Loofah

Last year I grew loofah. It was alot of fun and I am using it in my bath and it is wonderful. So I know it is only January but I have some seeds started now. I now have four plants that are up. The best way I found to start seeds, is to put them between a damp paper towel and put them in a plastic bag. Check in a few weeks. If the paper towels look puffed up, you know they are sprouting. Then I plant them in pots with miracle grow soil. And when the weather is right, I plant them outside. As you can see in the picture above, I had three nice loofah's. Hope to have more this year.

My Porch

This is where I spend all my time when it is nice out. I love my porch.

And of course my baby, Sammy is always with me. He is everywhere I am.

A picture of the porch when it is starting to get dark.

This is where I eat most of my meals. Notice I have wicker furniture on the porch. I love wicker.

Altered things

This was a crystal light container. I papered it and antiqued it, then I antiqued the flowers. Added braid and a picture of a lady.

Some of the wooden spools I altered. Papered, lace, pearls, and two of them have roses on the top and the other a small grapevine heart.

This was a can I altered. Not a good picture. I papered it in a victorian paper added lace, flowers a bird nest and some bling and feathers.

I got chocolates in this cute little box. I thought it was too cute to throw away. So I decorated it. First I papered it then added lace and a flower and rhinestones.

The same box, just a different picture.

Flower Frogs

These are my flower frogs that I have so far. The one closest to the front, I got at an antique mall. The rest I got at a yard sale foe $1. The two in the front, are my favorite.

Praying Mantis

This is one very pregnant praying mantis.

There is a story behind this one. It was found at work in the fall. They only live 5 to 6 month's. So I knew it didn't have long. I brought it home with me and put it in the laundry room. I went to the pet store and bought it cricket's to eat. I wanted it to die in the warm and not be hungry. I know by now you think I am crazy. Well that's how I am. I love nature. Ask anyone that know's me.

This is my first nest that hatched. They come out like maggots. And they just keep coming.

I think they are all out of the nest. About 100 or more I have heard  that a nest can have as many as 200.

 This is another nest hatching.

Still coming out of the nest.

Just look at all of them. They are everywhere.

This is from the other side of the flower box. They are every where.

I had so many on the porch, that when I went in the house, they were on my pants. I had to come out and get theme off. I was sitting out there one morning drinking my coffee, when I picked up my cup to take a drink there was one on the rim of my cup.

Not sure what this one is eating. It is on  one of my flowers. 

Praying Mantis

This post is going to be on praying mantis, which I just love. I think they are very intelligent. This first picture is of one eating a cricket.

Not a very good picture of a very pregnant one.

I was shocked to get pictures of them mating, because you never see this. I'm surprised the pictures got good, because I was shaking so bad.

Just from a different view.

When they are done mating he has to get away from her fast, because if not and she get's a hold of him, she bites off his head.Oh!!!!!!

This was my first nest to hatch. I think they are all praying to survive.

Another picture of them. They are so cute.  

Another picture of them. I have pictures of them coming out of the nest. I will be posting them later.

This one was on my porch for about two weeks. I would go out every morning and talk to it. And they do get to know  you.