Well Smack My Wrists!

Hello Friends!

ICAD is done and dusted for another year.  Thank you to everyone who enjoyed what I did and for your kind words, support and encouragement.

It's tradition to share an image of all 61 Index Card pieces, but in the interests of Health and Safety I'm not doing the usual floor spread which means clambering on a chair to get the shot, so I got creative.  Here's my 2024 stack of 61 ICAD's

Normal blog wittering is now resumed.

Ever the one to encourage wildlife, my garden should be a haven for butterflies and bees, but contrary to this they are noticeable this year only by their absence.

Due to having Parkinson's, I cannot garden at all, except for the odd spot of weeding where the weeds are easy to pull and there is minimum risk of falling.  This has resulted in lots of pollinator friendly "weeds", such as teasels, dandelions, clover, mullein, brambles, the list goes on.  These are all in addition to things I have planted that are pollinator friendly, such as lavender, buddleia, mallow, verbena, sedum, mint, oregano, rosemary, and so on, focusing on single bloom type of pollinator friendly flowers rather than the double flower type of bloom.

When full of these, the right kind of plants to attract butterflies into my garden, it should be buzzing, but like those of so many others it is not.  Where have the butterflies gone?

WHERE HAVE THEY GONE???

I wonder if the BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT 2024 will reveal any patterns or hints?

I even allowed a RAGWORT to take root in my garden, so smack my wrists!  To be honest, it grows wild nearby and if you read up about it, it is fine to have it in my garden as I do not have livestock, and it will be removed before it goes to seed.  I had so hoped it would bring CINNABAR MOTH to the garden, but it did not.

This is the Bridlepath, not 50 yards from my cottage, a couple of years ago it was lined with Ragwort. Given all the regulations surrounding Ragwort, I am surprised it was left to get this out of control.

These are a few of the many species of butterfly and moth, with some caterpillars and bees that used to regularly frequent my garden but the numbers are well down this year.

I don't normally share other artists, but came across this and could not resist.  I've tried to attribute it but it came off Facebook. 

Have you noticed a difference in butterfly numbers where you live?

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well

Debbie x 

And That's a Wrap {updated with announcement}

Hello Friends!

Well, ICAD is over for another year and these are the final cards that round it all up once more.

Editing to say that apparently the tangle in the centre of this doodle is totally original and I may have created a new Tangle!!! I now have to look into this and possibly get it authenticated and registered as such.  How exciting is this?!

Heartfelt thanks to all of you for your kind support, comments and encouragement.

Until next time

Stay well stay safe

Debbie 

Dodged A Bullet

 Hello Friends

Well it looks like I dodged a bullet.  There was a family gathering for my Godmother/cousin whose 90th birthday was earlier in the month.  Family came from far and wide, including America and Taiwan, for the celebrations.  I am not at my best these days and do not feel up to socialising, especially evening parties, so I gave my apologies and ducked out.  Am I glad I did?!  Two of the party brought more than birthday wishes and presents with them and now most of those present have gone down with Covid.  I know it's here to stay but with my health as it is, it is the last thing I want to have to deal with.  

My hwyl, as we call it in Wales {mojo or energy} is non existent.  Consequently, my arty stuff is bordering on non existent as I am uninspired by the provided prompts and lacking in imagination to come up with anything myself.  However I did manage the following.

This first one was playing with a new tin of Faber Castell Graphite pencils.  They are a joy to use.

Now the random ones that just happened

These bring me up to 49 out of 61 {so I am about a week behind as I should be up to 56 out of 61 or thereabouts}  I will do my best to finish but will not lose any sleep if I don't.

I think I can now claim official Nerd status, and add another notch to the Belt of Eccentricity.  I could not sleep and ended up on YouTube watching videos of how to sharpen pencils.  These are not my pencils but photos I snagged of what can be achieved.

Now these are what I call points!!!

I can only aspire to such sharp pointedness!

In the meantime, there are the Olympic Games from Paris to entertain and amaze. 

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well

Debbie