Mon Jardin de Papillion is loving the rain!

What garden doesn't love a nice spring rain.

 

I've add another area but as you can see, still working on it. I will replace the bricks with our own rocks....Just haven't done so yet.

 

 I went hiking a few weeks back and found an 'Wild false indigo' plant. Pale yellow but it caught my eye.

A few days later, I went to a local nursery and found a False Indigo but it's color is Purple Taffy. Yes, I did get it and it's planted in the newly planted area. It is native to my area so I was very excite for this find.

I

 

 

This spring has been too hot to fast and with that being said I had the time and opportunity to test tatting for my friend Elaine Gan.

She truly is a gifted designer and I so love her work.

 
 










The tatting design you see here is from her series E-Books (instant download) can be found here.

The color of HDT is called 'Mardi Gras' by Marilee Rockley.

 I also tatted snowflakes too, patterns from the same E-Book.

Never too early to tat snowflakes! 

 

Until next time...

 

 

 

...and so a New Year begins by...

                                                     ...hiking!

 

10 of us braved single digits temperature for a 3.5 mile hike! Took about and hour and half. A great way to start 2018!

 

I haven't been tatting too much, but I have been crochet, getting ready for my granddaughter's 3rd birthday party. The theme is 'Ice Cream'. So....here are a few things I am working on.

 

This is drawstring purse for the 'Birthday Girl'.

 

These cones will be a 'banner' by crocheting together with a chain and hang on the wall as a backdrop. They will given to the children or mom and use as a face scrubber or bath cloth.

 

 

Last item to pass out are these little bitty goodie bags.

 

 

Pattern can be found here.

 

I have one more item that I have been working on but I won't post until after her birthday.  *smile*

 

Happy New Year friends!

 

 

More hiking, more tatting.

14 hikers in 20 degree weather....the best hike ever. Here begins a 10 mile hike....

 

Just a few of us...the others are behind us.

 

This is looking up 209 ft. at a very dry 'Hemmed In Hollows Falls'.

 

 

Lunch at Granny Herderson's Cabin.

Now to hike the iconic Goat Trail, For this one we needed to hike downhill...not so easy. Very rocky and my feet were not happy!

 

Here we are, at the Goat Trail looking down (550 ft.) at the Buffalo National River below.

This was the trickiest part. Very little ledge and having to climb between tree limbs. Going around was not bad because you went around a corner. But for me coming back through, I was a bit nervous because I could see NOTHING but open space below. Easy does it on this part!

 

What an amazing hike. One to scratch off my bucket list!

 

Now for some tatting, my last Ice Drops. The one on the left is in gold thread and beads. Pattern on the left was adapted from Tatted Snowflakes Collections by Jon

Yusoff. Circle of Crowns.                                                      

 

 The green one is called Christmas Wreath by Samantha Melnychuk adapted into an Ice Drop.

 

Happy New Year's everyone. May good health and happiness come your way for 2018.

 

More hiking and tatting...

 

 

 

                    44 hikes at Lake Leatherwood, near Eureka Springs, AR.

 

Beautiful weather for both hikes. Life is good when you're outdoors and on a trail.

 

                     
                 Now for some tatting...with seed beads and bugles.

 

A 'arkars' Ice Drop below.

 

 

 

That's all for now. Stay tune for more hiking and tatting! *smile*

 

 

Hiking and Tatting

 

This was on a hike on White Rock Mountain in Arkansas at the beginning of the month. A bit foggy but beautiful none the less. An 8 mile hard hike.

The following week we hiked Roaring Springs State Park, in Missouri.

 

I'm in the white jacket, looking to see if the cave is really not a 'Wine Bar'.

LOL

 

 

Did hear that this is good place for trout fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

Now for some tatting of  Ice Drops!  This pattern is called 'Birthday'

It has quarter inch bugles and seed beads. A 'new to me' project!

This one has half inch bugles and more seed beads. Different.

 

Things are happening...

...at last. One of the 42 caterpillars climbed up to the top of the cage. I notice him at the PM feed feeding/cleaning time. This morning I found him what is referred to as 'J'ing. Looks like a J, right! Takes about 12 hours or of stillness on his part. From here the chrysalis will form. I was so surprise to learn that the chrysalis is INSIDE of the caterpillar. I may not be here to witness it. I will assist with a 4.5 mile guided hike and hanging out with my Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalist until early afternoon. Stay tune! Lots more to come.

 

Changing egg cartons...

 

....I have the floral tubes filled with water keeping the leaves fresh. The tubes are poked in the top of an egg carton. I also place the total number of cats on each containers I have. Well, seems I have a 'runaway Joe'.

 

Here he is!!! Underneath the egg container! In order to move him I had to entice him/her with FOOD!! It worked....back where he should be. *smile*

I do more then take of caterpillars...I went on a 4.5 mile hike. Getting ready for the 'real guided hike' for this Sat. event.  The Back 40 event.

 

3 of us are I.D'ing plants and trees! This is an intermediate trail. I am all set with lots of water and PJ has a books to help us, making sure we know one plant/trees from another! 

This was last night. Getting ready for feeding and cleaning time. Takes anywhere between 1-2 hours twice a day. About every 12 hours. Yes, it is so worth it! Wait, you'll see what I mean later in the month!

Last pic because I need to get ready to go kayaking on Beaver Lake, here in AR. But let me tell you what you are looking at. This is a monarch caterpillar molting. It's crawling out of his/her skin as it change from one instar to another. See the little 'cap', that is from his face!  It is a pale yellow now, but it will change colors soon. Stay tune...We are up to 42 cats now, with lots of milkweed to feed these very hungry caterpillars!

An awesome discovery....in my home town!

With all the rain in the area, Lake Ann has an awesome fall...in our neck of the woods!

                                                 This tree so what's to live!

Look at those roots!

 

 

 

My hiking buddy and I decided to go back in the middle of summer. Just to see difference. So glad we stumbled onto this! Amazing!

Hiking....

A nice road trip to Natural Falls State Park in Colcord, Okla.

3 trails at this park.

Remember the book/ turn movie 'Where The Red Fern Grows'?  Well this is where the movie was filmed.

 

 

                                                        70 feet waterfalls...

                                               
                                                  Yes, this is part of the 'trail'.

                       It was so steep that we were using tree roots to pull over selves up!