Makin' Softies

We've had some new friends come to stay with us this summer. I sent my stringer photographer (my daughter) outside to photograph some of them. This dapper guy above, who she had to wake up for this photo (those heavy lids give him away), is Hoot-Hoot II. As you can see, he's a night owl and really likes his evenings out on the town swing dancing. (He was inspired by this pattern from Green Kitchen.)

Our wet spring has carried over to an equally wet summer, and we seem to have toadstools popping up all over the place.

This one above was my first attempt at a toadstool for Lucykate Craft's Toadstool Swap.


As you can tell, the design is all over the place. I tried to go for the bell shape of the American Lepiota. And those pearl buttons are to dress him up like a Pearly King.


It's nice and shady underneath our old oak tree, and, look, here's another toadstool, this one in oranges and purples.


It looks like it could be one of the common forest mushrooms from the genus Boletus.

This one was my second attempt, and I followed the pattern to the letter (to the extent of my abilities, that is). I had a hard time getting him to stay standing up, but my son thinks he makes a great lovey.

And what's that peeking out behind the ground cover in our side yard? Could it be the toxic and quite hallucinogenic Amanita muscaria?

Let's push back those leaves. Yes, indeed it is. And a lovely mother-and-daughter pair at that.
They're more used to hanging out under conifers, so my photographer let them take a rest in Hoot-Hoot's crabapple tree for a change in scenery. The little one is nestling close in to mom.