Yarn Along: 13 July

Yarning (and sweating) along with Ginny again this week...

This year my determination to keep the air conditioner off as long as possible is getting in the way of sweater progress. I have turned to this cowl, a present for my own mama (who refuses to read this blog).  This project will accompany us to the beach for the rest of the season, as it is nice and light and just what I need.

Reading has been sporadic at best, but I am determined to overcome that lack of focus.  I am loving The Egg and I.  Have you read it?  It is quirky and funny and light--again just what I need.

Butterfly Dreaming

Last year we found an Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar munching on our potted dill plant.  After witnessing the metamorphosis, I knew that we had to plant plenty more of its host plant around the garden so that these little black beauties would grace us with their presence again this year.  So plant we did-loads of dill, some parsley, some fennel, and some carrots.  So it is strange to me that I am surprised that these sleek specimens are flittering everywhere about the garden.  Nature always surprises me with its unpredictable predictability.

I mean, do butterflies have a sense of smell?  How on earth do they know they difference between parsley and cilantro, for example?  But they do.  The fuzzy little precursors to our Black Swallowtails are munching their way through our dill just as we speak.  Three of them (in varying stages), in fact, are atop our kitchen counter right now.

For those of you who are interested in learning more, I have found The Life Cycles of Butterflies and The Family Butterfly Book really informative and fun to read.

What butterflies are flitting about your garden this summer?

Nature Study Monday: Gray Catbird Nest

We have a pair of catbirds living in and around our backyard that have stolen my heart.  I remember earlier this summer when I first discovered the catbird and hoped that I would see another before they left for warmer weather. Now I see (or hear) one or the other of the pair in the early morning, late evening, and many moments in between.

Hidden deep within a shrub about 8 feet off of the ground, we found their lovely nest, filled with three turquoise eggs.  Catbird nests are subject to being "stolen" by the cowbird and their best defense is their hiding of the nest.  Hidden it was.  

The outer layer of the nest is composed of larger twigs and branches, and what looks to be a cigarette wrapper, and the inner part is delicately woven and soft, a perfect place for her babies.

Catbirds nest two to three times in a year.

I started early,

Took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me...

But no man moved me 'til the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too

Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.

Emily Dickinson

Yarn Along: 6 July

Joining Ginny again today for her Yarn Along...

Summer is here!  How have you been spending your sunshiney days?

Progress has slowed a bit on the sweater, not because of the extreme heat, but because I have misplaced the pattern.  Instead of looking for it, I have simply picked up my brother's Christmas socks.  Those are great beach knitting anyways and we have been doing some beach going these days.

I just finished Mitten Strings for God a few nights ago.  Much of it really resinated with me.  The author is a bit further along on her mothering journey than me; her warnings about over-scheduling, rushing from play dates to dance classes and home again were timed perfectly.  School being out has left us with huge windows of time during our summer days that, although daunting at times, free us up to go to the beach or the woods on a whim.  Oh these summer days...

I can't wait to read about your summer knitting and reading!

Expanding Our Flock

We have not had great luck in the chickie department this summer.  There was a misstep, a raccoon, and a sickness--so we have gone from seven to four babies.  

Pictured above: a Rhose Island Red and a Buff Orpington

There has been some heart break in our house over the lost little ones (mostly on my part), and we are loving the babies that we do have.  I never thought that owning chickens would come with tears, but here we are, fuddling our way through our first year of owning chickens.  Let's hope it is mostly drama-free from here on out.

Happy 4th of July!

 Happiest of thoughts and warmest of wishes for a sun-and-water-filled holiday.