Artistic raking

One really MUST

have fun while raking leaves, right?

I did feel kind of nerdy

when I took a photo of it, though.

 

{29 October 2012}

Gnocchi

YUM!

Its always pleasing when a new recipie turns out well.

And yes, its green.

Because it has Popeye food in it.

 

{17September2012}

Pears!

Our neighbor told us to help ourselves to her pear tree.

I just picked these guys up off the ground...

but the tree is loaded down.

So much that the branches are brushing the ground.

My sis would like to use some of them,

so I decided to try an experiment today...

wrapping them up in paper

and putting them in a crate for her.

{18September2012}

Larvae?

I'll look it up momentarily,

but we saw what looked like a mud dauber

nest on our eaves.

When we scraped it off, this is what was in it.

Are they larvae?

Every single one was different!

{1September 2012}

Update: It looks like it WAS a dauber nest,

and they like to eat spiders...they stock their nests

with them.

Who knew??

Thanks Wikipedia!

Bad growing season?

I've been hearing this and that

here and there

off and on

about it being a bad year for gardens

in our area of Muscatine.

Well, the tomatoes must like this guy...

They're taller than him

AND all over the garden.

{September 2012}

Back at the hive {nest?}

Well,

It looks like a beehive hairdo.

So. I shall dub it hive.

Yes.

This precious little creation

is hanging out in the crabapple tree.

Literally.

{August 2012}

My short-lived modelling career

 Serendipity was having a trunk show.

And all the ladies wanted to see the sweaters on.

So I obliged.

I decided to make this one.

With perhaps some sleeve alterations.

{26July2012}

Great River Days

 Down by the river,

In the summertime

 Muscatine puts on a festival

called Great River Days.

They have all the carnival foods.

 All the carnival rides

And really pretty night-time (and day-time, too) sights!

{July2012}

Olympic knit-a-long

Serendipity Yarn Shoppe

is hosting an Olympic knit-a-long.

Abi of High Prairie Fibers

worked her fingers off to make all the yarn

for this knit-a-long.

So.

She was crowned queen of the night.

There were 36 knitters in the little shop.

It was insane.

It was fun!

And the projects are already showing up in the shop!

{26July2012}

Radish Sandwich

 I love fresh garden radishes.

I love them even more on homeade bread.

With butter.

And a sprinkling of sea salt.

Simplicity.

Perfection.

{June 2012}

Unplugged

 Even though I'm not their mother,

sometimes I worry that these guys will get

toooo attached to their video games.

So...last time they visited, we went to the pond.

 They caught and released this frog. {Several times.}

 Got the garbage out of the sinking skiff.

{And yes, that green stuff IS mostly poison ivy.}

 Netted minnows out of the stream.

{Amongst more poison ivy?}

And even found the tiniest garter snake I've ever seen.

{The poison ivy aftermath was a little discouraging, but we'll do it again, with layers!}

{June 2012}

Sunset on the Mississippi

There's a first time for everything.

And this was my first time on the Mississippi.

(at least, the Mississippi near Muscatine)

And yes, I've lived here for nearly 10 years.

It was a lovely evening.

So lovely that we stayed out too long

and had to put up the boat lights!

{June 2012}

The Good Wife

My sister.

She's amazing.

And yes, she can back up a boat trailer.

Among other talents.

{June 2012}

'Becky' yarn

One thing I love about living in a small town

is getting to meet some of

the most interesting people.

Ever.

This yarn was dyed

and spun

by a lady in a neighboring town.

She brought color samples into

Serendipity Yarn Shoppe

let us pick our colors,

and a couple short weeks later,

this beautiful yarn arrived.

Plus, most of the fiber

(sheep, llama, alpaca)

is locally grown.

We applaud you, Abi!

Check out her website at

http://prairiefiber.homestead.com/

{June 2012}

Oh, deer.

Yes,

The deer had a nice time

using my garden as a salad bar

one night.

I have now learned of the power of

putrescent egg solids

in the form of

Liquid Fence.

{31 May 2012}

Day at the couch

So, we live near a town called Davenport.

And we went there one Saturday to wander around.

I asked the squids to mimic this face.

The reactions were....interesting.

We wandered around the park for awhile

whilst waiting for the circus.

Turns out, watching the elephants BEFORE the circus

was almost more entertaining than the circus itself!

{May 2012}

Latin Guitar

Last night I went to a concert.

A latin guitar concert.

Yes, in Muscatine.

And it was free.

The artist is David Burgess.

He's pretty talented.

And he was telling stories about all the songs he played.

Check out the website when you have a chance.

http://www.latinguitar.com/

And listen to Berimbau.

It was my favorite...an imitation of an African instrument on the guitar.

Impressive!

{March 2012}

Bad kitty? Or not?

Nah.

She's not being bad.

We made her a yarn nest.

And she had fun frolicking in it.

And we had fun encouraging her to tangle it up as much as she wanted.

And we hope she doesn't take to

doing this with the good yarn.

{July 2011}

Muscatine Mosaic Project {part II}

I don't have any photos of all of the mosaic art,

but these are a couple of my favorites.

I actually purchased one from this same artist.

And talked to her about her methods.

And told her she should find someplace local to sell them!

Talent.

{April 2011}

Muscatine River Monster

The River Monster

(or Kraken)

has hit Muscatine!

http://muscatinerivermonster.com/

{June 2011}