made it to a monarch

I've been watching my chrysalis closely since returning home from Agness (Oregon). I noticed darkening inside and the pattern of tiny Monarch wings.

With some warmer weather the butterfly decided it was time to come out.

About two hours later with wings fully grown and dried it flew off. Spawned two yesterday and three more getting ready.
I learned about Grandmother Agnes and the Salmon Blessing while at the Rogue River. I'm hoping for the Monarch Blessing. The Rogue was beautiful, especially with rain.

raising a monarch

Or at least hoping to get one to adulthood. I've managed caterpillars but this is the first chrysalis. The caterpillar fed itself on milkweed but then managed to move a few feet into the ground cherry. Keeping our fingers crossed and checking it often. Come springtime I'm going into a major milkweed planting.
And an Aero update. With the rain on Monday morning in came a wet cat, who had breakfast and settled himself in upstairs on Mike's desk. He hasn't done that in months, but somewhere in his brain he has programmed if it rains go inside. He knows we will welcome him. Sun came out and he left, but he's sticking a little closer and hanging around more. Aerojet my Farmer's Almanac, I'm happy to have him.

september

Or where did August go?

It disappeared into the Chinese fifth season spanning summer and autumn, falling between the sun and the fog.
The light and air are changing and usually I feel the sense to nest. But this summer has been so enjoyable I'm finding an urge to hold onto it. But even Aero feels the change, suddenly he is appearing every evening hanging out on the front walk, making sure we know he will be coming in soon.

craft day

Sometimes you buy things and then wonder what you were thinking when you made the purchase. And these items float around in closets and on shelves reminding you as you come across them that you are not always of sound, clear mind. Sometimes I can just give things away, chalking it up to mercury in retrograde or some such other excuse. But this morning I took to crafting, something I think I am just genetically predisposed. So that off white cotton sweater became grey with a bottle of Rit dye and a YouTube video watched.

Really, the color is quite nice and as long as it doesn't rub off on me every time I wear it, I'll be happy.
So then I moved on to that pink cashmere yarn I bought. Well it was on sale, but the pink,  it was pink. So another YouTube video on tea dyeing watched.

Eight teabags later, I may have some yarn I can actually knit into something that might be wearable.

No, I did not make the wind chime the yarn is hanging from, that came from a neighbor who was cleaning out a house of someone who must have seriously been into crafts.

august garden

The chairs needed some updating, so out came some new and old quilts that haven't ventured outside before. The red and black flying geese is just a little too bold for our bed, and the purple lone star came out of the cedar chest. Both the quilts and I are happy with the new arrangement.

And I put back my special corner with a view into the garage. I'm sure there will be future postings on the garage activities.

I've only partially given up on farming, even if I did convert one of the tubs in the "little farm", as my my neighbor Michael and I refer to it, to flowers. I have Swiss chard seeds started to take the place of the tomatoes.

celebrating summer

We made a visit on Friday to West Marin. The drive through Samuel P. Taylor State Park was nothing less than glorious. The light, the smell, the perfect temperature. I gave a nod to my father, who saw no reason to travel anywhere else. Yes Dad, perhaps your were right.
We stopped at Devil's Gulch to visit the Mother Tree, the one I propagate from in the fall and early winter. This tree has spawned many offspring, one growing in our backyard to full blooming adulthood.
After a brief stop for sandwiches  we headed out the Marshall Beach Road, where the fog had overtaken the sun.

Our lunch spot was the Coast Guard Cemetery, an off missed spot on the tourist trail.

After consuming our lunch we headed to a spot, definitely on the tourist list.

We'll come back in the winter. But the day ended with the Night Blooming Ceres showing it's glory. Something I often miss because it only blooms for one night.

A perfect ending to a perfect day.

back from yellow creek

Humbug valley was beautiful, some fish were caught, we secured campsite #4, we survived the pine cone attack that left a large hole in the tent, and if anyone knows what kind of a beetle camped with us please let us know.