I do like the new location for the trail cam. I’m getting regular allotment of critters.
Photo description: night vision image of a couple opossums crossing in front of the camera Photo description: night vision image of an armadillo snuffling for snacksPhoto description: night vision image of a large buck with impressive rack
There were also the regular scattering of cats, birds, and squirrels, with one neighborhood dog going by. What I haven’t seen is any evidence of raccoons. I think our colony was really and truly wiped out by distemper about a year ago, which makes me remorseful. My animals are all vaccinated for distemper, but the feral cats are not. Raccoons are susceptible to both feline and canine distemper, so it could have been either a cat or neighborhood dog that infected them. Did you know that a group of raccoons is called a nursery or a gaze? There we go.
It is February in Texas and the only things blooming are dandelions.
Photo description: common dandelion with a yellow bloom and white seed head in a bed of fallen leavesPhoto description: bee visiting the dandelion flower
We had some warm weather interrupt winter, and the bees came out and sipped from the dandelions. While other yard owners are applying pre-emergents, the bees are feasting in our spring blooms. Dandelions are also edible. Although I have not gone down that path, it is nice to know I could.
In August 2012 I helped finish a crocheted rope project. Unfortunately I didn’t write down details. I remember that the woman who commissioned me to do the work received the started pieces from a loved family member that passed before finishing the necklaces. She wanted something that she could wear, not just sit in a box. The original intent of the work was to make a long rope with looped beaded tassels on the end. That didn’t suit my client, so we decided they should sit near the collarbone with a magnetic clasp. The original maker had threaded the beads, made the first tassel, and started the crochet with a size 13 steel needle. There was one pink seed bead project and one with white seed beads.
Photo description: box of white seed beads threaded onto cotton thread, tassel and crocheted rope laid on the outside of the boxPhoto description: pink seed bead crocheted rope with wildly different translucent seed beads on the tassel.Photo description: my method of beaded string organization, a huggy spool
I removed the tassels and finished the crochet to the desired length, then ran a piece of 49 strand beading wire through the tube. I attached the magnetic clasp to the wire so that no pressure was applied to the bead work.
Photo description: finished crocheted ropes in white and pink on a reflective black surface
I love the feel of crocheted seed beads ropes, but it is small detailed work that is not fast. The client was pleased and I enjoyed helping a project reach completion.
This was before I learned about the Loose Ends project that matches unfinished projects with volunteer finishers.
As I was wandering outside the dead stalks of last season’s Gregg’s Mistflower caught my eye. I love that the plant took over our front flower bed, and the local insects love the flowers that bloom from Spring to Fall. I started clearing the dried stems in preparation for Spring, and wondered if it would make good weaving material.
Photo description: dried Gregg’s Mistflower stems, stripped of leaves
I did an initial test by wrapping some stems in a wet towel. I left them overnight and in the morning tested pliability. They seemed flexible. The next step will be to harvest more and attempt some weaving.
It would be fantastic if my new favorite plant could also be a craft material.
I strapped the trail cam to a tree at about calf height rather than a stand, which made for some interesting extreme closeups.
Photo description: deer eye extreme closeup in night vision Photo description: up close view through a squirrel tailPhoto description: fuzzy extreme closeup of a black cat’s yellow eye
Critters and Craft 