Camping in Style

Coming home from my aunt's memorial service, we all took a tour of the thumb and camped along Lake Huron at a state park. 

We were absolutely charmed by this setup. Those folks knew how to camp in style. They were traveling with a canine, too, so they really did have it right.  

Theophilus Thistle

Once thistles begin to blossom (and go to seed), goldfinches finally start their nesting season. 

Most other birds are in their second or third nesting by the time this happens, but these thistle lovers wait patiently for their favorite forage to fruit. 

I can't help but think of the old tongue twister about Theophilus Thistle when all of this is transpiring. 

So, if  you think you have the temerity to test the thickness of thy tongue, twist thusly:

Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter,

In sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles,

Thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.

If Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter,

Can thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb,

See thou, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles,

Thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb.

That would be painful! If Theophilus was considered successful, I'd hate to be a failure!

Kits and Kaboodles

It's taken me long enough, but I finally put together some carving kits with Tan-Z Kut. 

First, the simpler, beginner's kit with two different carving materials, a handle and cutters. 

Then, the deluxe carving kit with bigger pieces of Tan-Z and Speedy Carve, mounting foam and a fuller range of tools. 

I also added another kit to inventory that I thought looked interesting. I only got a couple of them, so we'll see how they go before I stock very many of them. 

Next up? I think I'll try to sort through the last couple boxes of Staedtler cutters and get the ones that need work sent off to Kirbert for modification. (I think I hear cheering!)  :)

Safe Harbor

From time to time, when the weather gets a little bit dicey out on Lake Michigan, we get some interesting visitors taking refuge in the little harbor that Baloo and I walk along on summer mornings. 

Occasionally, they are so over-sized for this inlet that it's a visual surprise to see one of these huge crafts moored among the much smaller sailboats and fishing boats. 

Of course, when one comes to rest in the neighborhood, I try to look up what in the world it is. Sometimes we get cruise ships, sometimes we get cargo ships or other more industrial looking crafts and once there was even a really beautiful yacht called "Canim" that used to belong to Buster Keaton (yes, I did my research). 

This one is a Lacey Kay. It's a touch over 95 feet long and has nearly a 9800 mile ocean faring range. 

It's a really big boat. 

Red-spotted Purple or Orange-spotted Blue?

This beauty was beating itself against a plastic barrier and I managed to catch it and (try to) release it. It seemed to find perching on my finger restful and stayed there for quite a long time. When I finally got it to take off, it circled back and landed on me again. It did, finally, flutter off on its appointed rounds, but I enjoyed the opportunity to get a really good look at it. 

I wonder how this species ended up bearing the name "Red-spotted Purple". The particular specimen pictured here, at least, was orange-spotted and the most striking color was blue. I'm not a scientist, though, so I merely wonder whether someone might have been a little bit color blind. Maybe me. Who knows?

I also looked up information about the caterpillars of this species of butterfly. It turns out that it disguises itself from predators by looking like bird droppings. I went searching for images and, sure enough, it looks a lot like that. Pretty clever! Don't you just love nature?

Happily, they didn't name it the Bird Poop Butterfly.  That would have been bad. 

Oh, Honey!

Baloo and I walked back to the magical goldenrod field again yesterday afternoon, but there was only one bloom open and only one (very busy) visitor. 

This little fellow worked over every inch of the flower and packed his pollen baskets to the brim. 

I had to look up honey bee anatomy to learn what to call those bulging leg parts. Pollen basket seems so simple and descriptive, doesn't it? I love learning new things!

We'll have to try again next week to see if the flowers have opened and enticed the monarchs to return or not. 

Golden Moments

There's a loop trail that Baloo and I take through the woods and at one end of it there's a semi-open brush covered field that often has deer lounging around in it. 

At about this time last year, we walked it and while we didn't wake any deer from their naps, we found it bursting with color and movement. 

Goldenrod was blooming everywhere and between the monarch butterflies and the honeybees, there was constant movement and humming. 

Sadly, it was one of the few days that I had forgotten to bring along my regular camera, so I had to make do with my telephone. 

I couldn't believe the number of monarch butterflies. There were often three or four on a single goldenrod head. (There's a sneaky honeybee on the lower left blossom, if you look really closely.)

These pictures don't begin to do it justice, but I thought I would share them anyway and let your imaginations fill in the rest of the scene. 

Hmmm... Posting this has inspired me. Goldenrod is beginning to bloom again, so I think I'll take Baloo to that trail to see if we can catch a repeat performance! If we do, you may have to put up with another post about butterflies and flowers. 

Who knows? It might be worth it. :)

Being Green

Oh, look! A green frog. No, really. That's what it is. It's not just green and a frog, but it is actually called a green frog - or sometimes a bronze frog because of the somewhat bronze coloration amid all the green. (This odd introduction is a fond nod to my father's habit of teasing me about creatures with obvious names - like the green frog or the black and white warbler.)

The green frog looks a lot like a bullfrog, but the ridges of skin along the sides of its back distinguish it from its loud basso profundo cousin. As to voices, if I had to describe it, I'd say the green frog sounds a little bit like a banjo with loose strings being plucked enthusiastically.  I'm being completely serious (in a slightly tongue in cheek way). If you don't believe me, look up an mp3 recording of the green frog's song online. You'll see what I mean. 

So, does anybody else out there remember Bozo, the Clown's song about the Filbert, the Frog? No? Just wondering. I still remember all the words - and that's a little frightening. Pinto Colvig sang it and did amazing glottal stop renditions of frog croaking, also bringing green frogs to mind. 

Okay, it must be bedtime. This post has gotten even more peculiar than usual. :)

Make New Friends!

I love meeting new friends when I'm out wandering around in the wide world with Baloo. 

This vine was covered with little six-petaled flowers and the effect reminded me of a cascading whitewater rapids or waterfall. Of course, we were walking along the river, so the association was completely natural. 

I didn't know who this plant might be and had to go look it up. I learned that it's a wild cucumber vine! When the fruits ripen, they look like cucumbers - except they're really spiny.  Imagine if you crossed a porcupine with a cucumber - this is what you might get. Or a gooseberry and a cucumber - that would be just about right, too. I'll have to see if I can spot some later in the season and take another picture. 

So, now we've been formally introduced and I have a new friend out on the river trail. That's always a treat. 

Left Hanging!

I have sort of left the blog hanging for the past year. I got a little bit burned out and overwhelmed. 

The nuthatch is much better at being upside-down and backwards than I am, but I think I just might be back on track again. And I have plans to celebrate that very thing. So, stay tuned! :)