Kathie Fife Art and Ecology

09/08/2026

Anyone seen these beetles before? They are so bizarre! I’m glad I didn’t touch them. After identifying them on iNaturalist.org I discovered they have a very interesting life cycle associated with bees. They are called oil or blister beetles because they secrete an oily substance when threatened and can cause severe burns that are slow to heal. They are native to New Hampshire so nothing to be alarmed about, just don’t touch!

After some more research, these little beetles pack some potentially deadly chemicals. Be careful with pets, horses, and livestock. They can be found in hay / alfalfa.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/poisoning/cantharidin-poisoning-blister-beetle-poisoning

Learn more: https://thesmallermajority.com/2012/10/08/life-saving-beetles/

09/08/2026

Praying Mantis at Canterbury Shaker Village today. Those moments when you wish you had that macro lens with you. iPhone photo.

09/01/2026

Unfortunately, symptoms are all too often contributed only to mental health, however, mental health clinicians are not trained to look beyond the symptoms for a root cause. Primary care physicians receive very basic training and do not receive extensive training on the connection of chronically ill patients with raging infections. Patients who are not responding to mental health treatment, or labeled “treatment resistant depression” could be fighting infections.

Know how to advocate for yourself and find doctors trained in tick borne diseases at ILADS.org

These findings support the hypothesis that persistent Bartonella and Babesia spp. infections may have a causal role in chronic illness and potentially suicidality in young people. More research is needed to determine the prevalence and role of these pathogens in patients with chronic physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms and suicidal ideation.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-026-07541-8

Background Vector-borne diseases represent an emerging global threat to public health, yet the potential role of flea and tick-borne pathogens as a cause or cofactor in neuropsychiatric illnesses and suicidal ideation remains relatively uninvestigated. Co-infections with vector-borne Babesia and Bar...

08/27/2026

New! Just finished making this drawstring bag for the Grand Reopening of the Bee House Celebration at Canterbury Shaker Village this Saturday from 12-4!

I loved making this after finding a beautiful fabric that celebrates the beauty of the earth. It includes so many details customers are looking for: dragonflies, mushrooms, flowers, and insects! And, matching fabric magnets sets, too!

Stop by my booth during the event and see what new creations I have made especially for this wonderful event.

🐝 I’ll have some new bee art items and favorite Shaker greeting cards. 🍲 🥧

Join us Saturday, August 29th from 12-4pm, at Canterbury Shaker Village for their Bee House Grand Reopening! Visit the new Shaker exhibition on agriculture in the newly updated Bee House. Then enjoy an afternoon of talks, tours, and demonstrations centered around bees and agriculture from community partners, as well as, children’s activities, a vendor market of local artisans, food service, honeycomb ice cream, and a b**r garden.

This is a free event.

Thank you to sponsorship provided by Grappone Automotive Group for admissions, Der Markt at Marklin for children’s activities, and Sheehan Phinney for ice cream. Full schedule and info can be found at shakers.org/beehouse.

Canterbury Shaker Village
Grappone Automotive Group

08/25/2026

We’ll bee at the event, will you? 😊

🐝 I’ll have some new bee art items and favorite Shaker greeting cards. 🍲 🥧

Join us Saturday, August 29th from 12-4pm, at Canterbury Shaker Village for their Bee House Grand Reopening! Visit the new Shaker exhibition on agriculture in the newly updated Bee House. Then enjoy an afternoon of talks, tours, and demonstrations centered around bees and agriculture from community partners, as well as, children’s activities, a vendor market of local artisans, food service, honeycomb ice cream, and a b**r garden.

This is a free event.

Thank you to sponsorship provided by Grappone Automotive Group for admissions, Der Markt at Marklin for children’s activities, and Sheehan Phinney for ice cream. Full schedule and info can be found at shakers.org/beehouse.

Canterbury Shaker Village
Grappone Automotive Group

08/17/2026

08/16/2026

This Saturday is the NH Monarch Festival! Join us for an engaging day of learning, fun activities, and creativity!

🐛Bonus: Dress up in appropriate monarch attire and receive free admission.

Kids activities include a Caterpillar Crawl, Face Painting, Scavenger Hunts, Passports, hands on crafts, and much more!!

While the kids are busy with games and crafts, adults can enjoy their own lineup of hands-on learning and community engagement throughout the day. Some educational opportunities may include:

- Native plant gardening mini talks from vendors
- Nature journaling with a local guide
- Monarch learning stations with helpful information and free seeds
- Host plants and how to grow them
- Garden design consultation with expert gardeners
- Conservation group presentations and data sharing
- Community science projects and ways to contribute
- Latest technology and science studies
- Tagging demonstrations, including both sticker tags and the latest nanotags

We look forward to seeing you there!

08/15/2026

Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Monarch Butterflies!

This Saturday, August 22 from 10-5 is the NH Monarch Festival in Belmont. Witness live caterpillars and butterflies up close, listen to enlightening talks about their habitats, pollinators, and the importance of conservation.

🖼️ 🦋 There will be hands-on activities for both kids and adults, so don’t miss out on the chance to learn and engage. Be sure to check out the schedule of activities for the day. https://www.nhmonarchfestival.com/

💚 Stop by my booth and receive complimentary information on Lyme ecology and tick testing. I’ll also be showcasing my latest creations of monarch butterfly art, inspired by this special event.

👍 Subscribe to my new YouTube channel!

Like, comment, and let me know what new content you would like me to share.

https://youtu.be/v6tpHvKM-eM?is=Cge5O2V28fSTj0H4

Tiny Art Fabric Magnets are a delightful way to enhance your living...

08/08/2026

Join us for a special day celebrating the wonders of monarchs at the NH Monarch Festival August 22nd in Belmont. A great family event. Art, education, and fun! Visit my booth to shop monarch art and take home free Lyme ecology information. Ask me questions about Lyme ecology!