My Yard ~ Eastern Black Swallowtail Chrysalis

Viable Eastern Black Swallowtail Chrysalis

CMP State Park ~ Cedar Waxwings

My Yard ~ Rufous Hummingbird ~ Day 50

She's still around feeding numerous times at the feeder daily.  Will she stay all winter or will she fly away South?  Who knows ~ only time will tell!

Christmas Memories ~ Stockings

Mom & Dad 1981

Back in the early 80's I was an avid quilter and cross stittcher. I made many gifts for friends including CS stockings.  I branched out from CS to needlepoint and decided I would make my family needlepoint Christmas stockings.  The first stockings made were for my Mom, Jeanne and Dad, Cliff.  Their stockings highlighted their interests as Mom liked birds and Dad was an avid tennis player.  I made stocking for my niece, Lisa as an infant and her brother, Eddie as a toddler.  Then I made one that was designed specially for my husband, Russ. He wanted Santa down on the beach with the gulls. The last stocking I made was for my sister, Leslie.  I never did get mine made as it had mice on it and Russ hated mice.   I should get it out and just get it done.

Dad, Mom and Russ are all in heaven now.  Each Christmas I put out their stockings and think about the many happy Christmas's we had together.  This past year I had a gas fireplace installed in the living room so now have just the best spot to hang the stockings.  On the mantle are the Wallace Christmas balls Russ gave me for each year we were together ~ 26 in all before he died.

Magical Monday ~ Stone Harbor Point - Snowy Owl

Cove Pool ~ Northern Harrier

Today was the Christmas Bird Count in Cape May County.  I was asked to be a part so that I could count the Rufous Hummingbird that's been hanging out in my yard.  I spent several hours watching the birds here but the outdoors beckoned me.  I went over to Cove Pool where I was lucky enough to walk in while this Northern Harrier was gliding over the pool and fields looking for his next meal.  He was so close I could almost reach out and touch him.  It was a great day for him to glide around as the winds were about 18 MPH.

Christmas Memories

from my childhood

Today is the day to get out my tree and the Christmas decorations.  This is a time for memories as many of my ornaments are from family or friends given as gifts over the years.  Some are from my parents tree when I was a child.  I cherish all of these memories and think about the people who have helped to decorate my tree.  here are some of them

 from Philippa in New Zealand ~ 1993

From Diane & Mike Henry - wedding favor 2003

From Ellyn about 1985

My Christmas Tree 2013

Fabric Postcards

I have been working on my fabric postcards for the fourth quarter swap on Dyehards.  My mind always goes to Christmas at this time of year so I made postcards accordingly. The fabric is some I bought in Minneapolis on the way home from our first Dyehard retreat in Montana  in September 2007.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Beth's Patch ~ Snowy Owl

My Yard ~ found Monarch Caterpillar

Today was day 2 of cutting down all of the canna stalks.  I must have cut 300 down yesterday and had another 100 stalks to go. Time to pull out some of the extra bulbs to pass along to friends in the spring.  I also took all of the stalks to the MUA for disposal - a total of 3 trips with the back of the van fairly full of the stalks.  I also took out most of the Tropical Milkweed.  When I was taking out some of the last section I Found a Monarch Caterpillar on the ground by the stalk that was curled into a ball.  that's a defense mechanism when the Monarch cat feels threatened.  I picked it up and the cat opened in my hand and started to explore so I took it over to an area I hadn't cut totally back.  It seems to like it's new surroundings though I might bring it in to rear in an aquarium so it will make it instead of leaving it to the elements and possible freezing weather outside.