barefoot ridge

10/19/2026

If you don’t think these are the cutest, don’t worry—I was wrong once too. 😂

Tiny gourds. Curly little stems. Absolutely no business being this adorable.

Will I grow them again purely for the emotional support? Obviously.

10/19/2026

In some alternate universe this is how I would spend every day. Hanging out with people and showing then how to make things with their own two hands.

Maybe when I grow up - until then, I’ll be trying to have as many mini classes at Krans Kafe!

I hope you’ll join us !

🎄✨ DECK THE DOORSTEP! ✨🎄

Let’s get festive! Join us at Krans Kafe on November 29th at 2 PM for a holiday doormat painting party with Barefoot Ridge! ❤️🎨

Choose your favorite design — Gingerbread House 🍪, Christmas Trees 🌲, or Holly Jolly ❤️ — and create a festive welcome mat to make your doorstep merry and bright!

🎨 All supplies included
☕ Enjoy a drink while you paint
🎄 $40 per person

✨ Here is the RSVP link or stop in to reserve your spot!

https://shopentwined.com/Deck-the-Doorstep-Event-on-11-29-26-p871359856

Grab your friends, sip something delicious, and kick off the holiday season with a little creativity and a whole lot of Christmas cheer! ❤️

📍 Krans Kafe
📅 November 29th | 2 PM
📞 Text: (309) 525-3532 for any questions

Spots are sure to fill up, so don’t wait to join the fun! 🎅🏼✨

10/19/2026

Murderous Monday: The Monarch “Black Death”

Unfortunately, not every monarch chrysalis makes it to butterfly.

Monarch raisers sometimes use the nickname “Black Death” when a caterpillar or chrysalis becomes unusually dark and dies. It’s not the name of one specific disease. Several bacterial and viral infections can cause similar symptoms.

And here’s where it gets confusing: a dark monarch chrysalis can also be completely normal.

A healthy chrysalis naturally changes from bright green to darker and more transparent shortly before the butterfly emerges. When that happens, you should eventually be able to see the monarch’s orange-and-black wings through the chrysalis.

Things that are more concerning:

Darkening that happens unevenly or too early
Brown or black discoloration without visible wing patterns
A chrysalis that becomes soft, shriveled or starts leaking
A caterpillar that turns dark, limp or seems to “melt”
If you suspect an infection, separate it from other monarchs, wash your hands after handling it, and disinfect any rearing containers or equipment before using them again. Some pathogens can spread between caterpillars.

This chrysalis is currently on my watch list. Nature gets the final say on whether we’re looking at a butterfly getting ready to emerge—or one that isn’t going to make it.

Murderous Monday: because raising monarchs is apparently equal parts gardening, entomology and worrying about tiny things you have absolutely no control over.

10/18/2026

Spent all day yesterday outside making wreaths.

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

Freaky Friday at Barefoot Ridge

I lifted a pot and found this tiny armored potato underneath.

It’s a pill bug, or a roly-poly if you grew up calling them that. Despite the name, it isn’t an insect. It’s a land-dwelling crustacean, related to crabs and shrimp. It curls into a ball when disturbed, which is a fairly reasonable response to someone picking up your roof. (citybugs.tamu.edu⁠, ipm.ucanr.edu⁠)

Pill bugs like damp hiding places and mostly eat decaying leaves and other dead plant material. They help break that stuff down, though they can nibble tender seedlings or fruit sitting on wet soil. So they’re welcome to help with cleanup, but I’ll be keeping an eye on my strawberries. (ipm.ucanr.edu⁠, extension.msstate.edu⁠)

Did you call these roly-polies, pill bugs, or something else?

10/15/2026

Stop by today!

Pumpkin + succulent arrangements are ready! $35 each.

Cash in the drop box or Venmo, please 🙏🏻
-Segura

Fall décor that comes with more plants. That’s how we justify this purchase. 😂

Just keep them in bright, indirect light, and they can last for months! When the pumpkin starts to soften, remove the succulents and pot them up. They’ll have had time to grow roots, so you can keep them long after pumpkin season.

Available on the table beside our driveway—PM for the address!

They’ll be out as long as the weather and squirrels permit. One of those groups has already proven they cannot be trusted.