Birthday girl

Six years ago on January 21, OBT and Lepidoptera's life changed and will never be the same again. Enter Sarah, our oldest daughter. Happiest of birthdays, dear one!

Cousins and Friends

Winter in the Smokies

One of our favorite places to visit is the Smoky Mountains. This year we rang in the New Year up there with Old Baldy Top's cousin's family. We did see some snow while there too and even got to play in it. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Just the five of us

Our first Christmas here at home - just us - was a huge success. Here are a few pictures to share from the much anticipated day.

Christmas Dinner 2007 - anglophiled

After asking Old Baldy Top what he had in mind for Christmas dinner this year, his reply was what the British have (basing this on his recollection of dinners British by Dickens). After a little research, I found what OBT wanted: a traditional steak and kidney pie. This being our main dish we paired it with other British sides and a few not-so-traditional making-our-own-tradition(al) sides.

Christmas Dinner 2007

steak and kidney pie

Brussel sprouts with chestnuts

mashed potatoes

cranberry sauce

Grandmutsy's dressing

tiny sausages wrapped in bacon

lashings of hot gravy

wheat rolls

sparkling grape juice

milk

butterscotch pudding

Introductions

A lifelong fascination for animals of the insect world led me to choose my name: Lepidoptera. The order of butterflies and moths. As a young girl and to this day, rearing caterpillars has always been a hobby of mine. My father has always loved nature and God's creation and his love for such things surely encouraged mine.

As for Sarah and Leora, they are the resident princesses in Foothills Valley. Their brother, for now, will be known as "The Little Prince" until such day that he shall make known another title.

Hello All

Hello, I am Old Baldy Top

I take my name as a derivative of one of the great Confederate Generals that fought in the Army of Northern Virginia, and led my Maple ancestors in many wild adventures in that awful but defining part of history known as the "War between the States" aka "The Civil War."

His name was Richard S. Ewell and his men nicknamed him "Old Baldy". Those of you who know me, know that I have a good size bald spot on the top back side of my head and hence the nickname for myself; "Old Baldy Top".

Glad to hear from all that are hear,

Happy Blogging, and bye for now from,

Old Baldy Top