I'm All About The Bugs!

I used to get so many beautiful butterflies in my yard every year until the 40 acres behind us got leased to a farmer and they plowed and sprayed it. After that I noticed a definite difference in the amount of all of the bugs, except mosquitoes!

I do all that I can to encourage birds, butterflies, and bees. I try to stay as organic as possible. 

The last two years I have collected milkweed pods and spread the seeds. I always loved them when I was a kid because they are so silky and I love to see them fly.

There are many sites and information on the Internet to help you with supporting a Monarch butterfly habitat but really you can just add some of the plants that they need and don't spray.

I found the web site Monarch Joint Venture and they have a page for creating habitats and adding plants that will help the little fellers!

Gardens

Vast tracts of land have been converted for human use, including residential areas, parks, schools, and cultural institutions. Butterfly gardens within these developed areas provide much needed habitat for butterflies. These butterfly havens may be a few square feet within an urban backyard, or a larger managed garden attached to an educational institution, cultural center, or a corporate office park.

© 2015 The Monarch Joint Venture.

Here is my son obliging me in my quest to help the butterflies!

Here are two of my butterfly inspired ploymer clay beads that are on my Etsy Shop 

Barn Burd Designs

Earrings Everyday - October Reveal

I really liked the purple furry coat it reminded me of Prince! I thought the look was funky and elegant.

I used Czech rounds, links from somewhere and Swarovski drops.

Gifts From The Heart

What wonderful things happen when we open our heart to someone or a group of someones.

On the blog Art Jewelry Elements, contributor Jen Cameron of Glass Addictions presented guest blogger and Etsy shop owner, Val Garber. 

Please click on the Art Jewelry Elements link to read.

Hopefully You will be seeing some of these beads on my Etsy in a piece of jewelry soon!

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Last year I found a wild grape vine in the hedge row of our property. I picked the grapes which are very small and mostly seed and made jelly. Some natural remedies are presented on Green Sense. 

I knew that they were really high in antioxidants and had a more intense flavor but the jelly made with low sugar was a, Wow, to me! I love the sweet tart flavor and  the intensity of the flavor. My first go yo is a thick slice of a good bread which came from the Great Harvest Bread Company. I got mine from the Davison Farmers Market. Toast,butter peanut butter and The Jelly. Yummy, creamy, melty and sweet tart.I love it.

I was afraid that I didn't have enough so I walked down the road and picked more. Washed, squashed and low or no sugar sure gel. Hurray this year there are five jars!

I am so happy!

Blustery Days, Oh Bother....

 Here they come the Autumn days and the signal to wrap up the gardening, at least it is for Michigan.

On the south side of my house I have a xeric garden. Hot, dry but most of all I have planted for humming birds because I can look right out my window and see them. High Country Gardens has all of the information you need to plant a garden like this and it also has plants for humming birds too.  http://www.highcountrygardens.com/

Any how this very neglected spot was finally tackled. You can see it was a mess. This phenomenon occurred right at the time I started making jewelry, hmmm.

I had gotten some leaves and pine needles, I throw in the pine cones too, I used for mulch. The old mulch gets pushed back after I weed and move plants around.

 I pull all of the rocks out and reshape the garden.

I hate this weed you never get all of it unless you dig everything up like I did. The roots travel and all it takes is one little piece to be left and there's another weed. I'm sure it has some holistic property but I am not aware of it.

Recycled plastic weed guard

Then I lay down card board and the mulch bags to help keep seeds from starting when the garden gets weed whacked. Cardboard works good for smothering poison ivy, starting new beds, no more digging!

Peetie-Pie.... not a good helper.

Put the rocks back

Put the mulch down.

Approved by inspector Tucker.

Red cardinal climber.

Agastache, late summer bloomer. High Country Gardens..

My mums were huge and beautiful!!! 

I like to let snap dragons and poppies grow where they want

 See you in the spring!

There's No Place Like Home!

We AreBack! Though I consider anywhere my pareents are to be home I miss my own family and flying home was a treat compared to driving!

My Dad brought this in to me I can't remember what it was but it started blooming just before I left. So beautiful!

Trying not to cry, I love my parents so much. Ok I'm crying now...

I think my daughter gave my Mom and Dad a special reason to smile!

I made them do a selfie!

I'll be back!

Life Is A Gift!

I am currently on a visit to Florida with my daughter and several mom and dad, to visit my mom and dad! 

First stop North Carolina to see my sister and her family. They are in Charlotte and WOW!!! what a booming place to live. There are several galleries, museums, restaurants, music festivals, wineries.. I can't name everything that is going on there! If you need a job that's the place to be. 

Down town business i booming and building is going on all over. 

Farmers market, four buildings plus outdoor vendors. I love pumpkins!

Mom and Dads' back garden area. I'm on an inspiration hunt!

Sand Crane

Cool texture

Cannas

Hibiscus

Neighbors rose, I love the color

Corn Flower

Palm leaf

Banana flower

Guava flower

Scruffy puppy

Triangle bug

There are more interesting things to come from this trip. I am sorry to see it come to an end but reality strikes and I must return to it.