December 2020

 

Insect Season

I have been thinking about bugs a lot  lately.  Now framed and visible is the bug that I drew in February.  I took Amy Bartlett Wright's course The Artful Insect : Entomological Illustration at RISD.  We studied insects under high magnification and drew them in the traditional style of scientific illustration.  I drew this leaf footed bug that I believe is Leptoglossus Occidentalis from the instructor's collection.

 I am trying to start my own collection of hard bodied insects to draw.  For now I am freezing anything that looks interesting and planning to pin them properly later.

We are currently having an unpleasant experience with Lyme disease that has caused us to increase our searches for ticks on the bodies' of dogs and people. Also Willa has been actively enjoying her hobby of jumping and snapping at any flying insect that comes her way.  She is so tall that the snapping teeth can come near the face of a standing adult.  Knowing this makes us even more aware and perhaps more bothered by flies in the kitchen.  It is only the beginning of bug season here.  -Polly

Further evidence of Spring's arrival.

 Happy Easter - Polly

Spring. Or, even the sticks are alive again.

The Late August Garden Before The Storm

       As we wait for Irene, I'm trying to decide what to pick and what to leave. Irene may not turn out to be much of an adventure, but the not knowing makes me glad that I am growing these things as a hobby, and not as a livelihood or main source of food.  Our local grocery store was running out of bottled water today, but I trust that it will be stocked up again before long.  Really it was not that long ago that there was no weather radio to give folks a chance to decide what to pick and what to leave.  I am a little anxious about this eggplant, and I do have the grocery as a back up.  -Polly 

And Now, Summer

The last day of school is finished.  Now my helpers will be around all of the time.  Lately they have been helping by chasing small rabbits about.  Can you spot the bun in the picture above?  The picture gets much bigger if you click on it twice.  -Polly    

February Vacation.

One day into February vacation.  So far so good.  -Polly

Stormy Gray

Mossy Green

 Mostly it is white and gray outdoors, but we took a walk into the woods and brought home a little green to replenish the terrariums.  Now there is a little more green inside. -Polly

Over the River and Through the Snow

 Two days and two drives to visit two houses full of Grandparents and Family.  There was some snow, there was some cake.  All was good and Merry. -Polly  

Christmas Here, Christmas Now.

November Weekend

And Now, Fall

Fall

A fall stroll, and a frog discovered in a spring. -Polly

Weekend

A day late, but here is what our weekend looked like. A lot of this.

And a little of this. -Polly