Better late than never

On By CarynIn Wildlife

Last year my youngest and I assembled and painted a small wood birdhouse. I sprayed a clear coat of UV protection on it and left it in the garage to dry, for a year. The year was not intentional, life got busy, and whenever I would see it in the garage I was on a different mission. Then iNaturalist popped up a message that it is chickadee breeding season and showed a bird house the same size as the one we had in the garage. That was my sign.

Photo description: small blue and green bird house hung on ropes running under the tree branches

I found a length of chain and a spring hook and attached the bird house about 7 feet above the ground at the back side of the yard. I can just barely see the small house from my kitchen table, so now we wait and see if any birds find it acceptable.

Onions

On By CarynIn Garden

Walking through TSC I saw onion sets and grabbed a bag on a whim.

Photo description: bag of red onion sets, pumpkin patch in the background

I planted the onions around my pumpkin and cucumber plants. Some of the sets were dry and didn’t seem viable, but others were firm and a couple had some green already at the tip. Six days after planting I noticed a few of the onions were growing.

Photo description: freshly watered soil with onion leaves coming up

I’ve tried onions from seed with no luck. I was hoping the squirrels and other critters would leave onions alone, but I found one set excavated. I’m hoping to harvest some green onions when they are young. I don’t have much hope that there will be mature onions this winter.

The eyes of Texas

On By CarynIn Insects
Photo description: Texas eyed click beetle on Post Oak bark (ID by iNaturalist)

I saw a new beetle! I first thought it was an iron-clad beetle, it was black and white mottled and about the right size, but it moved way too fast. It took several attempts to photograph it. iNaturalist says it is a Texas eyed click beetle. I can certainly see the reason for the name with those two large black sots on its thorax.

Diagonally crocheted blanket

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve started a new blanket. I think I said I wouldn’t crochet a blanket again, but I am enamored with the construction of this Mary Maxim pattern that is worked diagonally. The stitch pattern is very easy and worked in counts of three, which makes me inexplicably happy.

Photo description: beginnings of a blanket crocheted diagonally with scrap acrylic yarn laying on a dilute tortie cat

I’m using scrap acrylic yarn to do 3 row stripes in an alternating pattern. The colors may get …interesting as I go. I’m using a K sized crochet hook and the resulting fabric is soft and flexible.

Throwback Thursday: combo apron

On By CarynIn Craft

In June 2017 I combined a couple ideas for an egg/harvest apron. I put small pockets on the apron face and put buttons and button holes so the apron could be configured to hold larger things than eggs.

Photo description: apron in calico fabric on a red mannequin stand with pleated pockets in two rows, and three buttons at the waist
Photo description: same apron with center bottom and bottom corners attached to the waist buttons
Photo description: back of the same apron with wide straps tied in a bow

I made three of the aprons in preparation for visiting my folks so my kids could gather eggs.