I made this today from a broken fence board, license plate letters and a piece of galvanized pipe saved from our pool demo. The wood on the back is there to prevent the front board from cracking. I added the board in the middle last because the screws are a little too long for a single board. Since I make things before thinking them through, this one is kind of sloppy. Next time, the center board will be wider and added first. This sign is large, but you can purchase small, address type letters at HD and Lowes for about 60¢ each. They're black with reflective white letters. The plant to the right is a clereodendrum. Hope I spelled it correctly. Linda

got it :-) Lucy

To anyone on the fence about tagging, I would encourage you to JUST DO IT! I mean outside of the fact that it is just so cool, I feel like a biologist! I found out the money you pay for the tags goes to help local villagers so they will not cut down the trees from the oyamel rainforest. There are biologist permanently in Mexico studying the Monarch and if local villagers find a tagged butterfly, they are paid $5 or 5 pesos (can't remember now). They hope this source of income will keep them from chopping down the trees to sell for firewood. Idealistic yes, but any little bit helps. It all feels so scientific too. I have to fill out a form for every butterfly tagged with all the information about sex, wild or reared, location, date released etc. I can't say it enough, it's just so COOL! Can you tell I'm excited about it? lol As for the necklaces, it's pretty simple but a steady hand does help. I take a piece of string or cord, put a dot of hot glue on the cord and then attach the chrysalis. I lift the string up slightly from the table and then just gently slide the chrysalis over to "meet" the bead of glue so I'm not constantly holding the chrysalis. It's time consuming and nerve-wracking but it keeps them safe. I never carry a cat or chrysalis in my hand, I always put them in a container so no accidents happen, which inevitably do. This year I tossed old milkweed in the compost after checking for any cats but missed one. Thankfully, he found his way to the milkweed garden and I found him and kept him safe. Opps! For those of you further south than me, it's still not too late to order your tags. Where I am the Monarchs will all be gone in a couple of weeks, but your season is longer. Have fun! P.S. I tagged two more today!

Target usually puts them on sale post-holiday. I have a set of red and a set of copper with a beaded trim. I boughts sets of 8 and now I wish I had gotten the extra 4. Especially the copper color since this year I could use them for Thanksgiving, oh well. They are beautiful. I love using them, and luvs, yes you will have to endure questions. My very observant 10 yr. old nephew asked one evening why does everything have beads on it here???? He's my godchild as well, so I just told him I like things that sparkle:)). Happy Thanksgiving!