Another two week picture

I could probably add another picture but I'm not sure how so this is another picture a little farther away. You can see the sizes compared to the dime. The little dark 'dots' are their 'poop'. They are like babies, they eat all the time and they poop all the time - only more so. I just cleaned this up this afternoon so they have been very busy.

Silkworms at two weeks

My silkworms were born on Feb 8th, 9th and 10th. There is a definite difference in sizes. Some have grown big and there are still some that are only about twice to three times the size they were when born. I can see the little 'horn' on the back of the cat. I could see their little legs yesterday. I can see the difference in size in the same day. I'm dividing them into separate containers until I only have about 10 to 20 in each one - depending on the size of the containers. I've been collecting TP and paper towel rolls but still don't have enough to make my little 'condos'. One of the problems I can have is mice or ants. Both will eat on the cats. They are safe from mice (fingers crossed that I don't have any. I haven't seen any signs that I might have them.) The ants could be a problem - if they come before they are finished. According to information that I have found online - if I find ants, I have to put four bowls down with glasses in the middle and the containers on top. I will have to put water in all four bowls. That will be FUN. I have eight containers now and will be putting part of four of them into other containers tomorrow. That would be twelve. I have three large plastic storage containers that I will use after that. Then I HOPE that someone has a birthday so I can get some more containers. lol

I think I put the same picture twice

I'm trying to get close so they aren't as clear as I'd like them to be. I'll post another one on here (and hope it is clearer.)

New Picture of my 'babies'

The silkworms are different sizes. I can 'almost' see them growing.

3 and 4 days old

They are getting bigger - by the minute. I think this picture turned out. One of the silkworms is to the left of the dime. It is one that is three days old. The few that were born the day before are a little bigger but it is harder to tell. There are a few that are only two days old. They are the smallest.

They are growing

I tried to take a picture today but the babies didn't show up very well. They are getting bigger though. They are changing color, too. They are lighter and their brown head shows now. They should be spinning their cocoons by the end of the month.

I think I'll talk to Bob and see if he will plant some mulberry trees this year. I don't like the mulberries (they seem to always get on my car) but there are ones without berries, I think. It would be a lot easier to feed them leaves.

They have silk all over the bottom of the container. They seem to be 'connected' to something every time I move them to clean the container

I haven't been able to count them yet but I will as soon as I can.

Picture of my new 'babies'

A few are now a couple of days old but most are one day old. They will be changing - almost daily. I'll try to keep a picture of them as they are growing. The big dark spots are food - COVERED with baby caterpillars. The dots are eggs that haven't hatched and the lines are caterpillars. They were about as long as this hyphen (-). They are a little bigger today. They will grow very fast.

I can't wait until I see one that has his face 'pop' off. After the face pops off, the body will split and the cat will crawl out of his old skin. They should grow until they are about the size of my index finger. No wonder they need to get rid of their old skin. lol

I'm a mama!

The eggs (India) are hatching. Twelve of them today. I was told that tomorrow I would probably have a bunch. The eggs (China) are not blue yet and aren't ready to hatch yet. I need to get some pictures to put on here. They are so small that they are difficult to see. They are about the size of this mark (-) Very tiny. They will grow to about the size of my index finger. In about 26 days they should be starting to spin their cocoons.

Some of the eggs are blue

I checked the eggs today and one bunch of them (the ones from India) are blue. From what I've read they turn blue when they are getting ready to hatch. The ones from China are still dark but they should be getting close - I hope.

I told Cathy, my daughter, that I thought that I was almost a 'grandma' but she reminded me that these are the adopted 'kids' - not the parents. So I'm going to be a 'mama' to a lot of demanding 'kids'.

I am still spinning the California Red. I have a little more to do with it. I've decided to keep it as a single and use it as warp.

No babies yet

It has only been four days but I'm getting impatient. lol Everything I have read says 7 to 20 days. I'm hoping that I don't make mistakes that will lose all my eggs. (My pessimism is coming out.)

I've got a new 'job'. I applied at www.newscow.net to do the obituaries for them. I love playing with the computer and I keep thinking about getting a J-O-B. One that means I have to go in every morning and work all day. I like my independence. This will take about two hours a day. I'm looking forward to beginning it.

We will be having the Valentine Dinner at our church on February 14th. We spent Monday going around to the stores putting up posters. I hope we have a great turnout. It is going to be fun. We are having Parmesan Chicken, twice baked potatoes, Almondine green beans, fantastic desserts and yummy appetizers. Ever since I was working on the menu, I have been eating like a pig (or a silkworm in it's fifth instar). Everything sounds like it would be perfect but I had to narrow it down.

New Babies-to-be are here

I don't have a picture yet but my silkworm eggs arrived Friday morning, February 1st. They look like poppy seeds. The wonderful lady that is helping me get started send a bunch. One kind makes white cocoons and will make very white silk. The other makes golden cocoons. I'm not sure if the silk with be gold or white. The color is from the 'glue' the cats use to hold the cocoons together.

I was the biggest klutz today. I almost fell on the packed down snow but caught myself. Then inside I was putting a coat in the bedroom, turned around and fell - flat on my face. Well, almost. I didn't hit my face but it was because I was lucky. I landed on my knees and elbows. I have arthritis in my knees and they have been bothering me anyway but this made it worse. I had shoulder replacement last March and my shoulder is still tender. I didn't land on my shoulder but it had a jar and now it doesn't want to do anything. My middle name is not Grace.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can get them. If you have any questions about what is happening, ask and I'll be glad to keep you up-to-date.