Artist Date

We went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
today for our Artist Date.

They have a Rodin sculpture exhibition
 from now until next June.

We explored Dutch paintings.

I love seeing the flowers

and the butterflies.

I am searching for an artist to fall in love with.

I am very smitten with Rachel Ruysch's work.
This painting has captured my heart.
I will do some research on this amazing artist.
I am inspired!

The Nelson has some lovely pieces.

I would like an Owl Jug.
A reproduction would be just fine for my cider.

We watched as an installation was being set up.

I am learning about

Day of the Dead.

We stopped for lunch at the cafe.
Very tasty.

Next week our Artist Date will be on Friday night.
It will be First Friday.
We will be going on a gallery walk.
I think a cup of hot co-co is part of the plan.

Artist Date

We drove to a small town just north of us today for our Artist Date.

I had so much fun looking in the shops.

This white Witch spoke to me but she was too pricey even with 13% off.

I do think a white Witch is in my furture. I will find a way to make one.

White Bear also spoke.....his shoe basket is so cute!
We had crepes and coffee for lunch.

It was sunny today but too cold for our
 Black Swallowtail to be released.

She nectared on sugar water this afternoon.

It is fun having her about.
As soon as it is warm enough we will release her.

I saw a Skipper on the white mums.
I checked the temperature, 54 degrees, too cold for Black.

It is to freeze again tonight.

We will cover the squash and marigolds.

I think I will have a nice winter with the birds.

They seem to be used to me already.

Sitting in the sun with the birds is delightful.

They make me smile.

I took my tea to the deck and wrote about my artist date.

I have all sorts of ideas.

I will miss the butterflies and the bees.
I hope to do some wool applique this winter.
I want to do table runner with bees and butterflies on it.

I keep hearing that White Witch...."BOO WHOO!"
She sure is cute!

Artist Date

We went on our second Artist Date this morning.

We went to a wild life area for a hike.

I wanted to see reflections in water.

I was distracted by butterflies.

It was too windy for very good reflections.

We will go another time.

I enjoy water fowl.

It has been too long since I had seen a Blue Heron.

I hope to visit wetlands this Autumn.
Our Artist Dates are on Thursdays at 10am.
It is a standing date we have with each other.

A Black Swallowtail emerged in the house last night.

This morning we hunted for her.

Finally I found her on the ceiling fixture.

It warmed up enough this afternoon to release her.

I love the butterflies.

I also love Artist Dates.

I am keeping a journal of our dates.

We are off on an adventure for a few days.

Maybe I will see some reflections.

I have packed the picnic basket.

Can do

One of the missing Black Caterpillars was found this afternoon.

I helped her on to the Rosemary I brought in last week.

Temperatures are to drop into the upper 40's tonight.

Too cold for freshly emerging butterflies.

I will keep her warm inside until tomorrow.

Mocking Bird has returned to the backyard.

I always miss him in the summer.
 I know it is autumn when he returns .

Two more Chick-a-dees have joined our backyard family.

We now have six for the winter.

I am reading.

I am thinking in mime.

I am potting up plants to bring in.

It is getting chilly out.

There is lots to do to get ready for Autumn.

I have a can do attitude.

Bugs and birds

I am meditating in the mornings
on the deck with the birds.

The North Wind
played the wind harp this morning.
I was in bliss.

The Orange Dog has grown.
He is over 2 inches long.

The Soapwort has re-bloomed.
It is a non-native herb that has naturalized in the mid-west.

The Grass Skippers are enjoying these September days.
This is Peck's Skipper. I am learning my Skippers.

The Goldenrod is covered with Soldiers and

Ailanthus Moths.

Cooper's Hawk flew in and scattered the
Sparrows and Doves.
I closed my eyes and followed my breath.
The sun was warm on my face.

September

September has dawned hot and humid.
Forecast calls for a high today of 101 F.
 Low tonight is only to be 80F.
We are still in Summer.

Clowns decorate our house in September.
I do love them.

We have a bit of 

Backyard Naturalist activity started.

We have a few inside caterpillar habitats
set up. I have begun our notebooks for 2011.

My husband found the Monarch caterpillar
while weeding this morning.

I found our second Monarch

chrysalis while looking for Black Swallowtail

caterpillars in the Queen Anne's Lace.

We have two Black Swallowtail caterpillars.
One is feeding on fennel the other feeding on Queen Anne's Lace.
It will be interesting to see if the different host plants
create any difference in the butterflies.

There was an Orange Dog, the caterpillar for
the Giant Swallowtail, on the Garden Rue I cut
 for a herb bouquet for the kitchen.

We have begun our Autumn cleaning.
While I hunted for caterpillars my husband washed the windows.
Our roses looked as pretty from the outside of the windows
as they do from the inside.

I spotted a new fig growing on one of our fig trees.
Perhaps I will be able to harvest a few before critters get them.

My theme for September this year is Harvest Home.
Each day we will harvest from our gardens.
Today we will harvest more brussels sprouts.
For supper we will have a garden stir fry with potatoes, onions
carrots and our good brussels.

Each day in September holds a gift.

I am looking forward to untying the ribbons.

Happy September.