By Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:05 am:
As we walked across town here in Eagle River yesterday, there were suddenly butterflies all around us, like a chorus of angels. Maybe this spring I've just been too busy to pause and enjoy the natural beauty as we normally do, and sometimes I take it for granted. In that moment surrounded by fluttering wings, it reminded me of a picture, somewhere back in the Pasty Cam Archives half a decade ago, and one of the best observers of nature whom I ever had the priviledge of knowing:
Today I tried my hand at photographing butterflies, a process that usually requires more patience than I think I possess. Sneaking up on them didn't work, so I planted myself in the middle of my wife Patty's garden and waited for the butterflies to come to me. It worked, and here is the last and best shot I got.
I'm glad to see that the Monarchs have returned in good number following a massive die off last winter in their winter location in Mexico. Fascinating too, to watch them up close and note how very long are their probosci for collecting nectar.
Dan Urbanski
I miss the frequent emails I would receive from Dan many mornings, before his passing in 2004. This week with Mary Drew away, it's the first time in quite awhile I've flown solo on the Pasty Cam. There's a lot of work that goes into selecting and preparing pictures and comments each day, which I've also taken for granted sometimes. Countless hours have gone into your contributions to the 
