Holy Grackle!
Holy Grackle! There must have been 100 or more in the yard shortly after I filled the feeder. I now understand why they call a flock of grackles "a plague!"
Retro Beaded Christmas Ornament
I played with this little ornament a while back but never shared it. It's inspired by some of the glass ornament of the 1950s and 60. Mix and match your colors or create your own beading patterns. For this one I used Baby Blue felt and Strawberry...
Birds on Branches Christmas Ornaments – Round 2
I had so much fun with my Birds on Branches last week that I had to make more. Last week I experimented with a lightly stuffed felt Blue Jay ornament and mixed media collage ornaments. This mourning dove, my favorite of the new designs, is finished...
Birds on Branches Mixed Media Ornaments and Gift Tags
Yesterday I shared my Birds on Branches Christmas Ornament Patterns with Blue Jay, Cardinal, Chickadee, Titmouse, Goldfinch, and Nuthatch patterns. Today I experimented with making the ornaments out of paper. I started by tracking the circle on a...
Birds on Branches Christmas Ornaments
This week, I've spent my evenings in front of the television playing with these Birds on Branches Christmas Ornaments. They are four-inch circle bird scenes. Because the birds are so small to fit in this space, I slightly simplified the designs...
Autumn Between the Raindrops
A few autumn shots captured in between the raindrops today. With any luck, we'll still have some color on the trees when this storm passes.
Birding from the Porch
Mother nature has recently provided us several days in the upper 50s and lower 60s. While not porch weather right off the mark, by late morning, I've been able to migrate to the porch - even if it's with a blanket. I love my house with big windows...
Southern Corea Heath Trail
The weather this weekend has been glorious. Hannah's been a bit under the weather and not up for a full-fledged hike, so we drove to the Southern Corea Heath Trail and simply enjoyed being outdoors with a beautiful view. We were the only ones at...
Shabby Chic Owls Join the SHOP
. , So many people have asked about kits for my shabby chic owls. I've put together a limited run of kits based on my favorite shabby chic owl design using the brown/gold daisy fabric on the wing. Available while supplies last! One option in the...
Autumn Shabby Chic Joyful Owls
Last weekend I started working on felt Joyful Wreath Owls - thinking ahead to this year's Winter Tree Festival and Auction. I love making these gray felt wreath owls. Then I started thinking about something a little different. How could I switch...
September Sunday Visitors
Visitors on a dreary Sunday afternoon.
A Maine Full Moon
Hannah and I are back home in Maine. We were greeted by this spectacular full moon rising over the water this evening. Photo credit Hannah!
Sunflower Farm Adventure
Our last day in Pennsylvania, we ventured down to Chambersburg for a peek at a sunflower farm. I've had my fingers crossed that the weather would cooperate after a mostly rainy week. From a mile away down the road, we could see the ocean of yellow....
Hershey Gardens Butterfly Atrium
Hannah's and my trip to Pennsylvania is ending - just one more day before we return to Maine on Saturday. Our only agenda item for this trip was a visit to Hershey Gardens. After days of rain, the weather finally cooperated today. The trip's...
The Little Brown Bat
Inspired by the Halloween decorations in the stores, I designed the Little Brown Bat - an often requested pattern. I'm on vacation with my folks in Pennsylvania and don't have my felt supplies at hand, so the prototype for this guy is in Halloween...
The Majestic Mountain Lion
The presence of mountain lions in Maine is often debated. In 2018 federal officials declared the Eastern Cougar extinct. However, every year there are reported sightings that leave us wondering. Friends shared that they spotted one outside their...
A Late Afternoon Linger
Hannah and I had a late afternoon linger on the beach today. And it's my favorite time of year - shorebird migration season. We spotted common plovers, sandpipers, yellow legs, and a great blue heron. #summertimeinmaine
August Visit to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
A visit to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was part of our punch list for this summer. We checked that one off the list - my fifth visit to the gardens in Boothbay. From a distance, the view colors were glorious. Looking closer, it became clear...
Muddy Bald Eagle
Close to low tide this afternoon on the Pleasant River - a muddy Bald Eagle enjoying a sea worm. Just the two of us and a couple of crows.
#23 Birthday Woes
Hannah's birthday was on Friday (Happy 23!). Given that she's adulting and had to work both Friday and the better part of Saturday, we planned to celebrate Saturday evening. Unexpectedly, our 18-year-old oven stopped working on Friday. An early...
Evening Dragonfly
Dragonflies - fascinating little flying machines that bring such delight. This one likes the volunteer cattails that sprouted in the pond this year.
Twenty-five Years With This Man
Twenty-five years.A quarter of a century.The best years of my life have been with this man.Thank you, Paul, for your love, your patience, the adventures, the quiet times, the crazy times, and a wonderful child who is more like you every day.I love...
Long-awaited Disappointment
When I was young, my maternal grandparents lived in Montgomery, Ohio. From my earliest visits to their home, I have snapshots of memories; no great detail but hazy pictures. My grandpa's radio. Going to school with my grandmother. The Hadley potter...
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Today we celebrate my dad's 86th birthday. It's been a rough year for my family, with mom in the hospital twice. I've made four trips to Pennsylvania so far to visit with mom and dad, and I've treasured every one of them. The older I get, the more...
Magical Moments
Early this morning, I was enjoying my coffee on the porch. A rustle in the woods put Gidget on alert. No barking, yet she was standing at attention at the edge of her fence. I looked up and caught the hint of a White-tail doe. And then a tiny...
