My fiery fairy didn't make it all winter,

she graced us with her presence.

i found her today,

legs curled in

but wings outstretched,

in one final attempt to recover her stature.

my beautiful bespeckled bug

About a week ago i noticed a two-spotted little friend ascending the kitchen wall. i quickly called my 4 year old in to see her. we watched in amazement at her journey, wondering how she had made it 4 months into the cold season without aphids. my daughter was very concerned about getting her water. i assured her that all living animals know how to find water, that putting a cup out for her probably wouldn't help. the next day we found our little fairy on the kitchen faucet, carefully stepping down to take a drink from the end. for the next week we would find her periodically throughout the kitchen. i'm still not sure how we never noticed her before.

i found her today though, on her back, with her legs curled in, and wings outstretched. i'm sad to see her go, even knowing that it was inevitable. i feel honored that this queen spent her last days with us.