I found the first trail cam photo of Sophie the dilute calico from January, 2018. We had just moved into the house and I set up the trail cam (a gift from my folks) to watch the wood pile past the back fence. This was before she adopted us and we took over her medical care.
Eight years later, and Sophie spends her nights indoors (and most of the day), and that log pile is almost completely decayed away.
I pulled trail cam footage and there were baby raccoons! There look to be five young ones, and that there are two mother raccoons, or there are ten babies and three mothers. Hm. I saw photos of a mom with three, a mom with two, and a mom with five. Raccoons will communally raise young, I’ve read, so I’m hoping there are only five.
I did a video by recording my computer screen as I flipped through photos. The cutest one is where the kits are climbing the tree.
I noticed a pattern in the trail cam photos. When I would feed the meadow cats, within minutes a raccoon would come out and get food too. Then when I was in the coop looking for eggs, I heard a strange hiss outside the door, and sure enough, momma raccoon was getting dinner. She didn’t know I was in the coop, so I recorded video on my phone. I was probably three feet away, but she was used to chicken noise and didn’t consider the door direction a threat, so didn’t see me. I could see that she is definitely a momma with nursing young, which explains the high calorie need.
I’ve been fascinated for years with the magic braid done with leather where both ends of the braid are uncut. I found a good tutorial that uses reclaimed leather, and I had to try it.
I did not make these into bracelets as in the tutorial, but into key chain fobs, by folding them in half and adding a clip.
I forgot about this project. I started making every square in the book Granny Square Flair with fine alpaca yarn from Peru back in March. I was hoping it would be a travel project, but it requires way too much concentration as every row is different and I need to refer back to the pattern frequently. So I designated it a home project and it has sat next to my chair for a few months.
This is another forever project that will sneak in the gaps of other projects. I have no problem telling people my age, but asking how many open projects I have going will get you a flippant answer.
Happy Father’s Day to all those that have cared for, taught, and protected young beings!
Today I have a picture of my garden, where I have planted pumpkin, onions, and basil.
I did not plant the corn. I think the squirrels have been helping.
No sign of pumpkin fruit yet, but the vines seem happy.
Critters and Craft 