A crazy day indeed!

 

 

First thing this morning I went out to check for milkweed seeds. This is the pod of a swamp milkweed. I will collect until mid October and I will give away in these cute little bags. Instructions for planning included. 

 

This guy climbed to the top of the cage last evening and is in what is referred to as 'J'ing' or in the J position. It find the very best spot, and is still for about 24 hours. Then goes into the J. See how its antenna's are limp. That means it will soon chance into a 

chrysalis.

 

 

This one attached itself to a leaf. So far safety sake, I pinned it to the top of the cage. After the chrysalis has harden (about 24 hours) I will remove the leaf and rehang it. It will remain in chrysalis for 9-14 days.

 

Cats. Cats. Galore.

 

3 of the 11 in this cage are in chrysalis. The rest are roaming around causing mischief. They love to pester the ones that have found their 'spot' and want to be near. Too near. I have played referee all day. Last I checked, all but 2 are placed where they want to be. It's all good.  *smile*

To relax a bit, here is what I did today. A new Ice Drop in the color of Summer fun. Bye for now.

 

Soon things will start changing....

A couple of years ago I did sign up as part as the Monarch Waystation. I'm Monarch Watch: #16918

These guys are getting soooo big. That's what happens when all you do is EAT, sleep and yeah, poop!

 

 This what I have the 16 cats in now...soon to start climbing to the top to go into chrysalis. In fact, three have climbed to the top a few minutes ago...

 

 Since I had my second cataract surgery done I am laying low for one more week. In the meantime I am tatting Ice Drops. This is called 'Bloomin'.

 

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...

 

 

 

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.

 

Rearing Monarch butterfles, preparing for next year and tatting

Tagging the butterflies is one of the things I want to get involved with next spring. Here I am sharing with you someone who has done it and explains it quite well.

This is a great web page  I have newly discovered about Monarchs. A place to get wonderful information.

Another thing I would like to do is to get certified as having a Way Station. This is creating a safe place to feed monarchs and help them to get to there next destination in their long migration.

I am well on my way on with the butterfly garden I have started. With only 6 milkweed plants, a few nectar plants and a butterfly bush I was able to release 12 Monarchs this fall. So looking forward to spring...when the 'children' return as they are migrating North.

One more pic I wanted to share with...a poem by Lynn R.

In the meantime I am still tatting. Here is one of two doily's I am making for a friend. Both alike to go on her end tables. The pattern is the first 7 rows of Renulek's Spring 2016 doily. I used sized 10 thread and it measures about 12 inches in diameter, perfect for my project.

 

June 30, 2015 Ponca Arkansas to Kyle's Landing Ar.

A day of kayaking on the Buffalo River. This time we had 13 kayakers! A great paddle with 12 miles of awesome scenery. A few tumbles, a few mishaps but it was a great day none the less. Here, if you care to see what I saw take a look at the Pictures.

 

Please, let me know if this link doesn't work for you.

 

 

All done. Now it will go to it's new home.

 

 

 

This is 2 yards of edging that will be use for a heirloom Christian gown.

Miss Penelope Lee....

...Poolside, donning her 'Audrey Hepburn' look. *smile* 

 

 

Indigo Bunting at the feeder this morning.

 

Miss Abby, my Pacific Parrotlet is all feather out! Seems to NOT be clipping her breast feathers!

 

Doing a bit of tatting...