Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Look who is visiting . . .




So, this here lady Mantis has come for her annual or so it seems late summer visit. This is the itme of year that we always see them. Frequently they set up residence near the back door. This one was on the deck in a pot of Coleus/ Mint. She does hunt her prey and does it mostly visually - thus her large eyes that articulate in most every direction. they mainly hunt by day and can also fly when necessary. The Chrysalis that they leave behind seem to hatch around the 4th of July up here. They grow rapidly and change out of their body multiple times in a season, changing their diet when needed. they love to eat insects but can also eat lizards, snakes and other pests. I can't quite see one munching on one of my snakes but research told me they could. We enjoy seeing this quite prehistoric insect each year, but sadly it means summer is winding down, even if we are in a stretch of 4- 90 plus degree days!! Do you know how much I hate the heat and humidity???

Monday, August 30, 2010

On the Needles

Another Noro yarn . . . always so beautiful. This is a vest- will be done in one Piece with some edges stitched together and then crocheting around the edge when done. I think I have like 180 stitches though so one row is quite long. My sleeves for my jacket are almost done- they are only 42 for each sleeve. I need to have more than one project . . . one for this bag, one for that. keeps life interesting this way.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Golden Hill Sate Park




Part of this past week found us camping here. Right on the Great lake Ontario' s shore. This is a light house from the 1800's. You can rent the second floor today and stay 2 nights or 7. It was a beautiful place, right on the lake. We survived a pretty hard cold front coming across the lake. It was darker than night over toward Toronto and then it came and it poured buckets and the wind about blew us into the lake. We hung out in the car for a while and since it soaked our big tent we then put up 2 smaller ones. These withstand a lot of weather. We had a perfect night abet the wind. When the front moved through the moon was full and beautiful! Also a wonderful sunrise- all viewable from the tent, sleeping with the front and back windows open. Definitely like being under the stars without the bugs. Hoping to go back here soon.

Get Away



We just got back from a little more than 24 hour camping trip nearby. More on that later but here are 2 what I thought great photos. I took the grapes, Slugger the Butterfly. Butterfly Bushes seemed to grow great by the Great lake. They were all huge!!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Summer Fun Photos






Enjoy yourself. These are "the good old days" you're going to miss years ahead. We can never go back again, that much is certain.
B.J. Marshall

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Mystery Flannel Quilt


This was a Mystery Quilt that i participated in longer ago than I care to Admit. I initially was able to get the Top all pieced in the prescribed amount of time but then took a loong time to put the borders on. Eventually due to its large size- Queen plus was able to have it machine quilted and it has spent a year waiting for the binding but I got it sewed on by machine 2 weeks ago and now am working on the final hand sewing of the binding. it goes pretty quickly when i work on it every day. Of course I am sure you know that getting to it daily is not really in the picture. Weekly might be a bit more realistic. It just seems that the days go by and I am so consumed with food, laundry, cleaning driving that I do not get to the fun important things. I mean I could really let all the rest go but eventually we would run out of clothes, food and live in squalor. The happy medium means I get less time to do the fun stuff but that we live a reasonable life in all other categories. It also means I take time to read to kids, pick flowers, feed birds and bake cookies which are all also little but important things. This is flannel front and back so it is heavy and warm. Since we do not start our furnace until the last possible moment in the fall, lots of quilts can be a good thing.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tree Frogs Cometh



This little guy decided one morning to hitch a ride on Yoda's shoe, much to our surprise. We then removed him and put him back on a tree. We have a lot of them here where we live and they make the best chirping sounds. Totally love these little natural friends.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Hand Quilt



Ok So the middle picture is on its side. The Hand really faces upward. The others just show detail of Quilting free motion. This was a lot of fun to work on . My mom gave me the batik with the Hand on it for a birthday gift. I Added all the other components over time and then in march this year when I went to Canada with Quilting girlfriends I did the Free motion Quilting. I do love how it turned out and I hope to hang it up at work. Love all the bright colors!!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Genesee Country Museum 2010




Beginning Boys Cooking at the museum was what Yoda attended this past week. It was a cooler week than when he had been at the museum for Soldier Camp back in July. This was nice working around an Open Hearth all week. They made food to eat on Tues/Wed./ Thurs. and food for us each day that was presented in this lovely dessert buffet on Friday afternoon. They made butter, ice cream, Gingerbread, crackers, soda bread, cornbread, mashed potatoes, chicken and gravy, breakfast sausage, Sugar cookies, molasses cookies, Snicker-doodles, 1,2,3,4 cake, London Maidens, Cake with sweet currants, Macaroni and Cheese with cheese made at the museum . . . .a busy week indeed. There were 8 boys in all and they all learned a lot even the dish washing!!! THe top picture shows "the spread" well part of it. The middle one has Yoda in his costume before he changed back in to 21st centurey clothing peeking out of the Brewery. The bottom has Yoda and Flower girl makign Corn meal in the Pioneer Cabin. 2 hours for one cup of Corn meal and she needs 2 cups to make bread. That would be a childs job - to make / grind the corn in to corn meal. It is always a wonderful time to visit the village, it has a very calming effect. We visited Jones Farm House and the Pioneer Cabin while there and they were making Irish Pickles, Elderberry Pie, Butter, Apple Pie. Elderberry jam at Jones Farm. The Jones Farm House is the vintage of our home. Circa 1822

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Fingerlakes/ Canandaigua Lake


This is the beautiful area that we live in. the bottom photo is a little blurry. There is so much green and fresh water and artisans and muscians and foodies in every nook and cranny. It is also grape Country and a Grape Pie made well is a special treat!!! Each and every Fingerlake at this point has its own array of wineries. You can spend days just visiting them but there is so much more to see and do.
We should all do what, in the Long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry. E.B. White

Hum well sorting laundry on most days like today where it has been my all day is not giving me much joy! But I do agree that the ordinary things are the true joy givers. It is not the special once in a whiles but the everyday beauty's that we stop and see. It is different for each of us. Laundry ordinarily does not provide a lot of Joy for me but making cookies does. picking apples and any kind of fruit. Getting outside, drawing, feeling the warmth of the sun and seeing some new thing gives great joy. Watching the kids grow and be happy and healthy is a big Joy.
Figure out your big Joys and your little joys- it is what life is all about. One persons mud is another persons icing.



Saturday, August 14, 2010

In progress . . .



This is the Turtle Quilt for Yoda who is color blind and sees Camo colors best. Square in a square and nine patches make it up.

Friday, August 13, 2010

This moment . . . .


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link for all to see.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Trail in late summer



It is now approaching that late summer time. When I hit my early August Birthday's I know the nights will always be cool. This is great relief to one who does not love the heat and humidity. It is time of the crickets, early apples from our so very old trees, Queen Annes Lace, ( what color dyes the best?) Acorns in different stages, beginning of Golden rod- AhhChoo! The late summer allergies/ grasses and weeds are the worst for my boys. The trails colorful wildflowers are starting to dull. next will be leaves and berries for the eye to see. Every season has a beauty all its own. I have started looking for hatching turtles but none yet other than those that were dug up. Get out and behold the late summer beauties!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Eastern Kingbird



This is the nest and a parent of Eastern Kingbird. They like to perch on the tips of trees and are one of the only birds with the white stripe on its tail. They nest near roadways and waterways. This was on the edge of a Beaver Pond/ Meadow. There were 2 of them and they were fun to watch.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Slugger turns 14



Well Today is 14 years after Dear Slugger was born- Slugger is his letterboxing stamp named for his love of Baseball. He is still at the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Fort AP Hill Virginia today. Sounds like in order to be packed up and out early tomorrow that they will sleep under the stars tonight.

First Photo is of a Scouting outpost they did early in July, followed by leaving for Jamboree and sharing some time with his faithful friend Edna. Edna had already finished her Shark bite treat so she was looking for more. He'll be home tomorrow for a mere 3 days then off to a youth Leadership training week, home again and off on an ADK Canoe trip. This is the summer of scouting fun! As it should be for a boy of 14.

He is a caring, funny, sensitive soul . He is a hardworker, not afraid to get dirty but also loves to be clean- he produces the most laundry in the house, because of this. He is an excellent leader who puts the good of others or the troop before himself.


Happy Birthday Slugger!! We're Proud of you!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

BSA JAMBOREE 2010


This is Sub Camp #3 of the North east Region about 2000 scouts 400 Adults
There are 21 Sub Camps
You do the Math.

A lot of Khaki in one place.

My Slugger is there. I also have a nephew there.

They come home this week. It has been very hot but a totally awesome event.

BSA Jamboree 2010