Surviving Prom

   My daughter went to the Senior Prom this week.  She looked gorgeous.  Her date looked very handsome and was brave enough to wear a pink vest and pink bow tie to match her outfit.  They drove off to go to his house so his parents could take photos, then off to a restaurant, then to the prom.  Simple, no?
     Well the week before prom was a blur of pink fabric.  The dress we bought (no I did not make this one) had nine different layers of skirt.  Since my daughter is a 5'4" young lady, we needed to hem it up about  6".  This would be a cinch.  I do this kind of stuff for a living.  Except, at my house I do not have a dress dummy that fits her size.  So we  marked and cut by having her stand on the footstool which we placed on the coffee table, and she stood there for ages as I marked and cut, and checked and double checked.  We set up the dining room as dress central - we mopped and vacuumed and then laid sheets on the floor to avoid messing this dress with dog hair or dust.

I just serged the slip, but did a rolled hem on the underskirt.  The crinoline layers were an easy cut, trim, re-trim process.  But the tulle - oy! if the crinolines were wrinkled or folded back on themselves, everything shifted.  Since I was just cutting off the four layers of tulle, it all had to lay "just so"  or there would be a higher section.  

   Prom was Thursday night and  we were ironing the gown Thursday morning.  The dress looked good, and now I know it really is easier to build the darn thing myself. 

 

Second Grade Fiber

   Last week my son's second grade was doing a unit "from sheep to cloak."  They carded raw wool, made books about the entire process.  Wove a bit, and I brought in my spinning wheel so they could spin some.  They were very cute and enthusiastic, but the yard they spun was a variety of thick, thin, tight and non-existant twist.  Still I told them I would finish spinning it and knit it up as a gift from them for their teacher.  Trying to spin with the same inconsistencies they had in their yarn was, um, a challenge.  However, I finished it and knit this very irregular yarn on size 15 needles into a quick stockinette stitch scarf.   The lumps and smooth areas, while difficult to knit cleanly, made for some really interesting texture.  My son told me we needed to dye it because plain cream colored yarn was boring.  So last night we threw together a quick alum mordant/onion skin dye (he was really adamant it be onion skins - maybe the teacher had spoken of natural dyes?) and we came up with a very pretty golden yellow scarf.  Of course, I failed to photograph it, but it was pretty.
    I decided the scarf  was really a metaphor for the second grade: smooth patches,  rough patches, hard spots, soft spots, but golden over all.  

Summer's Insects

   As a bee keeper, this is the time of year when I spend time trying to educate  folks (children, mainly) about bees and their benefits.  But I also find myself defending them and trying to remove the bad rap bees have gotten due to the general public calling ANYTHING that stings a bee.
    So, here is a round up of several stinging and biting insects, how to identify them, and what to do if you end up on their bad side!
   Bees:  there are several types of bees - honey bees are my favorite, but also Mason bees, bumble bees, wood bees (some call them carpenter bees, but I have never seen them heft a hammer), sweat bees, ground bees, etc.
Honey bees:  they have hairy body - adapted to help collect pollen, their protein source.  They have a stinger with a small hook at the end, causing it to become embedded in the victim.  This also means the entire stinger and venom sac is pulled from the bee's body, so it is able to sting only once, and will die soon after. They live in  hives tended by humans, but also can be found in the classic "bee tree" of Winnie The Pooh fame.

Honey bees on comb

Bumble bee: hairier body than the honey bee.  They also use pollen as their protein source. Is capable of stinging many times.

Bumble bee

Carpenter/Wood bees:  These look like and are often mistaken for bumble bees.  Carpenter bees are somewhat solitary, nesting near others of their sort, but not making a hive.  They will eat tunnels into wood - often they can be seen in garage soffits, or porch railings.

                  

carpenter bee

Paper wasp nest

Wasps:          They have a smooth body and a straight stinger able to inflict several stings in rapid succession. Most easily recognized for their  very thin "waist" separating the body into two very distinct sections. Wasps are often feared more than necessary.  Yes, they will defend their homes if disturbed, but most of the time they just want to  live, mate, and eat other insect pests.

Yellow Jacket nesting in a hole near the ground

Yellow Jackets:   These are the nasty ones who end up in that can of soda you were drinking, and can sting your mouth when you take a swig. (Yes, experience talking here!) They are in the same order as wasps and hornets.  They are easily recognized by their bright yellow and black striping.  They are, however, a bit thicker than wasps with a shorter body.  Like wasps, they can, and will, sting multiple times. Avoid leaving food, particularly sweet food, uncovered at picnics to avoid their presence in your food.

Hornets: Again, these guys will sting many times in a quick period of time.  The last time I accidentally disturbed a nest I was stung five times on my fingers before I could even yell. Smooth bodies help identify these, as do their nests which are often found hanging in trees - generally they are quite magnificent to behold.  These nest are made from wood pulp. 

A hornet nest in a tree. 

   
      In all cases, if you are stung, try very hard not to panic.  Flailing your arms and screaming will only continue to agitate the insects and will possibly result in more stings than if you stand still or walk away.  (Hard to remember when you feel under attack, but try.)  Scrape out the stinger (if from a honey bee), do not grab as this will squeeze more venom into the area, resulting in pain and swelling.  Use a fingernail or a jack knife or the edge of a credit card to scrape across the skin and lift the stinger out.  Wash the area and apply ice for any swelling.  Antihistamines (like Benedryl) can help with itching and swelling.
 IF YOU EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, SWELLING OF THE TONGUE OR THROAT, HIVES(no pun here, really), OR A WEAK  AND RAPID HEARTBEAT, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.  These are all signs of an allergic reaction and should not be ignored.


Ticks: They live in fields, bushes, woods, even your yard, so you will probably encounter them periodically.  If you find a tick attached to you, carefully pull it out using a pair of tweezers. Wash the area and keep an eye on it.  It is not only the deer tick which is now carrying the Lyme disease.  Look for the red bull's eye rash and pay attention if you start feeling "off" - aching in the joints can  be a symptom on Lyme Disease, and should be mentioned to your doctor.

Mosquitoes:  They breed in standing water, so be aware of water in pool covers, birdbaths, and buckets, dumping and replacing it.  they are most prevalent in the early morning and evening hours, so to avoid bites, stay inside during those hours.  (Okay, reality check - no one wants to spend all summer indoors during the evenings!)  There are various  mosquito repellents on the market, choose the one you prefer, and wear it.  Many folks swear by citronella candles and torches, others by planting lemon grass near patios.  I do not know how efficacious any of these methods, are, but feel free to try them.
   If you are bitten (a misnomer as they are actually stabbing you with their needle-like mouths to draw out blood),  hydrocortison creams can lessen the itching, as can calamine lotions.  Above all, do not scratch , as this can break the skin, introduce bacteria, and lead to infection.
    Have a fabulous summer!