D Whynn Designs

The Thrill of Finishing . . .

. . . . a project by the deadline is many. 

First of all, exactly that - the project is FINISHED and you made the deadline.

Second, the gift of time. Suddenly it seems like you have so much free time since every one of your waking thoughts and actions are not consumed by I've got to get that done.

Third of all, I always clean up my machine area, put away the presser feet, clean up the threads, change the needle, oil the machine if it needs it as well as my cutting table area. Put away fabrics and scraps, put away all the rulers, pencils, markers and pins.

And Best of All, is getting to start a new project. This recently finished deadline project sort of just appeared so I do have some half finished projects on the backburner but I'm also excited about allowing myself to start something new - the thrill of cutting into some brand new fabric and sitting down at a clean machine and sewing area.  Only to promptly mess it all up again but you know the feeling.

On a slightly different story, I also needed a photo of myself by the last day of August. One of my children who shall remain nameless (the SON) has a real eye for photography and a nice camera as well so I asked him -- weeks in advance. Sure, he says. The last day rolls around and no picture. He wants to take it at this time and I want it taken at that time and so on until I say NEVERMIND, I'LL GET YOUR SISTER TO TAKE IT.

So I ask the Sister to please, just take my picture. Her response is a massive, giant, shoulder shaking SIGH as if I had just asked her to come up with an alternative fuel source and oh, by the way, can you do something to jump start the economy as well.

Said sister and I head down to the cross walk for the photo shoot and all the while I'm starting to work up to a Mother Rant. Now my kids are 18 and 20 so by this time in ilfe I've pretty much perfected the Mother Rant. I don't call on it too much but if I need it I can work up a doozy.

Something along the lines of ........ rarely ask for ANYTHING. . . . if it were for either of YOU TWO. . . .make it a PRIORITY. . . . IF I could do it MYSELF. . . . .

So now we are in the midst of the dysfunctional of all photo shoots ---- "You aren't smiling ----- I AM TOO smiling." ..... "You look mad -------- I AM MAD." ......... "Your hair is blowing-----------JUST TAKE THE PICTURE." .....

For some reason I glance to the right and there, in the sea grapes is this:

 

This is the largest, most colorful most awazingly creepy spider I have ever seen. We start looking around and there are at least, AT LEAST 12 of these guys hanging around. They are as big as my palm. The picture does not do them justice.

All of a sudden the photo shoot turns into a RUSH job because it is kind of creepy posing next to all those creatures. As I'm forcing a smile I keep thinking of them crawling on over . . . .

We head home and I download at least 30 some odd most lousy to ridiculous to a few mediocre photos of me and then get on to the important stuff like Googling the spider.

He is a banana spider. He is not agressive but will bite if he feels threatened. They are the largest non-tartula spider. The North American banana spider is not venomous but the South American banana spider bite is poisonous. If they feel threatened, they will bounce so voilently that their webs will shake --- and they are huge beautiful webs.

Since my fascinating spider run-in on Sunday, I find myself thinking about them all the time. We've had a ton of thunder, lightening and rain all week and I keep wondering if my spiders are okay . . . .

Fifth grade science report on The Banana Spider brought to you by Google.

We'll skip the results of the photo shoot - the spiders are way more fascinating.

My sewing machine is clean and I've got new fabric to cut!

Help, Please

My blogs a mess, in desperate need of an overhaul.

The links section over there -- hasn't been updated in eons.  There are so many of your blogs that I read and I don't even have them saved in one spot like Bloglines.  Nope, I have them saved all over -- basically one could say no organization whatsoever - which is why the husband and I don't share a computer . . . .

Down in the corner -- that book on the iPod - finished that about a year ago.  My Etsy shop?  No, no reference to it anywhere . . .

SO it is time for a major blog overhaul.

How can you help?  Leave me a link to your blog or any other good ones that I might be missing -- fabric, craft, sewing, etc. so I can update.

Pretty much I'm counting on you guys to get me out of my disorganized mess and give my blog the updated overhaul it so desperately needs!  Thanks.

Nature At My Front Door

Look closely!  On top of the light fixture. A nesting mother dove. She's been there about five days now.

Isn't she beautiful.  She sits there night and day.  Never moves.  People come and go, the dogs bark (although if they have seen her they show no interest), and still she sits.  I check on her numerous times a day, I get up in the night to check on her. 

No one is allowed to turn on the porch light.

Look at her beautiful blue eye.

When I saw the beginnings of a bird nest up there, I considered knocking it down.  Why would you do such a cruel thing I know you must be thinking.

Two reasons.  First of all, the front of our house faces the north and we get some wicked winds from the northeast. You can see there isn't much support around her nest and I'm afraid the wind will blow it down when she is out looking for food for her babies.  If I knocked down her nest, perhaps she would have found a safer place to build.

Second reason: This huge palm tree.  We have two of them in the front of our house.

In Florida, there are crows as big as small children. The enormous crows love to sit up in those tall palm trees.  Many years ago when another dove nested on the porch, the crows attacked the babies and knocked the nest down.  I was just beside myself.  (I'm rather afraid of birds anyhow. Clowns, too, but I'll save that neurosis for another post!)

So I shall keep my fingers crossed that we get to experience the Beauty of New Life and not the Reality of the Circle of Life.

Nature at Night

We have an evening ritual at our house.  Every single night, no matter what the weather or time, we have "Night, Night Potty."  Once "Night, Night Potty" is announced, I then have to escort my dogs to the backyard. The backyard is fully fenced and they could easily take themselves, but my dogs are very spoiled and require an escort.  Always me - no one else can stand there as well as I can.

Some nights this can be a pleasant trip outside - the moon is full, or the sky is clear, there is a fresh breeze, you can hear the ocean.  Other nights it's a real chore, it's hot and humid, buggy, pouring rain, lightening.  But no matter what, Night, Night Potty means I go too.

Last night during our Night Night Potty trip I saw this on the side of the house, down low, close to the ground:

I have never seen anything like it.

I figured it was a butterfly, but I didn't know butterflies "slept" at night and even if I had thought about it, I would have thought they would have slept in a bush or tree. 

Not on the side of the house.

It was huge, about a 6-inch wing span.  Black and yellow.

I brought the dogs in for Night Night Treat - which follows Night Night Potty - and yes, I repeat, they are spoiled, and ran out with my camera and Teen Girl behind me.  (She was amazed, too.)

And what does one do when one is amazed by Mother Nature?  Why, Goggle it, of course.

It's a giant swallowtail, very common in Florida.  Who knew??

I guess the larvae can be a real pest especially to the citrus trees.  But since the hurricanes of a few years ago wiped out every and anything resembling a tree in my yard, the swallowtail is more than welcome to hang out.  He/she was gone this morning.

I hope out doing whatever it is that butterflies do during the day.