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Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen

Today's theme for Texture Tuesday is "Pink"....

And this little winged fella plunked himself down in such a way that I could use the backdrop of my pink Crepe Myrtle trees for my pink.

 
...a layer of Kim's newest freebie texture, Aurora. Only had time to play with it a little but just love it! 
...another shot of this adorable little dragonfly with a layer of kim's aurora texture.

Would you like to see his teeth? Sure you would....

 
I betcha you didn't even know that dragonflies could smile...

Life is full these days. Busy full. Fun full. And some days just too full. So much for that lazy days of summer saying...!

And can I scream out a little about winning a NEW EPSON PRINTER from Cathe Holden's blog?!!! The last two printers belonging to me both ended up in the hands of our college-aged kids who needed them for school after theirs bit the dust. The most recent hand over just occurred so the timing couldn't have been more perfect! Plus, like many of you familiar with her work, I just adore Cathe {her art and her heart} so there's an extra layer of special to winning one of her sponsored giveaways!

Pretty Flowers and Happy Birthday, Pink Saturday!

 
There are so many awesome parties in the world of blog these days. The talent and inspiration found at each of these events is beyond wonderful. Wish there were enough hours in the day to participate much more often than I do. But today, for the first time, I'm joining the party over at A Rosy Note. Loads of inspiring photography each Friday!

 
I discovered this  beautiful blog and the party through the big dreamer, Connie! {Also a fun blog to visit!} Today's theme is flowers....something near and dear to my heart. {insert a sweet, contented sigh}

There is also a BIG PARTY about to take place at Pink Saturday. It's the three year anniversary of this event! As soon as my friend Beverly posts the gathering spot, I'll be updating to play in her event as well! Rumor has it that there are lots of giveaways happening during this celebration!

Update: click on the Big Party above and it will take you to the celebration!

 
And we all know, that without these scary little creatures, there wouldn't be flowers. Despite the fact that I am deathly afraid of bees, I still find them to be fascinating little fellas. So much so, that after trying unsuccessfully with my longer lenses [meaning: stay as far away as possible!] to get a good shot, I threw caution to the wind and slapped on my 50mm lens.

I am so brave. Half the battle is just facing our fears, isn't it? Moving forward despite how uncomfortable it happens to be.

 
Who knows? Maybe one day I won't search the web for ways to deter bees from messing with my space.

Here's a few of my favorite:

~Hang a fake hornet's nest in one of your trees. Hornets are territorial and once they see another colony has claimed this turf, they move on. One source even said a brown lunch bag stuffed with plastic would do the trick as the hornets won't come close enough to find out it isn't real!

~Wear light colors and smooth fabric. Bees are attracted to dark and texture. Wool and leather make them angry!

~If you kill a bee and the hive is nearby...watch out! They can smell the kill and will come and attack you.

~There are all kinds of non-toxic, homemade repellents plastered throughout the internet. I've seen ones with ingredients such as Ivory soap, tea tree oil, orange oil, etc.

~Also, if you're going to take a nest out at night {the recommended time for doing so} never shine a flash light into the nest. This will make them mad. Instead, cover the flashlight with red cellophane as bees can't see red light! 

~This one I learned from an exterminator after I had the misfortune of walking across a ground nest once...if you do come across a ground nest, before you move, stand and watch and observe the flight pattern the hornets use to enter the nest. They have a definite pattern for approaching and entering. If you cross the flight pattern line, you will get stung!

Then again, maybe you don't care about avoiding bees because you're REALLY brave like these young ladies:

 
{{source}}

Seriously. Who would do this? Don't do this. But do take a peek at all the participants in Pink Saturday and over at A Rosy Note!

Looking forward to browsing myself over the long three day weekend!

Xo, Sue

{p.s. several have commented that when I leave a comment on your blog using Typepad's Open ID credentials that it says: "no reply comment" in the from address line. But located right below that you will see my email address. Should you wish to respond via email to me, you need to hit "forward" instead of "reply" and then copy and paste my email address into the "send to:" line.

"No reply commenter" does not mean that I don't care to have you reply to me!!! It just means the address from Typepad that sends the message does not receive replies!}

Treasures found...

 Originally posted May 18th over on Wordpress. Copied and moved  back to Typepad.

Rarely does a day pass when I don’t venture into the out of doors. Soaking up some warm sunshine, and in season, gathering a few flowers and offerings of nature to bring indoors. We are blessed in Northern Georgia with a bountiful supply of trees with an equally impressive variety of  types of trees.

My one clump of River Birch trees is definitely a much loved tree in my book.

 Loved for its beautiful peeling and curling bark, I am always gathering up the naturally shedded pieces. Eventually they find their way into an artsy/crafty project. 

But early this winter, I spotted something unusual hanging from the tree’s bare branches. Even with a goober-sized zoom lens it was hard to get a good shot of it as it was perched way up high. But that didn’t stop me from trying.

 

 For months I checked on it…after every bout of high winds, snowstorms, heavy rain, I’d check to make sure it was still there. And it held fast…but then in the Spring the tree leafed out and I could no longer find it amongs the heavy growth of leaves.

 

 

But yesterday, while walking among my flower beds, I spotted something laying on the ground underneath the River Birch. My heart skipped a beat…it was the cocoon! I was surprised at how sturdy the little thing was made…like a very stiff, rugged cardboard covered in delicate silk threads.

And when I turned it over in my hand….

 
Look at what I saw! Is that awesome or what? So intrigued…it sent me running off to google to see what I could learn about this cocoon. I discovered that it was not a butterfly cocoon, but a silk moth’s cocoon {I think!!}. Which led me to this intriguing website called Aurora Silk.

 In addition to selling silk cocoons {30 for $12} she has directions for soaking the cocoons in order to harvest the silk. My favorite part was her suggestion to save the water for a superior shampoo/conditioner!

As an artist and into all things natural, she has a line of dyes, silks, homeopathic creams, etc. There is even a kit to buy that would be perfect for a classroom teacher {or a science fair project} depicting the life cycle of a caterpillar. If you enjoy these kinds of things, you might enjoy browsing through her site.

I did place a little order as I could never soak the little treasure I found in order to harvest the silk…way too personally attached. smile.

Here’s to finding {seeing} the treasures in our days.

Xo, Sue

2 Responses to Treasures found…

1. ~*~Patty says:

   May 18, 2011 at 1:47 pm (Edit)

   ooo you had me in such suspense AND delight (as always) dear Sue!

   you nature girl you! the butterfly wing and blue flowers (name escapes me)!
   we took the road less traveled on our way home from VA Tech for the graduation and enjoyed the slow and scenic pace of The Blueridge Parkway….we saw SO many large yellow butterflies…I almost drove Mr Magpie nuts counting them….out loud heehee!

   I was on Cloud Nine anyway with the weekend’s festivities!

   to see where the cocoon was attached to the leaf with that perfect impression must have made you gasp with joy…these sorts of things are so wonderful…leave it to you to get to the bottom of things and share such lovely info with us…imagining you rinsing your hair soon with some VERY special rinse water

   oh and your WP blog looks wonderful…really lovely with so many sweet touches…your artful techieness is enviable lady!

   Happy May…it is always sweet to come for a visit…
   oxo
   p.s. oh and it is much easier for me to leave a comment too I see
   AND I can get notification when you update your bbb
   Yippee Yay!
   That is the one thing I wish WP had…a blogroll that reflects others updated blogs

   Reply
2. Zuzu says:

   May 19, 2011 at 12:12 pm (Edit)

   LOVE the photographs in this post, Sue. That first one had me oooing and ahhhing. Don’t you love how one great find leads to the next? I’m off to visit the website link…
   Have a happy one,
   Zuzu

Why God Made Mothers

 

...how time flies...blink, and we're now well into May.

My days have been jam packed with fun, and the not-so-fun...in other words, life. One of the funs is my continued love of taking photos.  Today, to wish my sweet bloggie friends a Happy Mother's Day, I'll share a few of those photos taken of my flowers.

But with a little humorous twist...

You've all probably seen this somewhere along life's path, but it's just too stinkin' cute not to share again. It's entitled: Why God Made Mothers. The answers were given by second graders. Enjoy...

 
WHY DID GOD MAKE MOTHERS?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

HOW DID GOD MAKE MOTHERS?

 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
 3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger 
parts.

 
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE MOTHERS MADE OF?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean. ha ha ha
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use 
string, I think.

 

WHY DID GOD GIVE YOU YOUR MOTHER AND NOT SOME OTHER MOTHER?

 1. We're related.
 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

 
WHAT KIND OF LITTLE GIRL WAS YOUR MOM?

 1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty 
bossy.
 3. They say she used to be nice.

 

 WHAT DID MOM NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DAD BEFORE SHE MARRIED HIM?

 1. His last name.
 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk 
on beer?
 3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to 
chores?
{{having been a former elementary school teacher in one of my lives, i can attest to the fact that these answers are mild compared to what many teachers hear!}}

 
WHY DID YOUR MOM MARRY YOUR DAD?

 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
 2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
 3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

 
WHO'S THE BOSS AT YOUR HOUSE?

 1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof 
ball.
 2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the 
bed.
 3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

 
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOMS AND DADS?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause 
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine..

 
WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO IN HER SPARE TIME?

 1. Mothers don't do spare time.
 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

 
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOUR MOM PERFECT?

 1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of 
plastic surgery.
 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

 
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR MOM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid 
of that.
 2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did 
it not me.
 3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of 
her head.

 
Here's sending out loads of gratitude to all the mothers of the world, and those who practice the gentle art of mothering {a trait found in many women who never had their own biological children}, the world is a sweeter place because of you.

And special hugs and whispered prayers for the precious hearts that for a number of reasons, find this day extra hard. May grace give you the strength you need...

Xo, Sue

p.s. Joining Miss Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday today!

So many blessings!

 
Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems. 

 ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Everyday there is a new plant peeking out of the ground, others stretching to new heights, an explosion of colors all around me....oh, how I adore Spring. And March Madness....as in NCAA basketball tournaments. Seriously. Die hard fan of college basketball. Especially the ACC, and specifically the Duke Blue Devils.

Despite the warmer weather calling me outdoors, I do come in for the games I need to watch. Which is most of them! And blessings heaped upon blessings, my Dukie boys are still in the dance!

As if all of that isn't enough, I was also blessed to win Cherie's {Humble Pie Designs} recent giveaway! {check out her She Art she has posted on her blog...next class begins April 11th!}

 

Amy Barickman's scrumptious book she was most generous to donate to the cause...

 
Lots of special little touches in the box as well....

 
It's filled with articles from days gone by...Department of Good Looks makes me smile. When stress has the better of you, it's time to melt into the mattress of the couch. Such timeless wisdom...

Speaking of stress, and the NCAA games, and not being someone who sits still very well....

...I've been reading through this book while watching the games. This little illustration from the book sort of jumped off the pages to me. Sparked an idea to keep my hands busy...inspired me to stitch some little embroidered flower medallions...

 

 

 
....lots of stitching going on during the games...the little flower pieces are stitched to a 100% cotton batting...the quilt squares, if you will, are pieces of vintage wallpaper first glued to a sheet of paper {also did a linen backing version} and then stitched...

 
Okay...and maybe I pop a few of those healthy ALMONDS {covered in sugar and chocolate} into my mouth as well, to relieve stress, of course.

I'm a big fan of cheetos and nacho doritos too but those leave orange fingerprints on handwork...m&m's don't!

Also tucked into the box was this pattern of Amy's...I'm pretty sure I could see myself melting into the couch in a pair of those jammie bottoms...

Good thing all my little ones are old enough to drive themselves to where they need to go these days.  Cuz back in the day when I was the driver to all the practices...

....and my gardening time was interupted to make the next run...

...i can't tell you how many times they'd ask if I was going to change into normal shoes before we left. They'd be asking the same question if I ventured out in these fun jammie bottoms as well....

 
What's wrong with these garden boots?! Why didn't they want their mother to wear them out in public? 

Oh well. You can't please all of the people all of the time.

Unless of course, you put a sweet package in their hands like the one I received from Cherie! Cherie who is always such a bundle of warm encouragement and talented little creator of all things artsy! Thank you so much {and Amy too!} for such wonderful gifts.

Xo and many warm blessings, Sue

GO DUKE!

A Chick Magnet

Besides loving their beautiful singing voices, watching the bird world can be quite amusing... and entertaining... and enlightening.

Take this little guy for example:

 

he calls to them...

 
he watches to see if any will come...

 
a few do show up...

 
he smiles to himself...yes, he's still got it...

His secret, you ask? Can't say that I know, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen him pull this off in my backyard.  {Linda, I'm thinking he might be the Cardinal version for the Old Spice commercial}

Here's a couple of little facts on cardinals that might lend some perspective...

~Northern Cardinals are monogamous birds.*

~The male, clearly raised well by a good mother, brings his female cardinal food while they are dating and often feeds her seeds beak-to-beak.* 

~Both parents feed their baby birds, but the male cardinal will often take on this job single handedly.*

{source}*

What's not to love?!

********

As an added note, Mr. Cardinal often calls from this same maple tree and his chickee's always pick this same sweet gum tree to gather in despite the fact that there are numerous other tree options. Do they try to match their colors to their chosen trees I wonder? 

Hope you're finding time to enjoy all that nature has to offer as well. Such a sweet gift...

xo, Sue

Inspired

Been missing in action...meaning, I'm in full action mode, just missing from blogland! Too many fun things, life, the daily grind...you know that story.

But these recent offerings from Pottery Barn are way too inspiring not to share. Especially for all those still stuck in winter...mostly against their own will, I might add!

!!!all photos to follow are from pottery barn website unless noted differently!!!

 
 
 
 
 

...those plates in the delicate pastel shades and ruffled edges make me swoon....

...i'm convinced that food even tastes better when served on pretty dishes!

 
 
 
 

 

 
As much as I prefer "real" flowers, I must say that these apple blossom silks are deliciously lovely.

 
...same to be said for these spring magnolia blossoms which are currently in full-glorious-bloom in Georgia. They are stunning in person...and there is also a white version of this magnificent tree.

But as much as I love so many items in the recent offerings from Pottery Barn, if I could only pick one, this would be it....

 
....ahhhhhh.....place your orders for Mother's Day girls!

 I'll sign off with a couple of photos from what's happening just outside my windows...

 
 

 
 
 

Happy inspired Spring wishes to all....let us all do our part to make the world a more beautiful place. {and i don't mean with just "things" :) }

Xo, Sue 

One Thousand Gifts

 
When I saw the package from Amazon, I tore into the thing thinking for sure it was one of the photography books I just ordered.

Instead, it was this book.

A book I didn't even remember ordering.

For a moment, I got a sick feeling thinking I just ripped open the neighbor's mail. And then just as quickly hoping it wasn't the same neighbor...you know, the one whose package I accidentally opened at Christmastime.  

Looking at the order sheet it definitely had my name on it. Whew. In fact, I preordered this book back on November 13th. No wonder.

Oh my.

Go get this book.

"A book destined to become a classic; the sort of book you dog-ear and re-read for the sheer joy of cherishing the words and experiencing the depth of the heart that wrote it." ----Mary DeMuth, author of Thin Places: A Memoir

I'm only a few chapters in and I wholeheartedly agree with Mary. And I don't even know Mary...never heard of her. But she's right. I have underlined so many passages...

...here's one I put to some photos I snapped yesterday.

It begins: "...I wonder too...if the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop, the losses that puncture our world, our own emptiness, might actually become places to see. To see through to God."

 
 

 
 

A Rosey Winter Day

Day FOUR of schools closed, no mail, freezing temps, and an icy blanket of snow covering metropolitan Atlanta.

 

Thank goodness on Saturday, during our pre-storm grocery run I grabbed this bunch of pink roses to bring home.

 

They were just meant to be enjoyed...

 

...and perhaps to even take outside, tuck into a tree and photograph.  

Surprisingly enough, these little fellas proved to be quite hardy. The afternoon outing in freezing temps didn't ruffle, droop, or discolor their little petals one single bit.

I think there's a lesson from nature tucked in there somewhere for me.

Doesn't mean I respect it...

Have you seen this commercial?

  

I think its a riot!

...and it also echoes the sentiments I felt upon seeing what looked like snow clouds in a recent sunset in the skies over Georgia...

 
Warm air and sunny skies...that's what I respect. Adore. Love. Want. NEED!

Oh for sure, I totally love the look of freshly fallen snow. Ice crystals glistening from the twigs on a branch...the squeals of laughter from children playing in the snow...skiing down fresh powder in the mountains...skating on a frozen pond...yummy wools and sweaters that can now be worn...BOOTS! I love boots!

It's all those other things...the cold...the dramatic lack of color in the landscape...the cold...more hours of darkness than light...the cold...more gloomy overcast days....the cold....

ME: Oh dear Mr. Winter, please be mild. Please be short. Please, please, please!

MR. WINTER: It will all depend on your attitude.

Note to self: Work on attitude.

Question: What's your level of respect for Mr. Winter?