have lately. It gave a few minutes to just breathe, think happy thoughts and reset. Kind of along the lines of don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers mentality.
So deep down and for only a second, I feel the need to give that caterpillar a little gratitude. But only a little.
Tonight is Friday night pizza and my friend Jennie virtually held my hand in the kitchen this morning as I taught myself how to make her pizza dough with confidence. So far so good.
Have a wonderful weekend lovely readers!
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You crack me up Aggie! I hate those large ones too. They look like aliens! I’m learning all about the good and bad bugs of the garden and have come to appreciate all the ones that get rid of the bad ones. So much going on right under our noses. Thanks for the reminder.
Total aliens. Monsters! thanks for the book reco, I’m ordering it.
I immediately knew you were talking about the hornworm caterpillar the minute I read your description. Watch out for those, Aggie – if there’s one there’s probably a TON more large and much smaller ones all over your plants. They blend in with the stems and leaves and can be quite hard to spot. They decimated a good portion of five tomato plants and two bell pepper plants in my garden last year – and that was after I’d been keeping an eye out for them and quickly removing the ones I saw (with a pair of pliers – didn’t want them wiggling in my fingers and I’m an entomologist’s daughter!). Ugh!!
BTW, thanks for the laugh. I can relate and totally laughed out loud imagining the scene of you as a child. 🙂
The pizza dough is beautiful! Have a good weekend!
They are so hard to find Caneel! I showed the kids it’s mugshot last summer and we hunted for them all the time, this one totally caught me guard! I had one years ago and it destroyed a good portion of my potted tomatoes.
I’m glad I gave you a laugh. I laugh too, when I’m not screaming. I’m very jumpy in the garden! LOL
Ohhhhh! Aren’t those giant green caterpillars the WORST!? I had one of those that demolished my prettiest tomato last summer. I was so mad…but that pizza dough looks awesome. Wanna come make me some?? 😉 Going to BlogHer Food?? I would love to see you again.
Disgusting creatures Carrie. I found another tomato with a HOLE. I’m not headed to BHF 🙁 Sorry I’m going to miss you!!! Hope you are being taken care of girl! 😉
We got those caterpillars on our tomatoes when we lived in California. They are SO freaky. Ugh…yuck…ew. Have fun with pizza night!!
They will eat a ton too….get them gone, and soon!!!
bugs just might be one of the reasons I have yet to start a garden… and the whole time thing. Maybe another year. I’ll live vicariously through everyone else for now. 🙂
I was very uncomfortable and skittish out there today. Some days are worse than others, lol. I have to be at high alert and really keep my eyes open. I don’t like to be caught off guard…the whole touching of the catepillar and big bumblebee today kinda messed me up. I need my grandpa.
And for the record…pots are so much “safer” than an in ground garden. So maybe start with a couple of potted herbs? Small tomatoes grow great in a big pot too.
I really bad when it comes to bugs too! But the garden will be well worth it. Good luck with the pizza 🙂
So glad I’m not alone, lol. Have a great weekend!
Aggie, YOU CRACK ME UP!! Bugs I’m ok with, but blood…….
I can’t do blood either Sommer. But I’ll take blood over bugs, I think. Have a great weekend girl!
LOL! Bugs don’t really faze me — but fish, I totally have a fish phobia. I went snorkeling in Jamaica once and the guide started throwing bread out into the water to attract the fish, and let me tell you, it attracted them all right. The were swarming around me and I started hyperventilating and had to get back on the boat… which was fine by me because I’d much rather enjoy the rum punch!
Okay this was a post that just made me smile! You are so funny. 🙂 Those tomatoes are looking gorgeous. Some basil and mozzarella and I’m in! I’m SO impressed — HOMEMADE pizza dough. Teach us! Happy Mother’s Day Friend!!!
You make me laugh! I loved this post 🙂 And normal is what you want it to be so yes, you are normal!
thank you so much! 😉
Aggie, I am cracking up as I read your post – I hate bugs and am bug phobic, just ask my kids. I also don’t like chipmunks. I used to think they were so cute, until they swiped my tomatoes from the garden. They’d take one bite and drop it on the ground. Now I frequent the farmer’s market, although every summer I think about growing my own garden again.
not a fan at all Jeanette. I don’t think I’ve seen a real life chipmunk! My grandfather is having major issues with rabbits this year.
I totally feel you on this creepy crawlie business…I HATE THEM! The only ones I can deal with are lady bugs…and that’s really only on a good day.
I am totally cool with lady bugs (though I do initially gasp when they first land on me)!