plan B ...

It's already been established here that my littlest ladybug is known for being a clever and determined soul. Well, yesterday she tried to catch a beautiful butterfly that stopped to say hello in the yard. She carefully tried with all her heart to approach it with her special butterfly net ... but unfortunately my girl had all the stealth of the eager child that she is. Naturally, the butterfly knew what was up and flew away before meeting that net face to face. After a few tears of disappointment, little ladybug rushed inside and quickly came up with her Plan B:

I just love her resolve! I assumed she had switched gears when she went inside, but instead she made this, with no advice or help from anyone. It's a flower decoy, custom designed to lure butterflies in for a sip of the sweet 'nectar' inside. She took a plastic cup, then colored, cut, and taped red petals to the edge to make the 'flower'. The final touch was the 'nectar' inside the cup, made from cotton balls soaked with sugar water. It's a classic example of the way her mind works ... if you don't succeed one way, try another. And it's a good lesson from the mouth of a babe - always have a Plan B!