Saturday, May 28, 2011

Luna Moth Assemblage

I've been wanting to craft for ages but just haven't made time for it. I was gone on a business trip to San Jose all week and came home very tired, so today was spent doing some quiet things - along with a lot of laundry.

Laura found a beautiful Luna moth and wanted to frame it (it was already dead). I had some shadow box frames left from other projects and put a little assemblage together for her. I could have added some trinkets and such, but I'm into a more minimalist approach to decorating these days. Nature is perfectly beautiful all by itself and doesn't need a bunch of stuff distracting from it. I did tweak the nest a little more after I took these pictures, so that it wasn't so squished looking. I think it turned out beautiful.






I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend. God bless the USA and all the brave people who serve in the military! Some troops from the 82nd Airborne shared one of my flights back yesterday. I spoked to some of them and told them to stay safe. I was proud to share the sardine can that we flew back in.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Gardening and "Wild" Life!

Hello blogger friends! Goodness how time flies.

My new job is going really well. I have so much to learn and am glued to the computer about 98% of the time so the last thing I want to do when I get home is log on here. The days fly by and I don't even have time to think about the afternoon drowsies I usually get.

This is the time of year that I can't keep up with the mowing and weeding. The weather has been perfect for all things to grow. The Forest Pansy Redbud tree I planted to commemorate Ginny's birth has grown and was really pretty earlier in the spring. I don't think I got a picture of it before the blossoms faded. I just love these trees!


My pink dogwood that Erin gave me is growing too and had such pretty blossoms on it this year.



My little vegetable garden has turned into a small jungle and I have blossoms on the plants. I can't wait for the first tomato!!

I've been enjoying fresh lettuce that I'm growing in old nursery pots by the driveway. It won't last much longer now with hot weather approaching.





There is a lot of territorial behavior going on with birds protecting their nests with eggs in them. Mr. and Mrs. Purple Finch have made a nice little home in my Boston Fern on the porch.

I haven't seen the baby deer yet - all the mamas seem to still be in hiding but it won't be long before they start appearing.

We have a new visitor in the area. There was a noise that was driving me nuts last weekend and then I heard on the news that the 13 year cicada had emerged. They arrived last week and will be here for about four weeks and won't return for 13 years! They look almost alien-like to me with their huge red eyes.





There must be millions of them but I've only seen a handful in the yard at this point.

Yesterday was rainy so I actually stayed inside and cleaned my bedroom. And do you remember this jacket I made for my mom?

I don't think I told you that it turned out too small for her, so I tore the whole thing apart and made it larger. I sewed all afternoon and evening yesterday and it's almost finished (again). What a job!!!

I hope you are all well and have a good day/week. I'll be outside most of today cleaning the barn. Between 13 chickens and 4 goats, there is a lot of pooper scooping going on around here!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

They're Growing So Fast

Little Fizz and Bindi are growing so fast! On day four Fizz was already trying to climb out of the barn, and on day five he succeeded.

They sure have distinctive personalities. Little Bindi is calmer and on the independent side.

Fizz-Man is wild and crazy and jumping all over the place. And he is already showing signs of dominance with his little sis and big sis - Lola. He was challenging Lola when he was four days old by going up to her and butting her! I was shocked. It was all quite distressing to Lily but she's doing a great job keeping all her kids in line. She sure has her "hands" full.
Fizz - close:

Bindi - close:


Here they are trying to climb on some stumps I've provided for them. Bindi managed to climb it first - you go girl!






The little family:



Laura, Alissa and I just love these little babies so much already!