Adding a frame to a neck gaiter style mask

On September 28, 2020September 27, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

I did finally receive some manufactured mask frames! The hot glue frame I made was a little large for my youngest, but these kid sized frames fit fine, and actually help keep the mask on her face better (she has a little nose). To get the frames to work with the mask I sewed them in. I did try to sew a patch of quilter’s cotton over the frame, but the inelasticity was irritating to her, so I made a double layer of swimsuit material instead.

17”x9” rectangle of fabric sewn along the long edge, then marked in the middle. The line helps keep the frame centered as you sew.

Frame sewn on through a single layer of the fabric. Sewing it in this way helps keep the fabric off the nose and mouth.

Tube of fabric turned inside out, this is the inside of the mask showing the stitches. The outside is smooth. I used a jersey stitch to join the ends of the tube together to make a loop.

Front of neck gaiter style mask with frame sewn in

My youngest does like these better. With the frame, her glasses don’t fog up and the neck gaiter style doesn’t interfere with her hearing aids. She can get it on and off herself and it has pink, so we’re all good. The only down side is that I am hand washing these, as the frame tends to fold in half when it goes through the washer and the dryer. The material dries quick, though.

Massive garden spider

On September 27, 2020 By CarynIn Wildlife

Yellow garden spider (id from iNaturalist)

My eldest found this large spider while she was out in the woods communing with the neighbor’s cats. Based on the size it is a female, and its markings are more white (or green, depending on how you look at it) than last year’s yellow garden spider, which is interesting. It was hanging on a thread of silk above its web, which had the typical zig zag pattern in the middle. Photo credit to my eldest.

Cat dog gecko

On September 26, 2020September 24, 2020 By CarynIn Cats, dog, Wildlife

The cat is inside, the gecko and puppy are outside

Izzy the cat likes to chase geckos on the windows. She found one while the puppy was outside doing business, and Missy had to come investigate too! Izzy was not impressed.

Hunters and the hunted

On September 25, 2020 By CarynIn Wildlife

High eyelashed jumping spider
*Phidippus* *mystaceus*

I was making ash for the chickens’ dust bath when I saw a cute little jumping spider on the table. I like her scientific name: Phidippus mystaceus (as identified in iNaturalist). My photo doesn’t show her high eye lashes, but you can see them in pictures others have taken of the species. The hardwood ash making process went well. It is amazing how much better the wood burns when it is dry. (Insert eye roll.) I mix the ash with equal parts of dirt and diatomaceous earth and put the mixture in on old tire in the runs. The first batch almost completely disappeared after a day! It is amazing how much dust they can get in their feathers. I have been lax making their dust bath powder with the summer heat and burn bans, then the subsequent downpours. Now that the more pleasant fall weather is nearing, I should be able to get outside more.

Here is another insectile predator: the praying mantis. This one hanging out on the house isn’t nearly as large as the mantis guarding the water station the other day, but still a nice specimen. He was eye balling a white-dotted prominent moth. The moth also has an amusing scientific name: Nadata gibbosa.

Brave chicken

On September 24, 2020 By CarynIn chickens

Cockatrice is my one brave chicken that dares to roam the run while I use the trimmer mower on the meadow. She has figured out that the grasshoppers jump in to escape the trimmer. All the other hens hide in the coop while the scary machine roars.