Autumn Sock Monkey Wedding Cake Topper Update

Well the summer is flying by, school is about to resume, and people are planning their fall and winter weddings.

We were in the middle of a 1200 mile move during tax time last April, so we got an extension.  But guess what...time's up, and the taxes must be reported.  I spent all day crunching numbers (my least favorite activity). 

Now it's time for a blog reprieve and a glass of wine.  

Cheers to all of the Autumn wedding couples out there! 

I'll be making your cake toppers next week.

Monarch Butterfly Hatching

I spent my childhood summers catching insects, frogs, turtles, salamanders, toads, minnows, and the occasional snake.  I still have some of that curious little explorer in me, so when I found a tiny monarch catapillar a few weeks ago I was delighted at the idea of watching the amazing metamorphosis happen before my eyes.

I was a diligent caretaker, bringing fresh milkweed leaves to my growing caterpillar every day.  

The payoff happened on the morning when I woke to find the chrysalis about to break open.  I took it outside, and this is what I saw...

 

Here I transferred it to a flower in my front yard.

I caught it's first flight...

 

 and its first landing...

Dragonfly

This beautiful dragonfly landed at my doorstep, where it apparently took its last breath, leaving me with a very nice photo op!

I love watching this type of dragonfly fly. They have clear parts of their wings so when they are hovering only the black and white areas show.