Happy House Sparrow
The house sparrow seems to be everywhere. Lately he's been a frequent visitor to my feeders. In his honor, I've created him out of felt. Right click on this link and select "Save Target As" to save this house sparrow pattern to your computer (on a...
Suspended Animation
This visitor had me keep Paul and Hannah waiting as we were trying to get out the door today to go shopping. It's that addiction thing. I followed the woodpecker (Downy? Hairy?) from the kitchen to the living room scrambling to get the camera...
The Morning After
The morning after another snowfall.
I Think I’m Addicted
I think I'm addicted to photographing birds. Paul and Hannah had a bird theme going for my Christmas gifts. I received four new feeders and a Birds of Maine field guide the other day. Paul helped me hang three of the feeders. One we've simply...
Wrapping Up Christmas
Christmas morning 2014 dawned bright and COLD. We are blessed to have this day together, cozy and warm in the comfort of our home. Many of our friends in the community are still without power following three crazy storms - the latest dropping...
Merry Christmas!
My grandmother's aunt, Elizabeth Stroble, created this beautiful linoleum block print when she was an art teacher at Central High School in St.Paul, Minnesota (1940s-1950s). Carved with the help of her students, she sent these to family and friends...
Chickadees On Ice
When I ventured outdoors this morning, I couldn't help but admire the chickadees as they flitted in and out of the icy branches. Here in Maine, the are my most faithful visitors. The freezing rain started up again as I admired the view from my...
Icy Wonderland
We woke this morning to no power. No happy smell of coffee. No happy smoke coming from the wood boiler out the window. Our entire world was covered in a layer of ice. Curiously, exactly one year ago we also woke to no power - the result of a...
A Flock of Doves
It started this morning when I ventured outside to fill the bird feeders - in my jammies and muck boots, nonetheless. I made quite the picture. You can do that when you live in the woods. At first there was just one. And then two. And three. Before...
The Curious Scrub Jay
My latest bird was inspired by Julie who wrote: My grandfather used to feed the scrub jays peanuts. They would fly in and land all over him-from his head to arms to be fed peanuts in the shells. If he was late feeding them they would peck at his...
Digging Out. Again.
For the second time in four days we had to dig out. This second doozy of a storm dropped another 12 inches. The white stuff is beginning to pile up – and it’s not officially winter. This is the view out the French doors. Somewhere out there are my...
Ode to a Pack Rat
This is the view from our bedroom window. The first thing we do every morning is peak out and see if there is "happy smoke." Happy smoke from the chimney means that all is working well, we didn't run out of wood overnight, and the house is toasty...
The Spectacular King Eider Duck
The King Eider is a sea duck prized among hunters. A sighting in this neck of the woods is rare. The male is spectacular with his bright, bold coloring. Our hike last weekend where we spotted a variety of ducks reminded me that this guy was on my...
No Snow, No Spirit
December is here and the holiday festivities have begun, but the Christmas Spirit hasn't quite settled in yet. Maybe it's my crazy schedule or something else, but I find myself searching for that essence of Joy. We made a concerted effort this...
COLD Day For a Hike at Petit Manan
Yesterday, when it was somewhat moderate outside, Hannah asked if we could go for a hike today. Today turned out to be a frigid 27 degrees with a crisp breeze added to the mix. Still, we motivated and hiked the Hollingsworth Trail at the Petit...
The Blue Billed Ruddy Duck
Not long ago, a Mrs. Ruddy wrote and asked me to make a Ruddy Duck pattern. Not being familiar with her namesake, I googled it. Once I saw how fun he was, I knew I had to make him. His blue bill makes him quite unique! Right click here and select...
Owl Tree Finds a Home
I created this Owl Be Home For Christmas tree (pictured far right) for the Women’s Health Resource Library’s Christmas Tree Auction & Festival. For weeks I worked on these owls in snippets of stolen time here and there. When I delivered my...
High School Basketball – Another First
Her first high school basketball game. Funny, I thought I was done with basketball bleacher warming after elementary school. Not so. Tonight she was a Narraguagus Lady Knight on the JV team. She was nervous and excited and so proud to wear her...
Adding Wire Feet To Your Felt Birds
A number of readers have written asking for more detail about how I make the feet for my felt birds. There's no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to making these little birds! In fact, I tend to make things up as I go along. So here's my latest...
Northern Saw-whet Owl 2013
I first designed a saw-whet owl last year. I was never particularly happy with with the way he turned out. As I was working on my Owl Be Home For Christmas Tree for a local non-profit auction (read more about this here - you can bid on this tree...
Thanksgiving Misstep
This Thanksgiving I decided not to make a pie for dessert. Paul is working hard to lose weight and Hannah doesn't like pumpkin pie. So why bother? Yesterday morning, as things in the kitchen were gearing up, Hannah asked, "Aren't we making a pie?"...
The Sofa View
The turkey is roasting and the pie has been baked. I sit here at my spot on the sofa, reflecting on this Thanksgiving afternoon, my family enjoying a quiet day beside me. It's been a busy couple of weeks and I'm liking this sojourn together. I...
Owl Be Home for Christmas Tree Auction
I have created this Owl Be Home for Christmas Tree for an auction that will benefit a local non-profit group. This 3' tall table-top Christmas tree features ten of my original felt owl ornaments. Each ornament is double-sided with feet fashioned...
Simply Sweet Short Eared Owl
This short-eared owl’s heart-shaped face makes her appear simply sweet. Right click here and select “Save Target As” to save this free Short-eared Owl pattern to your computer (on a PC). Purchase a complete kit with expanded instructions to make...
Moose Sighting
Hannah's excitement of the day was catching this moose with her iPod camera. I envision every kid on the school bus crammed over to one side with their iPods and phones pressed to the bus windows!
