Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Beth's Patch ~ Butterfly Wrap Up 2019

Butterfly wrap up for our yard. We had 45 butterfly species visit us this season including 5 new species - Northern Broken Dash, American Copper, Delaware Skipper, Giant Swallowtail and Clouded Skipper. That brings us to an overall total of 55 species that have visited the yard in 6 years. Add to that 13 species of butterfly caterpillars with host plants for many more. Common Buckeye was took the prize for the highest numbers in mid-Sept when there was a week of over 150 individuals most days. Looking forward to 2020.
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly


Clouded Skipper

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Beth's Patch ~ Nature Sightings

Yesterday, Christmas Day, I had a friend stop in to visit for a few hours.  I haven't seen her in 2 years since a tip to Palm Desert, CA to relax and do some birding.

 Bernie and I decided to tour the gardens which are dead except for a very few plants. The temperatures have been in the 50's during the day most of December with a few colder days interspersed here and there.  Night temperatures vary.  

We found 4 Common Buckeye butterfly caterpillars feeding on snapdragons, a native Carolina Mantis egg casing though I have seen another few casings I didn't really look for them today.  We also found several Black swallowtail pupa and some Spicebush swallowtail pupa.  These will be among the first butterflies to eclose in late spring here if they overwinter without any issues.  Only time will tell...


Carolina Mantis egg casing called an ootheca.

Spicebush Swallowtail Pupa

Black Swallowtail Pupa

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas



Merry Christmas from my house to yours.








Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Happy Christmas Eve

God's handiwork shown throughout the sky as we prepare to celebrate the birth of baby, Jesus.

Christmas Eve Day Surprise's in Cape May Point, NJ

Seen at the Northwood Center ~ American Snout Butterfly

At CMP Sate Park was this Yellow-rumped Warbler catching insects.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Christmas Surprises


A special friend of mine has moved out of state and into an apartment closer to her daughter.   I thought that making this stocking for her would be fun.

We became quilting buddies more than 25 years ago.  Along with another friend, Jane we were like the three musketeers of quilting. We had so much fun together over the years and I will miss her.    She can use the stocking in her apartment or on the door of it to let others know her name.  

Feedback tells me, Fran likes her stocking.  Much happiness to her in her new living situation.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Christmas Joy

Made a triptych of fabric postcards to swap with a friend in ID. It stands by itself. Excited for her to receive it. Maybe I should make one for myself also.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Christmas Stockings

Getting ready to close my Christmas stocking shop with about 35 stockings made and sent. My most favorite are the are these 2 stockings for a set of brothers but the last stockings I made I used a script lettering as a change. I love the script lettering. This stocking set are for a mother & daughter.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Christmas Stockings

My current project is making Christmas stockings for others using my Christmas fabric stash.  I am having so such fun making and offering these to families to replace those lost in the Campfire in CA.





Monday, November 11, 2019

Beth's Patch ~ Butterflies

This year November hasn't been kind to the butterflies with early cold spells and rainy, gray weather.  The cold has killed off almost all nectar except the snapdragons.  Several days this November I have had 10 species of butterflies in the year though the mix has changed for a total number of 13 species seen.  Add to that the 2 species of chrysalis that are overwintering and there have been a total of 15 species for this month.  My biggest surprise was seeing the Sleepy Orange butterfly numerous times this fall including today and twice last week.
American Lady Butterfly

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Cabbage White Butterfly


Monarch Butterfly

Sleepy Orange Butterfly

Fiery Skipper

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Donation Quilts ~ Quilts of Valor

#14 QoV for 2019

#15 QoV for 2019

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Beth's Patch ~ Monarch Butterflies

Every year we are always happy to have monarch's in the yard but more excited when there is a large migration of them with roosts here or nearby.  Sadly, this year while there have been Monarch's coming through our gardens, our highest number of monarch butterflies this year was probably around 50.  Here's a selection of pictures of them nectaring in our gardens from the past few months.


Mating Monarch Butterflies




A little worse for the wear but still going strong





And the Monarch Butterflies were tagged again in our yard.










Friday, November 1, 2019

Quilts of Valor

Today, I handed in 3 more quilt tops for Quilts of Valor.  Now they'll go onto a longarm quilter to be quilted.  I also brought home fabric to cut and piece for 3 more plus a challenge that consists of  quilt panel and a yard of fabric.  Guess I'll be playing in my quilting space again soon.


Thursday, October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween


My Halloween Fabric Postcard display

Made by using fresh leaves from trees and painting the backs with craft paints.  Then the leaf was placed on the fabric and I used a brayer to transfer the paint.