I have been busy lately. Between the traveling, working, and everything else going on, I haven’t had time to ‘blog!
Rich and I went to southern California for a family gathering. Rich hadn’t seen his sisters in several years, and Rich’s dad is not doing too well health-wise, so it was a good thing we went. It was nice to see everyone. Rich and I had a good time visiting, eating tacos y burritos, and just being away from Moab for a while. Chris was in school, so he wasn’t able to come with us. It was kind of a bummer, but I think he enjoys visiting my parents when we are gone. Here are some photos from the family gathering:
I got out all our polymer clay and paints recently, and cluttered our kitchen table with them. For some reason, amid all the other things going on, I have been in the mood to make stuff. I have a number of gourds sitting around, awaiting inspiration. My recent project, though, has been to paint a pelican skull I found on a beach. I have been looking at it (sitting atop my clothes dryer) for several years now, trying to make time for it. I finally found time, and it is now almost finished. I need to find a nice piece of wood to mount it when it is done, so I can hang it and admire it. I wish I had taken ‘before’ photos, but I didn’t. I have a few ‘in progress’ photos, though…
It’s harvest time in my garden right now. My garden was incredibly sad this year. My sage plants are the only things that actually really produced anything this season. I did get lots of tomatoes out of my patio tomato bush, but technically that’s in a pot, not in the garden. I got one (that’s right, ONE) jalapeño chile. My thyme looks very sad, and hasn’t really done anything since last year. I didn’t get a single gourd, and got only one cucumber. The sage plants, though…they have been producers. Here is one of about 5 pans like this that I have harvested so far – and there is much, MUCH more.
Moab’s fall tourist season is starting again. Town is getting a little busier now, and I am working more. The extra hours and money are nice, but as with every year – I look forward to the end of the season.
Speaking of industry – I can’t think of too many things MORE industrious than these paper wasps. They have been busy all summer creating or gluing or regurgitating or whatever it is they do to produce their own brand of paper. This wasp nest is located just above my garden. They dive-bomb me every day when I water. As for the size of the nest…a regulation basketball would fit nicely inside.
Thanks for visiting, and for bearing with me in this slight lapse in blogging.
Glad you had a nice family visit, Katie!
Do pelicans have horns? What a craft you’ve made!
I think that’s a Yellowjacket nest. Same family as Paper Wasp. I think I’d want that nest gone if I were you. My Paper Wasps don’t dive bomb us…thank goodness.
Here’s a site with interesting info on them:
http://www.buginfo.com/article.cfm?id=93
Industrious indeed Katie!!! I love the Pelican Scull project. Very cool!!! Thanks for sharing.
Peace, Love & Happiness,
Magpie
OOH!! So much going on! the skull looks awesome.. and didnt you take a pic of it before you started with your phone, or was that post horns.. i LOVE the paint job you did on it though!
that wasps nest is HUGE.. (I know, you already knew that)
Sorry your garden bounty was not plentiful this year.. You should move to So Cal.. they might grow.. MIGHT.. LOL
orange sticky note
Barb
That nest is the reason your little garden got watered in the cool of the morning. No fear of being attacked. Wonder how much spit it takes to get one of those together.
Such a talent!! and a busy one at that- Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself – Keep it up
Thanks for visiting, everyone!
Rosemarie – No, pelicans don’t have horns…only THIS pelican has horns. He is a SPECIAL pelican!
Oh, and EEEK on the yellow jackets! They will have to GO at the end of the season!!
Maggie – Thanks! I love the pelican too! I think it’s one of the coolest things I have ever had to work on, though I am not sure I like the paint job I did on it. It may change. There will be updates!
Barb – Thanks for the sticky. Yes, in SoCal my stuff would have flourished by leaps and bounds.
I did take a pic of the pelican before these, but it already had horns then. I guess I should have added that one in…
Sonja (AKA ‘mom’) – I am guessing it takes a LOT of wasp spit to make a nest this size. However, I have noticed there are a lot of wasps, so maybe not too much spit per wasp. He he he
Uncle Roger – Thanks for stopping by and reading! Yes, I am busy, but I ALWAYS enjoy myself. I make sure of that!
Glad the reunion was a success. Interesting pelican!
I didn’t think that was a paper wasp nest. They don’t bother people unless their nests are disturbed. I think we had the start of a nest like yours, but it was abandoned for some reason, fortunately.