I learned that the Isabella is the most common Tiger Moth in North America.  And that the legend of the weather predictor is just that...a legend.  It says that if there is more black than brown it will be a harsh winter.  And if there is more brown than black, the winter will be mild.  Sounds like a groundhog story.  

 

Anyway, this looks like more brown than black, verifying other predictors of this coming winter.  Let me see if I can find a picture of an Isabella Tiger Moth adult.....Be right back.  

 

 

That didn't take too long.  You still here?  It was worth it, wasn't it?  Cool!!!!

 

HAPPY MILD WINTER TO COME!!!

 

OK...Lately, I have had several friends ask how to make a comment on the blog.  

 

Up until yesterday, it was only possible to comment if you were logged into the website.  Which is fine for Five Forks residents, because you all have a login password.  However, visitors to the site can read the blog, but weren't able to login and comment.  Well, I changed that.  You can now add a comment without being logged in.  Comments will be monitored by the blogs' author, and then made public if appropriate.  Sometimes the comments may just be a personal note between the reader and the author, not for everybody to see.  Sometimes they may be great to publicize because the reader may not be the only one with that thought.  

 

So let's see how it goes.  I love it when you respond to my blog posts.  It lets me know you're reading them.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

Years ago, one of my yoga friends gave me a camel hair coat with fur collar, that belonged to her mother.  She knows that I love to sew, so she thought maybe I could use the fabric for something, like my dolls.  The wool was good, the satin lining was in good shape too, and the fur collar was beautiful.  

 

Another friend of mine used the fabric from one of Momma's dresses and made a bear, a memory bear.  

 

So I got out Cathy's Momma's coat and made her a memory bear.  She looked so chic in her fur collar, that I had to give her pearls for her neck and ears.

 

I just loved this bear;  she came out great, especially for my first attempt.  Since then, I've made quite a few more, all with my special touch:  jewels.  

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

 

This is my friend, Diesel.  He belongs to the Bradleys, and we've known him for nearly 14 years.  

 

He used to be large and in-charge, but now he's happy to just hang out on the porch or........the sofa.  Look, he has his own hand made quilt to snuggle.

 

Jon loves dogs and I do NOT.  But Diesel is such an old gentleman that even I can love him.  Really, just look at that face!!

 

LOVE YOU!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

This is what was left over from the pile of mushroom compost we used in the garden. These tomato plants planted themselves here, and have been growing all summer.  We thought they were kinda pretty, so we just left them to grow, since they weren't in the way of anything.  

 

Well, the deer just recently decided that they LIKE tomato plants, and...

 

 

Now, THIS is what's left over.  Ahhh, gardening with deer.  I thought you'd enjoy the before and after pictures.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

We harvested about 4 bushels of apples from our trees.  Yay!!!  Our squirrel-proofing worked!!!

 

We started canning applesauce, but still have a couple more days to go before we are finished.  Sandy canned 30 quarts and as many pints from her 4 bushels of apples.  She worked constantly for two days.  We have also made apple pies, apple cakes, and fed a bunch to the deer.  

 

When we were little, there was an apple tree in the back yard.  We all have fond memories of Momma and Nanny and BeeBee sitting in the shade of the apple tree, peeling apples by hand.  They made a LOT of applesauce.  

 

And our friend, Ruby Whitman made tons of apple cake.  Her recipe is in the recipe section.  Try it:  it is easy and delicious.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

Have you seen this butterfly around lately?  It is a Red-spotted Purple.  The red spots are on the underside of the wings.  It was still for a long time, so I was able to get my camera and take a picture.  

 

We saw it in the grass the other morning, one of those 52 degree days.  Jon moved it to a sunny spot, so it could warm up its body.  I read in the Stokes Butterfly Book that butterflies need their bodies warm to be able to fly.  After basking in the sun for five minutes,  it flew up into the Redbud tree.

 

I love seeing butterflies any time of year.

 

SO PRETTY!!!  

 

We got MUMS this week!!!  This is a 14" pot full of 3 colors of chrysanthemums.  It stands 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.  Gorgeous!!!

 

It came from Gracie's Nursery on the Blairsville Highway.  I know you've seen all the mums when you drive by.  Well, stop in and get some for your Fall decorating.  Do it soon, so you can enjoy them longer.  If you wait til the flowers are all the way open, you will have missed out on about a month of beauty.  

 

I'm sure you can buy them at Walmart or Home Depot, but don't you love to support the small businesses here?  Prices are about the same.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT PICK UP THESE HULLS WITHOUT GLOVES!!!  As you can see, they are quite prickly.  Learned that the hard way too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, you can thank Patty Tegtman for the fabulous fall decorations.  

 

She and Bill made these adorable Folk Art Scarecrows and pumpkins, including the ones at the signposts.  She asked for a hay bale, which Jim had delivered.  Then we spray painted this great face on it.  (I bet you didn't know you have graffiti artists as neighbors.)    ;D

 

She's the mastermind behind the whole thing.  I just provided the transportation and cheerleading.  

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!