Ghoulish Grace Crochet Pattern

From the book Creepy Crawly Crochet: 17 Creatures That Go Bump in the Night by Megan Kreiner

You can click on image to enlarge

Barns ~ WW

Yes, I have a thing for barns.

I actually have a thing for a lot of things, 

but barns tug on my heartstrings.

Maybe it was because I was raised on a farm and miss it terribly, 

or rather they way it used to be when my parents were alive.

It seems I'm getting very sentimental the older I get.

That's one thing about living in a rural area,

 I can get my fix from others farms. 

I love to just drive the back roads 

and take photos of old barns, 

some newer, others collapsing, even abandoned.

An old photo from back in the day of a relatives farm

This wouldn't be complete with out our barn

 my Dad built by himself.

Many a hay bale I hooked from a top our flat bed,

 as Mom drove the tractor back and forth lifting the bale to Dad up in the barn. The empty hook tied to the rope which was tied to tractor came back down to me to repeat again and again. 

 I was little and hated being so high up. 

But I would give anything to do it all over again.

Ah, hindsight....

The inside of our barn. We had to clean it out when they passed. There were always so many things hanging from everywhere, I had never noticed the hooks Dad had made from tree branches. 

I adore them now. 

Never realized the windows had sliding closures too!

When you're young you just don't pick up on a lot of details.

 The covered outside stanches.

Not sure I ever saw those doors closed. LOL

Oh, the nostalgia of it all. 

I have to add my favorite cows I pass on the way out of town. There's a stop sign right at their corner and they are always there to greet with their antics.. Yeh, I have a thing about cows too :)

They love to chew on the metal fence. Sometimes their big long tongues wrap all the way around the bar!

The other day it was 107 and as I stopped i wished I had my phone out. One was standing directly under the sprinkler "taking a shower" to cool off! LOL the craziest thing, lifting her head into the streaming water swaying back and forth. 

Couldn't blame her, it was HOT!

This started out as a Wordless Wednesday post,

sorry to get carried away jabbering :(

Wishing everyone a cooling shower!

Butterfly Feeders

I was able to complete another of my back burner projects. It's been circling my mind for some time, as do a lot of my to do projects. It always seems other things are more important than me "playing". Which in the scheme of things they are.

Slowly but surely, one by one, no matter how simple or difficult, they are coming into completion.

Maybe by next Spring I'll have finished what I had hoped to have done for this Spring. 

Anyway I've been wanting to make some Butterfly feeding stations.

Yay, I completed a few!

Perfect for the back gardens where the Butterflies usually show up

and one in the front garden that draws them there now.

  

All feeders are made using wine bottles (free) 

and 12" - 13'' plates ( .25 - .50 at garage sales). 

But you can make them any size you'd like.

All were secured together with GE Silicone II adhesive

 and left to cure for 2 days.

 I wanted to be sure they were securely bonded.

 Just place the the feeders over rods/dowels 

tapped securely into the soil. 

My butterflies seemed to love grapes cut in half with a splash of water.   I also offer over ripe bananas and watermelon pieces!

 I leave the decaying fruits in place for days!

Every once in a while I give them a sip of Gatorade,

 they love it!

These make wonderful platform feeders for birds too.

I have noticed Mocking Birds helping themselves to the fruit also.

It's OK, I like to share :)

I had a feeling this would happen, 

that's why I made more than one ;)

Florida woman stops alligator with a 25 cal Baratta pistol

Florida woman stops alligator attack using a small Beretta pistol 

  This is a story of self-control and marksmanship by a brave, cool-headed woman with a small pistol against a fierce predator.  What is the smallest caliber that you would trust to protect yourself?  A Beretta Jetfire testimonial.... Here is her story in her own words:

"While out walking along the edge of a pond just outside my house in The Villages with my soon to be ex-husband discussing property settlement and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft. alligator which suddenly emerged from the murky water and began charging us with its large jaws wide open.  She must have been protecting her nest because she was extremely aggressive.  If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire .25 caliber pistol with me, I would not be here today!  Just one shot to my estranged husband’s knee cap was all it took....

The 'gator got him easily and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.  It's one of the best pistols in my collection!  Plus the amount I saved in lawyer's fees was really incredible.

His insurance was the big bonus. I’m comfortable now.

Peacock Designs to Color ~ Free Printables