Art – Page 3 – a curious nature

National Catfish Day

June 25, 2025

*Zentangle patterns: Alibi, Valance, Bacon, Kisses, Zinger, Fento, Coy Fish, Peepz+FishFace merger, Bublz*

I’ll never forget my first taste of catfish! Just the memory of that meal makes my mouth water. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

When I was about 9 yrs old, my aunt and uncle invited the family for a visit to their home in Nashville. My jolly Aunt Sis, always the organizer, planned an entire week of non-stop fun and sightseeing that included a firefly safari, touring a life-sized Parthenon replica, exploring Civil War battlegrounds, front row seats at the Grand Ole Opry, and an overnight camping trip into the Great Smoky Mountains. I especially remember the drive into the mountains. The narrow road, which seemed to twist and turn for hours, was flanked on each side by an impenetrable forest of hardwood trees, the view broken only by roadside cafes spaced 2-5 miles apart. These cafes, with their hand-painted signs, all advertised the same daily lunch special —- 2 fresh caught catfish fillets/breaded with cornmeal and deep fried/served with a pile of hot hushpuppies and slaw/$1.75 to-go. “Could we stop, could we? Please, please, pleeeeaaaassssseee!” Knowing the sight of these cafes would be too hard to resist, Aunt Sis had already planned to stop for lunch at a very special one; Cataloochee Creek Catfish Cafe. She said they always fried up and served the freshest catfish and hushpuppies in all of the Great Smoky Mountains. Two hairpin curves later we had arrived. Oh what an aroma!

Needless to say, my clever Aunt Sis was right! That catfish was (and still is) the best ever! Whether the little one-room Cataloochee Creek Catfish Cafe is still in business, and whatever species of catfish they served up that day may forever be a mystery. But I’ll always have a fond place in my heart (and stomach) for catfish…………. So ……………

when discovering June 25th is a designated National Day in honor of the catfish, I took notice (and so did Flambé – either hoping for a new friend or a take-away meal!). About time I learned a little something about catfish. And of course I wanted to share.

Why the name “Catfish?”

In addition to not being remotely related to any fish species, it’s well known that most cats are not big fans of water. So how did the catfish get its name? The most likely origin of the name “catfish” comes from the 1610s when mariners referred to the Atlantic wolf-fish as a “catfish” due to its ferocity. But later the name was given to a freshwater fish found in North America’s river systems. This odd looking fish had barbels protruding from its jaw and chin that resembled cat whiskers. Also when this fish was removed from the water, it made a purring sound. It may be one or both of these cat-like similarities that led to the common name “catfish.” ….. Oh, and about those barbels that grow out of the jaw and chin of most all catfish species. They function as sensory organs; used for tasting and feeling their environment.

How do you enjoy your catfish?

In 1986, catfish made up the third-highest volume of finned fish consumed in the U.S., with the most commonly eaten species being the channel catfish and blue catfish. Today, catfish is still a popular dish; one that can be prepared in many different ways, including baking, deep frying, sautéing, and stewing.

Traditionally, the fish was coated in cornmeal and fried. Many still enjoy catfish fillets prepared this way, or prefer baking or frying fillets or even the entire fish. If you fry the entire fish, do you also savor the crunch of the crispy tail? Spices complement catfish, and it’s also yummy served with a little lemon and butter. No matter what method you prefer, this tender whitefish always separates easily from the bones.

There are 38 known species of catfish in the U.S., and 22 are found in Tennessee. But the most commonly caught in the state are the flathead, the channel, and the blue catfish. The flathead is reported to be the tastiest of all. Perhaps the catfish I loved so much as a kid were from the flathead? To this day, my memory has me convinced those fried morsels from yesteryear remain the tastiest I’ve ever enjoyed. (Until further research unveils what hushpuppy ‘species’ were the perfect melt-in-your-mouth side-kick to those delicious cornmeal-breaded flathead bits, I remain clueless ….. but insatiably curious).

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CATFISH DAY

While baking and frying catfish may be the most popular ways to enjoy this flavorful fish, they’re not the only way. How about some catfish pasta dishes or catfish soup? If you’ve never tasted catfish before, #NationalCatfishDay encourages you to explore catfish dishes bursting with flavor.

Until next time …… add a little catfish to your menu!

As always thanks for stopping by!

And now, for your entertainment and enlightenment, why not take a few minutes to read these

Fun to Fascinating Catfish Facts

Catfish are found on every continent except Antarctica, with the highest abundance in tropical waters of Asia, Africa, and South America.
New species of catfish are regularly being discovered, and by 2030 the number of identified species may reach 5,000.
Catfish exhibit a wide range of sizes, from the tiny candiru (1/2” long) to the giant Mekong catfish, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 600 pounds. The largest catfish caught on record was 646 pounds and 9 feet long.
Catfish typically live between 15 and 20 years, but some can live up to 60 years.
Around 1,600 species of catfish may be venomous. Their venom glands are associated with the bony spines in front of their dorsal and pectoral fins. Used in defense against other fish, venom is released if a spine punctures another organism. If a person is punctured by a venomous spine it can cause severe pain and swelling; the wound may become infected. However, a few catfish species – the striped eel catfish and the Asian stinging catfish – have a venom so strong it can lead to hospitalization or even death for humans.
Most catfish are nocturnal.
Electric catfish can discharge up to 350 volts and seem to be immune to high shocks themselves.
Catfish are sometimes known as “swimming tongues,” because their bodies are covered in about 100,000 tastebuds that detect chemicals present in the water.
Catfish can produce and detect sounds using the Weberian apparatus, a structure connecting their swim bladder to their inner ear. The hearing of some catfish species is so good that it can be used as a form of echolocation in dark, murky waters.
Some species have flexible teeth that bend as the fish scrape algae and other food particles from rocks, preventing wear and tear.
Unlike many fish, catfish typically lack scales; they have smooth, naked skin.
Some catfish including the Mekong catfish have been known to fast.
Large catfish usually migrate huge distances and create ecological links between parts of a river miles apart. Catfish native to the Amazon River make some of the longest migrations of any freshwater species: covering up to 5,000 miles when swimming back to their birthplace. Large catfish usually migrate huge distances and create ecological links between parts of a river miles apart.
The Asian walking catfish, an air breathing species, sometimes resembles a dark, bloated slug and can survive for 18 hours, moving up to 3/4 miles on land to travel between water bodies. Much like slugs, they are often seen after periods of rain or flooding, their long and sweeping barbels helping them navigate the land.
In 2021 scientists coined a new term – “reffling” – after studying the movement of the armored suckermouth catfish which uses its mouth, tail and a “grasping” pelvic fin to haul itself across dry ground. They can survive 30 hours out of water, provided a layer of mucus keeps them moist.
Similarly, some catfish have a climbing style known as “inching”, where they alternate between using suction from their mouths and their pelvic disc to shuffle up vertical cave walls.
The Mekong catfish is one of the world’s most endangered fish species. It’s population is estimated to have decreased by 90% in the last decade.
Large catfish are especially at risk of endangerment due to habitat loss, the building of dams, river pollution and hunting. Losing them would be a huge loss for species diversity, and would also threaten the ecosystems they live in.
While some catfish species are at risk, others have become invasive. Invasive species often disturb the food webs and biodiversity of an ecosystem because the native wildlife is not adapted to their presence. The blue catfish was introduced to the Chesapeake Bay for recreational fishing, but have since become an invasive. Like most catfish, blue catfish are generalists and opportunistic feeders, having created a predator-prey imbalance in Chesapeake.
The Asian walking catfish (mentioned above), has become highly invasive in Florida. Its ability to breath air and “walk” on land has greatly accelerated its invasive nature.
There are between 34 and 44 families of catfish and at least 3,400 different species, depending on taxonomic classification.
The End!

Sketchbook Revival 2025 ….. Binge Fest Extravaganza!

June 16, 2025

What a whirlwind celebration! Sketchbook Revival (SR) 2025 Binge Fest was so much fun. And Wow! Two jam packed weeks of creativity was over in the blink of an eye!

Karen Abend, SR creator, host extraordinaire, and wonderful artist, came up with a brilliant idea for the SR 2025 session. I would swear the creative gears inside her head were spinning with delight as she declared, “Yureka! I’ve got it!”

Beginning on May 27th thru June 9th, Karen generously opened up the SR historic vault and set free all of the workshops conducted the first 5 years of SR (2018-2022)! That unbelievable offering came to more than 130 one-hour-long workshops of inspiring, hands-on, and creative play time all instructed by well-known experts in artistic fields associated with Sketchbook Journaling.

Challenge presented ……. Challenge accepted.

Since I’ve been participating in SR each year since 2018, and attended most of these workshops in the past, my goals and strategies to tackle the challenge were these:

Complete a minimum of 4 workshops daily;
Two workshops should involve a project outside of my comfort zone, such as portrait drawing, fantasy, word play, collage, and properly stitching my own SR sketchbook so it wouldn’t fall apart during the 2-week challenge, etc.;
Two workshops should involve projects within my comfort zone, such nature subjects, urban sketching, whimsey, and lettering, and those using watercolor pencils, graphite, and ink;
Develop fresh, interesting, and imaginative sketches during the workshops;
Allow Flambé to play along;
Slow down, breathe, and enjoy the 2-week marathon without becoming overwhelmed;
Recognize and gather take-away tips and techniques to bring into my Nature Journaling practice and Zentangle storytelling.
Keep sketching and sharing.

After two weeks of play, I was able to fill up my handmade and successfully stitched SR 2025 sketchbook! With a total of 46 pages completed (doubling up workshop projects on a handful of pages), including several pockets with inserts, I was pretty happy (and a bit exhausted).

If you’ve participated in SR in the past, or maybe took on the 2025 challenge as your first time, you know how intense (in an exhilarating way) it can become. If not, and would like to learn more, check out this link

This link will take you to Karen Abend’s website where you can ask for more information about Sketchbook Revival. https://karenabend.com

Hope my collection made you smile and laugh! I certainly got a kick out of the experience.

Well, until Sketchbook Revival next year, thanks for coming along!

Front and back of the concertina book that tucks into the pocket above.

My hand sewn, one signature SR 2025 Sketchbook.

National Dragonfly Day

June 14, 2025

What is all the buzzz today? Why it’s National Dragonfly Day!

Zentangle patterns: Yolo, Jive & Jazz, Narwal, Flies in the Air, Flyz, Anuleaf, Dragonfly, Kelp, Moonpie, Beetleleaf, Onamato, Trigue, Sheleaf, Bubblz, Centipede

Always landing on the 2nd Saturday in June, the annual dragonfly celebration pays tribute to this fascinatingly unique and beautiful insect that’s been flying over our planet for nearly 300 million years. Wow!

There’s no mistaking the fossil record. Dragonflies have populated the airspace for nearly 300 million years, some with 3-foot wingspans. Paleontologists say they may have had 6-8 foot wingspans, making them the size of a bald eagle!

As scary as that may have looked to their prey, the 2-5 inch wingspans of modern dragonflies, combined with their body makeup, make these animals some of the most accurate and ravenous hunters known today.

It’s a warm summer day and the air above the wetlands is full of countless insects such as mosquitoes, true flies, mayflies, and midges. Perched motionless on a tall reed is a metallic colored dragonfly, and she’s hungry. To feed an insatiable appetite, she’s always on the hunt for her next meal. To satisfy her hunger, she has evolved into one of the most skilled predators in animal kingdom.

A Green Darner Dragonfly hangs onto a blade of marsh grass

But are dragonflies really that good? And if so, why?

Consider the proverbial ‘King of the Jungle;’ lions are frequent hunters, but might be successful only 20% of the time. Birds of prey, like owls, falcons and hawks, average a 25% success rate. But dragonflies catch their prey 95% of the time! Now I’d call that amazing. Dragonflies owe their survival to two key characteristics:

Eyes – in addition to three simple eyes, dragonflies (and bees) have two large compound eyes; the largest of any insect. With 30,000 facets per eye, both compound eyes together cover most of their head. This multifaceted eye makes a dragonfly acutely sensitive to movement. Because each of the 30,000 facets face a different direction, dragonflies have almost a 360 degree field of vision. This means they can see you from behind as they wing on by. ……. And speaking of wings! ………
Wings – When compared to all other insects, dragonflies are the most skilled, agile, and the fastest fliers of all insect species. With muscles attached directly to their wings, they not only can fly at speeds up to 35 mph, but are able to maneuver like a helicopter. They can fly straight up or down, forward or backward, side-to-side, upside down, and can even hover and pivot in place while keeping perfectly level. To understand how dragonflies achieve backward flight, high speed cameras revealed they angle their bodies vertically, at a 90-degree angle to the horizon. They’re also capable of independently moving and twisting each of their four wings to improve flight control.

Look! A Mosquito Hawk!

It’s been reported that one adult dragonfly can capture and eat from 30 to 100 mosquitos a day, earning them the name ‘’Mosquito Hawk.” Considered such prevalent mosquito predators when they are adults, a dragonfly nymph feasts on mosquito larvae too, devouring as many as 40 a day!

And How About these Dragonfly Fun Facts!

A dragonfly is classified as an Odonata, which is the family of flying insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies. Odonata means “toothed one” in Greek. However, dragonflies don’t have teeth. The name refers to its serrated mandible, which comes in handy for holding and crushing prey.
There are around 5,000 species of dragonflies around the world.
Dragonflies can live for years underwater as predatory larvae (aka nymphs). At the end of its larval stage, the nymph crawls out of the water, its exoskeleton cracks open releasing its abdomen (which had been packed in like a telescope), then out come its four wings and its entire body dries and hardens over the next several hours.
Most adult dragonflies live for only a few weeks, but some do live up to a year.
Dragonflies can live in the winter but are normally small and stumpy in size.
Dragonflies use both their feet and mandibles to catch their food.
When dragonflies mate, the pair first forms a flying, loop-like structure known as a mating wheel or mating circle. Then the male grasps the female’s neck with claspers on his abdomen to transfer his sperm. Sometimes, he will continue to guard the female from other males until she lays eggs in the water. If a female doesn’t consent to mating, she might play dead. Or, she might wrestle away her suitor by twisting, shaking, flying backward or clinging to a reed to prevent takeoff. In some cases, the female might even take control of the flight, then dunk the male into a body of water, buying herself time to flee.
Mysterious swarming behavior – sometimes 100’s of dragonflies of different species will gather in swarms, possibly to locate new and/or better habitat, for feeding, or migration. Not much is known about this short-lived behavior, but it is being studied by members of the Dragonfly Swarm Project. You can read more about the Swarm Project here: https://thedragonflywoman.com/dsp/ And you can report seeing a swarm through this website: https://thedragonflywoman.com/dsp/report/
The Scarlet Dwarf is the smallest known dragonfly. Less than two centimeters long, it’s only 0.59 inches long (15 millimeters), and has a wingspan of about 0.79 inches (20 millimeters). These dragonflies are native to Southeast Asia, as well as China and Japan.
Many species of dragonflies migrate annually. To track them, scientists attach tiny transmitters to their wings with a combination of eyelash adhesive and superglue. One of their findings revealed the two inch dragonfly called the globe skimmer has the longest migration of any insect — flying up to 11,000 miles across multiple generations between India and Africa. Aided by winds, the globe skimmers cross the Indian Ocean stopping at islands along the way. They have even been spotted at altitudes of around 20,000 feet in the Himalayas.
Of the 445 kinds of dragonflies in North America, only 9 of these species (or 2%) migrate regularly. One of these species is called the green darner which migrates in swarms. They complete a multi-generational migration from Canada and the northern U.S. to the Gulf Coast and Mexico in late summer and fall, and then return again in the spring. By tracking the migration, it was found their journey covered over 800 miles one way. To accomplish this feat, they travel only every third day, averaging 7.5 miles per day.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (2021) found that 16 percent of the 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies that were studied are at risk of extinction as they lose the freshwater breeding grounds needed to maintain their populations. Clearing of forests in South and Southeast Asia as well as in Central and South America has driven habitat loss for the insects, and in North America and Europe, dragonflies are most threatened by pesticides and climate change.

The Good Luck Insect

Not surprisingly, the dragonfly has symbolic meaning in almost every part of the world. Many cultures believe this insect symbolizes good luck. Because dragonflies have such short lifespans, they also represent new beginnings and change, especially for strength, growth, courage, and happiness. A few ancient cultures say dreaming about a dragonfly indicates you are in a powerful transition in your life.

Here’s a Few of those Symbolic Dragonfly Beliefs. Do you know of more?

Native Americans believe a dragonfly symbolizes life transformations.
South American cultures believe the dragonfly symbolizes good luck and prosperity, and many artists include the dragonfly in their work.
European cultures see the dragonfly as a symbol of change and adaptability, and are included in many of their folklore stories and beliefs.
Asian cultures believe the dragonfly represents good luck, prosperity and new beginnings.
South Africans believe dragonflies are a sign of spirits and bring good luck. Africans also hold dragonflies in high regard because they are water gods who bring rain.

A South Dakota dragonfly resting on a milkweed

How Will you Celebrate National Dragonfly Day? Here’s a few ideas:

Learn about the species of dragonflies near you.
Visit your local wetland habitats to observe dragonflies, as nymphs and as adults.
When you travel in the summer, search out new-to-you species of dragonflies and record your observations.
Learn about the symbolism of dragonflies in your own culture.
Sketch or paint a dragonfly in its habitat.
Photograph a dragonfly and share on social media using #NationalDragonflyDay.

*******************************************************************

It was great fun and so eye-opening to learn about this species. A few months ago I watched a nature program about dragonflies and how they fly like stunt pilots. It was fascinating, and gave me a whole new appreciation of these insects. Can you imagine living in the dragonfly’s world 300 million years ago? Wonder if they could also fly like a helicopter?

Please share your dragonfly stories. Have you ever tried to catch a dragonfly? Have you seen one flying upside down or hover? What colors of dragonflies have you seen? Let me know if you enjoyed this post about dragonflies, and give it a Like!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Happy National Love a Tree Day!

May 16, 2025

Zentangle Patterns: thumbprints, cobbles, Lumpi, Cruffle, Shattuck, lightning, thorned Pokeleaf, sweet pea, mythograph, Icantoo, remo, greenery vibrant, feathering s-curve, boundary, Arcflower, hepmee, Quabog, raindotty, tsui

And many thanks to Lynn Mead for sharing her Tree of Life Labyrinth pattern. Super fun to give a whirl! The easy to follow directions can be found on tanglepatterns.com posted 08/14/2021

Today, May 16th, just so happens to be National Love a Tree Day! It’s the official day to celebrate all of life’s joys brought to us by the trees we share this planet with. Whether you love reading in the shade or taking a bite out of a fresh fruit pie, National Love a Tree Day encourages y’all to get outside and enjoy a tree.

A Changing Landscape

We all know many tree species live many many years; some live to be several thousand years old. According to the U.S. Forest Service, about 766 million acres of forest land exists in the United States today, a number that’s held steady since 2012. But the nature of our forests has changed over the last 400 years, due to changes in management practices and demand. Population growth, rural and urban development, along with a variety of land uses (like conversion of forests to agriculture use) resulted in a steady decline of forested acres between 1630 and 1910; a decline from 1,023 million acres to 753 million acres or 46% to 34% of the total land area in the U.S. Since that time until the present, where people choose to live and how the land is used has been constantly changing. While some urban forests increase, other areas see a decline. Tree planting programs improve landscapes but human activities and population growth continue to impact these ecosystems.

We All Benefit from Trees

Trees provide more than just beautiful landscapes and a shady canopy on a sunny day. They play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate as well as give us oxygen. Large quantities of carbon are stored in their tissues as trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They provide habitat and structure for strong ecosystems.

How to Observe National Love a Tree Day

This is a good day to plant a new tree native to your area, or spend some time enjoying the beauty of the trees, Take time to learn how to care for the trees you have, too, whether you live in the mountains or the desert. Write down all the reasons trees are important to you. If you have a favorite tree, or a tree you’re not familiar with, begin a little research project about that (or those) species, and journal about your findings.

What will you do today to celebrate trees?

Happy National Love a Tree Day!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

A Fiery Hot Hummer!

May 14, 2025

Nope …. that’s not a title typo!

Of all the hummingbirds migrating through central New Mexico, the male Rufous ‘hummer’ (Selasphorus rufous) is the most spectacular. Showing up when our hot Summer temps begin to soar, he has two things on his mind ……. #1. find the best patch of nectar-rich tubular flowers, and #2. keeping that patch all to himself to refuel before completing his 4,000 mile migration from southern Mexico to southern Alaska. Upon arriving from Mexico, the flashy 2-1/2” long Rufous, garbed in a feathery cloak of flame colored oranges and reds, quickly lays claim to an area of sweetly blooming flowers that may include penstemon, columbine, scarlet gilia, Indian paintbrush, mint, lily, fireweed, larkspur, currant, and heath. Determined to defend his patch against all invaders, he performs a quick flower flyover. If satisfied the coast is clear (for now), he takes up a strategic observational post by perching on a nearby tree branch to watch for rival hummers.

Ever alert and constantly in motion, his perch gives him a great vantage point to scan the area by looking right and left/up and down, all the while making quiet chittering and chipping noises. If another hummer, and especially a male Rufous dares to enter his territory and sip from his flowers, oh no! Becoming highly agitated, the perched bird spreads his tail while flashing his colorful gorget (throat feathers) seconds before dive bombing his competitor, loudly screaming his alert call while attempting scare off the thief. If this tactic doesn’t work, i.e. the rival is determined to hold his piece of air space, a duel is declared.

Rufous hummers are well known for their aerial acrobatics. Perhaps you’ve witnessed their display, which likely put you in awe of this little powerhouse. If not, what you’ve missed is their incredible speed of initial attack, their precision, the cacophony of noise coming from such a tiny blur of a bird, the maneuverability of numerous aerial loop-de-loops and J-pattern sky displays allowing them to dive repeatedly at their foe, and their tireless determination in defending their rights to their flowers. It’s a spectacle you have to see to believe!

The Rufous will attack not only males and females of their species, but hummingbirds of all species, and even large insects, all with the audacity to steal precious nectar from his prized flowers.

And never, ever sit near or below a hummingbird feeder when there’s a Rufous in the neighborhood. I learned the hard way after being attacked over and over again by a surprisingly intimidating Rufous hummer. Despite being thankful I chose to wear a hat that afternoon, a large dose of common sense had me backing away from his feeder for fear he might have a stroke before drawing blood. My heart still races when recalling this thrilling yet scary encounter.

While reading about the Rufous, I learned that all ages and both sexes of this species are aggressive, even during their brief 1-2 week migration stopovers. This is certainly very good information to know about, having only witnessed males launch themselves at intruders, myself included!

Can’t wait for Rufous migration season!

Have you learned something new about this wildly fascinating and fiery hot hummer of southern Mexico, the Western US, Canada and southern Alaska? If you have a Rufous or any hummingbird story to share, please do! Oh, I also hope you’ve enjoyed my colored pencil artwork of a male Rufous about to sip nectar from a freshly blooming penstemon.

Work in Progress …… showing an almost completed composition on smooth Bristol paper and a few of the Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils used in creating this Rufous hummer and penstemon.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Dance of the Bagworms

May 9, 2025

On a warm Spring morning, wandering around a grove of American Sycamore, I became curious about these magnificent trees: where in the US are they native; why are some leaves larger than the palm of my hand and some half the size; what about those odd pingpong sized seedballs lying on the ground everywhere you look ….. why don’t they roll away in search of an ideal spot to pop open so the seeds can germinate …… when the seedballs are kicked, stepped on or crushed beneath a car tire, do the 1,000’s of seeds inside blow away to sprout ….. are the seeds (all or some of them) even viable ….. do the seedballs make a good ink or dye or maybe they’re edible or even medicinal……. what, if any wildlife species eat the seedballs or seeds; and ooooohhhhhhh, sycamore bark! Why does this tree’s bark flaunt a pastel palette of greens, yellows and pinks. These and many more questions came to mind that it seemed about time the American Sycamore became a subject for my nature journal, until ……………..

There! In the tree above my head, I spotted a most curious thing. Parting a few of that sycamore’s beautiful Spring green palmate-shaped leaves was a bundle of dead brown and beige leafy bits and sticks all haphazardly glued together. Wishing to get a closer look at that elongated ornament shaped “thing,” I found it was securely suspended from a branch. Trying to puzzle out this fascinating mystery while searching for my pen knife, a stiff breeze blew through the tree. It was then a I noticed hundreds of those 2-3” long bundles all over the tree; from the base to its crown!

Curiosity is the Essence of Nature Journaling

What continues to draw me to nature and nature journaling after so many years are the surprises in the familiar and in the unknown. I know well enough that new encounters in nature are infinite; you just have to open your eyes and look. Having learned by carefully observing what appears to be familiar, often leads to new discoveries. That’s when my curiosity kicks into high gear ….. when it’s time to engage in some serious poking around to figure something out; to learn what the “thing” is.

Curiosity, for me, is the very heart and soul of nature journaling. The ‘art’ of curiosity even precedes skill in observation. It’s what drives me out the door in the morning and fuels my exploration. Curiosity fills the mind with countless questions if for no other reason but to develop a deeper understanding of the natural world.

But I “wax philosophical.” Needless to say, my curious discovery on that warm and breezy Spring morning prompted an abrupt change of mind for my next blog post (this post). Anxious to learn about the “thing” suspended from a tree branch, probably minding its own business, I proceeded to cut it down (along with two more) and popped them in a bag along with a few sycamore leaves and seedballs.

Later that same day …….

Upon completing my journal sketches of sycamore leaves and seedballs, and posting a few photos to iNaturalist for an initial ID, it was time to take a closer look at my discovery. Reaching into the bag for one of the “things” (wiping my hand free of spider webbing?), I placed it on my examination table surrounded by several hand lenses, a larger magnifying glass, a penknife, and 2 pairs of tweezers. Before beginning the dissection, I noticed about a dozen black pepper-sized bits moving about the “thing.” Thinking tiny spiders had come from the bag, I didn’t give them a second thought (should’ve been curious!).

This bagworm bag was the subject of my dissection. Notice the pepper-sized black dots next to the bag ….. those are wiggling 1st instar larva.

iNaturalist ID Pick :::::::::::::: BAGWORM MOTH ::::::::::::::: iNaturalist ID Pick

(awaiting genus/species ID)

A Bagworm Moth!

How cool is that!?!

The opened bag of a female Bagworm moth. She’s very dead, but her progeny are escaping as fast as they can.

Dissection resumes ……

After finding out the “thing” I’ve been pondering over is the Bag of a bagworm moth, I learned the Bag was built during last Spring, Summer and Fall by either a male or female bagworm moth. If a male, the Bag would be empty; if a female, the Bag would contain her remains …. she would’ve died last fall after a male fertilized 500-1,000+ eggs she overwintered inside her body until Spring when newly-hatched larvae would emerge from the bottom of the Bag and begin the species’ life cycle all over again.

The Bag, that took about 10 minutes and all my dissection tools to open, contained the black and mushy remains of a female and 100’s of wiggling/dancing larvae! They were on the move; escaping from the now wide open Bag, and quickly covering my examination table like a pepper grinder out of control.

And my effort to open the Bag? This made sense after reading about the high tensile strength of the silk they produce. These thin strands of silk, 10x stronger than that produced by silkworms, is used in abundance to construct their Bags.

The coolest thing ever! Notice the either late 2nd or early 3rd instar larva, no longer naked, but swaddled in very chewed up leafy bits glued together with strong silk. This dude was hiking up a sycamore branch, continually chewing, wiggling, and gluing.

After disposing of all the naked 1st instar larvae waggling and dancing across my examination table, I placed the dissected Bag, the two whole Bags, and collected leaf material into a clear plastic ziplock to observe what would happen. Over 10 days, the number of larvae multiplied and the naked 1st instar caterpillars grew in size (at least to 2nd instar) while building their individual Bags from tiny bits of leaf litter! Their wiggling dance seemed to be the way their silk strands wrapped and secured leafy bits around their bodies. It’s been fun to watch all the activity.

Have you ever encountered one or more of the 1,350+ species of bagworm moths? What materials were their Bags made from? Please share your experience with these fascinating members of the butterfly/moth family of insects.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Pass the Mustard, Please! Happy National Pretzel Day

April 26, 2025

Pretzels! Who doesn’t love pretzels?

Put down that can of chips or box of square crackers and show your love for one of the most versatile snacks ever …… the Pretzel! Whether you like the snap of crispy twists or prefer them soft and chewy, grab your favorite and join the National Pretzel Day celebration today, April 26th.

Zentangle patterns: Wakka, Triptd, Naf, Bzings, Wob, Shattuck, Aleuba, Tunnel Vizion, Reverse Lollywimple, Taco/Tearce, Tentoculus, Therefore, Tofube, Seedwayzxtra,Spangle, Strutz, Pop Cloud, Raindotty

Just where did this addictive snack come from?

Pretzel historians offer a few origin stories, but usually share the most likely and often told legend from the Roman Empire. Apparently in 610 A.D., an Italian monk wanted a way to reward his child students for memorizing their prayers. Instead of baking loaves of morning bread, the Monk twisted thin strips of the dough into symmetrical loops by intertwining or knotting the two ends before folding them back on each other (today’s familiar “pretzel loop”). The shape he made was said to resemble a child with his arms crossed in prayer. The Monk called his invention ‘pretiola’ meaning ‘little rewards’.

From then on, these soft ‘little rewards’ became popular in Austrian bakeries and in all of Germany, and so on throughout the world.

Not being satisfied with baking only soft pretzels, in 1850, Julius Sturgis bought a hard pretzel recipe from a local tramp (wonder why a tramp would have such a recipe? Thoughts?). After baking and baking, and perfecting the recipe, it was clear to Julius the hard pretzel was a success. The pretzel’s popularity quickly spread, inspiring many other bakers in central Pennsylvania to make their own versions of the hard pretzel. But the original ‘Sturgis’ hard pretzel was a keeper. In 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, located in Lititz, Pennsylvania in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, became the first commercial pretzel bakery in America.

Naturally, die-hard fans of the warm/soft pretzel weren’t won over by the overwhelming appeal of the hard/crispy version. With the soft pretzel market still alive and growing, by the 20th century soft pretzels became very popular not only in Philadelphia, but in Chicago and New York as well.

The Pretzel of Today

How many shapes and flavors of pretzels can you think of? Here’s my lists …….

Hard pretzel shapes: traditional loop, thick and thin; stick shapes, both thin and in thick rods; twisted, clockwise and counterclockwise; round rings with and without knots; thick stumpy bite-sized nuggets, filled and unfilled; chip shaped and waffle shaped.

Hard pretzel flavors: salted, cinnamon sugar, peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, honey mustard, cheese, honey wheat, honey butter, ranch, ranch and jalapeño, garlic, sea salt caramel, sour cream and onion, and buffalo wing.

And for soft pretzels …… it’s all about the dipping sauces and coatings: Of course there’s yellow mustard, garlic mustard, melty cheese, melty beer cheese. But there’s also chocolate dipped, aioli, truffle hot sauce, buffalo ranch, cinnamon sugar, and marinara.

Can you add more?

Pretzel Fun Factz!

Pennsylvania is the center of American pretzel production for both hard and soft pretzels, producing 80% of the nation’s pretzels.
Today, the average Philadelphian consumes about twelve times as many pretzels as the national average.
Philadelphia opened a privately run “Pretzel Museum” in 1993.
The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $550 million.
The average American consumes about 1.5 pounds of pretzels per year.

How will you celebrate National Pretzel Day 2025? Here’s a few ideas …..

Enjoy a bag of your favorite hard pretzels, and gift one to a friend.
Visit your local bakery or even the mall to sample their selection of warm soft pretzels.
Try a game of “Toss the Ring” with ring-shaped pretzels.
Go on a pretzel scavenger hunt.
Host a pretzel and beer party for your neighborhood.
Bake a batch of soft pretzels for the party and have everyone bring their favorite dipping sauce.

And now ………

Curiously, Flambé has been following my post with fascination. Always hungry, could it be she’s developing pretzel cravings? What baker, in their right mind, would ever scent a batch with eau de fish? If a pretzel maker thought mackerel flavored twists would ever be popular, they might just be crazy (or not?). Becoming more famished by the minute, Kat insisted on explaining her ‘irrational’ excitement in a “Blitz” poem (a style created by Robert Keim.¹). She felt this poem style not only suited all the twists and turns found in a properly-constructed pretzel loop, it best expressed the twisting and turning pathway her mind took to explain herself and help us “get it!” What do you think?

¹Shout out to Michele Lee, My Inspired Life blog post dated 04/05/2025, for sharing her amazing Blitz poem and providing the rules to create one too. Thanks Michele!

As always. Thanks for stopping by!

Here are the guidelines for the Blitz poem, created by Robert Keim:

Line 1 should be one short phrase or image (like “build a boat”)
Line 2 should be another short phrase or image using the same first word as the first word in Line 1 (something like “build a house”)
Lines 3 and 4 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 2 as their first words (so Line 3 might be “house for sale” and Line 4 might be “house for rent”)
Lines 5 and 6 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 4 as their first words, and so on until you’ve made it through 48 lines
Line 49 should be the last word of Line 48
Line 50 should be the last word of Line 47
The title of the poem should be three words long and follow this format: (first word of Line 3) (preposition or conjunction) (first word of line 47)
There should be no punctuation

A Rosette by any other name …….

April 23, 2025

A selection of basal rosettes that popped out of the ground this Spring.

Have you ever noticed a dandelion? Oh sure …… you’ve seen hundreds, probably thousands of those ubiquitous sunburst yellow flowers blanketing a lawn or brightening an abandoned field. But before all that brilliance magically appears, have you ever looked below all those flower stalks? Have you ever noticed a dandelion before it blooms?

It’s early Spring in the mountainous areas of central New Mexico, and it seems like the high desert is slow to bloom this year. Anxious to spot even a hint of green during this transition time is always challenging, but if you look closely …….. Tucked beneath dry grasses and piled-high tumbleweed skeletons wedged next to swelling cholla you’ll find the green. Clusters of new leaves hugging the ground no more than an inch high, are beautifully arranged in a circular pattern like the unfolding petals of a rose.

Rosettes!

Rosette arrangements are found throughout nature,¹ but in the flowering plants they are particularly common in the following families: Asteraceae (like dandelions), Brassicaceae (like cabbage), and Bromeliaceae (like pineapple). Many other families display the rosette morphology too. The needle sharp leaves of yucca and the bayonet-shaped leaves of century plant (in the Agave family) form tall rosettes. The intricate leaves of wild spring parsley (a tiny member of the Parsley family) and the petite red-stemmed stork’s bill (Geranium family) both form ground-hugging rosettes.

A century plant displaying a beautiful basal rosette.

Where Rosettes Form

Basal Rosettes grow close to the soil at or near the plant’s crown (the thick part of the stem where the roots attach). Their structure is an example of a modified stem in which the internode gaps between the leaves do not expand, ensuring all the leaves stay tightly bunched together and at a similar height. A protective function of a basal rosette makes it hard to pull from the ground; the leaves come away easily while the taproot is left intact (have you ever tried to pull a dandelion without snapping off the root?). Generally speaking, basal rosettes improve a plant’s odds at survival. For example, overwintering rosettes, like the basal leafy growth produced in year #1 of the 2-year life span of giant mullein, protect the plant and its roots from extreme cold temperatures. Emerging Spring rosettes, like those found in long-stemmed poppy, also protect the plant from late winter frosts. Basal rosettes are also more protected from changes in microclimate, gravity, wind, browsing, and mechanical damage if they are closer to the ground than tall leafy stems would be. help in water balance and conservation, especially important during periods of drought.

Lichen that has form small rosettes on rock.

But don’t only look down. Another form of rosette occurs when the internodes (those areas between leaves) along a stem are shortened, bringing leaves closer together as in lettuce and some succulents.^2.And although not as common as basal rosettes, some plants form rosettes at the terminal or top end of their often naked stems, branches, or even trunks. One plant that does this is the native sedum called wild stonecrop. The top of the plant stems usually terminate in whorls or three fleshy leaves. Another example is the Hawaiian screwpine, which has a terminal rosette of sword-shaped leaves which sits atop an erect trunk, often supported by prop roots.

Know Your Local Rosettes

A number of desirable and undesirable (weedy) plant species produce rosettes, particularly basal rosettes. Being able to identify a species that pops up in the Spring by its rosette is so helpful in preventing a removal mistake by inadvertently digging them up. Many weedy, non-native plants gaze first at their world through rosette “eyes.” But not all plants with rosettes are undesirable. Do you know your local rosettes by their other names?

………………………………………………………………

¹ Rosettes are found throughout nature, not just in the flowering plants. Here’s some examples you may have seen or heard of:

In bryophytes and algae, a rosette results from the repeated branching of the thallusas grown by plant, resulting in a circular outline. Lichens also grow rosettes.

Tiny wasps and midges can induce the development of galls that become leafy rosettes.

Jaguars, leopards and other feline species display rose-like markings on their fur, referred to as rosettes.

Malaria parasites are known to form spontaneous rosettes in uninfected red blood cells.

Neural rosettes in the human brain are being studied to learn how new cells are born.

It is unknown why the Rosette-Nosed Pygmy chameleon, at home in the mountains of Tanzania, has evolved a distinctive, rosette-shaped, fleshy protrusion on the end of its nose.

The Rosette nebula, named for its rosette-like appearance, is a beautiful collection of gas and dust 5,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros the Unicorn, and stretches about 130 light-years across.

A gorgeous lichen decorated rock from Colorado. Note the rosette patterns of growth (the thallus)

² The horticultural definition of a succulent describes a drought-resistant plant where the leaves, stems, or roots have become fleshy and their tissues are able to store water. Succulents include aloe, euphorbia, sedum, the garden favorite hen-and-chicks, and bromeliads. But horticulturalists do not include cacti in the succulent group. huh? Even though cacti are frequently found in books describing succulents based the definition of a succulent, succulents are not cacti. In agreement with that last statement are many botanical and other scientific experts. (Can this get any more confusing?). So basically some experts are lumpers, while other are splitters. Which are you?

Basal rosette of a yucca in the NM foothills.

P.S. Cacti have stems that are thickened fleshy water-storing structures, and are considered to be a stem-succulent group of plants. Are there any cacti species that develop leafy rosettes? Because the spines are the leaves, greatly modified, in all my rabbit-trailing thru the internet and perusal of my collection of botanical references I’ve yet to see any spines forming whorled/rosette-like patterns. If you have, please contact me immediately!

……………………..……………..😂…………………………………………

Are you ready to explore the wide diversity of rosette forming plants in your neighborhood? Get on out there before those circularly-arranged leaves become disguised by an overabundance of gorgeous wildflowers!

As always, thanks for stopping by! And Happy Earth Day (week)!

A Brief Escapito ….. Lamy, NM

April 21, 2025

Woke one windy Spring morning about a week ago and decided it was time for a mini roadtrip …. 45 miles NNE, to visit the historic village of Lamy, New Mexico. Years ago (1991) when we lived in El Dorado (a sprawling subdivision southeast of Santa Fe), Lamy was a short 8 mile drive away. As seems true to our nature, we hardly ever visit someplace so close to home. So we didn’t. (Go figure.) But last Fall, the ABQ Urban Sketchers spent a morning exploring and sketching in and around Lamy. Unable to join them then, I promised myself that Roy and I would definitely make our own trip Lamy. So we did ….. and had a great time! Here’s a collection of my sketches and a lot of present day and historic facts about this little railroad community, many discoveries were anticipated; a few were complete surprises!

Lamy, New Mexico, preface: What’s in a Name?

Sometime during the last half of the 19th century, Galisteo Junction was renamed “Lamy” to honor the first archbishop of Santa Fe (1853). Jean-Baptiste Lamy played a major role in the development of the region, including establishment of educational and medical facilities.

Lamy, part 1: Today

….. Location, Location, Location: Such a quaint little village, we found Lamy properly nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a beautiful range of mountains within the southernmost reach of the Rockies. Primarily a railroad town, Lamy boasted a population of 329 at its peak in the 1930s. Today, Lamy has a mere 93 residents, and continues to experience an annual population decline. With an “Eating House,” Saloon and a Museum, not to mention the historical Train Station, Lamy makes for a fine tourist destination and twice-daily Amtrak stop with shuttle service to and from Santa Fe, only 18 miles away.

….. The Lamy Railroad and History Museum: Dedicated to preserving local history and heritage, this museum emphasizes the railroads and their impact on the area. The museum is housed in the historic “Legal Tender” building, formerly the “Legal Tender Saloon and Restaurant.” But before that, it was the Pflueger General Merchandise Store (built in 1881) and attached Annex Saloon (built in 1884). Because this building complex is quite old, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you’re planning a trip to Lamy, note the restaurant and museum are only open Thursday through Sunday, are run as a non-profit, and the waitstaff are volunteers.

Lamy, part 2: The Way-Back Yesteryears

….. Pre-Columbian Inhabitants: An archaeological site known today as The Lamy Junction Community, consists of 14 small Coalition Period¹ (AD 1200-1325) pueblos and other structures. Occupying the SE facing slope, northwest and above the Rio Galisteo, the site was discovered by Adolph Bandelier on June 29,1882. Bandelier noted in his journal “a group of small house ruins” west of the depot at Lamy. Excavation of the area began in 1915, resuming in the 1930s and again in August 1981. Archaeologists reported almost all of the pueblos and other structures were similar to each other, having 10-20 rooms each and built of adobe and some stone. The largest structure, however, was probably 60 rooms in size and two or even three stories tall in places.

Today this historic site is located near the junction of US Highway 285 and Santa Fe County Road 33, the dead end spur road that passes through Lamy. The location of these roadways makes sense. Over the last century, or probably longer, Lamy Junction has been a crossroads for several roadbeds that crisscross the site: between Lamy and Galisteo, Lamy and Clines Corners, Galisteo/Clines Corners and Santa Fe. Although the history of these roads and their associated artifacts have yet to be studied, it’s clear from archaeological excavations of The Lamy Junction Community, the disturbance from construction, frequent use, and maintenance of these old roadbeds impacted artifacts from the prehistoric site and surrounding area. Also, when the tracks were laid in the early 1880s for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the ideal grade ran within the bed of the Rio Galisteo southeast of the Community. Railroad construction required relocating the river to the east, placing it on the far side of the railroad grade; actions impacting prehistoric artifacts in these areas.

Note to self: Because we came to Lamy to learn about the 1880s train station, I only discovered the area was occupied more than 1800 years ago during my follow-up research into Lamy! Yes ….. we will return and try to find this prehistoric Community, now owned by Santa Fe County.

¹Coalition Period (AD 1200-1325) was a time of significant changes in the Pueblo culture of the Rio Grande Valley, which included The Lamy Junction Community of the Galisteo Basin. During this time of increasing population and intensified agriculture, expansion into new areas like the Pecos River Valley occurred. In addition, the growing population began living in larger pueblos.

Lamy, part 3: The Not So Way-Back Yesteryears

….. The Lamy Railroad and Train Station (aka Depot): When plans were made for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad (aka the “Santa Fe”) to run from Atchison, KS to Santa Fe, NM, and then west to California, civil engineers didn’t take into account the challenging terrain surrounding Santa Fe. A direct run to and stop at Santa Fe was not going to happen. So about 145 years ago the line was built through Lamy. But because rail transport was still desired by Santa Feans, a spur line was built north of the Lamy Railroad Junction that could carry freight and passengers into the city. Now Plan “B” logically placed the train station in Lamy, and in 1881 a two-story wood frame building was constructed for that purpose. For 28 years that structure served as the official train station for the “Santa Fe” until a freight depot was needed. This prompted the construction of a new train station, allowing the original 1881 station to be converted into the much needed freight depot, which was in operation into the 1940s. The new train station, a one-story Mission-style red tile roofed/stucco sided structure, built in 1909, was opened to passengers upon completion. This station is still in operation, and is the one we visited.

Lamy, part 4: Growing a Railroad Town

….. El Ortiz: East of the depot, the famed Fred Harvey Company constructed a hotel named El Ortiz in 1910. Started by English immigrant Fred Harvey in the 1870s, the company that took his name ran a series of highly efficient Eating Houses along the “Santa Fe” rail lines, guaranteeing quick, quality meals. These eateries at set stations were necessary stops because dining cars on passenger trains were uncommon west of the Mississippi. The eateries were so successful, that a partnership was formed between Fred Harvey and the “Santa Fe” to branch out into the hotel business. Many hotels were located in trade and business centers, but other Harvey Houses like El Ortiz were built to develop tourism in Lamy. Hotel El Ortiz no longer exists. After a 1930s fire destroyed partial sections of the building, it was completely brought down in them1940s.

Note to self: when we revisit Lamy, must find the original location of El Ortiz. Is there anything remaining?

….. A secret destination: Lamy was commonly the first stop for staff and their families arriving to New Mexico on their way to the secret city of Los Alamos.

Lamy, part 5: Flashbacks of Yesterday

….. the Santa Fe Detour: Today, Amtrak Southwest Chief passengers headed to the state capital still detrain at the 1909 Lamy Station, where they can read interpretive displays about the past, visit historic buildings and the museum, walk around old train cars and engines, and maybe have a bite to eat at the Legal Tender, before catching the shuttle transporting them the remaining 18 miles to Santa Fe.

Well, that’s about all for now. Hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of Lamy, NM

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Welcome New and Returning Subscribers

Many Hearty Thanks, Sharing Creative Ideas, Answering the ‘Kat’ Kwestion

April 1, 2025

Completing my 15th sketchbook, and beginning the next one is always cause for celebration! To do so, Kat and I thought it would be especially fitting to shout-from-the-treetops enthusiastically, THANK YOU! Thank you all, my loyal subscribers, for coming along on my interesting, hopefully educational, sometimes crazy, always curious nature journaling adventure.

**Zentangle patterns used: LoveBuzz, Membranart, Frostz, Chatoo, Sea Urchin, Toku, Rosie, Calibree**

My recent webinar class, “Create a Colorful Reptile Eye¹,” sponsored by Host Karen Abend (of Sketchbook Revival fame), generated many new subscribers to my web page and blog, “A Curious Nature.” Wow! And Thanks so much. A special thanks to those who attended the live and/or recorded class. I loved seeing so many colorful lizard eyes (a sampling below). They were incredible!

Sharing the Wonder of Nature

With all the past and current activity on my blog, I feel so fortunate and very encouraged to carry on. Even though new postings have been random lately, there’s lots of works-in-progress soon to be shared. Meanwhile, comments including what you like about my posts and what you’d like to see more of, are always appreciated. What inspired you to subscribe to this blog? If it’s just enjoy, that’s perfect! Or maybe you’d like tips to develop a regular or even a daily creative practice, how can I be more encouraging? I’d love to know if you are an active nature journaler or tangler, or express yourself by creating art in other ways, such as through music, poetry, or storytelling. Send me your ideas by commenting on this or any future posts. I’ve created my webpage and blog because of my insatiable curiosity about the natural world. It’s extraordinarily fun to go beyond learning what the names of flowers, animals, rocks, and clouds are. The excitement of wondering and discovering answers for all the why’s, who’s, when’s, and how’s is so rewarding. Sharing is my joy!

Explaining Kat

Thinking new subscribers may be puzzled by my constantly mentioning Flambé or Kat or both, now might be a good time for explanation and background (and perhaps provide a refresher for those who’ve been following along from day 1 of my blog):

In 2014, a young stray calico cat showed up one day on our doorstep when we (Roy and I) lived in Oriental, North Carolina (U.S.A.). This little wild miss seemed to magically appear from our backyard woods, perhaps in search of a meal or a friend. She sat and meowed for a few minutes, but when we opened the door, she ran away. Efforts to get close to her when she returned several times during the week were futile. Then one day she vanished and never returned. Not knowing what may have happened to this pretty kitty, Roy thought a nice remembrance of her visit would be to add a small cat sketch to my next drawing. A dandy idea!“But only one drawing,” I thought? It was at that moment that Flambé appeared on my creative doorstep, and has never left!

Flambé, aka Kat, is always smiling, popping in and out of all my art, regardless if the piece is imaginatively & whimsically tangled or a serious nature study. Along with forming the best part of my signature “chop,” she’s the heroine of some pretty wild and crazy tangled misadventures, sometimes pushing Kat’s 9-lives threshold to satisfy her insatiably curious nature (and appetite). Flambé adores being noticed, whether she hides inside the story, or shows up front and center. She makes everything creative more fun. Flambé may be just “Kat,” but she’s my inspiration for and reminder about the value of komic relief, and makes the perfect konstant kompanion!

Whew! That’s all for now. Hopefully your questions about this blog, inspiration and Kat have been answered. If you’re craving to learn answers to other related topics, let me know. Meanwhile, Flambé and I wish you an exciting and creative remainder of the year ….. have times full of happiness, creativity, and memorable adventures, but most of all laughter and fun!

Hope to hear from you soon, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Meow!

¹Unfortunately, the class or recording are no longer available for viewing. But I may have another live demo class some day in the future. If so, you can be sure the announcement will show up on my blog.