Tough to tell the difference

Earlier this year I mistook this little guy for a Monarch caterpillar, but it's really a Black Swallowtail. All spring and summer they have been feasting on fennel, dill, and parsley. We have also seen lots of the adult butterflies flying around this summer, so pretty!








And today I found the Monarch!

I love their little antennae. Now these are the critters I don't mind running into in the garden.

My garden this year

Ah, an early start. Just look at those little guys grow!


There it is! All the little plants tucked in and ready to grow.

And grow!

But wait, what's this?

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

That's right folks. I got a lot of good grub early in the season, but once that July heat set in I kind of gave up. I should have stuck with it, I should have weeded, but that just didn't happen.

I have a few days off this week and I'm attacking it. Weeding and digging. I've got winter veg to get in the ground and I'm ready for the second round. I'll have an up-date later this week.

Peas!

The vines have gotten much taller and we have been getting lots of peas. I forgot how long the shelling process is and I'm thankful I didn't plant anymore that I did.




And here's what we got tonight.



Bright green peas, yum.

And, my calendula has bloomed!


Lots more to do in the garden this year, herbs to dry, potatoes to dig, corn to plant, and soon tomatoes to eat!

I'm back

It's been exactly three years since my last blog. That was when me and my husband, then fiance, moved out to the country. No Internet, no cable, but loads to do. So now we have the Internet and are a little better established out here. Still no cable and probably won't get that anytime soon. We have plenty to watch between our 5 or so stations, a Netflix here and there, and the computers.
My goal with this blog is to mainly write about my knitting with a few of my other hobbies tossed in. Being almost summer, the knitting is dwindling down, but I think I'll have plenty to keep you all amused. And, even though there might be little knitting this time of year, there will never be no knitting. There will always be something in the works, for example









socks.


...and there's a cotton washcloth that's almost finished, and baby blanket halfway done, and a sweater that will probably stay tucked away until this fall, or a cold rainy day.

I'm also working on some crocheted lace... A great spring project.












...and lots of time is being spent in the gardens. More on that soon...














There might also be a couple sewing projects coming up soon and I hope to share a few patterns later on too.

So, it's good to be back and I look forward to lots of post full of good stuff for you all to enjoy!