Ballerina Bear

For my ballerina!

I love how this little bear has on toe shoes and a little tutu! I am totally smitten by making these little animals.

From time to time, during the progress of making this bear, my daughter would come and ask to see how it looked. When I finished it and took it to her she paid me the highest compliment..."teach me!" Her summer break starts in just one more school day.

Now that my ballerina bear is done I really MUST get back to working on my Christmas stocking for my new niece. It's one of those felt/sequin/bead/embroidery kits.

*****

For info on the patterns I've been using for my crochet animals: Itty Bitty Animals (Annie's Attic: Crochet) by Shelia Leslie. I think I'll make a monkey next!

Wisteria Lane or Mulberry Street?

It doesn't matter where one lives, a parents job is the same. I was reminded this morning of what it means to be a parent to an older teenager.

It is that time of year when seniors are graduating from high school (or college) and getting ready for the next step in their lives. A parents job is to push their children.

Push them out of the nest, give them support and encouragement, yet be there for them until their wings are strong enough for their solo flight into life.

As I returned home from my morning walk with Winston, I saw a baby bird on the ground. It looked too young, in my opinion, to be out of the nest. After I deposited Winston inside the house, I went back to investigate the baby. It looked like a Cardinal and after trying to get closer to it to see if it was injured, I knew it WAS a Cardinal. Both parents were close by and gave me a piece of their mind, "Get Away!" they warned. I insisted on lending a hand and moved Little Baby to the base of the nearest evergreen tree. I stepped away to watch from a distance. Lo and behold, nature was taking care of itself! Little Baby was getting a lesson in how to fly! I watched as mom and pop encouraged their nestling to keep going. Hop, flaaaap, hop, flaaaap across my entire backyard. Periodically the parents, taking turns, would fly down to Little Baby and tweet little encouragements.

My oldest turns 18 in less than a month. He will be a senior in high school in just a few days. He is an amazing person and I know whatever path he takes in life he will be fine. I will push, push, push him, but I won't like him leaving my nest next year. My husband and I will spend this summer being like Little Bird's parents as we cart our son around to different colleges and tweet little encouragements to him about each place.

About the photos: Wisteria...I discovered that next door at my neighbors, Little Cardinal...I saw her (or him) this morning in my backyard, Mulberries...from one of my two trees out back.

Lately in my neck of the woods...

I have been very busy snapping photos and trying to label them. Thought I'd share a little of the beauty capturing my eyes. Southern Indiana is an amazing place to live!

Striped Bass?

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly

When I think of butterflies, I think flowers...not woods.

Millipede

Snail is tucked away inside!

lichen

Tree Frog...about an inch big!

Ten inch Toad Stool

This is what I imagine a toad stool to look like, but it could be a mushroom. I am working on learning if there is a difference.

*****

LOOK CAREFULLY in the picture below.

Can you find the snake on the brown leaves?

Here it is up close.

Any guesses as to what it is?

I am positive it is a Copperhead!

Elliptical eyes made me wary. Once home I searched the web.

It is in my area, it is poisonous, but of the venomous snakes here...it's the least venomous. That's supposed to be a comforting thought.

I respect nature and will avoid this guy and am glad I can ID him (or her) now.

*****

Two deer photos to compare:

Anyone else think this doe is pregnant?

Buck with his new antlers starting to grow.

I love watching the deer! They always see Winston and me before W sees them. He's usually on the hunt for a chipmunk or a bird...nose to the ground...sniff, sniff, sniffing. As the seasons change, the coats of the deer change too. Right now they are a gorgeous orange brown.

Cross Breeds in Nature...

Here's an example of what you get

when you cross a white violet...

...with a purple violet.

A zebra looking beauty!

This Little Piggy...

...went to live with Tessa!

*****

My first attempt at making a crocheted stuffed animal.

*****

If you like hand crafted items, you might check out the give-aways happening over the next few days on the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog. Click HERE or look for the link under Blogs I Read. But hurry! Only a few more days to enter. My favorite part of this event is finding new ideas and blogs to read.

Delicacy!

I am not a mushroom hunter. But, a few weeks ago I found a Morel Mushroom!

Sorry for the "small" shot, I sent this photo to my husband via my cell phone. Guess I forgot to grab the regular camera too!

Typically I will happen across one Morel during the season. I will gingerly take my treasure home, cart it around like the trophy that it is for a few hours, cut it up, saute it in butter and share tiny bites with my in-laws, DH and son. My daughter doesn't like mushrooms...yet.

*****

This year I have Winston and we walk and walk and walk each day. We were out for about an hour when I looked down and saw a patch of these tasty treats at my feet! Fortunately I had my just-in-case-I-run-across-some-mushrooms bag with me. :)

Since I usually only find one morel, I wasn't really sure what to do with all these.

But, fear not, I cut them up, sauteed them and then snacked all night long.

The next day for lunch I had a wonderful Morel, provolone cheese, spinach, tomato and onion mix on a toasted bun. Mmmm! Heaven!

Q & A with a couple of Icons

Quincy Jones & David Baker

*****

This week I had an opportunity to listen to these two. Mostly it was Mr. Jones responding to questions and Mr. Baker was the host. I drug my daughter along because she had a conference with her ballet instructor in the same building just as the talk started. I don't think she can comprehend the greatness that was before her.

I very much enjoyed listening to the words of wisdom that were being shared.

Surviving!

When there is a will, there is a way!

*****

Just a reminder that nothing is impossible.