Giant Swallowtails

Early in the summer, we were surprised to see a giant swallowtail butterfly on the rue plant. We like to eat our breakfast on the deck where we can watch the fauna and flora in our backyard. This butterfly laid eggs and Hubby put them in a netted enclosure and we watched over the days as they hatched and the caterpillars grew. 

Then they formed a very unique chrysalis which was quite large and they stayed in it for a very long time.

Finally, just a few days ago, they emerged, two at a time.  They are beautiful and huge,black on top and yellow underneath.

The Doll House

There was a wonderful tutorial on U-tube about making drapes for a doll house.  I tried it and it turned out fairly well. I am sure with practice I could improve. My son, Bill, says I should put a picture of a tornado outside of the window because of the way the drapes are blowing. My brother found a jig saw for me but I haven't tried it yet. The reason - with the air conditioning on, the basement is freezing!

Obviously the bed needs a covering.

Still Quilting

Hubby says these days of quarantine are a lot like the movie Groundhog Day. Everyday is the same. I keep putting quilts together. Mostly charity quilts.

 I am making a king size quilt for Mary and as soon as the backing I ordered arrives I am going to have it machine quilted professionally. It was a difficult quilt and it is huge.

 I am still working on my Hawaiian quilt.  I have 14 squares done out of 18.  I have three quilts waiting to be quilted by hand.  I am working on another quilt of Valor and a quilt for Martha but I have barely started it.

Summer is Here

After acold spell that did a little bit of damage, the warmth is here.  I won't have many lillies this year after that freeze and a friend of mine who raises chestnuts says that some farmers lost their whole crop. But many of our old favorites are in full bloom.  The rhododendron was spectacular although the intense heat that followed the frost causes them to wilt early.

 Old faithful, the climatis in front of our house, never fails to please. A robin has her nest in it.

We have two new climatis which are trying to match the big ones performance.

Same Old Thing

With Covid 19, there isn'y much exciting happening here.  I have a routine.  In the morning I practice the piano. I have been working on some Mozart sonatas, the one in G major number 5 and the C major, number 3.  I had worked on that one as a kid and hated it.  Now I am surprised how pretty it is. Then if the weather is warm I pull weeds for a while. Not long. We also sit and watch butterflies as they come out of the winter hibernation. Hubby had chrysalis from Black Swallowtails, Spice Bush Swallowtails, and Pipe Vine Swallowtails that had formed last fall.  He kept them in a storage cabinet outside all winter and brought them out the first of May. He must have had close to 30 of them.

   Then I quilt. Kameren's quilt is done.  I am really pleased with the quilting pattern. It is waves with fishes in the waves. I also finished the top of Mike and Marilyn's anniversary quilt and the top of a scrap quilt that I really like. I have two more quilts I am still piecing. I also made 175 surgical masks for charity

 

     Fridays I clean house but it the evening we have a Zoom call with six of the kids. It is lots of fun.  It goes on for hours.

Happy Birthday, Hubby

Yesterday was Hubby's birthday. We usually go out to dinner for such occasions but everything is different this year. Hubby grilled hamburgers and I did bake a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. For his birthday, Hubby got a tree. It is a Salix integra "Hakuro Nishiki."  it is a willow bush like tree.
He had a sasafras tree in that spot but it was too wet for it there. The willow should do fine. He might be old but in one day he pulled out the other tree and got the new one planted.

Covid-19

We are all in quarantine but we hear about the need for masks and face shields. I made masks for all my children and grandchildren and the lady across the street and her children and grandchildren.  All together I have made over 50 masks, not hospital quality but some protection out in the world. Linda, a friend who is a member of the Cameo Quilters Guild, called me and said she had received  a request from Henry Ford Hospital for people to make face shields. Hubby and I did 100 of them today and tomorrow we will get the supplies for another 100. It is kind of good to be helping out.