Caterpillars, deer and cardinals, oh my!

About a month ago my family went to a local festival in Vermilion, Ohio, called The Woollybear Festival. If you don’t know what a woollybear is, it’s a fuzzy caterpillar. It has black bands on either end with a coppery stripe in the middle. So why would something as simple as a caterpillar be important enough for its own festival? It’s how we determine the severity of the upcoming winter here in northeast Ohio. Some say these little critters show how severe the winter will be based on the length of the stripes. You might say a woollybear is the counterpart to Puxatawny Phil, the groundhog. 

The festival has become so popular that it drew approximately 100,000 people this year, and that was on a rainy day! The festival includes races for kids, a crowning of a queen, a parade including kids and pets dressing up like woollybears, craft and food vendors, and live entertainment with local bands and local TV personalities. And yes, everyone wants to see the woollybear race. The caterpillars are placed at the top of a board and the board is tipped at a slight angle. The first woollybear to crawl to the finish line wins!

That day I got to hold a caterpillar. It’s been a long time since I held one. I highly recommend it. I had forgotten the amazing tickling sensation as its little legs grasped onto my hand as it moved. And I find something intriguing about the face of a caterpillar with those big black eyes.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get bogged down in just doing what needs to be done. I have the normal routine things, and then life throws extra stuff (sometimes good, sometimes bad) on top of it. I get so involved in living everyday life that I start to miss the little details that can bless me and my day. Something as simple as holding a caterpillar and being amazed at this little life was such a special moment. And what joy it was to watch my 2 and 4-year-old granddaughters learning to gently touch this fuzzy creature.

About a week ago my husband and I were taking the dog for a walk in the neighborhood. We have a lot of deer in the area so it isn’t unusual to see them, but this day stood out. We were walking down the sidewalk and glanced to the left. There, in a neighbor’s side yard, was a young buck standing perfectly still. He was maybe 30 feet away from us. His pose made him look so majestic. We really had to look twice because he looked too perfect. He looked like a yard decoration. When it dawned on us that he was real, we also realized we were probably too close, especially with a dog by our side. If we spooked him, he would probably run away from us, but we didn’t want to take the chance he would come toward us instead. Those antlers could really do some damage! I was bummed that I didn’t bring my phone with me so I missed getting a picture, but it was one of the moments that burned into my memory. 

A few days later I glanced out the sliding glass door at a bright red cardinal that had landed on top of the patio chair. I didn’t move to get my phone, afraid the movement would scare him off. I just wanted to enjoy the moment. His color alone was beautiful, but there was something about the shape of this particular cardinal. He was definitely well fed. His body was rounder than most cardinals I’ve seen. His shape was somehow humorous. This round, red bird looked, well . . . jolly.  It made me smile.

I don’t know why I was suddenly noticing these little blessings in nature, but I’m glad I did. Each experience was a little gift and a nudge to remember to see the beauty surrounding us every day. If you’re feeling bogged down or in a rut, don’t miss the little gift that might be right in front of you. Hoping for little blessings for each of you this week!