Lovely World

spring thoughts

Another thunderstorm with hard rain this morning. I was out walking my brother's dog while he and his family are away. We took shelter before the height of the storm.

So many wildflowers to see now: red trillium, trout lily, and spring beauties. Also skunk cabbage and fiddleheads. We hope to hike on Pine Cobble this weekend. There are many, many ladies' slippers there, although it might be too early for them.

Do you like the flamingo so far? Wings, eyes, and legs today.

The wildflower paintings are from a very large, old guide book I found at the library book sale. The paintings are quite nice, particularly in the large format.

My daughter changed the quilt on her bed. I love the blue and white. Her room is so quiet. I hope she will always be able to have such a retreat.

more about birds

Warm temperatures. Thunder storms. Daffodils in the garden. Wildflowers along the trail in the woods. I think spring is settling in.

I purchased this Peterson's Field Guide to Birds' Nests at the library book sale last week. I am enjoy looking through the pages at the wide variety of nesting that birds do. What a leap of faith for these birds to leave such fragile packages among the branches of trees and brush, or even on the ground. I guess it is the same leap of faith that we humans take when we have a baby. I believe that pregnancy and parenting are such practices in letting go. Letting go of control. Letting go of preconceived notions of how things should be. These are not always easy lessons. And they can bring both great joy and terrible heartbreak.

I made a couple more linen and wool wading birds. I think I will make a flamingo next. I have some beautiful pink hand-dyed wool and pink linen. I am also working out some patterns for butterflies. I see the wings as opportunities for embroidery. These are my spring projects.

calendar and book

{Calendar Week 17}

Remember that you can see the calendar closer up if you click the photo.

Book 16/52:

Hannah Pittard's The Fates Will Find Their Way

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I plan to be back here more regularly now. See you as the week begins. XO

busy

Busy.

My children are on school break.

Passover began yesterday evening. We had 15 people for our seder. A very nice time, after days of preparation.

Our public library's annual used book sale is this coming Friday and Saturday. I am very involved in organizing this event. Today we moved two moving trucks full of boxes of books to the school gymnasium. We unload and set up over the next two days. Hard work, but good work. And it is very satisfying work for a book lover.

I apologize if I owe you an email, and for being a bit absent from my usual blog reading.

I've been busy.

Many years I find myself in July, wondering what happened to those lovely months of April, May, and June. These are often months full of activity. I am committing myself to a mindful appreciation of spring this year. Yes, this week is a busy one, but I am going to stop and notice and be present.

calendar and book

{Calendar Week 16}

More bird love. It has been a week of birds.

Book 15/52:

Allison Hoover Bartlett's The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

wading bird

Thank you all for your nice comments about the birds I posted earlier this week.

I just finished this bird. It is a wading bird. Long legs, long neck, long beak. I am very happy with its sturdy elegance.

I will be listing some new things, including birds, in my etsy shop. I will let you know in this space when that happens. Also, if anyone would like me to make a bird in a particular color, I can do a special order for you. Just let me know. I have many colors of hand-dyed wool just waiting to be turned into a lovely creature.

watercolor birds

I finished these new birds last week. I am very happy with the bright and cheery colors. The hand-dyed wool is so nice to work with. I especially like cutting and stitching the tail feathers.

It was 77 degrees here yesterday. The resident birds worked themselves into a frenzy of song. I can hear them out there again today. I expect we'll be seeing baby birds before too long. I also heard the frogs peeping last evening. That is a sure sign of spring. The peepers are one of my earliest childhood memories. I remember my mother holding me as we stood outside in the growing dark. She told me that the peeping sound that enveloped us was the frogs awaking to spring.

What is it that makes early memories? An experience with strong emotion surrounding it? An experience reinforced by repeated retelling? An experience of something so new that it deeply embeds in our mind and heart?

calendar and book

{Calendar Week 15}

My calendar was influenced by Poppytalk's spring color week. Thanks to Jan.

Book 14/52:

Jeannette Walls' Half Broke Horses

(This is the story of Walls' maternal grandmother. I liked it as much, if not more, than The Glass Castle.)

poppytalk white

Friday is the final day of spring color week at Poppytalk. White!

In particular, I was happy to revisit these photos of the goose egg and cotton boll that my friend gave me for my last birthday.

I hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be here to post my calendar and book on Sunday.

poppytalk lavender

Thursday is lavender during Poppytalk's color week!

I've pulled out some vintage patchwork squares. The ones on top and bottom are quite old, from the early part of the 20th century. The one in the middle, signed by the maker in embroidery, was probably made a little later around the 1930s or 1940s. I like the middle patch of the top one - the little spade-shaped leaf pattern - and the bark-like pattern of the bottom one.