Monarchs and Moths

Dear Mary and Jeni,

Happy to have a Sphinx Moth on my finger.
Photo by Sharon Watson

On Tuesday I went to visit Sharon, a birding friend who showed my her lovely yard and pond and many areas set up for the birds.  I was especially impressed by the dead snags she had set up for woodpeckers. I would love to do that here.  I have warned Jim.  

She also let me release a Sphinx moth she had caught the night before. I was so enamored to be close to it that I couldn't bring myself to poke it away after it had warmed up.   

Spurge Hawk Moths chowing down

Sharon also shared some caterpillars with me.  So after the  monarchs fly away I will still have some 'cats' to take care of.

First Monarch hatch of 2013.

Then this morning (8/21) the first of my 6 surviving monarchs hatched.  One more is darkening and should not be long now.

The first monarch gathering strength on a Zinnia 8/21.

8/25, the last of 6 monarch hatched successfully this morning.  I sure hope they make it all the way South and back.  None of them stayed around in the garden to nectar.
Hugs,
Nancy

My Vintage Hankie 'quilt'

My first vintage hankie quilt

Dear Jeni and Mary,
Earlier this summer I had a really fun Saturday at Faye's Henhouse Quilt shop.  Faye had Barbara Nicholson teach a class on quilting.

Barb is a long arm quilter and she has been quilting vintage tablecloths for quite a few years now.  I remember the first time I saw one of her quilted tablecloths.  I was blown away by how beautiful it was!

Her class was a mini version of her tablecloth quilts using vintage hankies.  It was so much fun!  I got out my 1971 Bernina 831 (the cheap version of the 830) and cleaned her up and went to town on my hankie.  It was fun because you really did not have to worry about your design.  The hankie had already decided that for you.

After class I had to go home and look at all my vintage tablecloths.  You wouldn't believe how many I have collected over the years.  All I have to do now is decide which one to quilt....and then quilt it.
Love,
Nancy

Here is the hankie all framed and ready to hang on the wall.