Thursday, October 1, 2015

Fall is coming!

 

Hi Folks ~ Well, I was outside sweating and working this morning, but there was this wonderful breeze from the northwest, I just stopped what I was doing and enjoyed for a couple of minutes. Fall is coming to Florida, it’s just not here yet.

I came in to get a drink of water and checked my email and I received a  lovely DaySpring card from an online friend that had me in tears but was very uplifting. I went back out with renewed hope and faith in God, thanking Him for all that He is doing in my life and for all of you who pray for me and say encouraging things, they are priceless gifts.

I took my camera out with me to try to get some pics of little Rosey. The critter is so skittish yet, but, coming closer and talks to me and also hisses. I can hardly get a clear picture because it moves so fast.

“Hissssss, I don’t trust you yet, where’s my food?”

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“Peek-a-boo, I see you, do you see me?.”

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“Will you please leave, I want to finish eating?”

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I noticed that it has tabby markings in that blackness.  I looked that up on Google and found the following at Fanciers.

“Most solid colored cats are the result of a recessive gene that suppresses the tabby pattern. Sometimes the tabby pattern is not totally suppressed, so you might see indistinct "shadow" tabby markings in certain lights even on a solid black cat. If you look at a black leopard in a zoo, you might also see these shadow markings, because the black leopard has a similar spot-suppressing gene!”

I have another black cat that is the same way, Miss Toodie. Very interesting cat fact.

I did more weed wacking, trimming and raking this morning. Still have more to do, but I made more forward progress. Flowers are blooming, butterflies are flitting about.

I have to tell you a funny thing from last week.  I went to HD for something or other, I think it was the dawn-to-dusk light, and walked through the garden dept., of course.  Well, what did I spy but a whole section of plants with hardly any leaves, but quite a few caterpillars. I laughed, butterfly weed. I decided to buy three of them that had about 4-5 cats apiece. One plant had some leaves, the rest no leaves, no flowers, just stems and cats. Well, I looked today and there are new leaves, just like I knew would happen, nary a sign of the cats though. But I look forward to seeing butterflies from them flitting about soon. I’ve not had any butterflyweed since Hurricane Wilma, it used to grow just fine here until then.

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Speaking of butterflies, here is a pic of our state butterfly, the Zebra Longwing.

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I made avocado bread this week, 2 loaves from the recipe.  A nice moist bread, great with coffee in the mornings.

I made another beaded heart pin this week. I have 4 now to upload to my Etsy shop. I really enjoyed making this one.

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Well, I guess that’s it from Plum Cottage.

Have a nice Friday and a great weekend.

FlowerLady

***

"Winter is an etching,

spring a watercolor,

summer an oil painting

and autumn a mosaic of them all."

Stanley Horowitz

 

 

 

 

 

36 comments:

Leslie Kimel said...

Your cat pictures are great! What a cutie!

And I think this new heart pin is my very favorite yet. The shells and the little cameo go together so perfectly!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Interesting cat facts! Rainey, I do believe you have a green thumb! When visiting garden centers, I have begun asking them to discount plant that look, well, a little uncared for. I see the life, but often they will give a considerable discount if you ask.

Have a great weekend
xx, Carol

gld said...

Interest cat fact. I will check our black one out.

Cats are interesting creatures. Ours are tame in that they come to eat and follow DH around but they are not for petting!

Another beautiful piece of stitchery!

We are feeling very 'fallish' here this morning. It is 42° outside.

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend.

BTW, the avocado bread sounds very good.

Rebecca said...

I've been saying I want a butterfly bush myself (not sure if we're talking about the same plant....). What a great way to purchase them! I wouldn't be afraid to purchase distressed ones - just not sure where to find them. Price for a healthy, full-blown one is the primary reason I haven't indulged myself so far....

Celestina Marie said...

Sweet kitty pics. Looks she is coming closer. Great find for the butterfly plant. Love your beautiful beaded heart. Gorgeous. Enjoy the nice breezes as fall arrives. Have a great weekend. Blessings, cm

Stephanie said...

Hi sweet friend! I enjoyed the cat facts since I have a black cat as well. Her name is Ebony and she has a tiny bit of white on her belly :)

Happy October, dear one. Hugs and blessings to you!

Anonymous said...

Oh Rainey, little Rosey is absolutely adorable. I love that first photo.

I like how you introduced the Monarchs back into your garden. Mother Nature is sure to bless you now with plenty of butterflies and more milkweed. :-)

I remain amazed at your ability to work with such tiny beads. That heart pin truly is beautiful.

Have a wonderful week and keep a look out for Fall . . . it's a coming!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh I hope you get to watch those butterflies emerge later. That is such a special moment.otto go heat up some soup now,for lunch.

organicgardendreams said...

Dear Loraine, what a beautiful black kitten you have visiting you. Do you think it is a stray? If it warms up to you, would you take it on as your second cat? It always makes me sad when I hear about homeless pets. They are just not made to take care of themselves and many go through so much suffering being on their own.
Great that you bought butterfly weed. I wonder if HD let the price down for you because the plants didn't have any leave on them anymore. Anyway, I am sure the butterflies will thank you for putting a food source out for them.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Christina

Karen said...

Rainey, I'm so sorry I've been absent. I've read all the posts I've missed and I see things have been good and also sad at times. I listened to the video on living without fear, very powerful. Your new little Rosey is so cute, but wary! We have a black and white one here occasionally, but it is full-grown and very feral. I feel sorry for the strays, too. Rosey is so lucky to have you.

I have to send you a pm, so much has happened around here, but praise God, the test results came back normal. :-)

I think of you every day even though I'm awful at reaching out. Hugs to you, dear Rainey.

L. D. said...

I like the little kittens. I don't know that they should leave as you will take very good care of them. It is strange what plants that they place in the bargain bin when they just haven't had help to keep them looking good. You do a very nice job on your pins. They should do well. Take care.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Love the kitty ---and the 'cats'.... Can't wait to see the butterflies... What a neat find at HD..... We don't have a HD here --but have Lowe's.. They always have plants on sale --and one can get some great deals there.

Glad you are doing well --and hope FALL gets to Florida soon.

Hugs,
Betsy

lil red hen said...

Love little Rosey! I have several kittens who hiss at me, but always ready for their food. We have wild butterfly milkweed in the pastures and also in my flower bed. They bloom in the spring, then before I know it, the bloom is gone. The caterpillars are almost as pretty as the butterflies.

Janneke said...

Lovely pictures of cute Rosey. A shame of your butterfly nmilkweed, but the caterpillars are beautiful!

Jane said...

Cute little kitten. I hope she gets over her hissiness and becomes a good companion for you, Rainey. Your beaded pins remind me of Victorian Sailor's Valentines.

Hugs
Jane

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

My indoor cat is gray but the hair on his tail 'breaks' in rings right where there should be a color change on a tabby's tail.
Love the new heart pin!

Janice said...


Oh my, the kitten is just adorable. Good find on the plants with the cats, hope you get to see them sashaying around your garden.

Joy Junktion said...

I'm happy that you are beginning to experience the slight coolness of fall. I have not felt that yet, but hoping this weekend will yield itself to cooler temps. Enjoy a wonderful weekend! Blessings, Cindy

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Oh isn't your shy garden friend a cutie!!
I love that you can buy plants complete with cats, how wonderful and what a great looking cat he is, we have none so fancy here.
Your beaded Heart is Beautiful & I have to agree with Jane it reminds me of a Sailors Valentine too :-)
Hugs,
Bella

KathyB. said...

You have a new kitty. Shy and timid, but it appears she's adopted you and you care enough for her to have noticed tabby stripes in the black fur and look it up. She is a pretty kitty too.

I think your story about the butterfly plants is funny, I can't imagine shopping at our HD and deciding to buy a plant loaded with caterpillars , it takes a " flower-lady" to know she has found a gem.

Jessica Jarrell said...

What a cute kitten! I hope he warms to you. What a treat finding all those caterpillars! Mine have all hatched, and I believe, have already left for Mexico :( No more butterflies here. My hummingbirds all left too. I hate when my critters leave for the winter! Hope you have an awesome weekend FlowerLady! :)

BeachGypsy said...

Hi Lorraine! Dontcha be working too hard out there ya hear??! Take care of yourself. The little black kitty is so sweet! Do you read Brenda's blog??...she also had a little black kitty show up this week!! Bless their hearts...they come to people who will help them

Kit said...

I love all those cats! And the pretty black one too! Your brooch is lovely! Hugs, Kit

Dewena said...

She (?) is so pretty and someday will open up more to your love, I know.

That heart is amazing, absolutely stunning!

What kind of butterfly will those make? They look like the ones that always strip our dill down to the stems.

Terra said...

The heart pin you created with all the pearls is gorgeous. How fun to buy a butterfly plant with the caterpillars already there. Little kitty reminds me of a wild black cat who lived in our yard who we fed and who never let us touch him.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

What a great deal on the plants...cats / butterflies for free! :)

Little Rosey...so adorable!!

A Joyful Cottage said...

Well, I got quite an education about cats coming here this morning, Rainey. I didn't know that most solid colored cats are the result of a recessive gene. Very interesting. I think it's so neat that you bought the bedraggled plant mainly for the caterpillars. And that it's beginning to grow again (the plant, not the caterpillar). I have purchased many of my perennials at the end of the season at HD and Lowes in the past. They looked awful when I purchased them, but the following spring they were beautiful. Have fun with Rosey and Miss Toodie. Your pin is exquisite, by the way. Hugs, Nancy

Unknown said...

I'm happy to see Rosey is slowly becoming more trusting and one day soon she'll be part of the family. She/he is adorable! As is your new pin! You do very lovely work. I've never had enough patience for needle handwork and admire your attention to detail. I do like to have busy hands and may try knitting again this winter. That was funny about your HD find! Isn't it fun to find a treasure? Enjoy those lovely breezes - I've noticed them here on the other side of FL too! Hurray!

Darcie said...

I've been wanting to do a butterfly kit with my daughter, what a wonderful thing you will be able to witness!

Avocado bread? Never heard of it, but it sounds delicious!

I hope your dear cat warms up to you someday. I'm sure she is just loving you for the shelter you give her, and food...that's a good love in return too, huh?

M.K. said...

That's so funny about the bare butterfly plants. I wonder if the checkout lady thought you were crazy to buy plants covered by bugs? :) Very lovely beading. I hope your rain has left by now.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

What a sweet little orphan and bless your heart for feeding him (or her)! Interesting about the recessive gene, too. Those are some very big caterpillars! I think I would be scared to see them on my plants :) Your heart pin is very sweet. Hope you are having a good week. Hugs xo Karen

Annie said...

Autum is my favourite season...that's why I came over now. The trees are beginning to turn in North Carolina and it's beautiful. Gorgeous little kitty

jerilanders said...

So, I must have missed something here, where did kitty come from? a stray I assume, and you will adopt her and love her forever and ever. For some weird reason, we nearly always have a pure black cat that appears out of nowhere and lives with us for a few years, then disappears. It has happened 3 times in a row. So, THAT is what the caterpillar is! I found one just like it yesterday on my slope garden and thought it so lovely.

Susan said...

Love your "new" or soon to be new little kitty. He's adorable. I'm glad he found a safe place where he will be fed. Interesting about the recessive gene. I have a kitty like that, too and did not know that information. I hope you are enjoying some beautiful days. Right now it is PERFECT here! I worked out in the garden all day yesterday.

So glad you rescued the milkweed, as most people would not have purchased them. You will be rewarded with lots of butterflies for your effort. Hope all is well!!!!

Debbie said...

Your pins are so beautiful

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Rosie is such a beautiful kitten; you're doing a good thing, giving her a home.