Great Flowers, Too

Butterflies come and go, but there's always something pretty in the permanent exhibits at Krohn Conservatory, too.

Butterfly Show

Every year around this time there's a butterfly show at Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati.

And every year I love it.

This year's theme is Butterflies of India.

The butterflies come as chrysalides and emerge here.

Volunteers check your clothes as you leave to be sure that one of these beauties isn't trying to hitchhike out.

Trip to Town

After a few days' camping and hiking, a trip to town (Gatlinburg) is always fun.

Nora's in the striped shirt, watching the taffy being wrapped and dropped in the basket.

Sarah had to try out the "Psychic Sarah"

and so did Winnie.

Aunt Sarah is always up for giving Nora a carry.

On Nora's first camping trip to Gatlinburg at nine months old, she had her first ice cream at Kilwin's. She hated it. Not so this time - she loved the Superman ice cream.

Nora and Steph at Sugarlands Visitors Center on the way back to the campsite, reading "Who Pooped in the Park."

Back from the Smokies

Back from camping at Elkmont in the Smokies - yes, it rained, yes, we got wet, yes, so did most of our stuff. But still - good times.
The campsite was on the Little River, which was really roaring. Nora is playing with two of Bridget's nephews. Those kids love the river and never seem to mind getting bone-chilling cold.

Helen's family was having a family reunion. Two of Helen's brothers shuttled the kids out to a big rock in the river.

Here's the hand-off, Nora coming back to her mom at river's edge.

Houses in Elkmont that we passed on the way to a hike. Wayne said the hike would be 0.7 miles. Wayne, are you sure? Did you forget to say that it was all up hill?

Winnie and Sarah getting a closer look at one of the houses These houses are just now getting some restoration.

If you're interested, look up "Elkmont" to see how the houses got here in the first place and when they came to the national park.

I always come back from the Smokies feeling a little sad, all the more so coming back to Cincinnati on the city expressways. I miss the mountain roads - and being together with my daughters. LaRosa's for dinner was a definite cheer-up, foccacia and lots of salad, with just a little nostalgic trail mix.

Going Camping

Yep, I'm leaving in the morning to go camping at Elkmont in the Smokies.

Sarah, I'll see you on Friday.

Miscellaneous Projects

For some reason, don't know why, I've been wanting to make pincushions lately. And the covered buttons are so fun to do. It was my first try at those. The flower on the red and white one was made from a sweater I felted. I had a great time felting about three sweaters, then I started worrying that I was going to plug up my washer with all that wool fuzz. I can think of any number of things to worry about.

I designed this little knitting basket to show off the embroidery design from Dakota. It's lined with the fish fabric you can see a little of at the top. The fish are all individual designs that you can put together any which way. Fun.

The Banner

From my office floor and studio area late last night,

the banner made it to church this morning.

My promise to myself: to not be working late into Saturday night next time.

The pieced section was from a quilt I made probably six years ago, following the directions in a magazine. When it was finished I tried to free-motion quilt it and it was a disaster. I didn't really know how to do it, didn't secure it well enough, and used a fluffy batting. I put it into a bag and except for when I moved didn't see it again. I dragged it out a couple of months ago, picked out the quilting, and knew I wanted to incorporate it much like you see here. I tried to make the separating strips curved and that didn't work but I realized I got the same effect by not keeping the letters straight.

Then there were the letters - I didn't know how to do them until I actually did them. And there was that voice in my head again.

Once its life as a banner is finished, I'll put on a backing and free-motion quilt it, then bind it. Its quilting now is just some stitch in the ditch and the lettering. I think I like the idea of putting on the top, doing a little stitch-in-the-ditch, then putting on the backing. Working with just the top or just the back takes out some of the mistake-making potential.

Rookwood Commons for lunch -

a nice, cool patio and good company.