Ladybug, Ladybug ...

One of our

delightful

Ladybug

winter

house

guests

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Ladybugs are predators. In a good way. They dine on aphids, dust mites and other harmful and unwanted creatures. Many are particularly partial to eating aphids with an individual Ladybug capable of eating upwards of 5,000 aphids in their relatively short lifetimes. Technically they are not "bugs" at all but rather a colorful "beetle."

To eat an aphid or dust mite or other nasty little creature, the Ladybug simply walks up to them and gobbles them up. No heroic swooping in and capturing acts here. They are more like colorful little microscopic Roombots, the vacuum cleaners that ramble across carpets all by themselves. Garden catalogues sell boxes of Ladybugs by the hundreds for release in the garden to help with pest control, for those unfortunate gardeners who find local Ladybugs in short supply.

Depending on the species, they will also make short work of whiteflies, mealybugs, scales, mites, bollworms, broccoli worms, tomato hornworms and cabbage moths. They will also eat the eggs of some insects such as moths, with certain species of Ladybugs even eating pollen and mildew. They can be quite resouceful, even known to "play dead" and drop in their tracks ~ to tuck their tiny little heads in and drop cold off a plant onto the ground ~ when they feel threatened.

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One of nature's most colorful beetles, images of them of one sort or another became popular for a time in home decor and accessories.

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As if that were not enough to ask of such a small delightful creature, they also are supposed to be "good luck" when one finds them in the home or especially when one lights upon your person somewhere. Some European cultures even associate the Ladybug with the Virgin Mary, reportedly due their colors and the number of their spots.

With over 5,000 species worldwide, over 400 of those individual species make their home in the Americas. We are not sure which of the 400 species this particular one is, only that she has seemingly become "friendlier" over time. This particular one has lived with us since mid-November ~ or perhaps that is only when we first noticed her being inside.

Unfortunately, a number of people think "infestation" when they find several Ladybugs in their homes over the colder months. However the Ladybugs have only come in through a crack or crevice somewhere to take shelter and will leave the home when the weather turns suitably warm outside. If there are truly a great number of live ones inside one's home, then work to close up access areas should be done ~ as Ladybugs will be the least of what is coming into the home. The "infestation" perception from finding a few live ones usually arises because of a number of dead Ladybugs someone may find inside their home at the same given time.

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These dead Ladybugs, in fact, are usually only the ones who have perished indoors from dehydration ~ dehydration being the biggest killer of Ladybugs who have found their way into a home for the colder months, once the outside temperature drops below 55 degrees. Unless one heartlessly decides to just throw them outside, where they will certainly freeze to death before being able to find proper shelter.

First observed alighting on a lampshade, then swooping onto the tabletop while the fashioning of folk art Christmas crafts was in process ~ and having learned a little about them previously ~ we placed a piece of wet paper towel near her so she could get a drink. Their mandibles are rather microscopic and they are quite able to drink water from a damp paper towel, although we usually also place a few drops of water beside the towel as well. And while we know full-well there are many males in any of the species, a Ladybug to us is invariably a "she."

Not long afterwards we found a second one on the ceiling in the bedroom, not as large, brightly colored or highly spotted as the first one. But just as thirsty, it seemed. Even so, the second one never seemed as "friendly" (if there is such a behavior in Ladybugs) as the first one and does not make appearances in the family areas nearly as often as the first. Although the second one's colors did grow a little brighter and its spots a little larger as time went on.

The folk art Christmas crafts eventually involved the use of winter-dried Queen Anne's Lace (for snowmen's brooms), picked from a nearby field in the dead cold of the first days of December. After bringing them in and placing them on the table, it was not a half hour later that the first Ladybug flew onto the table and began crawling all over them.

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Whatever was on those browned winter weeds ~ insect eggs, dead aphids, mites or whatever ~ she spent the next few hours thoroughly traversing them, stopping frequently to seemingly dine. If Ladybug behavior includes some form of "joy" or "happiness" then what we observed was certainly just that. If nothing else, she certainly livened up by a great degree with the dried Queen Anne's Lace treat.

We provided more water for her with a wet paper towel (although we had since observed both Ladybugs on the houseplants after being watered, including on a Christmas poinsetta). The pups soon learned that she was "mom's little pet" and John observed that the little beetles also emit an odor when they feel threatened which is also why we believe none of the pups bothered with them much (except for invariably pointing them, of course).

With each new "fresh" batch of wintered and dried Queen Anne's Lace, she would make another swooping appearance. So soon there were several small bottles filled with little bouquets of dried Queen Anne's Lace around the house, the bottles themselves thoroughly stuffed with wet paper towels so the Ladybugs wouldn't somehow get inside, get trapped and drown.

It is always a small worry that one might alight on not-yet-dried craft glue or get into a bowl of glitter, not to mention landing in a cup of tea or coffee or other beverage. At least one internet site points out that they can be kept in a jar with perhaps a houseplant inside, but the idea of restricting them in such a way just did not seem right. Keeping an eye out for their infrequent appearances (with the help of pointing pups) seemed the better method for all concerned.

During sub-freezing weather, they would disappear for days, but as soon as the sun came out and warmed the outside air a bit, one or the other or both would make another appearance indoors. From information we have gathered, they would not survive being constantly inside actual warm rooms all of the time, preferring to spend most of their time inside wall cavities and the like, which would explain their occasional appearances. Overall, they do not live very long as far as humans are concerned ~ anywhere from a year to two to three years are cited on different internet sites, and it probably also depends on the species.

But as time went on this winter, with the nurturing care we were able to provide, the one pictured here grew a little larger and also became a brighter red with larger black spots. She also seemed to become "friendlier" with time, as if she associated us with food and water ~ or at least she seemed to have somehow learned that we were not a threat to her. Typing at the computer on more than one night, I looked down to see that she had come out from one of her mysterious hiding places and would be sitting on the back of my hand.

On several other nights, she landed on a lampshade on a table between two easy chairs we were sitting in, as if dropping in to say "hello." She also has become quite cooperative when we shoo her onto a finger or a piece of paper to move her to a safer location, such as a nearby houseplant or a vase of her favorite dried Queen Anne's Lace.

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Whether there will be any additional "good luck" from our colorful little beetle house guests this winter remains to be seen. They are still a little bit of a worry until they decide to leave in the Spring. But it was well worth the time to look into their existence and habits as they have been a bright spot of joy and entertainment this winter. And it has been somewhat satisfying to know we have done what we could to help keep such a beneficial, resouceful little creature alive and kicking, hopefully into the Spring.

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Rainy Day Homemade Dog Treats

Rainy Day Dog
Treats, Maple
Carrot on left,
Tomato Beef
on right ~ the
"hardest" part
is actually
baking them..
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In our neck of the woods, it has been a particularly rainy summer which has put a damper on outdoor activities at times. And so far, it has been a cooler than normal summer ~ which lends itself to having the kitchen oven turned on for extensive baking activities at times.

One of our favorite cold and rainy day past-times is making homemade soup (especially good when local fresh produce is available) and homemade bread.
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Several years ago however, I began looking over the available hundreds of Homemade Dog Biscuits and Treats out there ~ and truthfully, some of the recipes and preparation seemed either a bit intimidating and/or a lot of work for very little return (especially considering our extensive four-footed family).

With some experimentation however, I managed to develop a fairly no-hassle recipe ~ the "hardest part" of making these is the actual baking of them ~ which can be changed and adapted to whatever one may have on hand in the pantry ~ and of course, adapted to whatever flavors your pup likes best. If you decide to give this recipe a try, you may want to try a smaller or "half batch" to see if your pup will like them before making more. However should they prove a "success" with your canine food critic, the recipe can easily be adapted to make more.

One staple you will need on hand of course is flour. While it is nice also to have some whole wheat flour and cornmeal or cornmeal flours on hand to mix in with the batch, ordinary regular all-purpose flour will do nicely. Another necessity is rice ~ and rice also has the advantage of being particularly healthy for dogs. We always purchase rice in bulk, and so invariably have plenty enough on hand at any particular time to make at least a batch or two of these home-made treats.
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Cooking oil (corn, vegetable, etc. will do) and baking powder round out the basic batter for these. This is an adaptable recipe ~ as stated above ~ so it is easy to add whatever else you may have on hand, and whatever you pup likes as well ~ and you can double or triple the recipe to make more at one time should they prove to be as popular as they are here.
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Start with 2 cups of rice and 4 1/2 cups of water (or other liquid ~ for instance, you can substitute beef or chicken broth for some of the water or add a packet or two of dry gravy mix to the liquid before the rice cooks or even a can of condensed tomato or other soup ~ again, whatever your pups like best and whatever you have on hand). Our pups all like apples in various forms, so I have even added applesauce to the liquid before putting the rice onto cook.
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The reason for adding the "flavoring" to the liquid before cooking is that the flavor absorbs into the rice while cooking and makes a more flavorful treat in the end. Cover and cook the rice according to package directions ~ always have a little more liquid in the rice than called for on the package or box as you want the rice fluffy and any liquid not absorbed will be taken care of when you add the remaining ingredients. So don't be afraid to add more water or liquid while cooking.
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Again the best part of this recipe is that it can be adapted in countless ways for whatever your pups like best. You can also add items such as chopped up green beans or carrots or peas into the batter for added nutritional benefit as well as for additional flavor. Our pups all like all sorts of vegetables, too, so vegetables such as these are added regularly into our treat batter here ~ according to what we have on hand. For instance, I have at times even purchased a big bunch of fresh carrots, sliced them and baked them in a casserole dish on 325 to 350 degrees with water enough to cover and added maple syrup to flavor ~ then added the carrots and liquid to the batter.
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Some of the Maple Carrot flavored treats are shown in the photos here and are among our pups favorite flavors. Peanut butter is also a favorite flavor here and I add this after the rice has cooked (and usually add some applesauce also to the rice mixture liquid before cooking).
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Whatever other ingredients you may choose to add, you should also take into account how your pup's digestive system reacts to certain foods.
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After the rice has cooked, you can mix the remaining ingredients into the hot rice ~ however it is recommended that you let it cool at least a bit first as you will be handling it in short order, shaping it into biscuits. Add a tablespoon or two (or three) of baking powder to the mixture, this will help with the "biscuit" like texture (and yes, it may sort of fizz or foam). Then add your other flavors and special treats, such as any vegetables or even meat bits you want to throw in ~ use the liquid also if you are using canned goods.
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Then add a cup of whatever cooking oil you have on hand and stir. Add the other dry ingredients you've selected ~ but if you're using cornmeal, add no more than one cup of cornmeal or cornmeal flour (too much cornmeal will make the biscuits grit-like and they do not hold together well after baking). I've also added oats (as in old-fashioned or quick oatmeal) and then whole wheat and/or all purpose flour, enough to make a stiff batter like cookie dough. You can also add more water, although I recommend more cooking oil instead as it will keep the biscuits at a better consistency when baking and afterwards.
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Form into small log shapes with your hands. If the batter sticks to your hands, use a small bowl of water to wet your hands as needed and smooth the biscuits into the desired shapes. We make our biscuits into "logs" three to five inches long ~ just make them all the same size so they bake consistently.
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Place the formed biscuits on a large greased cookie sheet. These "spread" extremely little, if at all, when baking ~ so you do not have to place them really far apart ~ just enough to let the heat in the oven circulate between them adequately. I use two cookie sheets at a time and bake on two racks to bake them all more quickly.
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And bake at 325 to 350 degrees until nicely browned and relatively crisp on the outside (about 25 to 35 usually, depending on your oven (it also depends on how large you've made them, larger ones will take longer) ~ just don't over-bake (too brown) ~ when done, they will have the consistency of a regular "drop-style cookie" or dinner biscuit inside. And just like as when baking a loaf of bread, if you tap on one and it sounds "hollow" it is probably done. Store in plastic bags in the freezer (we use the gallon freezer zip-lock sizes), taking whatever you need out to thaw. If you've added something like eggs or milk or something else that spoils easily, I would recommend keeping the thawed biscuits in the refrigerator and taking them out to come to room temperature before "serving."
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Our pups always insist on a "little taste" of the batter while I am mixing it ~ yes, just like little children ~ they then wait patiently for them to bake and cool ~ so don't be surprised if your pups do, too. One warning though: once you make these, your pups may want more so be prepared to make them fairly regularly.
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John and I also always take a zip-lock storage bag-full of these when we are spending long days in the field hunting over our Setters ~ and they truly appreciate these well-earned special treats whenever we stop for breaks.
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Shown above Top:Tomato Beef flavor made with condensed tomato soup
and beef broth for flavor; Bottom is Maple Carrot, flavored with chicken broth during rice cooking process and whole carrots which were sliced and baked in water and maple syrup in the oven until tender
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The Earlier Days of Ladies' Fashionable Hunting Attire

Illustration from an

Early 1900s Vintage PostCard

While perhaps not appearing at first to be the most practical attire, it is with a longing look ~ some of today's women who hunt ~ view the fashionable ladies' hunting attire of earlier days.

The sturdiness and protection of such fashion in thick cover justifiably might be questioned although the addition of boots and other protective factors such as the type of fabric utilized could increase the "practical" factor to render such concerns of "practical protection" nearly insignificant.

In open field situations, it would seem there hardly would be any down-side at all.

The most mysterious question which keeps popping up here seems to be: why women would veer away from such an attractive and flattering fashionable mode in earlier days to don the uni-sex attire of their husbands, fathers and brothers ~ other than for the sake of practicality and convenience.

Not all upland game hunting is done in thick heavy cover, after all.

And would the style of skirt worn by the lady in the vintage postcard illustration above, really be that much more of a disadvantage in even the thickest heavy cover than the baggy-style pants and coats or jackets worn by men hunters of both today and of yesteryears?

Illustration/Photo from a
1960s Vintage Postcard

Advertisements and postcards from the 1950s and 1960s show hunting women clad in pants and coats similar to those of men's hunting wear ~ actually the same exact hunting wear most of the time, with very little divergence.

It would seem the woman in the early 1900s vintage postcard shown at the top of this posting and below ~ in her personal choice of fashionable hunting attire ~ was wearing fabric such as a canvas duck material which would withstand the rigors of the open field as well as thick heavy cover.

The hat she wears would provide warmth and shade from the sun as well as any hunting cap or ball cap, although admittedly the style of her particular hat conveys more of a fashionable statement.

Could it be that despite the introduction of the "fairer sex" in shooting and hunting scenes in postcards and advertisements ~ which can be traced with very little research to coincide with the surging popularity of sharp-shooter Annie Oakley and others ~ that, while satisfying the general public's thirst for more images of "sharp-shooters of the female persuasion" ~ that the introduction of such a number of "feminine elements with guns" still covered up an overwhelmingly prevalent popular public predisposition of prejudice towards women in the field?

Some of these postcards and advertisements did indeed even pre-date women's rights in the voting booth, after all.

So perhaps like many "women's libbers" of the latter day 1960s and 1970s (and even beyond) who consciously chose menswear-style pantsuits as office attire over the more flattering (and more feminine) dress and skirt suits, women hunters felt compelled to adopt male hunting attire not only because of the convenience and supposed superior protection in thick heavy cover, but also as a way to be taken more seriously in the field.

Whatever actually transpired, the advent of male-inspired hunting attire worn by women hunters served to banish such fashionable hunting attire as portrayed in the early 1900s vintage postcard above.

You will not find any such style of women's hunting attire offered in even the highest quality of current catalogs or stores.

The attire shown in the early 1900s vintage postcard illustration was probably not mass-produced either, but most likely created in a day when many articles of clothing were either made at home or by a local seamstress.

The search for vintage patterns which could be adopted to such a style has been going on here for several years and if anything suitable can be found, it will be a joyful time here. There may in the not-so-distant future even come a time when a vintage or modern similar pattern is revised and re-made to accommodate.

It is doubtful such fashionable ladies' hunting attire mass-produced in this day and age would have much of an effect on the general market after women have adopted male hunting attire for such a great number of years.

However The Lady of the House ~ the author of this particular posting ~ would at least like the option of choosing ~ and to personally own at least one (preferably more) fashionable hunting outfit very similar to the one worn by the lady in the vintage postcard above.

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"Best Friends" ~ Exclusive English Setter Counted Cross Stitch Pattern

While there are English Setter themed Counted Cross Stitch patterns and kits available in the United States, we have found some unique and exclusive offerings from several on-line shops located in the United Kingdom which can be found nowhere else.

This particular pattern ~ entitled "Best Friends" ~ has a wonderful scene of an English Setter and a Tabby Cat in a very cozy position. It is offered by Yiotas XStitch, which you can easily access by clicking this link.

A currency converter is on the left side column of the page, if you're in the United States just click on the American Flag for prices in U. S. Dollars. Yiotas XStitch custom makes all of her Counted Cross Stitch patterns and this design ~ "Best Friends" ~ is taken from the copyrighted artwork of the very talented Christine Varley and is available only through Yiotas XStitch.

The pattern is 14 count with a stitch count of 224 by 171 and it measures 40 cm by 31 cm ~ or approximately 15 3/4 inches by 12 1/4 inches ~ a perfect size for a pillow or framing. Other exclusive patterns for other breeds of dogs are also available, as well as a numerous variety of other themes. Arrangements can be made for payment from Customers located outside of the United Kingdom, you can contact Yiotas XStitch by using this link here.

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