I have emerged from the woods...

 I have emerged from the woods victorious.  No, I didn't get an elk, but I had a helluva good time.  I saw some amazing things, still it would be nice to be eating an elk steak while typing this.  Oh well. 



We have had a beautiful fall.  The leaves are turning and the weather is warm.  I am so far behind after hunting all September. 

 I spent all day chasing this little beauty around to get photo.  No wonder I couldn't get an elk, I had a hard time getting close enough to shoot a butterfly.  It didn't help that Ella kept following me putting her nose in the middle trying to see what was going on.  After tons of Internet searching I have identified it as a Checkerspot.  If I am wrong let me know.  I started getting a headache.  It reminds me of that game where there are two pictures with just a few things different.  For the record, I was horrible at that game.

 

Now for this old lady.  I was staining the deck (one of the many things I needed to catch up on),  when she came crawling up by my foot.  ACK  I looked and looked.  I think it is a type of orb spider.  If anyone knows a dependable site to identify bugs I would appreciate a heads up. 

This is about the last of the greenhouse harvest.  Somehow while I was cleaning the greenhouse out today I lost a zucchini.  How one loses a zucchini is beyond me, but I can't find it.  I do have to say there isn't much left.  Just the tomatoes and the pumpkins, which are still starting pumpkins.  I realize I picked the pumpkin in the basket early.  He fell off the vine while I was rearranging things.  The cute little strawberry hats are for my four nieces.  They were made by my Danish friend's mother.  I cannot describe how soft and finely made they are.  I love them.  The green leafy stuff is parsley.  Parsley is about my favorite herb.  I'm drying it.  The little jar has soup beans.

 My loving husband got me a pressure cooker, something I have wanted for canning meat.  Unfortunately a pressure cooker is not a pressure canner.  You couldn't tell from the box.  It wasn't until I was reading the directions I realized that  no jars were involved.  I took it back today and got one that canned.  Who knew there was just a plain old pressure cooker?  Poor guy.  He was so happy he got me one with all sorts of buttons and digital stuff.  This one just has the old whistle thingy on top.  I have a story about why it has taken me this long to get a pressure cooker (canner), but it will have to wait for another day.

The beekeeper stopped by to take the honeycombs.  He said one hive must have split.  The other hive had dysteria?  He opted not to medicate them.  They healed themselves.  Overall they were still his best producing hives.  He is always kind and brings me a few jars.  I am anxious to see how it is this year.  We planted a lot of clover in our deer food plots and I know the bees were taking advantage of it.  

 



Now, I am going to take a bubble bath, wash my hair in scented shampoo, and use scented lotion.  A month of unscented soap, shampoo, and deodorant has me wanting to smell pretty again.  I had fun in the woods, but it is good to be back in the garden.