October Surprise!

I almost let this plant die in the cold last year. No matter what size basket I plant it in, the roots take over, and the plant looks like dog doodie. I did pull off several of the largest stem/leaves and stick them in larger pots that had plants in them already. Those are rooted and doing fine, but it is the ugly, old one in the basket that put on the show.

Nightblooming 'cactus'- Cereus, I believe, but I am open to correction- open at night and have a white color and scent to attract certain moths in their native climes. It is a faint, delicate scent, that not everone likes.

The only reason I was able to get these shots is the rain we had all night, that continued into the morning hours, fooling the plant with the cloud cover that held onto the darkness.

Isn't it a beauty!

I guess I will repot again, and bring them in and actually feed them this winter! I just cannot bear to leave plants out to freeze, no matter how ugly or large they get!

Fall Festival Parade in Cherokee, NC

The pics say it all- YES! I love band, especially the Cherokee Marching Braves....and it does NOT have anything to do with my DH running things....well, maybe a little.

Enjoy the pics. We were in the front, right behind Chief Hicks and his bodyguard, and were lucky to have three alumni come play with us; Chris on mellphone, Wade on trombone, and Homer on trumpet. I find it most refreshing that Kurt leaves his kids with such a love of music that they willingly volunteer to march 4 miles in the heat, just to play with the Band!!! That's what makes him a Bandmaster, not just a 'director'!

October's Doll

I wanted to do something radically different with my doll for the October part of the Year Long Challenge at Beaded Art Dolls, and two leaves in my yard stood out, saying 'Pick me! Pick me!' to help out.

I scanned them, then used EasyBeadPatterns' free program to recreate the leaves in brickstitch, shrinking them to 3" and 1" tall, and holding them to only 12 colors each.

Both beaded up quickly, and I always love how brickstitch allows a piece such sturdiness! I did 'forget' how to do the decreases at first, and went to Silverhill's free site for a video refresher.

http://www.silverhilldesign.com/tutorials/BrickStitchTutor.html

Look under the 'goodies' link for other tutorials that are really, really helpful.

But, that is why you might see a stray thread here and there....

Still, I am most happy with Autumn Flame, and she will make a nice pin or pendant!

Had you guessed yet?

Presenting....Autumn Equinox. Equal parts Daylight, looking back toward Summer, and Night, looking ahead toward Fall and Winter. Both bleeding a little into each other, as a matter of course where the Earth is concerned.

The Daylight side is warm, soft sunlight- the Night side is the gentle evenings of late Summer and early Fall.

Form and Daylight Face both gifts from Sharon 'Harry' Solly. Contact her at goatmom1@charter.net to ask her where to see her faces and cabs.

Night's face is Lapis Lazuli. She is every bit of 8" tall, and is the September offering for the Year Long Calendar Dolls Challenge at Beaded Art Dolls

Things are poppin' up all over!

Despite the lack of rain, our misty mornings seem to be just enough to cause a mushroom explosion. Many of these are over 12 inches across, and the local bunnies and other wildlife seem to find the large brown ones tasty. I know the white ones are poisonous.

I am so not brave enough to try them myself, as the bunny population seems much diminished in the last weeks- maybe the mushies, maybe not.

Anyhow, here are some wonderful pics.

What is it?

Here's a clue; it will be one of the Year Long Calendar Challenge pieces from BAD (beaded art dolls).