Butterflies and Hammer Handles

Somewhere in the collection of our family slides is a photo of a swarm of monarchs in one of our big white pines.  Was reminded of this as I've been reading Ken Parejko's "Monarch of the Butterflies."  Ken lives not far down the road.

Also reading "Builder's Apprentice," by Andrew J. Hoffman, in which a college-educated government worker decides to pitch it all and build houses.  Hoffman's description of meeting his boss Jack and the work crew reminds me of my early days on the fire...