More hobbies
Nov. 23rd, 2009 20:07![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torquillToday I realized I still had a half-dozen butterflies in the freezer from when I caught them a year ago -- they're not supposed to stay frozen that long, as they dessicate and become impossible to pin. But I had the itch again, so I figured I'd give it a try.
I started with the common ones, and though I shredded one skipper that was too dry, I managed to mount another skipper (I think it's ablue checkerspot of some kind) and spread two cabbage butterflies as well. I'm a little rusty, but that's why I try to practice at least once a year, so I don't lose the skill. Cabbage butterflies are great for practice because they're large enough to get a grip on, they're as common as dirt, and they're pests so I don't cry over killing a bunch just to hone my skills.
I still have a (tattered) sulfur butterfly and an unknown one which is subtly beautiful in pastels, which are thawing out now... I always wanted a sulfur butterfly in my collection. We'll see whether they're still hydrated enough to spread out properly. If they're brittle, I can try steaming them like I did with the others tonight, that seemed to help.
I don't know why I like this hobby so much, but I do. The killing part I'm not so fond of, but the mounting and display, that's fun. :)
Edit: Steaming worked, and I managed to mount both the sulfur butterfly and the stranger with minimal hassle. I was virtuous and even wrote out cards for them with the location and date they were caught. They should all be dry and ready to put in the case by Thanksgiving evening -- which means I can use them as an excuse to pull out my collection and bore the guests. ;)
I started with the common ones, and though I shredded one skipper that was too dry, I managed to mount another skipper (I think it's a
I still have a (tattered) sulfur butterfly and an unknown one which is subtly beautiful in pastels, which are thawing out now... I always wanted a sulfur butterfly in my collection. We'll see whether they're still hydrated enough to spread out properly. If they're brittle, I can try steaming them like I did with the others tonight, that seemed to help.
I don't know why I like this hobby so much, but I do. The killing part I'm not so fond of, but the mounting and display, that's fun. :)
Edit: Steaming worked, and I managed to mount both the sulfur butterfly and the stranger with minimal hassle. I was virtuous and even wrote out cards for them with the location and date they were caught. They should all be dry and ready to put in the case by Thanksgiving evening -- which means I can use them as an excuse to pull out my collection and bore the guests. ;)
