DIY Bee Hotel

I've been searching for a great diy tutorial that I could do and share with all my blogging friends. I found one that means a great deal to me. I'm all about saving the Bee's and Butterflies.

 Each year I raise Monarch butterflies. Now I'm going to give a try and help the bee's a little more, besides having lots of flowers for them to love.

 Did you know that the bee's are now are dealing with something called CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder? It's when the worker bee's leave their hive and the queen, to fend for themselves. In the last five years the bee population has been slashed in half. So this means fewer pollinators for fruits and vegetables, which means limited crop yields. In turn, driving up the demand and food prices for all. 

So how about helping out these wonderful insects that help put food on the table for us!

I found this tutorial on another blog at 2Paws Designs

 Here is how I made my Bee House. This is for solitary bee's not honey bee's.

Supplies List

• Brown Wrapping Paper or Paper bag
• utility knife
• scissors
• 8 oz. plastic bottle
• twine
• ruler 
• pencil

Rinse out your drink bottle and dry. Cut the top off with utility knife or scissors.

I had a roll of brown wrapping paper so I used that instead of brown paper bags which I did not have.

I cut stripes of paper that were about 5.5" long. I rolled onto a pencil a couple times around to make a tube.

 

I had a little help from my cat Bonsai! hehe You know how cats love to help!

When I had the bottle filled up, poked a couple holes with scissor point and threaded the twine through. Hung mine in one of my burning bushes. Will see what happens!!

 I finally have all my flowers planted in my yard. Did not plant as many in pots this year as I usually do. Saving a little money this year as we are doing a huge remodel right now on our kitchen and bath. The demo is finished. And the electrical, plumbing and dry wall is up. Just waiting now on cabinets, counters, tub and toilet to come in. 

So here are a couple pretty flowers from my yard!

Can't believe how well my Clematis is doing this year! I never have this much luck with them! Must be the very rainy spring we had.

 

And my fav flower, Gerbera Daisy!

Thinking of new sewing projects! So stay tuned!

Peace and Love to All!

 

Another Flock of Primitive Textile Birdies!

Just finished up another flock of my new birds! They are in my Etsy Shop waiting to fly to their new home! 

You can see all of them by clicking on this link >>> Rock River Stitches

The weather is certainly feeling like Summer around here lately (finally). Flowers are doing wonderful especially after the 3 1/2" of rain yesterday. I lost count on the many thunderstorms that passed through. Every time I got ready to go to the grocery store another storm was coming! So I put that shopping trip off till today. 

Gerbera Daisy just opening up!

The American Goldfinch birds love these flowers just a much as I do! I'm having a problem keeping them off the flowers. They like to pluck the petals off to get to the seeds from the center. They do the same thing to my Zinnia's. grrrrrr I would like to enjoy my daisies a little bit longer before the birds get to them.

Love for Gerbera Daisies!

I must confess, I'm obsessed with Gerbera Daisies!! They come in so many colors! I have four different colors this year. Here are couple photos I took this past weekend!

Got a ton of work done in the yard this weekend! Just can't believe how fast weeds grow!! Was feeling a little stiff on Sunday morning. 

I've join a art website where you can purchase my photos in different sizes and styles!! It's called Fine Art America. <<<< Click on that link to go to my selling page. I also have a link over on my right hand sidebar of my blog that will take you there. If you are interested in a photo that you don't see listed there that I've posted here on my blog, let me know and I'll see about getting  it listed at Fine Art America. 

Oh and have a couple more coin purses finished and listed in my etsy shop! These I made the smaller size and with a Script cotton print for the outside.

Love the way they turned out!!

Never Enough Hours in a Day

Sometimes I think I have have to many projects going at the same time, but I love it! I have so many ideas on what project to do next that I think I better start writing this stuff down. So this is why I feel there are never enough hours in a day to do everything I want to do.

I did take some relaxation time this evening, sitting out on our deck. It seems every time I sit out there I find some wildlife to capture a shot of. I was watching this little baby bunny hop around my neighbors backyard. He had to be no more then 6" long. Pretty soon it was in our yard. It ran up close to the side of our house where the grass doesn't grow and rolled around in the dirt taking a dirt bath. It was so cute!

Awww wildlife

Last evening a deer strolled into the very same neighbors back yard where he has all his bird feeders and chewed up his thistle feeder sock right before my eyes. In one minute it was all gone! I did take a picture but they didn't turn out very well.  

I'm so glad to have all my flowers planted and also glad that we finally got a good amount of rain on Monday evening. It helps to not have to water everyday! Here's a shot of my Gerbera Daisies after our rain storm.

I just love these flowers and they always do so well for me!

And here is another daisy type flower called a Gazania

They come in all different colors!

On Sunday Hubby and I went on a motorcycle ride along the Mississippi River and found several families of geese!

It was so hot that day, 93º! All the geese were sitting in the shade.

And I captured this sweet shot of one of the goslings!! Isn't he so cute!

And today I found juvenile mourning dove sitting on the railing of our deck. He was eyeing the bird feeder above.

Haven't been doing to much sewing lately because I've been working on a new project for my new photography etsy shop, Red Oak Images

Glass Tile Photo Pendants made with my photos!!!

This is what I've made so far and have more in the works to be listed in a week or so.

I'll be having some primitive pendants too!!!

I must get to bed now...I've been sleeping a little better lately. Still wake up with those darn hot flashes!!! grrrrr