The Sinister Scribe

I’m late getting this up (the blog-a-thon is over) but it is the first flower I’ve seen in our yard. I thought I’d do it anyway.

Don’t know what it is other than tiny. I believe it is Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica). Matching photos found here. If you can’t find a “wildflower” ID online, search for “weed.” Can’t wait to add it to my nature journal.

The weather has been gorgeous the last few days. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow.

Finally started a nature journal. This is my second page in it. I found these things on our nature walk in the yard today. The “club” moss isn’t really club moss… just moss with club-like things on it. Have yet to identify it… or the leaf. I thought the leaf was wild geranium but nope. Not even close. Maybe Corn Butercup?

The feather is definitely blue jay. Part of the remains of something’s evening meal or maybe midnight snack. I still have it in the journal. The colors are Derwent’s watercolor pencils. Love ‘em! The colors get more intense with water.

I splurged (retail therapy) on a journal made by Global Art Materials out of Kansas City. It has a nice black linen cover and elastic strap. The heavyweight paper is off white and has rounded corners.

So here’s to a full journal by the end of the year!

Here are drawings from both Jessie and Sam for week 7 of Wildflower Morning’s Wildflowers in Winter blog-a-thon. (click them to see a larger version in a new window) I didn’t expect Jessie to draw for it but she heard Sam and I talking and wanted to join in on the fun.

Sam’s drawing is from a flower seen in the front yard last spring. Jessie’s flower sprang from her fertile imagination. Both are done with Derwent watercolor pencils. We just got some. I love how the colors intensify with a little water.

This week’s activity includes a contest too! Here’s the info from WFM’s site:

on Wednesday, March 5, we will open up the voting, which I will keep open until Thursday, March 6, at 6:00 P.M. PST. take time to look at all the week 7 entries, choose your favorite and then send me an email with your choice to: joyinthemorninglight at yahoo dot com. (Remove the spaces and fix up the email so it will work.) The winner will receive a really cool Dover Publications Wildflower Coloring book and a neato set of Prang watercolors, some watercolor paper and a piece of graphite paper.

So, please vote for Sam or Jessie if you get a chance.

Week three of Wildflower Morning’s blog-a-long Found this at The Baldwin Project:

THE VIOLET
Down in a green and shady bed
A modest violet grew;
Its stalk was bent, it hung its head,
As if to hide from view.

And yet it was a lovely flower,
No colours bright and fair;
It might have graced a rosy bower,
Instead of hiding there.

Yet there it was content to bloom,
In modest tints arrayed;
And there diffused its sweet perfume,
Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go,
This pretty flower to see;
That I may also learn to grow
In sweet humility.

~JANE TAYLOR~

We’re in week 2 of Wildflower Morning’s blog-a-thon (or would it be more aptly named a blog-a-long…?) Anyway. The assignment was to find a winter wildflower.

Given temperatures in the negatives after factoring for wind chill, I haven’t ventured very far in my search. Monday may bring an opportunity. Temps are forcasted for in the 50s. But just in case I don’t get a chance, here’s the closest I could come in the backyard woods.

I’m not really sure what plant it is from. I know in that general area I’ve found Pinkweed and Ironweed but I can’t find references to either of those having bright pink berries/fruit/seeds. Anyone know?

Wildflower Morning is sponsoring a themed blog-a-thon (I guess that’s the word for it) about wildflowers. This week’s subject is your favorite wildflower post. There are so many I took last year. Like this, and this, and this, and… I love them all! But here’s one that I can, at least, identify. I believe it is Yellow Sweet Clover (Meliotis Officinalis), a member of the pea family.

Thanks Barb for spreading the word.

I seem to have hit on an art project Sam really likes. These are done with construction paper and an Xacto knife. We talked briefly about complimentary colors and positive/negative space. The ones on the left were done Tuesday, the other two were done today. I’m kinda enjoying this project myself. I wonder if I could do card sized pieces and sell them on Etsy…? I’m kinda proud of my little witch. LOL!

This morning we were treated to a gorgeous sunrise. It was so freaking orange you’d think it was sunset… after a huge fire or something. There was even a rainbow.

After lunch we went on a listening walk. That was Jessie’s idea. We caught a leopard frog. Or at least I think it is. Could have sworn I ran across an entry for a frog that looks very similar… somewhere. The kids climbed the cedar tree. I’m going to make rabid tree climber out of Sam yet. I really enjoyed watching them climb. I think every kid should have a tree to climb.

Read a rather disturbing post today about the NEA (National Educational Association) and their current resolutions against homeschoolers. There is an online petition here that gives some of the details.

“The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. “

There sure is a lot of evidence to the contrary. Colleges are actively seeking homeschooled kids too. The petition link above includes a link to some impressive stats and more information (that I need to read).

Not exactly sure why this NEA resolution bothers me so much. I’ve seen other such things and ignored them successfully. Will have to spend some time thinking and reading more on it. Exactly WHY do I homeschool…? What makes ME think I AM qualified? Stay tuned….

Meet Freddy, Frankie and Bertha. They live in our pool. Jessie and I figured since they were so big, they needed names. This was one of the fun things we did today while Sam was at camp. I do not know if these are bullfrogs or green frogs. I am assuming the big one is female. But I could be wrong.

Today, Sam got to explore Devil’s Icebox home of the pink planarians. Couldn’t find a picture of those. Sorry. I’m rather jealous because I haven’t been there yet.
Tomorrow Sam gets to go to a candy factory. I think Jessie and I will go to the Chocolate shop.

It seems our fuzzy bunny moth is actually a Black-waved [Crinkled] Flannel Moth — Lagoa crispata. Click here to see the caterpillar form.

While the moth is cute the caterpillar is definitely Mr Hyde! If you go here at BugGuide.net, scroll down and read about one woman’s ride to the ER after accidentally brushing against one. A bit unnerving, no?

This is yet another reason why I want to identify the flora and fauna of our backyard! I don’t want to put all critters on the “hands off” list… just those that should be there. But man do I wanna add “fuzzy/spiny” caterpillars to that list! The one exception I know of right now is the caterpillar of the Giant Leopard Moth seen here.

I haven’t been able to figure out what type of moth this is, but doesn’t he look kinda like a fuzzy bunny? LOL! That is Jessie’s finger he is on. He is quite small.

Here is a side view. He looks EVEN more like a bunny with moth wings… ok and a few extra legs.

Jessie’s other moth finds today included what I think are a Beautiful Wood Nymph and a Maple Zale. We have some amazing little critters around here!