I Finally Did It! | Summer Solstice

For years I have wanted to watch sunrise and sunset on the longest day of the year. I finally got to do it this year, June 20, 2024.

I slept outside in a tent to make it easier to get up that early. It is always easier to arise when you can hear the birds and see the dawning light and, of course I can't forget the most obvious reason, when you're sleeping on the hard ground. :)

My two oldest boys (9yrs. and 6yrs.)wanted to watch the sunrise, too. So, I woke them up. My youngest (2yrs.) woke up when we were unzipping the tent door. We brought him with us, too. We walked down the street to a dead end that has a clear view to the eastern horizon. What a beautiful morning! It was serene being outside, feeling the fresh air, and watching the sky change.

Sunrise 5:29am CDT

For sunset, again we walked. This time over to the western side of town where there was a dead end street with a clear view to the western horizon. It was a still evening and the sky was pretty!

Sunset 9:31pm CDT

I finally did it! I experienced the longest day from the beginning to the ending. Just over 15 hours of daylight. 

Now the days begin to shorten. And thus, the cyclical nature of life.

Ecclesiastes 1:4-5 

One generation passeth away, 

and another generation cometh: 

but the earth abideth for ever.

The sun also ariseth, 

and the sun goeth down, 

and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Mydas Fly

I captured a picture of this large fly last week. I wanted to be able to ask my entomologist friend what kind of bug this was. I have a friend that goes to Church with us who is a real entomologist. 

So there we were, two church ladies geeking out over a picture of a bug. It is a little comical in my mind. :)

She said I had captured a really nice picture. The insect was definitely not a wasp.  She didn't know the common name, but she told me it was a type of pollinator fly. You can even seen pollon or perhaps flower petals stuck to the fly's feet.

After some Google searching I found that this fly is a Mydas fly. They lay their eggs around dead wood and stumps. The larva eat grubs and larvae of other bugs that feed on rotting wood, including June Bug grubs. Which makes sense of why I found this fly by a tree stump. It was quite determined to stay by that stump. Every time a I frightened it away it came back in a short time.

Mydas flies are believed to feed only on nectar as adults. 

They are very large, for a fly. The one I saw was about and 1 1/4" I am guessing. They have unusually shaped antenna, for a fly. I noticed how the antenna have a little lump at the tip, like a butterfly antenna.

Further reading on Mydas flies:

Missouri Department of Conservation 

MSU Extension 

Bug Guide.net

Woolly Aphids

 

Have you ever seen these tiny tufts of fluff floating on the wind? I have, but I never knew that they were alive until a couple weeks ago. My son snatched one out of the air. He looked at what he collected and then said, "Hey, this is a bug!"

Yes, indeed, it was a bug. It looked like a tiny flyfishing lure.

This bug is called a Woolly Aphid. They suck tree sap. As a group they can look like mold or lichen on a tree. When they are adults they grow wings and fly/float to other trees.

They are know by the cutest common names:

‘flying mice,’ ‘cotton fairies,’ ‘fluff bugs,’ ‘poodle flies,’ and ‘fluffy gnats.’

And they are a really cute!

For further reading and more pictures of Woolly Aphids check this page out:

Leafy Place

I Saw A Variegated Fritillary!

 I was working on our garden at our new property and saw this butterfly.

This is the first Fritillary that I have seen. Maybe not the first one that I have seen in my life, but it is the first Fritillary that I have seen since I learned to identify some butterflies several years ago.

I was excited to see this one. It seemed like it was close to the end of it's life. It was very weak, which is why we were able to catch it and handle it.

Fritillary caterpillars eat mainly plants in the violet family, and passion vines. Other hosts include purslane, mayapple, and flax.

Fritillary's over winter as larvae. The butterfly egg hatches and the caterpillar hibernates even before eating sometimes. 

In the spring they wake up about the time violets start growing.

Further reading about Variegated Fritillary:

Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Butterflies at Home

USDA Forest Service 

I Finally Got To Plant My Garden!

This is my first time planting a garden as late as June, but I am so excited to have a garden this year.

I have a nice big plot on our property. It is bigger than my last two gardens at our last two places.

My new garden is 15'×55'. I was able to plant:

Asparagus 

Dinosaur Kale

Cabbage 

Broccoli 

Bell Peppers 

Anaheim Chilis

Roma Tomatoes 

Sweet 100 Tomatoes 

Big Beef Tomatoes 

Yukon Gold Potatoes 

Purple Potatoes 

Onions 

Carrots 

Beets 

Swiss Chard

Green Beans

Watermelon 

Cantaloupe 

Butternut Squash 

We'll see how everything grows. Like I said, I've never planted a garden this late. According to all the information on the seed packets, I should have enough time for our vegetables to mature before frost.

The sad part is that I had to buy tomato plants. I had a tragedy with my tomatoes that I started from seed.

From everything I can read online and pictures I have looked at, the deformed leaves on my plants look like tomatoes that have been damaged by herbicides.

I don't know how that could have happened. My other plants are just fine. But I couldn't transplant my tomatoes and wait to see if they were going to snap out of it because of how late in the season it is. I would have no opportunity to replant if my tomato plants were permanently damaged.

Thankfully, there was a garden/farm store in our area that still had a large selection of plants left!

I was able to purchase all the plants I needed.

We were able to do most of the work on Saturday. And I finished up the last planting yesterday evening. I can't wait to watch things grow!

How are your gardens growing?

For further reading........

Here are some other gardening blog posts from over the years: 

Dandelion Greens

Garden Of 2017

Butternut Squash 

Herb Gathering 

Peppers of 2021

Sewing Summary For May

 I'm here for the sewing progress summary for the month of May 2024.

After looking at monogram designs on Pinterest for ideas, I came up with this version for hand embroidery.

Letter 'D' monogram.

I made a set of 6 monogrammed handkerchiefs for my friend's birthday.

This is what the underside of my embroidery looks like.

I took a close up picture of the flower. I used bullion knots for the petals.

I finished my sling bag! I am very happy with the results.

Front View

There is a pocket on the back that is perfect for my phone. I put a calculator on the pocket to demonstrate.

Back View

I added a loop at the top so that I can easily scoop the bag up with one finger if my hands are full.

I attached some beads to the zipper pull tab to make it easier to grasp the zipper.

I finished this bag for my oldest son. I was done it time for his birthday.

Now my 9 year old and my 6 year old both have a sling bag!

Both boy's bags side by side.

I have one more sling bag in my roster to make. I should be able to show you my last finished bag at the end of June. I already have the pieces prepared and ready for assembly.

See you June!

Happy sewing!

All Creatures Small

 Toad, Dragonfly, and Robin Eggs

We caught this lumpy little toad this month. We were able to take a few close up pictures and then turn him loose.

I believe this is and American Toad. In our area it could be a Fowler's Toad or American Toad and from what I have learned about the distinguishing features, I believe this is an American Toad.

Toad's eyes are so pretty. They look like they have glittering specks of gold in them.

I read that people long ago thought toads had jewels in their heads. I don't know who or when but I can see why they thought that.

Toads dig into the ground moving backwards with a specialized claw on their back feet. They burrow about 3 feet under the ground to hibernate. 

Toads are carnivores. Their diets contains crickets flies, slugs, worms, and basically any moving bug. Their prey has to be caught live. It is the movement that attracts their attention.

Toads tend to be more active at night and shelter during the day.

Toads can live about 10 years in the wild if they avoid predation and hazards. In captivity toads have lived past 30 years! I have read that they make good pets. They are easy to take care of and handle. They seem to have a certain level of character, too.

Bye Mr. Toad. Have a good life!

My son caught this amazing dragon fly on a chilly day at the park last month. 

It's colors were so brilliant and it's wings were so intricate.

My son was gentle with the dragon fly. Once we were done observing the little guy he was released and zipped away. What an amazing creature!

This year a robin couple built their nest in a lilac bush in our yard. The nest is so close to the ground. I was surprised that they chose that nesting spot. The children were able to watch the robins at work from the living room window.

Now the female is sitting on eggs. It will be exciting once they hatch!

Spring is a wonderful time of year! Seeing creation testify of God greatness is wonderful, too!

Transplanting Tomatoes and Peppers

 

My winter sowing milk jugs worked out great for my tomatoes and peppers this year.

I need to get them in the ground, but before I do I transplanted them into individual pots.

I knew that separating the plants was going to cause considerable root damage. I decided to separate them and put them into individual containers before I put them in the ground.

I just cut the tomatoes apart with the sharp edge of my dough scraper. It was pretty ruthless. I chopped them apart and put each section in a styrofoam cup.

I added more soil to cover the stem by an inch or so. That way the plant can put out more roots.

I ended up with 33 tomato plants and 12 bell peppers. They are doing well, praise the Lord. I am looking forward to getting them in the garden.