Hi! Welcome to my blog. I am a single mom trying to rebuild my life in an unanticipated new direction. For me, leaving an abusive marriage was confusing, scary and full of anxiety. I lost so many of the pieces of the person that I had been becoming. As part of my healing journey, I am working on trying to reconnect with these pieces.
I am an entomologist.
My interest in insects started at a young age with woolly bear caterpillars (Pyrrharctia isabella J. E. Smith, 1797). Soon, my interest expanded to all insects with butterflies as a favorite. As a teenager, I often wished for the wings and freedom of a butterfly. Realizing I could study them as a career, I knew I would become an entomologist. Little did I know then that my fear of snakes would redirect me from butterflies to my passion: native bees.
I am a fiber artist.
Crocheting and knitting are two of the main ways I express my creativity. As a child, I loved being wrapped in the crochet blankets my mom would make. As an adult, I missed having so many blankets, so I taught myself to crochet and then to knit. For me, crocheting and knitting are also how I coped with leaving an abusive marriage during a global pandemic. Creating Sophie’s Universe by Dedri Uys (https://lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/sophies-universe-cal-2015/sophies-universe-cal-2015-information/) was a therapeutic project for me.
I am a nature lover.
As a child, I could spend all day every day outside just lost in my own imagination as I explored our wooded backyard. I was fascinated by the mosses and lichens growing on the rocks and the tiny world of ants. Camping and backpacking trips are some of my favorite childhood memories. These days, I make every effort to add hiking to our overpacked schedule. We love going out to try to “collect” new species with Seek (https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app).
I am a photographer.
There are so many amazing insects and plants out there. I love capturing these fascinating creatures and sharing them with the world. My photography is my way of sharing how I see the world around me. To give those around me a glimpse of the world through my eyes.
I invite you to join me on my journey to rediscover these different pieces of myself as I share my favorite insects, the projects I am crocheting or knitting, the adventures I find, my photography and life as a single mom.