hootie...gives a hoot?

Groundhog Day???

2012-02-07T16:03:00.001-05:00

Being curious about nature, I can't help but wonder...where, when, how and why did Groundhog Day begin?

Of course I turned to Google to help answer this riddle: ????

And because my past week has been a little crazy, I had to look up the declaration of Phil this year. Did you hear? I guess I was snug in bed, or else getting ready for my day when he made his prediction: Phil's prediction for 2012.

*****

I started to think of the few animals I have seen near my house over the past month and wondered what their takes on an early spring would be...if they were the official spokes-animal for February 2nd.

***The Coyote***

Maybe he'd be sly like a fox and tell me to bring him two dead chickens and then he'd give me an answer.

***The Buck***

What? Are you talking to me???

You wanna piece of me? Rut time is it?

I'll tell you rut time, you touch my does and I'll kill you.

You come near my does, and I'll kill you.

You even look at my does...and I'll kill you.

***The Eagle***

Dear Human, come any closer to me and I will snap that little doggie of yours in two and then give chase to you and your camera. Who cares if spring will be early or not. Now go, before I get angry. I'm watching you. Remember, I can see you from two miles away. Go.

*****

When I commented to my 19 year old son that I wondered if Phil would see his shadow or not, he just looked at me and shook his head. "That is the most ridiculous holiday of all" he told me. It's not a holiday, I responded.

It's just a celebration, and a reminder.

A reminder that my birthday will be here in about six more weeks! :) Which means that the wildflowers will be here soon too! Yeah!

Happy Groundhog's Day!

2012-02-03T18:03:00.000-05:00

Oops! I am out of town with my iPad and trying to update what I thought was a posting I started yesterday! I can't find my pictures on the posting. I can't upload from my iPad. So I will have to say, Happy Belated Groundhog's Day! I'll update this posting with pictures when I am back at home.

Rules for Hiking with Hootie - #1

2012-01-21T15:04:00.001-05:00

Based on personal experience, I have a rule that anyone who hikes with me needs to follow...

If you take your cell phone with us, it must be turned ON. Unlike going to the movies, we want to hear it just incase it decides to take it's own little tour of the woods without us.

I don't think I can instill the safety-orange-colored-case-all-cell-phones-that-hike-in-the-woods-should-be-in rule since I haven't actually seen those cases. Hmm, maybe I can invent them?

P.S. This is NOT my phone in the pictures. Also, it wasn't the first one to take a little tour on it's own while out hiking with me. :)

Forgotten...update 1/20

2012-01-20T13:26:00.001-05:00

I am sure that this emotional roller coaster I am on can and will continue for some time! I hope any readers that I do have will be able to bear with me.

Today, I went by early to see my FIL...when my MIL wasn't around. See, if she is there and she sees you walk in she will loudly say, "Well, look who is here, it's your (fill in connection), (fill in appropriate name)."

That is fine, but my FIL has still stared at us after she's said that with a look that says I should know you, but I don't.

So I dropped by early today. Dad seemed more alert. I have checked his medications and they should not be causing him to have cognitive problems. I asked if he remembered my name and he told me he'd tell me later. His speech was pretty slow and labored...like he was really thinking about what he wanted to say. Later on the speech therapist came to work with him. He looked at me but spoke to her and he asked if she knew who I was. She said yes and then was going to make the connection for him but I stopped her. I asked him if he was ready to tell her who I was. He not only got my name, but he knew I was his DIL and who I was married to. He also identified my daughter, who had texted me...yes, she is at high school, when I said I had just heard from her. He even knew how old she was!!!

A good morning. :)

It's a really nice feeling when you can see hints of who a person is still inside of them. Aging pretty much sucks though. Especially watching it happen so up close and personally. Thanks friends for being on this ride with me. Special hugs to Lauranie and Leslie. xoxoxo

Forgotten...

2012-01-19T12:18:00.000-05:00

Shortly after I met my future husband, my own father passed away.

My father was my first love and I did put him up on a pedestal. When he died suddenly I was devastated but, I was 21 and my relationship with my dad had evolved.

Still, I loved having a father figure in my life. Someone I could have things in common with (my love of the beach and ocean), someone I could do things with (take my kids fishing when they were little), someone who seemed proud of what I was doing in my life and someone I could ask advice from and I knew they had my best interests in mind.

*****

Naturally my Father-in-Law (FIL) ended up filling that bill for my need to have a father still in my life. I have been such a lucky girl!

with my FIL...October 2011

About 14 years ago my husband and I were able to move back to his hometown...where his parents still lived. Almost four years ago we were fortunate enough to purchase the house right next door to my in-laws. Right next to the house my husband grew up in! Maybe 40 feet away from my hubby's old bedroom! When we bought the house, the folks who lived in it (for the most recent 25 years past), commented that this was exactly what they hoped and dreamed would happen. If you ever met my in-laws you would understand why, they are wonderful people. I do feel truly blessed that my life has played out as it has.

*****

Three weeks ago though my FIL, who is 86 and surprisingly enough is aging, hit a little bump in life. He has spent his recent time going back and forth from the hospital to a nearby nursing home rehab facility. He has not been home...nor is he okay. If you talk to my MIL, she'll sing a different song than I do. I understand, he is just my father-in-law...he is not my husband or dad.

Two days ago my FIL didn't remember who I was. Because I had been there at 4 in the afternoon, I thought maybe he was just tired and needed rest. I went back yesterday at noon. No change. I am still struggling to deal with this. I am gun shy on going back today. What a chicken I am.

Could this be medication induced? Or is this just where things have progressed with his dementia?

Family members who do not live nearby do not call or email me to ask how things are going. Life goes on and that's fine. Really it is. I don't even know what to say anymore.

I am very glad we gently pushed for all to come a visit my FIL this past fall.

To make me smile...

2011-12-29T00:34:00.001-05:00

Last week, my kids surprised me and cut out paper snowflakes and decorated the house. Being as they are older teens, I was totally touched by their thoughtfulness.

My daughter was mostly the snowflake maker while my son made homemade eggnog. It was a nice Christmas surprise since I had been in a sad mood earlier in the day.

Kids... :)

P.S. this posting is an experiment, since I am trying to be a little mobile and post.

Christmas Baking

2011-12-16T07:39:00.002-05:00

Last week I enjoyed one of my favorite past times...baking in my kitchen!

The treats I made are: Christmas Tree Spritz Cookies, Snowball looking Almond Cookies, Buckeyes, English Toffee, Puppy Chow (not really baking) and Kolacky.

I love having many choices to offer my family after dinner this time of year. Growing up, my grandmother on my mom's side would make several different cookies too. I remember 6 or 7 huge Tupperware containers that she'd have in her cold, garage from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Each container was a different type of cookie. She would have one container filled with of each of her children's favorites and then another one or two cookies. My mom had three brothers and a sister.

My own mom wasn't much of a cook, but she did make Buckeyes when I was little. It's her recipe I use in my kitchen. My siblings, and a few good friends, know to expect a container of these from me each year.

The Kolacky is a newer cookie to my baking. It is a polish cookie made with poppy seed filling. My grandmother on my dad's side made very traditional Polish/Slavonic food...which is part of my heritage. I loved our Christmas Eve's with my dad's family. If you enjoy reminiscing, click on this memory from my past: My Christmas History. I loved my grandmother's poppy seed bread, but I don't know that my family would like it, so I have opted for a cookie version. I like the results, but I still think my grandmother's bread was the best. Maybe I'll try making a loaf this next week.

The English Toffee is a recipe I discovered about 20 years ago. My daughter loves it so much that it was what she requested this summer for her birthday; no cake, just toffee.

Do you have any special treats you make this time of year?

PIF- Handmade...with a touch of Hootie

2011-12-10T08:53:00.001-05:00

Last January, on Facebook, a friend put out a request for other crafting souls to take place in a Pay-it-Forward Handmade post. I decided to play along. The only requirements were that you re-posted the "rules" and sent out something you made to people (who commented on your posting)...and you had a year to do it. Thank goodness for that time! It only took me 10 months to make and then send my little treats!

I decided to do something Hootie-ish. I learned how to knit dish cloths back in the mid-eighties from my husband's Gma. It's a pretty basic knitting pattern. Sugar and Creme is the yarn and size 6 are my needles. You are staring at one corner and increasing by one stitch each time after the initial 4 stitches. Knitting only for this pattern! Cast on 4, knit those 4, then K2 (knit 2), YO (one), knit to the end for every row until you have between 40 and 44 stitches on your needle. To go back down you K1, K2T (knit 2 together), YO, K2T and then knit to the end...until you only have 4 stitches left. K2T, K2T...then you should only have 2 stitches left. Knit those 2 together and bind off. Easy, peasy, lemon, squeezy!

Well, to make my basic dish cloth a little more Hootie-ish...I found this FREE pattern: Owl dish cloth.

But of course that wouldn't be enough for my friends! In my household, we can easily run a knife in the kitchen sink over a dish cloth and make a hole. Hence, our dish cloths don't last as long as they should/could. I won't name names, but this seems to only happens when that DH of mine washes dishes...could it be his secret ploy for getting out of dish washing???

*****

I wanted to send a little something else that would last longer too. Inspired by a local artist, Lindsay Hine Schroeder's felt Owl ornament I had bought at a handmade store, I made a "flock" of owls!

Part of the rules for the PIF were to send treats to five friends. Since I have a hard time limiting myself...seven friends responded, seven packages were sent! :)

Soldiers, Angels and Mice, Oh My!

2011-12-02T07:26:00.001-05:00

I must start this post by saying, I lied. I told my daughter I wouldn't post a picture of her in her costume on my blog this year...but while laying in bed this morning I had this idea and I just had to run with it.

Nutcracker is tonight!!!!

Once again IU is live streaming this production. Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2pm, you can tune into your computer and watch the Nutcracker for free! Here's the link: The Nutcracker

It won't go live until just before the production.

Officers lead their troops off the elevator.

Angels getting their wings, halos and blush!

Baby mice heads

I've been helping back stage this week with dress rehearsals. Having an older child in the production, she hasn't had roles where parent help is requested or required. The older girls are able to do what they need to do without being told. I was asked to help this year with a younger group of kids. I've been having a blast!

Hope you can tune in.

~Hootie

Milestones...

2011-11-22T05:14:00.001-05:00

Twenty-five years ago today, a young couple said, "I do."

*****

Have we changed much? Still young and in love!

I am filled with mixed emotions. Five years ago my mom passed away. I was by her side and my husband and children were less than five minutes away when she passed. They were coming to see her and me...it was our 20th anniversary. I'd been away from home (by her side) for like 17 days because we knew her end of life was coming. My dad died when I was 21, just before my hubby and I were engaged. My husband did get to meet and know my dad. My parents only made it to their 23rd wedding anniversary. My parents were truly in love and soul mates. I kind of wish my parents were here to help us celebrate. Since they aren't, I'll share a story from my early courtship with my husband.

*****

1985- There must have been some obvious chemistry between my latest boyfriend and myself. I was home from college for the summer and he was coming up to spend the weekend at our place, once again! My Dad and Mom seemed to really like him as did my siblings. At dinner out on one particular visit, my dad said, "You know, when I was serious about Lisa's mom her dad took me out and got me drunk to see if I was worthy of his daughter." My dad proceeded to copy my grandfather that night! After dinner we went home and played Euchre. That was our family thing. It was always my dad and myself against my brother and mom. My future hubby had to be paired with my brother and was subjected to much verbal abuse about his 'lack' of card playing skills. My dad was a teaser and my boyfriend knew that. The next day was Saturday.

As a teenager, I remember my parents always having the routine of going grocery shopping on Saturday's while my brother and I cleaned the house. When my baby sister came into the mix, she went shopping. On this Saturday, my father announced that he was going shopping and he'd be taking my boyfriend. I quickly said I'd go too, but my dad said no.

My dad was the kind of shopper who even if he had a list, would walk up and down every aisle at the store to really shop. My future hubby pushed the cart. Can you imagine being slightly hungover and made to go shop...for food!? Apparently, on the ride home my father drove to the nicest neighborhood around...even nicer than where I grew up...and stopped the car. He told my boyfriend to take a good look around. He said, "Do you see the houses around here? This is the life I expect for my daughter. Are we clear on that?"

About a month later my father passed away. I didn't hear the details of the shopping trip until much later. My hubby and I were engaged that November and married the following November.

*****

I hope my own children are as fortunate in life to find someone who they really care for and who will love them back with their whole heart.

Rut is going on?!

2011-11-13T07:41:00.001-05:00

It only takes me a second to process what I am seeing these days in the woods...it's rut time! When antlers are being brushed against the trees to de-velvet them, I know the bucks are on the prowl for a mate.

A few days after I saw the tree above, a buck popped out of the woods behind our house announcing his presence to the females munching on the berries of our trees.

The next day, Winston and I went on the hunt to find the stud. I am not scared of deer, as some people can be, but I do have a healthy respect for hormones and understand how single minded nature can get when trying to survive.

10 point Buck...

...one of his harem!

Winston and I did find the buck a few wooded blocks away from our backyard. He was hanging out with six or seven does. We did keep a safe distance away! You know I'll be looking for fawns next Memorial Day! :)

Something wicked...

2011-11-04T08:29:00.000-04:00

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." ~ act IV, scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth

It's hard to catch a MURDER on 'film'. The crows are migrating right now. If only I could capture their cacophony to share here too. It's deafening, for about 20 minutes each night

Imagine...

2011-10-16T21:25:00.000-04:00

Imagine going all summer long and bragging to your neighbors like some proud parent..."We have an Eagle's nest in the woods at the end of our road!" Taking your teenage daughter to see the nest and then have her say, "I don't think that's an eagle's nest. Have you ever seen an eagle on it? When is the last time you saw an eagle?"

True. I had, and have, not seen an eagle on the nest. Also true, I haven't seen an eagle since July. Still. There is an eagle's nest in the woods at the end of my road and I know where it is!

*****

Today we had our annual neighborhood (which really means street) potluck. Guess what some of us talked about?

As the picnic was winding down, one of the neighbors turned to me and said he and another were going to go see that nest. Did I want to come? Now, feeling like I do kind of have a claim on this nest, OF COURSE I wanted to go with!!! So shortly after the picnic ended, Winston and I headed down the road with 5 of our neighbors and their dogs. We were about 3/4 of the way to the nest when we stopped because there was a sight in front of us that made us all freeze. Sitting on the ground, very near the trail was...an eagle! Talk about apropos!

I did have my camera with me, like always. You'd think with 6 people and 6 dogs so near by the eagle would have high tailed it out of the area and not pose for his picture. Please note: these photos have been cropped. We weren't that close to him. What a majestic sight!

No Words Needed...

2011-10-12T16:27:00.000-04:00

~Hootie

Where are all the Butterflies?

2011-09-29T07:54:00.000-04:00

Fritillary butterfly

Where have all the butterflies gone this year? It seems to me that the numbers have greatly declined. I have only seen four Monarch's in the past few weeks. Just four! The above Fritillary is common near my house, but I have hardly seen any of those either. I am wondering if the drought of the past two years has played into the lack of butterflies. I am curious to see which species will boom next...hope the weather is butterfly friendly next year.

Being Whimsical! :)

2011-09-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

After years of searching, I finally am able to post a fun idea that captured my whimsical, creative spirit!

Is it too vain for me to have prints of these made and hang them in my house?

Before Irene...

2011-08-27T11:33:00.001-04:00

This summer we did vacation on NC's coast after our stop in her beautiful mountains. I always love these "going out FOR business" places!

I couldn't resist snapping this photo!

*******

The next three photos are from the top of the five story tall, Odell Williamson Bridge. This bridge is the only way onto the island of Ocean Isle, NC. I hope the residents and vacationers in the area sought safe haven in the wake of Irene.

Nearing the peak of the bridge and looking east...this island actually sits east/west.
The Inter-coastal Waterway is pictured here.

Just cresting the top...can you smell the ocean?
We always have the windows down in the van by now. Riding with us you'd hear our deep breaths and then each of us claiming to be the first to inhale the healing properties the ocean is offering.

If you are a believer, sure God lives here! :)

My girl child...feeling at home.

More beach vacation sharing...soon.

Family Time...

2011-08-09T11:55:00.000-04:00

This summer we went on our family vacation much earlier than normal. We also tried to NOT do the same old thing. Our general wants this year included taking a bicycle, hanging on the beach and accommodating a pooch. Our compromise started with family time in the mountains of North Carolina.

*********

We headed to my uncle's house first...

They rarely play so nice at home!

In the morning, it was common to see my two kids playing chess before we'd head out to hike.

This view was on the short walk down the road to the stream.

"water falls" and mountain view at the stream

Down at the stream there were several little rocky waterfalls. A family was having fun sliding down the rocks. My daughter said this was creepy that I took their picture. She's such an opinionated teen!

We joked with my uncle and aunt that this looked like Deliverance country...

...they told us it WAS filmed down one of these streams!

*********

We explored another, taller, waterfall area. My son gets the credit for this beautiful pic. He's pretty handy with my camera too!

My uncle first discovered this area when he was just out of college. He used to come here with his bride. He'd climb the rock faces of these mountains and she'd wait for him. He and my aunt fell in love with the area. My uncle was happy to show us his old stomping grounds. Fortunately for us, there are several ways to "climb" Whiteside Mountain. We were able to take the paths and old jeep route to the top.

signs...

...signs...

...everywhere signs...

View from above

Fire Pink wildflowers

My teens

Totally posed!
My hubby...he is a daredevil, but he wasn't in any danger here.

4930 ft above sea level

on top of the world

Amazing how close to the edge this rail sits.

Beautiful orange rhododendron's

Very near my uncle's place is an old cemetery...

Now THIS is creepy!

There were several tiny little gravestones too.

Anyone a fan of the movie star Edward Norton? I wonder if he had relatives in North Carolina?

In this part of the trip I got to walk Winston and my hubby got to ride his bike. Next stop...the beach! :)

Saying, "UNCLE"...twice!

2011-07-24T06:58:00.002-04:00

I started to write this almost two weeks ago, but got stuck on the word dysfunctional. I've needed time to think about whether or not that's the correct word I wanted to use. I was going to say I grew up in a slightly dysfunctional family, but I don't think or feel there was abuse present. Maybe there was some verbal abuse from my grandfather, who called most of us by pet names, mine being Big Mouth which was more kind than what other's were called (Asshole) ...but no drugs, violence, etc. In fact, I felt really very loved.

Maybe it's my hindsight speaking now. As loved as I grew up feeling, for some reason I felt like I needed to get away after high school. I went away to college and after several years there, I felt like what I had was good, but it wasn't good enough. I do recall when I first met my husband's family that I felt they were perfect and had no problems. They were all educated and didn't curse at one another or argue. In fact, they vacationed together every summer for years. (Gasp) I compared my own family dynamics to my future in-laws then I created a pedestal topped with non-blood relations. Yikes!

For over 20 years we vacationed with my husbands clan. About three years ago we stopped that insanity! I am sure I am older and more wise now, having learned that no one is perfect but I also live right next door to my Mom and Pop in-law and I don't feel I need to vacation with them anymore...it's just too stressful!

*************

Back in June, my hubby and I took our two teens and the dog on our own vacation. We started our travels by re-connecting with my two uncles and their wives.

My mom grew up the oldest in a family of five children. She'd had an older sister who died as an infant, before she turned one, from tuberculosis. No one ever talked about that. Between my mom and the baby in her family, there were 17 years. My parents married when my mom turned 20 and I was born a few years later putting me just over five years younger than my closest uncle!

I am pictured below with my two uncles who are just five and seven years my elder. I never called them "uncle" and really, for a long time, thought of them as older brothers. I remember them playing with me when I was little, sharing their books with me (they were Tolkien fans!) and enlightening me to the world of music...Elton John, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa. I was excited when they went off to college because we went to visit them and they cemented in my brain where I was going to go to college too.

with my "Big Brothers"

My uncle in grey has always been so smart and adventurous. I spent the summer after he graduated from high school being worried about him. He took off to backpack across Europe. I don't recall how long he was really gone, but it felt like forever! That was before cellphones, GPS's and the Internet too! During his college days I remember seeing pictures of him where he'd been rock climbing. Pretty impressive stuff, climbing rock faces and having a picture of oneself being on top of the world! From this uncle I learned that you can accomplish anything you set your mind too. I always thought he was going to be a college professor someday. He was a wealth of knowledge. Seriously, he would read all the time and would be able to explain and figure anything out. My own son reminds me of him...which I love very much! My uncle is a very successful business man now and very soon, in his next life, will be that college professor I thought he'd become!

My uncle in red is the baby. Which means he got away with everything! Surprisingly, he has the biggest heart of them all.

He's the artistic one. When he was young, he played basketball and I recall going to his games. I think he would have been a star too, except there was an accident when he was 17. He was coming home from work late one night and the jeep he was driving was t-boned as he drove through a green light. It was a very bad accident. I do not want to share the details, because he was such a fighter and I do believe things happen for a reason. Maybe his artistic abilities were now allowed to shine. He took up photography and had a dark room in the basement. My brother and I were allowed "to help" when we were there. I was sure my uncle was going to go and work for National Geographic someday. He took amazing photos of nature. He took up the guitar too. He would play music on his stereo so loud in his room the whole house would rattle. When he went to college I was not far behind him. He looked out for me and helped my transition away from home.

The most loving memory I have of him though is that he walked me down the aisle when I married my husband twenty-five years ago.

My father died suddenly and shortly after I met my future husband. My mom's dad (The grandpa who called me Big Mouth) was the next logical person to walk me down the aisle. Unfortunately, about 10 months after my dad died, he died too. At his funeral my Dad's dad rather maliciously said to me, 'Don't ask me to be number three in your line to walk you down the aisle.' My uncle over herd his comment, put his arm around me and told me not to worry, he'd be honored to walk me down the aisle. And so he did! See, big heart!

************

Five years ago when my mom died, I kind of closed my heart to all except my husband and kids. As I said, I've learned that no one is perfect, but I have also learned that I am less tolerant than I used to be. Life is too short. I do not enjoy being stressed out and people can stress me out!

This was our first real vacation in a long time and I am glad we started it off by re-connecting with family.

The Salty Dog

2011-06-24T12:37:00.000-04:00

Be back soon!
Lots to share next week.
:)
Hootie

Beauty in the Woods

2011-06-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

One of the neat parts of walking in the woods so much is that I am able to observe my surroundings better than someone new to the area. On Wednesday, I spotted this little one behind our house early in the day. The next time out with Winston, it was still hanging around the same area! I crossed my fingers, then went to pick my daughter up from school. When we returned home, I cautiously said I knew where a fawn was resting...did she want to go see if it was still there? She did, and here's what we saw!

The little one had shifted positions, but was still lounging.

My teen REALLY wanted to touch this little one...can you blame her? I knew she'd never get close enough because this was the same little one Winston and I had walked past the day before and it was pretty quick once it got up off the ground. Still, she had to try!

The Maternity Ward

2011-06-08T08:54:00.000-04:00

^^^ brown clump = baby

A few weeks ago I spotted a tiny little fawn in my neighbors yard. It was not a newborn, but it was pretty small. Mrs. L and I had just been talking up in her garage too! As I walked away, I did a double take, tied Winston to a pole, got my neighbor back out of her house and went to inspect the visitor. She tells me that over the past 40 some years she's had many baby fawns hang out in her yard. Mrs. L was formally trained as a nurse so she and I decided she's got the perfect maternity ward requirements. No pets, great soft, green grass, and a resident who won't try to rescue a baby who is resting and was NOT abandoned!

A week later, Mrs. L reported her yard being a lactation facility too. Apparently her backyard has just the right amount of privacy! :)

*****

Did you say, "Aw?" How about this, yesterday W and I were walking in the woods. Now you know he IS a hunter, but he and I walked two feet away from a resting on the ground fawn. The poor little one was trying so hard to sink into the surrounds and become invisible. I saw it, but W didn't! I think it's true that baby deer DO NOT have much scent. No pictures from yesterday, if only I had another set of hands...I was too busy making sure I had a tight grip on some one's leash, just in case.

Twelve years down...two to go

2011-06-07T08:14:00.001-04:00

Although my son went through his high school graduation ceremony on Saturday, snow days kept all our students in school a little longer. Tomorrow is our official last day of school.

At least 6 years ago, I watched the documentary called Super Size Me. Morgan Spurlock vows to eat fast food, from McDonald's, for 30 days and if asked, "Do you want that Super Sized?" had decided he would have to say yes.

I vividly recall watching the documentary with my children and telling them I would always make their lunches for them as long as they wanted while they were in school and I wouldn't complain. Tomorrow finishes 12 years for my son. I have 2 years to go for my daughter. Still no complaints on either end of the deal.

In elementary school here, lunch time also means recess time. My kids liked that I made their lunches because they could quickly eat and then head outside to play...no line to wait in for them. I did put twenty dollars into their family school lunch account...just in case they ever wanted to change things up. Bread sticks and milk have been purchased periodically, but our account still has about $15.00 in it.

Today I am celebrating all parents that are in this lunch making club with me!

Woo Hoo!!!

The color of Copper

2011-05-31T08:19:00.000-04:00

Great, it's Copperhead time again.

*****

Last year I saw about 20 snakes and only 2 were poisonous (copperheads).

This year I am at about that same ration...just saw my first copperhead three days ago. Fortunately they ARE nocturnal and it was sleeping on the bank of the lake. I saw it before Winston, which kept his nose away from our sleeping friend.

Snakes are fascinating creatures. The more I know about them, specifically how to ID them, the more I feel comfortable around and like them. Respect. An undisturbed snake, whether awake or asleep, will not come after a much larger threat (me).

Being informed is powerful.

I Spy...

2011-05-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

Last evening, before the sun completely set, Winston and I went out to check on the Eagle's nest. I was hoping to see if the parents were on it or if there is evidence of a young eaglet. I feel 99% sure that nest belongs to the Eagles. I'd just like some confirmation. I came at the nest from the other direction and I hate to admit it, but I couldn't find the nest. The colors of the green leaves and dark branches were blending together too much for my eyes to distinguish one from the other in the fading daylight. I was very frustrated.

Winston was excited because there were toads everywhere on the woods floor. He LOVES frogs, but he doesn't really like toads. I don't know if they taste bad or pee in his mouth, but they DO hop and that's fun when you are a hunter. (Side note: Frogs are fun to hunt because they can be squished and yet still play! It's harder to hurt a frog than say a chipmunk.)

Well, frustration was getting the best of me and I was tired of W pulling me every which way to get the toads. I decided we should just go home and try again another time. I was guiding Winston up the hillside when a small bird flew up from the ground near us, perched in the branches overhead and looked down.

An Eastern Screech Owl!

It looked curious about us at first...

...and then it looked kind of annoyed!

I was about 10 feet directly under it at one point too.
What a cutie! :)

It totally made my night!

A virtual hike with me...

2011-05-20T23:54:00.002-04:00

Daily I am blessed with being able to get out, several times each day,

into the wild outdoors.

Since my companion is just Winston, I thought maybe my cyber-friends might like to go for a walk too.

As we head out my backyard, through the woods...there are always deer nearby. Did you know the buck will grow new antlers each year?

Today's hike is towards the lake.
The Blue Heron is perched in the middle of his hunting grounds!

Yesterday I saw these swallow's flitting about. I didn't have my camera with me then, but I do now. It is very hard to capture a moving target on film. And even harder still to make sure they are framed in the shot so you can identify them later on!

These are Rough Winged Swallow's.

After 10 minutes of trying again and again to get a "good" photo, I noticed some of the birds resting on a tree branch in the water!

Drinking on the fly!

Can you see all three Rough Winged Swallow's sitting in this tree?

**********

Eagle #1 spotted on 5/19/11 over Griffy Lake

Before going into another set of woods, I spotted not one, but TWO Bald Eagles!!!
Tomorrow's mission...find their nest! I read that the female is slightly larger and that Bald Eagle's mate for life. These really are pictures of two different birds!

Eagle #2 spotted on 5/19/11 over Griffy Lake

At this point on our hike we must become researchers.
This rare flower is called Fire Pink. It grows in very specific soil types and is pollinated only by hummingbirds.
How cool is that!
Last year I only found 2 of these plants and this year my count is up to 10!

Getting back close to home on this hike...but I hear a baby bird squawking in it's nest.
If you click on the picture and it enlarges, you might be able to make out a little fluffy head on the right top of the nest!

Papa Cardinal was very close to his baby and didn't like my intruding. Mama was nearby too, but she was letting Papa be the bully.

*****

On a hike the next day...the Eagle's nest! It's exactly where I suspected it would be! I took a picture of an eagle last fall very near this same spot. It's hard to really see the size of this nest. My guess is it's 6-8 feet across. I cannot see in the nest, nor do I see the parents nearby. I promise, I'll be heading back here!

Eagle's Nest spotted 5/20/11

I read that the Bald Eagle has a wing span or 72-90 inches...6 to 7 1/2 feet! They can stand 35-37 inches high but only weigh about 14 pounds because their bones are hollow.

*****

In contrast, here's a picture of the baby Black-Capped Chickadees that just hatched in the nesting box in my front yard. I don't think they are bigger than two joints of my little finger!

Newly hatched Black-Capped Chickadee babies 5/20/11

What amazes me most about my hikes is the fact that I really like walking alone. I am free to listen and observe all that is around me.

Hope you enjoyed your virtual hike today! :)

The Accidental Mushroom Hunter

2011-05-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

I do LOVE morel mushrooms!

I am not a mushroom hunter though...especially because any time I am in the woods, I have Winston with me on his leash. Winston and I have different opinions on what to "look at" while out walking. I'd like to looks for mushrooms and he'd like to dig for chipmunks. He ALWAYS wants to look for chipmunks. Sometimes our two desires cross. When that happens, I am an accidental mushroom hunter. :)

I was lucky enough to find the "white" morels above. After they soaked in cold water, I cut them up and sauteed them in butter. Mmm! My husband and I savored every bite!

*****

April is the time of year when Winston and I seem to share the woods with many other people. They never seem to be on the trails, and if they have anything in their hands, they try to play it off like they haven't found a thing. I know better! The first weekend of April this year I saw a man out and asked if it wasn't a bit early to be looking. Turns out he is a fungi professor here at IU! I'm pretty sure I was in one of his classes another life time ago too. He said it was a bit early, but here's the general rule for hunting mushrooms..."A fool goes out on April 1st. Pay the tax man and then go looking and by the end of the month, when the big mushroom festival in Mansfield happens, hunting time is over."

I've never been to a mushroom festival, but it seems like I'll be able to remember this general rule of thumb.

I found this big, brown morel a few days after my first stash. I big guy like this makes a nice appetizer all by himself.

Surprisingly enough, the woods are back to being a pretty quiet place to hike once more. Winston is happy...unlike the morels, the chipmunks haven't gone away.

Knitting Fun!

2011-05-05T07:46:00.000-04:00

After I aban- doned that doll project, I started on this owl. He's a cutie, but much larger than I'd like. I used smaller needles, but it's still about 12 inches tall!

This was a fun project to try. I need to work on my transitions from one color to the next. The feet, wings and beak are all knitted separately and then sewn on to the body. The eyes are felt, which make the signature owl look. This guy is now residing in my spare bedroom. He doesn't have a name yet. Any one have a suggestion?

Love is in the Air...today...

2011-04-29T13:24:00.001-04:00

I found this deflated balloon in the woods this morning.

I do feel that love is in the air every day. But today, I feel it weighing heavy on my heart.

Like millions of others, I rose early this morning to watch the Royal Wedding. I recalled sitting with my mom in 1981 watching Diana and Charles get married. I was alone today. Neither of my children nor my husband joined me. I live with a bunch of unromantic souls.

I didn't mind watching the wedding by myself. Kate and William's love for one another showed clearly in their smiles. The beauty of their event made me very happy too. After my family went off to school and work, I took Winston out for our morning walk. Walks with Winston mean alone time for me and sometimes too much alone time can be dangerous. My mind quickly wandered to a pair of my elder neighbors.

Sunday was Easter. Mr. & Mrs. L have been married for 63 years. Mrs. L lives in the house they had built forty-some years ago at the end of my street. Her husband lives in a nearby retirement center. He's been away from his house for two years now due to healthy conditions requiring more hands on care than she can handle by herself. Most recently he had suffered a stroke (last October, his second one) and lost his vision as a result. At 9:40 pm Sunday night, Mrs. L called me. She had just received a call from the retirement center saying her husband fell and they felt he needed to be checked out at the hospital. Mrs. L needed a ride. She's comfortable driving during the day but it was dark now.

Within 20 minutes I had her at the ER and we waited for Mr. L. to arrive...it was now 10pm. I don't have a very clear timeline on what all happened next, but Mrs. L and myself went back to see Mr. L after he arrived. We sat in chairs at the foot of his bed and were trying to evaluate his situation. Did he break anything? Was he just being dramatic? Was he just needing attention? How was his mind? Did he hurt anything else? We would need to wait for a doctor to come in and then Mr. L would go off the have x-rays taken. He might have broken his hip and that would need to be ruled out first.

Mrs. L told Mr. L that she had a friend with her. Not being able to see, Mr. L asked if it was Norma (I think) and she responded, "No, it's Lisa." No last name, just it's Lisa. Within a minute Mr. L asked about Winston. It is my opinion that his mind was clear! I have known this couple for over 25 years. We've shared picnics and holidays. Mr. L was my biggest cheerleader when I made my decision to be a staying-at-home mom with my children. He made me feel like he admired my choice.

While we waited on the doctor, Mr. & Mrs. L and I chatted about how things were; what happened mostly and where did it hurt. We also talked about some audio books that Mrs. L had signed Mr. L up to receive for free through the Library of Congress. He was most recently listening to a book about Winston Churchill! The longer we waited, the more impatient Mrs. L was becoming...where was THAT doctor! She would go and check every 10 minutes or so. Mr. L and I had a chance to chat privately. I asked about his day because I had all ready heard about it from Mrs. L. Their day had been shared with their son and filled with two church services, a new pastor, chatting with friends who hadn't been seen in some time, lunch out and dinner back at the retirement center. Both Mr. and Mrs. L had privately told me how wonderful the day had been and how beautiful was the music at church. During one of our alone moments, Mr. L asked me, "Who are those people?" and he pointed just past my left side. I turned to look around the curtain that divides the small room. The door was closed and I reminded myself he was blind. "Which people?" "Those people. Are they are people from Meadowood?" No one was there and I couldn't hear anyone either. "I think it's people from the hospital", I told him and the moment was dismissed. A few minutes later, Mrs. L came back with the doctor. Mr. L was accessed and would need to go for x-rays. Another 10 minutes and Mr. L was rolled away. Just a minute before Mr. L returned, the doctor came into the room and told us the news. Mr. L had broken his right hip and it would require surgery.

When Mr. L returned though, he seemed to be in a very deep sleep. He was snoring very loudly and actually his breathing seemed noisy...wet. The nurses hooked him back up to the monitors and immediately things were not okay. His blood pressure was VERY, VERY low. They grabbed the doctor, who wanted an IV of fluids started. Within 30 minutes I could tell that wasn't working. A drug was administered through the IV with hopes that it would regulate Mr. L's BP. It did. Mr. L would need to go have a CT scan of his belly area to see if there was any internal bleeding happening. Then Mr. L was being moved up to ICU. Before things started seeming NOT okay to me, Mrs. L was trying to get me to go home. She said she be fine and she'd call on someone else to take her home. As IF I would leave her!!! I think being with both my step-dad and my mom at their ends of life some how made the unconscious part of my being say DO NOT LEAVE!

It was just before midnight when we had the last conversations with Mr. L. He became unresponsive...not even responding to pain stimuli. He was moved to ICU at about 3-ish, and we saw the next doctor just after 4. He explained that they just didn't know why what was happening was happening. They would need time to run blood tests to check for infections, and to be able to tell if he'd had a heart attack. Mr. L's ekg was different than it had been earlier in the evening. Without the medication in his body to regulate his BP, Mr. L's BP would drop again. I watched his numbers get as low as 55/35. A CT scan of his brain would need to happen too as well as an MRI. Satisfied there was nothing else we could find out or do over the next few hours, Mrs. L and I were ready to head home. That was 4:45 am. I made her go back in to say goodbye to Mr. L and give him a kiss.
*****
I stopped by Mrs. L's house last night and chatted with her son and daughter before she came out. The results of the MRI show hundreds of blood clots in Mr. L's brain and no more brain activity. Today they were going to abide my Mr. L's living will wishes.

Mrs. L said to me the other night, "I didn't expect things to be like this. I'm not really sure what I expected. Maybe for us to just walk off together."

So although I feel the beautiful love surrounding Kate and William today as they start their new life together as husband and wife, I also am feeling the beautiful love of another couple. Beginnings are filled with love and so are endings.

***** ***** *****
Thank you readers for bearing with my emotions today. On top of noting the above, it was almost exactly 5 years ago that my mom was diagnosed with her brain cancer. If you've read my experiences from before than you know I do believe in spirits. Reflecting back onto Sunday night, I think there were some spirits in the ER room with Mr. L. I am honored that I was asked to help Mrs. L that night. I know many others would have done exactly what I did.

Jack of Hearts

2011-04-14T23:06:00.002-04:00

Surely there are items from your past that hold special meaning to you?

For me it's the Jack of Hearts.

Happy Birthday, Jack.

Birding...this past week

2011-04-10T12:26:00.000-04:00

American Coot

Pied-Billed Grebe

Yellow-Shafted Flicker

Tree Swallow

Immature or female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Northern Waterthrush

Belted Kingfisher

Fooling Around on April 1st

2011-04-02T09:12:00.001-04:00

Yay! First turtle of the year??? Well, I've seen a few on the water, but this was the first on the ground. When I went to flip it over to see if it was male or female...I found it was dead. Ewww! Good thing I suppose, it is a snappers shell.

Yay! An Owl!!!! And certainly NOT a Barred Owl!!! Woo-Who!!!

Bummer! It was just a bump on the side of the tree. :(

Were you fooled at all today?

*****

I got my husband first thing as I woke up. At 6:15 a.m. I rolled over in bed looked out the window and LOUDLY said, "OH GREAT!" It woke his groggy butt up as he inquired, "What?" "It snowed!" "WHAT?" "It snowed last night." "Are you kidding? Snow!? Ugg." "April Fools!"

I was told that wasn't a very nice way to wake up a sleeping person. :)

*****

Then at 11:15 p.m. I sent my daughter a text message...she was in the basement just below my room, working on a school project with a girl friend, "I just received an e-mail asking you to be at ballet at 9 a.m.!" I could hear her panicking footsteps running my way. "WHAT? Are you serious???" "April Fools!" She promptly grabbed a pillow off my bed and started hitting me with it. I guess I deserved that, but I was laughing too hard to even care. Nine a.m. for ballerinas is WAY too early! I don't think they can really function until after noon!

Hope you enjoyed the fun of April 1st too! :)

My "Silver" Spoon...

2011-03-23T07:50:00.000-04:00

If you know me, then you know I really HATE admitting I am over 29! As spunky as I might be, I certainly am starting to look a bit ... more mature.

I don't recall when I found this spoon. I've had it tucked away in a little yellow pouch forever. Isn't it cool that my parents had it engraved? Or maybe it was a gift when I was born. It's not REALLY a sugar spoon, but I use it that way because I got tired of it hiding in that yellow pouch.

Can you click on the pic? I love the little AM on the clock! :)

A Spring Bouquet...

2011-03-21T15:58:00.006-04:00

...wait for it...

...here it comes!

Happy First Full Day of Spring!

The woods are coming alive at my place! I went away, traveling with my teens last week, and came back to find the brown of the woods is a little less brown.

Above you can see: Foliage from Cut Leaved Tooth-wart, can't recall yet, Dutchman's Breeches foliage, Red Trillium buds, Anemone (I think), Harbinger of Spring aka Pepper and Salt, Periwinkle and Daffodil in my backyard, Blue-eyed Star Grass, elf cup.

In the works....

2011-03-01T11:45:00.003-05:00

I am trying to learn to love my latest project. For Christmas, I received this Knitted Toy Tales by Laura Long book from my daughter. It's a great "How to" resource. On FB, I posted a Handmade Pay-it-Forward in January. I am supposed to be making items to send to several friends. I decided I would knit things...so I started with the mouse. Not bad, but a little larger than I was expecting. Smaller needles can remedy that issue. My daughter voiced her opinion and suggested I make the doll. As I started, I decided she needed a name. I keep calling her Hannah or Sid(ney)...my Toy Story reference, since I don't think it's gonna look like the authors doll! I also don't really want to go on and finish her. Anyone want me to send her their way? I'll photo copy the rest of the directions and send her off.

You can even change her name, if you like! I'm going back to making animals. :)

Impressions...

2011-02-20T09:46:00.006-05:00

Impressions: Dictionary.com lists 11 different definitions for this word.

When I walk in the woods, I see impressions left by all who travel the same paths as myself. It's a rather short season that footprints or paths are left for me to easily follow. The conditions need to be just right for capturing my fellow wanderers tracks.

I've tried my hand to identify mice runs and dog prints,

...opossum...

...chipmunk...

...raccoon...

...???...

...turkey...

...squirrel...

...fox?...

...opossum on the ice...

...and human. Me!

I am Keen on my footwear. I have found that having the proper shoes for my hiking is paramount to my feet being happy. Winston and I hike in all weather conditions. I expect my shoes to survive a lot...rain, snow, mud, water, sticks, rocks, tall grasses, ice. I bought a pair of Keen Targhee water proof hiking shoes last May. I wore them each day when Winston and I went out hiking. They are awesome shoes, but... here's where my husband's concerns come in...after a month, the heel cup on one of my feet was wearing a little too quickly, some of the stitching along the shoelaces was separating along the material line(sign of a dull needle used in sewing) and most importantly, after another month of daily hiking, I needed to Gorilla Glue part of the tread back together. By November, I was starting to feel I needed another new pair of hiking shoes. Voicing my thoughts to my hubby that I was going to purchase another pair of Keen's, he reminded me of my repairs. I don't think my second time of using Gorilla Glue on my shoes was impressing my hubby.

I decided to wait on getting a pair of shoes. I was still convinced I wanted another pair of Keens and Christmas was approaching. Maybe I'd leave my hiking shoe purchase up to my husband. For Christmas, I did receive a new pair of Keens, but they were hiking boots, not shoes. My husband just couldn't bring himself to but me the shoes I wanted.

On December 26, I laced up my new boots and headed out for a four to five mile hike. My feet felt like they'd been wearing these shoes forever! Inspired by how wonderful Keen shoes feel on my feet, I decided to e-mail Keen and just ask...How long should I expect my shoes to last? In my old running days, I knew I should replace my shoes every 400-500 miles. Hiking shoes obviously wear too, so what should I expect?

My answer came from a very kind customer service rep., Nina. I asked my questions and stated that I was just looking for answers to convince my hubby that I was making a good choice. If you've ever lived with someone who has had the opportunity to say, "I told you so!" then you know just how annoying THAT can be. I was trying to avoid that if possible by arming myself with answers.

A few weeks later, I received a replacement pair of Keens in the mail! :)

My hubby was surprised. What did I need to do? Didn't they want my old pair? What if I made up my original ownership? He can be such a skeptic.

Winston has on his favorite foot gear, and so do I! We leave our marks all over the snowy or muddy trails.
Just last week I crossed paths with another hiker and I noticed that we all check out one an other's footwear, whether we realize it or not, and he was the one who commented..."I see you wear Keen's too!" Nina, did you plant him here? :) His name was Blue (I suppose that's a nick name and spelled that way) and both he and I went on and on about how we love our Keen shoes! He's had his for over three years.

Holiday Gold and Silver

2011-02-01T08:30:00.003-05:00

"Make new friends, but keep the old..."

I was a girl scout when I was young and then a girl scout leader as a mom, so I certainly know this song. Just before and after the holidays this year friends visited my home.

The first friends to visit us were a family from Australia. I had not met them before they arrived. The dad of the family was last in our town when he was about 16 years old. He knew my DH when they were children and then again when they were teens. The short story on his family is that when he was a tot, around 1970, his parents brought himself, his brother and sister here from Australia for his dad to work on his Master and PHD degrees. They spent several years here the first time and became good family friends of my in-laws. They returned about 6 years later, around 1979, for a few months. Apparently Bloomington holds a little bit of this boy then teen and now man's heart...I wonder when he realized that?

Flash forward to December 2010...Now a successful Australian businessman, he had planned for over two years to bring his family to the United States for a whirl-wind, month-long tour. His family, along with four other families from his hometown, ALL travel together to LA. They spent four days, sightseeing, etc, before splitting up. All the families have their own itinerary. Periodically they met up; sometimes as just 2 families, sometimes as all 5 families! Our friends hit LA, then flew to St. Louis, drove to Bloomington, flew to Orlando, then NY, then Denver, then Las Vegas, and then to Hawaii...before heading home to Australia. Their travels included doing Disneyland, seeing the Arch, going to Universal Studios, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, celebrating Christmas on the ski slopes of Denver, ringing in the new year in Vegas and then surfing in Hawaii.

In the middle of that they dropped by Bloomington, IN. Can you imagine yourself being 15 or 17 years old and going back to see where your dad grew up after being at Disneyland?

Take a good look at these faces! BORED TEENS! My kids would have looked exactly the same!

*****

I have to comment that for the past 24 years I have helped play hostess to whomever my mother-in-law (MIL) has decided to invite to our holiday gatherings: college students from Tunisia, China, Korea, Germany, Trinidad, etc. Each time we have guests, my children (and FIL) help host too. They, my children and FIL, grumble at first but in the end it's usually a non-event. "Why does G-ma/my wife.....?"

*****

Now, here in Bloomington, before our guests arrived, I was hearing the normal grumbles...but THIS time the guests were actually REAL people! They had kids my own kids ages and lo-and-behold...after a tad of pushing...the kids connected!!!

Board games were played, and the Wii used too.

My kids got an early Christmas present with the weather and knew school was cancelled for the next day! Our Australian friends had not decorated gingerbread cookies before...much more fun to decorate than to eat...in my opinion. I'm a sugar cookie with frosting fan.

*****

Winston was a nice host too and showed off his woodland trails, complete with deer!

The snow was a treat. Our friend's children had seen snow, but had not seen it fall before. A snowball fight, with hot chocolate after, took place before dinner.

*****

Can you tell who recently had surgery on his knee and couldn't run? One of the four was an easy target!

*****

I made the kids stop for a picture. If our friends were taking note they'd see that the American kids were planning their next move (above) .....siblings!

Within a few hours of departing, all the teens were "friends" on Facebook.

****

Speaking of Facebook...

I was able to connect with a few of my own high school buddies. My next friends to visit happened because of the power of Facebook. Say what you will about it, for someone who grew up having a wonderful group of people to share my life experiences with, but moved away after high school, it has been a fantastic tool in helping me re-connect to my past life.

Prompted by the middle person in our photo, five of us were able to get together for a mini-reunion one evening. My husband stayed in the background, like a fly on the wall this night. Later he commented on how neat it was to listen to all of us share our memories and re-connect. That's a nice comment coming from a person who doesn't like to reminisce!

"...one is silver and the other is gold."

Magic of the Night...

2011-01-25T07:34:00.005-05:00

... or Evening Walks, in my neck of the woods.

We've had snow stay on the ground longer than normal this season. The snow makes evening and night walks look magical! An easy 10-minute walk from our house gets Winston and me (or my DH) over to a retirement village. In the spring and summer this pond is Winston's favorite place to hunt for frogs. I've noticed that the only footprints around here in the snow are ours and the deer.

I think the pond looks very romantic!

*****

Another wonderful sight to see is this humongous Tulip Poplar tree! When the weather warms up I'll try to get a photo of one (or two of us) at the base of this tree. It doesn't look it in this photo, but it's at least 6 feet across. Surely it must be one of the oldest in this county.

Hope you are able to get out enjoy whatever winter is offering up too! :)

Santa came to visit me this year!

2011-01-12T09:19:00.002-05:00

December 23, 2010, Santa arrived on my doorstep.

I came home to find UPS had left a large box at my house. It was addressed to just me and it was from my Uncle John. He's the youngest of my mom's four living siblings and the closest in age to me - just 6 years my elder. We don't exchange Christmas presents so I was very curious what might be in this box. It felt light...maybe it was a wreath.

I toyed with waiting the two more days until Christmas to open it, but my curiosity was just too strong. My teens were sitting at the table, both on their computers, chatting with their friends I suppose. Regardless, they seemed absorbed in their own worlds, so I proceeded to open the box, in my own little world there too.

Inside the box I found a letter in an envelope that said,

"Open me first"

"Season's Greetings! In this box you will find a Christmas memento from times past. All of us at one time or another during Christmas at Grandma's house touched this and took from it, the sweetness she made in her kitchen and placed upon it.

This item was very special to Grandma and it is signed by the one's who gave it to her one Christmas in 1962 (look on the back!) Recently discovered, we wanted to continue the tradition of using it to provide holiday cheer to those that visit during the holidays.

The recipient of this item should use it during their Christmas celebration and then around Thanksgiving of the following year, send it to another family member to use and enjoy during the next holiday season.

Sign the back of this page so the next recipient will know who has enjoyed it the years before they received it. Pack it well (save the box and packaging) so it will arrive safely at it's new destination.

Remember, Grandma is watching! Happy Holidays!"

*****

At first I thought maybe it was Grandma's old Aunt Jemima cookie jar from her kitchen counter. As I lifted the foam layers of wrapping, I saw Santa...

The tears caught me completely by surprise.

*****

In Santa's eyes I saw my own mom; paint brush in hand as she carefully painted each stroke of his blue irises. I have edited out our family name which is hand-painted in gold across the top. My mom's hand writing...big and bold, in gold. My own hand writing looks so similar!

I remember this platter quite well. It was placed each holiday season center stage, on Grandma's coffee table. It was prized by my grandmother. I recall hard candies being on it...the rest of the year the hard candies were hidden in a white ceramic box on that table, in the same spot, it too had been made by my mom. That box had handmade red roses on it. Grams was a baker extraordinaire. She made hundreds of cookies each fall! Her garage had stacks of Tupperware containers filled with her baked treats. Thumbprint, Date-filled, various Spritz, Snicker doodles and sugar cookies.

She'd make everyone their own Gingerbread boy too, but each was huge...filling the entire cookie sheet! I would help wrap each piece of cardboard before it's boy laid down for traveling. Grams would make these treats each year for all of us...because they were Joe's favorite! :) I still haven't been able to make Gingerbread boys like her.

The year my mom and dad and mom's siblings gave this platter to my grandparents I wasn't even thought of yet. My parents were newly weds and she was just 20 years old. The baby of her sibs would have just turned four (I think). Mom was the eldest of the living siblings.

*****

My tears were so powerful they made my children each look up at me. "Are you okay?" they asked. I shook my head yes as I walked away to be alone in my bedroom.

Powerful, yet wonderful memories. I hope my own children are as lucky some day, in the very distant future!!!

This holiday season I did fill the Santa platter with treats I made: buckeyes, English toffee, Bourbon balls, poppy seed and nut bread rolls and sugar cookies. Santa traveled with me to my in-laws on Christmas night for dinner/dessert and to a friends house on New Year's Eve. He is now safely tucked into his box and come Thanksgiving will travel to visit another family member. Between now and then I need to decide who he should go visit next. Letting him go will be hard. Thankfully I do like to share.

Snow Day!

2011-01-11T17:07:00.003-05:00

The snow gods dumped several inches of the white stuff on our area early this morning causing school to be cancelled. While the kids were home sleeping in, Winston and I went out hiking.

I think owls have got to be my favorite bird to spot in the woods!

They don't sit still for very long once they know you see them! :)

Families...

2010-12-30T21:29:00.004-05:00

I've had a very interesting holiday time this year. I have a ton to share, but it won't happen in order. My FIL has spent most of the last week in the hospital, but returned home today. At 85, dehydration can really mess up a body! Above is a photo from this afternoon. I am with my nephew who started my nickname, Hootie, when he first was learning how to talk. Time flies - he is 14 now and I am wearing heals! He and his dad flew back home tonight. They didn't expect to hang out in the hospital this week, but I guess most people don't really ever plan on that. My nephew did get to do a little hiking, rock-wall climbing, roller skating, movie watching, wii playing, eating out, etc with his cousins. I know this seems strange to say, but everything seemed low key this visit. I am thankful for even the little bit of time I had with my nephew these past few days.

Insomniacs...

2010-12-22T06:30:00.002-05:00

It appears that I am not the only creature stirring in the early hours around my house! Tripod was out snacking while I was making my "to do" list and finishing up addressing my Christmas cards. Too much to do and not enough hours in the day right now.

Thank goodness...the coffee maker just started brewing my morning java!

t.t.f.n.

X-rated Woods! a.k.a. The Kinsey Trail

2010-12-13T07:50:00.002-05:00

Gall Wasps: 70% of the known species live on various types of Oak Trees, per Wikipedia under Gall Wasp. There are a lot of Oak Trees in the woods here.

Alfred Kinsey, first studied gall wasps but in 1947, was the founder of The Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, again per Wikipedia...but I think this is fairly common knowledge.

I am regularly reminded that the hiking trails that Winston and I walk daily are used for research purposes. Recently, while hiking a trail near the area where Kinsey may have done some of his research, I spotted a few trees that reminded me of this most famous researcher.

I now call the trail that these trees are on, The Kinsey Trail.

How to get into the Christmas Spirit...

2010-12-03T07:11:00.005-05:00

...watch The Nutcracker Ballet! Details to watch it on-line, for free, below.

Several years ago my daughter created this picture for an art class project. Every fall the elementary school Art teacher, at our school, organizes all the students to participate in a fund raiser. The original artwork gets sent away and transformed into garden flags, note cards, magnets, pillow cases...etc. My daughter's artwork is a scene from the Nutcracker. We are looking at Clara's pointe shoes and the back ground features all the roles that the pre-college ballerina's, here at IU, perform.

*****

When my daughter was in second grade we took her to watch The Nutcracker. She was mesmerized and said, "I want to do THAT!" So we found out what she'd need to do to 'do that' and her ballet lessons began. The following October she had her first audition for her dream and has been dancing in IU's production of The Nutcracker ever since. We figured out this is her seventh year to dance on stage in December. She has danced as a Mother Ginger child, Clara's friend/party child, a solider, an officer, a Trepak and this year she adds a role traditionally performed by the college freshman...an adult mouse! For several years now she has danced in two roles at each of the four performances.

The lessons learned from this discipline are numerous: team work, time management, how important sleep and good eating really are, following directions, counting on others (like your mom to help in a pinch), and what it takes to achieve a dream just to name a few.

This past Monday through Thursday has been tech week. Each day my ballerina has been living at school for 6 1/2 hours, at the Musical Art Center for 7 1/2 hours and then at home for the remaining 10 hours.

It's show time tonight! My holiday treat to my readers is to share the web address for Indiana University's Jacob School of Music live streaming of The Nutcracker. Times for the production are tonight and tomorrow night at 8 pm EST, and tomorrow and Sunday at 2 pm EST. Here's the link: Watch IU's 52nd Annual Production of The Nutcracker; click here. This link becomes active just minutes before the curtain goes up! I will be watching on-line tonight and then attending both of the 2 pm performances...lucky me! I can't wait!

Enjoy friends and Happy Holidays! :)

Christmas...Thanksgiving...Christmas...

2010-11-19T23:09:00.001-05:00

My crafting efforts have finally been rewarded!

My Christmas stocking, that I started nine months ago when my newest niece was born, is finally done and will be hanging soon on her fireplace mantle.

For some reason, I am now in the mood for Christmas. Hmm. I have promised my teens that I will wait until the day after Thanksgiving to get out my decorations.

*******

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.

Great food, no hassle of present buying, and then great leftovers!

Last year I perused a tutorial on Rip and Tear Napkins that my friend Kimara of Wee Folk Art posted on her blog. If you read the comments on the link I've attached to their blog name you'll see I said I was going to try to make some asap. Well, last Sunday was asap for me! Above are my Rip and Tear Thanksgiving Napkins. A year ago I thought the directions for this seemed too easy to be true. I made 8 napkins in less than an hour! Easy Peasy! We've been using than all week and they have been though the washer several times. No sewing on this project and yet no fraying! My siblings may be getting these as their Christmas gifts this year along with a little of my Christmas baking. I think I'll use more neutral-colored material so they can be used all year long. What a fun, green gift!

*****

I can't wait to pull out my stack of 20+ holiday CD's on Friday. Christmas baking starts just after the decorations are put in place. Who doesn't love homemade buckeyes, cookies, English toffee...?

Season's Greetings all! :)

Friends Don't Let Friends...

2010-11-14T15:01:00.001-05:00

...write semi-true reviews about their tour kick-off show.

Mellencamp concert a performance symphony

~from our local paper. JM's friend is the reporter.

Just saying...

On the 29th of October my kids were hosting their dress up Halloween party from 6-11 p.m. The night before I was up until the wee-wee hours of the morning working on costume finishing touches. The day of, I was busy buying food, preparing food and helping with last minute decorations. By the time the party started, I was ready to sit down or maybe even go to bed!

At 8:10, a good friend called my husband. He had scored excellent tickets late that afternoon for the Mellencamp concert which was starting at 8:30. Unfortunately for our friend, he hadn't checked with his wife about what she had on her plate for that night so he'd have to go alone unless my husband could join him.

My husband had spent six hours on the road and another four plus hours in meetings that day. He'd be up for some fun, except he said to our friend that really, I was the bigger John Mellencamp fan. I thought both my DH and our friend were pulling my leg. Seriously, the concert part of Mellencamp's show started in less than 20 minutes!

*****

Twenty minutes later, my husband dropped me off close to the auditorium, I went through security and waited for our friend to show up.

My friend had scored INCREDIBLE tickets! Third row, center...just 20 feet from the stage. All the pictures here were taken by my friend with his iPhone.

My take on the concert would be that it was very dark and filled with sadness as the artist expressed his emotions on life and death; heavily emphasizing the death part. Mellencamp is at a very different stage in his life and it shows in his music. The concert was good, but it was not at all what the fans were expecting. Certainly the artist's intention was to share his "art". Several times as JM paused to reflect on a song, shouts from the crowd would beg to hear an old familiar classic. When those classics finally were played...and it was only a hand full of them, mostly they were changed up melodically. Jack and Diane sounded like it had a calypso influence. Odd. Different. But it worked! I liked it.

Overall I enjoyed this concert. I get where JM is coming from as a soul who has experienced death in ones close to me. It sounded like JM realizes he's not invincible and although not ready to call it quits, has made his peace with his part of the life cycle. I can't help but wonder what the reviewers in other cities will say about this concert? Will fans truly appreciate the art of this concert? I am recalling a few years ago when one of my DH's and my favorite rock band, Van Halen was "re-born" and we very much wanted to take our teenage son to experience Edward's guitar greatness. Being able to have our son hear those old favorites, live, cemented a new generation of Van Halen fans in our household; butter for the Van Halen bread. I don't think anyone taking their teenager to experience JM on this tour will walk away with the same feelings.

Three things that bothered me most about the concert didn't even have anything to do with the music. Living in this small-ish town that the artist does, I realize that JM has heart problems. Yet, when he took a three-minute break guess what smell filled the auditorium? Did I see him smoking? Not this time...pretty sure he did though. The other two items that annoyed me...he spit on stage and later took a piece of gum out of his mouth and tossed it away. YUCK! I guess I hold icons up to higher standards than us regular folk.

I didn't walk away from this concert feeling happy and loving life. I'm glad my friend's wife, who lost her mom just a year ago couldn't attend this concert. Maybe next time JM can be a little less of an "artist" and a little more of a "performer." For the fans you know. Just saying...

Would I like to own JM latest album? Yep. Like I said, I can relate to this stage in his life. That part makes me feel like even an icon has the same feelings about the world as little old me.

Brad Pitt Tutorial?

2010-11-06T21:38:00.002-04:00

Not quite. Sorry, Lauranie!

***

This is really my Halloween-with-the-Teens Wrap-up.

Being almost too old to trick-or-treat, my kids hosted a dress-up Halloween party for their friends on the Friday before hand. We had 23 kids at our house in costume. The party included food, a bonfire and a Best Costume Award. I thought I'd show off what my own two decided upon for the party.

My son ended up transforming into one of Brad Pitt's characters, Tyler Durden from the movie Fight Club. The imaginary character of Tyler is pictured above and my son is pictured below...just to clarify!

My son found this AWESOME leather car coat on eBay for $15.50. I think it was from the 70's and it was in great shape. It cost way less than what I would have spent on the materials. We were having trouble finding just the right look for a shirt that "Tyler" would wear and I did end up making his shirt. The only other thing I had to help with was cutting my son's hair. He made fake blood (from his "fights") out of corn syrup, cocoa and red food coloring. I think we spent a grand total of about $40.00 on this costume, and the coat has all ready been worn non-stop since the 31st.

Fight Club trivia: Brad Pitt found the leather coat he wore for the role of Tyler at a used clothing store!

*****

Being a girl...my daughter changed her mind from

Jeannie, of I Dream of Jeannie,

to The Bride...a.k.a Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman)

in her yellow jumpsuit from Kill Bill,

to Miss America.

While looking for a leather coat, we found a fantastic used clothing store in our town called Material Plane. My daughter's costume was an 80's style pink dress. I made a sash and dusted off one of my old tiara's to round out the costume.

This was probably the easiest year to date of my

costume making chores for Halloween!

Albino Chipmunk!

2010-10-19T07:47:00.002-04:00

I am NOT enjoying chipmunk season with Winston. He goes crazy after these little fellows each time we are on a walk. I have abrasions on my arm where I have banged into trees as my hunter quickly darts around the base...pulling me along in the hunt.

For the most part, chippies are too quick for W. They make their little warning cry and then scamper away down into fallen logs. W is quick too, but he really can't cover the distance needed to get to his prey while on a leash and pulling a dead weight. I feel for my hunter, but he is supposed to be RETIRED now.

Winston has a great sense of smell. He knows when a chippy is in a dead log, down in the rocks or burrowed into a hole. He will rip logs apart with his teeth, inhale deeply into the rocks or dig, dig, dig enlarging any hole. He is amazing to watch. Nine times out of ten, his prey escapes. Is is wrong for me to admit that I root for the chippies and run interference when I can?

While on a recent 'hunt', Winston found an unusual chipmunk...it was an albino! At first I wasn't sure I was seeing it correctly. For fun, I have posted a normal chipmunk photo along with the albino.

What an amazing hunter I have! :)

HIdden Mickey...In the Woods of Indiana?

2010-10-09T08:20:00.003-04:00

Do you recognize the shape above? If Mickey Mouse first popped into your mind, then you know how to identify a Hidden Mickey!

Originally used as an inside joke among Disney Designers and Imagineers, common folk can search the Disney property while on vacation for these hidden symbols too. Click here for a more detailed description about them: What are Hidden Mickey's?

I found this HM on a tree base near my house. It looks like some sort of a fungus on the tree to me, but I immediately thought Hidden Mickey! before I thought fungus.

Fall! Happy October!

2010-10-02T09:32:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning, as the sun was coming up, I captured Fall!

The cicada stopped singing a month ago. The frogs are silent and harder to find. The butterflies are less noticeable and must be transforming into their winter states or migrating south. I saw the last of my hummingbirds on Sept. 30th for this year too.

Tomorrow I am hosting my neighborhood's 52 annual potluck. This get-together is our human way of connecting with one another before retreating, then hibernate for the cold of winter. You can count on me not to hibernate though. Winston will keep my DH and me out doors all Fall and Winter long! :)

Payday!

2010-09-30T21:16:00.004-04:00

Did you know...

...that candy corn and nuts taste just like a Payday candy bar?

It's true! What a fun fall snack too! :)

Pirate!

2010-09-20T06:50:00.003-04:00

My months of handy work were ready for our big night, Sept. 10. Save the boots, head wear, jewelry and belt for "Jack", I made it!

With the rented Shipwreck.

*****

Background for the evening: The event was a gala to benefit our local children's science museum and was called: Science Night Out: Sail the High Seas.

As one of the event co-chairs, I thought it was important that I help set the mood for the other guests...my husband went along. I think there may be a little bit of "Disney" pirate in both of us! My DH truly got into his role. He enjoyed going up to friends that he knows well and baffling them as they puzzled over who he was really. At the end of the night I went to one friend and asked if he knew where my DH was, sure that he had figured it out. Our friend said, no and ask me if my DH even came to the event. When I said my DH was dressed as "Jack" our friend was stunned. "Yes!" he said. He came to his table, stood right behind this friend and spoke to him. With his best Jack Sparrow accent he said, "You don't know who I am, do you?" When our friend responded no, my DH smiled (if you could see it under his mustache) and walked away.

I will be back working on a Christmas stocking (in progress) for my February born niece. While I was making my pirate costumes I had Halloween requests from my teens: Jeannie, from I Dream of Jeannie and Tyler Druden, from Fight Club. Guess I need to cracking on these costumes next! :)

He's Still Got It!

2010-08-26T12:31:00.002-04:00

Oh, how I wish I was the one to have taken this photo!

A bragging wife would tell you that this is her husband out front, the eventual winner of the race in 200 meters. And she'd tell you this was for the State Road Racing Championship for the age classification of Masters 45+ and that the Masters 35-44 were in this race too, that her husband had sold all his cycling gear including his bike a mere two years ago, stayed off a bike for 18 months and just got back in the saddle in January.

Come on, you all know I am a brag! :) Just sorry I wasn't the one who took this photo! I was home this early, steamy summer morning walking Winston. But man, my DH still has it!

photo taken by: I'm working on this info.

Sweet 16!

2010-08-21T08:39:00.007-04:00

Last Monday, my baby turned Sweet 16! It was her golden birthday too! To celebrate her day she and several friends got dressed up...teen girls, they LOVE dressing up...and went to lunch. After paying for lunch, I took the girls back to our place where they changed into hiking/kayaking clothes. We hiked to the nearby lake where I had reserved kayaks for them. Winston actually led us to the lake and he and I stayed close while the girls were out. I took Winston to a cove where he could swim and I could watch, and photograph, the girls. After an hour on the water we made the return trip to our house. Dessert time!

Here's how the cupcakes I made and my daughter helped decorate turned out. Many thanks to Sweetcakes for her advice! Details below...

Store bought, ready-to-go, fondant was used for the flowers. I wasn't ready to experiment completely with this task, plus I left this part up to my creative daughter!
The cupcakes were a recipe from the FamilyFun cookbook. I got out of the habit of using store bought cake mixes about 10 years ago. I would certainly re-use this recipe and will gladly send it to anyone who requests is (as well as any other recipe I ever mention!). The only thing I did differently was to add food coloring. The cupcakes would have been more of a pale yellow than what we were wanting. I added 16 drops to the mix! :)

Sweetcakes advised me to bake and cool the cupcakes then cut out a cone part from the top. I wanted to added ganache to the middle of the cupcakes. After cutting the cone shape, I trimmed it so it would become a cap. Sweetcakes and I talked flavors and if you read back to my original thoughts you'd see I probably had too much going on...flavor-wise. White chocolate ganache was changed to chocolate ganache. Buttercreme frosting was almost cream cheese frosting until Sweetcakes reminded me it should be refrigerated. Not really a problem except that would make the ganache harder than what we were looking for. Cold ganache firms up, room temperature ganache is creamy! In the end I decided upon vanilla frosting that I colored pink. Both the ganache and the frosting were homemade.
Here's the ganache, made the day before. This was my first time making ganache and I didn't think it was going to work out. It seemed too runny after the recommended two hours of cooling. I let it sit longer though and it was perfect!

Putting it all together!

Well? What do you think?

Here's how they looked on the inside!

*****

And here's my Sweet 16 year old!

So Many Spoons in the Pot!

2010-08-09T11:07:00.004-04:00

OMG! Right now I am feeling a bit pulled in many directions but I'm not totally knowing where to begin. My baby turns Sweet 16 on Monday (her Golden B-day too). She and I have decided I should make cupcakes for her celebration. Here's the plan: Yellow Cake with White Chocolate Ganache filling, topped with pink colored butter cream frosting and fondant yellow and green flowers.

As I have never made this combination yet, nor filled cupcakes, I am feeling a bit over whelmed and excited at the same time. I am scouring my cookbooks and the web for recipes. Anyone have a favorite I should try or other recommendations?

Add to that, I committed myself to making two pirate costumes (one for me, one for my DH) for Sept 10th...tick, tock. I am not the fastest seamstress, have school starting soon and a dog that needs walked several times a day, not to mention general household stuff to do! Oh, and I didn't mention that I am helping to plan an event happening on the 10th of Sept...that I need the costumes for! Fun, fun, fun, but busy, busy, busy! :)

I'll post pics as time and results warrant. :)

A Summer Teenager...

2010-07-24T13:41:00.004-04:00

My DH found this guy today and brought him inside to me! He knows how much I like Praying Mantis. :)

I grabbed my new friend and my camera and took him outside to my flowers. I'm guessing he's a teenager because he's barely half the length of what he'll be as an adult in just another two months. Praying Mantis tend to hatch out in late May around here and depending on our Fall temps, are still active until late October. Egg sacks start getting laid in September.

Success! :)

2010-07-23T22:37:00.002-04:00

Well, I was able to figure out how to buy, download, re-set and line up my blog with my new background!!!!!

Yes, I know it looks familiar. But now I own it and it can't disappear unless I want it to disappear! Yippee!!!

Choices?...with a little bit of venting...

2010-07-23T10:09:00.005-04:00

Did you ever feel like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place in the choices you need to make?

I have several "issues" I am stuck on.

#1) My daughter is at driver's ed right now. She will be completely done with the driving part in about 20 minutes. Driver's Ed has been fine. The class room stuff is still boring as ever. It's the driving instructor that has bothered me. My daughter has only had to drive for 6 hours.

Here are my DE Instructor issues:

*During the daily driving time, my daughter's instructor has been 10-15 minutes late each time and ended early (10 minutes) just about each time too. There have been two students in the car...so 2 hours of in the car time is really only 1 1/2 hrs of real time. I am not too worried about the driving time my daughter has received because she can't get her license until next February and I'm sure she'll drive a ton between then and now.

*The driving instructor chats on his cell phone while "teaching" his students.

*Today I received text messages from my daughter while she was first stopped at a bank in a nearby city (he had banking he needed to do) and then while stopped at a gas station (so he could get breakfast).

I feel like I need to complain to the driving school. Maybe my best solution will be to remember his name and tell my friends to NOT let their children drive with him.

I think my daughter is learning, but I expect more, better, from a teacher. In the end, I think this bothered me and NOT my daughter.

*****

#2) I have a relative who is staying with my in-laws/next door neighbors who is an alcoholic (although he doesn't admit it) and I am pretty sure I saw him taking a swig of something out at his car this morning...at 9:15. If it was water, why'd he have to come out to his car?

I went over to take dinner to my neighbors last night (my MIL fractured her pelvis four weeks ago and is using crutches to get around) and that relative definitely smelled of alcohol. And just a few nights before that he came home from "work" and was so "exhausted" he passed out on his bed at 5:30 pm. Hmmm. I wasn't over there, so I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it wasn't exhaustion he passed out from. The problem I have is, what do I do?

We had a pretty major -personal- incident with him about six weeks ago (another story). We try to avoid him at all costs; but IMO this is stressing my relationship with my neighbors. Basically this BIL is unemployed and not trying very hard to get employed. He owns a house a few hours away, but he's been living here, with my in-laws, for the past three months...only going to his house on the weekends to mow the grass. With a friend, from his childhood days, who is finding odd jobs for him here and a mom (and silent, although opinionated, dad) who is willing to "support" him, I don't expect anything to change for my BIL.

I am happy that he has some work to do, but I am not happy that he is here. I definitely don't like the fact that he seems to be drinking and driving either or taking advantage of my in-laws (that last comment is totally my opinion!). My in-laws are 83 and soon to be 85 years-old. The 83 year-old is the one with the fractured pelvis.

And now this relative has met a girl on-line. He's supposedly heading to meet her (she lives in another state far, far away). Wow, I have a ton of opinions and stories I could share about this too. Maybe another time. Maybe not.

*****

So, since I've been writing this my daughter is now done with driver's ed (she was done 10 minutes early) and my relative has left the house next door (probably for the day).

I think I just needed to vent. I know that if it wasn't so humid and hot out I'd be off walking W instead of writing.

Anyone have any opinions they'd like to share? I'm listening.

New Background...

2010-07-22T16:04:00.001-04:00

I see my background has disappeared!

It's set to go for good tomorrow (per thecutestblogontheblock). I am working on purchasing a "new" background.

I do hope to have this fixed soon...but, don't hold your breath. :)

Poor Army Men! and Bracelets...

2010-07-13T12:27:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, my DH and I went to a picnic pool party at a friend's house. Our kids were invited, but being 18 and almost 16 (the other kids at the party being ages 5-12), and parents who are...well, parents...our teens opted to stay at home.

*****

When we arrived home later that evening, I found a teenage friend's car in our drive way and this "stuff" on the kitchen counter. It appears that flaming army men were targets for my son's BB gun that afternoon.

Poor Toy Army Men!

*****

Several weeks ago I found out I am a Muggle! A couple of Bushwhackers, that I rescued, told me so. They also gave me a treasure! One of their geo-caching treasures...a hematite stone macrame bracelet. :)

Winston and I had been out on a walk when we came across a pair of lost Geo-Caching hunters. They were looking for a drop spot near our house, but they probably walked about three miles from their car and weren't quite sure how to get back. Winston and I walked them to our house, I put them in my car, gave them water and took them back to where they started.

Are you familiar with Geo-Caching? I know Lisa from A Cuppa Tea With Me is! Check out the link for geo-caching above if you'd like more details. Anyone can do it! I choose not to because I just don't have time for one more thing on my calendar...but it does look and sound like fun! Maybe I should hire myself out as a guide for this area? Besides the folks that I rescued we have had two parties of people lost in the nearby woods in the past week. Winston, my DH and I DO know these woods like the backs of our hands!

Inspired by the present I received and a little shopping at a craft store, my girl child and I bought some glass beads yesterday and decided to macrame our own bracelets. Here's my creation...with the little owl of course!

My hematite geo-caching treasure

my Owl bracelet

My daughter is such a crafting soul that she barely asks how to do something, but she did ask me to teach her to macrame! While working last night on our bracelets she asked how I learned. Oh the 70's and my mom! Anyone else recall rolling/making beads out of magazine pages? I recall my mom making the decoupage glue from flour and water. Talk about a crafting soul! My daughter certainly takes after my mom. :)

Patriotic Nature!

2010-07-04T10:10:00.002-04:00

House Finch

Cleome

Indigo Bunting

Silhouette

2010-07-04T08:20:00.002-04:00

Dragonfly

cicada, frogs, dragonflies, lightning bugs

hot, steamy air

it must be summer

Babies!

2010-06-29T11:53:00.004-04:00

W and I heard some strange cries in the woods on our walk yesterday afternoon.

Looks like it was time for some babies to venture out into the big world!

Both of these little ones were at the base of the tree when we first came along. We watched them for a bit as they climbed and climbed back up the tree. I am sure their mama was nearby. Babies in the wild are way more capable than we humans like to think. Since I like to name all the things I find,

I called the one above Lucy and the one below...Ricky!

Winston was sure I was going bring one of these two home for him as a playmate! After we left them, he would periodically stop leading me, turn around and smell my pockets and camera. My hunter would not have played nicely.

My rule remains...no babies! :)

Bambi and Flower in One Day!

2010-06-28T10:29:00.003-04:00

Flower spent the day under the stairs of our deck.

Winston enjoyed keeping tabs on him (check out W's blog).

By dinner time, Flower moved to under our deck and this morning hasn't returned...thank goodness! :)

While taking an afternoon hike with my DH and W I spotted Bambi!

It's hard not to say "aw!"

*****

There must be four or five fawns in the area this year. W can't resist the deer. We've been working on our circle of trust (no leash in the yard) and he failed on Friday. I was mulching around my in-laws yard, looked up and saw a fawn come out of the woods out back just before W did. W bolted! Not good. I was home alone, tried to go after him but didn't have any luck in finding him. He is a fast dog when he runs unleashed. I went into the woods and called his name. I heard some rustling nearby and thought to myself, good he hasn't gone far when the fawn came out of a thicket and towards me. :) A few hours later W came home. This was the second time he'd run off after deer, but the first time my DH and two kids were around to help corral him. Can I just say I felt so happy that Winston found his way home! Yes, I was mad that he ran off, but I was so happy that he knew where to come home too!

BINGO! (Ta-Dah)

2010-06-22T08:14:00.004-04:00

Finally! Fawns on Film...well, on my digital memory card.

I was on a walk with my DH and Winston on Sunday evening and we spotted these two little ones playing around and their Mom. We saw a huge buck just before...I wonder if it was their Pops? It was Father's Day.

Worth a Thousand Words?

2010-06-10T12:08:00.001-04:00

This pair was out back the other morning.

Kind of cute for a pair of opossums!

*****

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you might recall that I am hell-bent on getting a photo of a fawn. I feel my opportunity for photographing a newborn deer is past. But I do have a story to share...

Last Saturday morning, three of the four of us in our household...and Winston...were up early at 7 am. W usually rises and shines at about 8:15; he's a lazy dog! Well, my DH went out on the back porch to have his coffee and he took W with him. I wandered out too as did our son. My husband was off to race his bicycle soon, that's his stress reliever and hobby, and my son was off to re-take his SAT's. I knew I needed to get W to pee before I drove our son to his testing site so I walked out back without the leash with W. Winston and I have been working on our trust, and we are making great strides in our backyard and the adjacent woods. I feel like he's such a hunter though if we cross the stream behind our place his leash must be on. I guess my trust isn't THAT strong yet.

Well, the walk was going fine. W relieved himself and was sniffing lots all around. He wandered to the edge of my in-laws backyard and I went that way too. On the other side of a monster pine tree, I saw W nudge something and it take off running. IT WAS A SLEEPING FAWN! "Winston, NO!!!!!" I screamed as I ran in their direction. The fawn ran about 100 feet and laid down. W had his nose on the baby's back. As I slowly approached the two animals my husband came running up. Baby deer decided to make another break for it, bleating the whole time! She, or he, sounded just like a little goat kid and I was sure her angry mom would be upon us all! Another 100 feet of running and the baby stopped again. She staying on her feet this time. She had her front legs spread and her head down as she faced us. She almost looked like she was going to charge us herself, but I think she was frozen in fear. W, my DH and I were all just inches from this little one. She was about a 1/3 of the size of W. My DH's voice roused me from my own frozen state as he told me to grab Winston's collar. I just didn't want to move! I wanted to drink in the beauty of this moment. Did I have my camera? NO. Did I have my cellphone (with camera)? NO! I tried very hard to burn this image into my brain. It was a Thousand Words right in front of me. Just for me!

We drug W back home. He was very proud of himself for his morning find. He is a hunting dog after all.

In the past three months I have walked for close to 200 hours with my camera around my neck just hoping for a photo-op with a fawn. Life remains unpredictable.

Ballerina Bear

2010-05-29T08:02:00.003-04:00

For my ballerina!

I love how this little bear has on toe shoes and a little tutu! I am totally smitten by making these little animals.

From time to time, during the progress of making this bear, my daughter would come and ask to see how it looked. When I finished it and took it to her she paid me the highest compliment..."teach me!" Her summer break starts in just one more school day.

Now that my ballerina bear is done I really MUST get back to working on my Christmas stocking for my new niece. It's one of those felt/sequin/bead/embroidery kits.

*****

For info on the patterns I've been using for my crochet animals: Itty Bitty Animals (Annie's Attic: Crochet) by Shelia Leslie. I think I'll make a monkey next!

Wisteria Lane or Mulberry Street?

2010-05-27T10:49:00.009-04:00

It doesn't matter where one lives, a parents job is the same. I was reminded this morning of what it means to be a parent to an older teenager.

It is that time of year when seniors are graduating from high school (or college) and getting ready for the next step in their lives. A parents job is to push their children.

Push them out of the nest, give them support and encouragement, yet be there for them until their wings are strong enough for their solo flight into life.

As I returned home from my morning walk with Winston, I saw a baby bird on the ground. It looked too young, in my opinion, to be out of the nest. After I deposited Winston inside the house, I went back to investigate the baby. It looked like a Cardinal and after trying to get closer to it to see if it was injured, I knew it WAS a Cardinal. Both parents were close by and gave me a piece of their mind, "Get Away!" they warned. I insisted on lending a hand and moved Little Baby to the base of the nearest evergreen tree. I stepped away to watch from a distance. Lo and behold, nature was taking care of itself! Little Baby was getting a lesson in how to fly! I watched as mom and pop encouraged their nestling to keep going. Hop, flaaaap, hop, flaaaap across my entire backyard. Periodically the parents, taking turns, would fly down to Little Baby and tweet little encouragements.

My oldest turns 18 in less than a month. He will be a senior in high school in just a few days. He is an amazing person and I know whatever path he takes in life he will be fine. I will push, push, push him, but I won't like him leaving my nest next year. My husband and I will spend this summer being like Little Bird's parents as we cart our son around to different colleges and tweet little encouragements to him about each place.

About the photos: Wisteria...I discovered that next door at my neighbors, Little Cardinal...I saw her (or him) this morning in my backyard, Mulberries...from one of my two trees out back.

Lately in my neck of the woods...

2010-05-25T07:41:00.007-04:00

I have been very busy snapping photos and trying to label them. Thought I'd share a little of the beauty capturing my eyes. Southern Indiana is an amazing place to live!

Striped Bass?

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly

When I think of butterflies, I think flowers...not woods.

Millipede

Snail is tucked away inside!

lichen

Tree Frog...about an inch big!

Ten inch Toad Stool

This is what I imagine a toad stool to look like, but it could be a mushroom. I am working on learning if there is a difference.

*****

LOOK CAREFULLY in the picture below.

Can you find the snake on the brown leaves?

Here it is up close.

Any guesses as to what it is?

I am positive it is a Copperhead!

Elliptical eyes made me wary. Once home I searched the web.

It is in my area, it is poisonous, but of the venomous snakes here...it's the least venomous. That's supposed to be a comforting thought.

I respect nature and will avoid this guy and am glad I can ID him (or her) now.

*****

Two deer photos to compare:

Anyone else think this doe is pregnant?

Buck with his new antlers starting to grow.

I love watching the deer! They always see Winston and me before W sees them. He's usually on the hunt for a chipmunk or a bird...nose to the ground...sniff, sniff, sniffing. As the seasons change, the coats of the deer change too. Right now they are a gorgeous orange brown.

Cross Breeds in Nature...

2010-05-23T10:49:00.003-04:00

Here's an example of what you get

when you cross a white violet...

...with a purple violet.

A zebra looking beauty!

This Little Piggy...

2010-05-18T15:13:00.004-04:00

...went to live with Tessa!

*****

My first attempt at making a crocheted stuffed animal.

*****

If you like hand crafted items, you might check out the give-aways happening over the next few days on the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog. Click HERE or look for the link under Blogs I Read. But hurry! Only a few more days to enter. My favorite part of this event is finding new ideas and blogs to read.

Delicacy!

2010-05-12T11:57:00.004-04:00

I am not a mushroom hunter. But, a few weeks ago I found a Morel Mushroom!

Sorry for the "small" shot, I sent this photo to my husband via my cell phone. Guess I forgot to grab the regular camera too!

Typically I will happen across one Morel during the season. I will gingerly take my treasure home, cart it around like the trophy that it is for a few hours, cut it up, saute it in butter and share tiny bites with my in-laws, DH and son. My daughter doesn't like mushrooms...yet.

*****

This year I have Winston and we walk and walk and walk each day. We were out for about an hour when I looked down and saw a patch of these tasty treats at my feet! Fortunately I had my just-in-case-I-run-across-some-mushrooms bag with me. :)

Since I usually only find one morel, I wasn't really sure what to do with all these.

But, fear not, I cut them up, sauteed them and then snacked all night long.

The next day for lunch I had a wonderful Morel, provolone cheese, spinach, tomato and onion mix on a toasted bun. Mmmm! Heaven!

Q & A with a couple of Icons

2010-05-08T22:08:00.003-04:00

Quincy Jones & David Baker

*****

This week I had an opportunity to listen to these two. Mostly it was Mr. Jones responding to questions and Mr. Baker was the host. I drug my daughter along because she had a conference with her ballet instructor in the same building just as the talk started. I don't think she can comprehend the greatness that was before her.

I very much enjoyed listening to the words of wisdom that were being shared.

Surviving!

2010-05-06T07:38:00.001-04:00

When there is a will, there is a way!

*****

Just a reminder that nothing is impossible.

Happy Earth Day! 2010

2010-04-22T23:59:00.006-04:00

When I was about 15 years old and I found a song that I was particularly fond of, I'd save up my money, head to the record store, buy the 45 (I know that dates me!) and then play the heck out of it... as loud as I could get away with, up in my room. I hear my own daughter doing the same thing only in an updated version: buy the song on iTunes in the comfort of our home, load it to her iPod, and then play the heck out of it: on the computer while she is doing homework, on her iPod with headphones as she walks to the bus, in the car (thanks to iPod adapters) as I am driving her someplace, etc.

I went to a concert last week...Straight No Chaser. If you haven't heard of them, WHY NOT? They are an amazing a capella group. Google them! YouTube them! Click on my link to their home page: SNC! You won't be sorry! My daughter and I went to their concert with a couple of friends who also just happen to be mother and daughter. Due to her dance rehearsal schedule my daughter had to meet us late. During the first part of the concert SNC played a song I know I'd heard before. I was too embarrassed to ask my daughter's friend, and there was not a program at the concert for me to cheat!

Being very 21st Century... I went home and tried to Google it! It's very hard to Google a song (or YouTube it) when you really don't know the words. A day or two later I did buy the newest SNC CD, but I wasn't able to listen to it right away. Life can be full! Well, imagine my surprise when I finally popped my new CD into my van and the first song that played was exactly what I'd been searching! :) So, guess who's acting like she's 15 years old again now? I have played the song to death and I still can't get enough of it. I decided it needed to be featured as my Earth Day celebration song, mostly for it's rhythm and beauty of the melody...because if you read the lyrics , you'd see it's a bit goofy to put to an Earth Day photo slide show! :)

I've been working on these photos for weeks: snapping and then identifying. I have had to resolve that there are just too many wildflowers out there to post them all at one time. I'll try to post some individual flower photos over the next few weeks. And Leslie...it's very hard to get an up close and clear photo of a bee!

Enjoy, and Thanks Straight No Chaser!

Music by Straight No Chaser -

as you listen, remember it's only their voices!

Song: I'm Yours/Somewhere Over the Rainbow

from the album: With a Twist

-----

Photos by Hootie and taken within walking distance from my house

Walking tours available upon request! :)

Hootie's SECRET Gino's East Style Pizza Dough Recipe

2010-04-22T12:19:00.000-04:00

Well, It's happened again! I've been asked by several people for my "secret" Gino's East Pizza Dough recipe, so I figure it's time to share on-line! I am not one of those cooks who keeps their recipes close to their chest. I am always honored that others like what I make. I also figure that when someone tries to copy a recipe, they will appreciate what others make even more. Cooking requires practice!

Some history on this particular recipe is that a few years ago my family was in Chicago and we'd heard about Gino's East pizza. Being pizza lovers, we had to check it out. I fell in love with the dough and wanted to know how it was made. If you google Gino's Pizza Dough Recipe, you'll find a whole slew of others looking for this SECRET recipe too! There are many versions, and mine can be added to that collection, but after several attempts, and many, many taste-testing nights by my DH and kids, here's the recipe I settled on!

Enjoy! :)

Hootie's Gino's East Style Pizza Dough Recipe

1 C water

1 pkg yeast

1 TBS sugar

1/3 C oil (5% olive oil/95% corn oil)

1 tsp Cream of Tartar

3 C Bread Flour

2 TBS cornmeal

4-5 drops of yellow food coloring

I mix my dough in my bread machine.

1) by hand mix water, yeast and sugar and let sit for 15-20 minutes.

The water should be at about 115 degrees to activate the yeast.

2) next add the rest of the ingredients and let the bread machine do the work of kneading!

3) I usually let the dough rise in my bread machine too for several hours and then I turn it out onto my counter and roll to the right diameter.

It's always a good idea to let dough rest a bit once rolled too before adding sauce and toppings.

I bake my pizza in a 450 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Since I usually make two pizzas, I set one of my racks up high and the other really low and switch oven positions after the first 10 minutes.

Need to Moderate Comments...Sorry!

2010-04-14T07:10:00.004-04:00

Dear Readers: I am getting tired of having my blog attached to SEX spam! So I am going to moderate comments.

Sorry friends.

I do believe in freedom of speech, but I don't believe in attaching sexual links to someone else's creative work. I want my children (or nieces, nephews, friends, in-laws, etc) to be able to check out my blog and NOT have inappropriate links visible.

Hootie

Click, Click, Click...

2010-04-07T07:22:00.005-04:00

...Everywhere I look.

There is so much happening in the woods these days.

I am still on the hunt for a fawn, surely I'll spot one soon.

*****

Here's Tripod, still surviving! She must be at least three now.

She doesn't run from Winston and me, but we all keep an unspoken safe distance from one another. I do not have the zoom on my camera in this photo.

I think Winston understands he's not allowed to chase the deer.

*****

At one of the stream heads, Winston and I spotted a pair of Mallards!

*****

You might need to click on the next photo to enlarge it so you can count all the turtles sunning on this log. At first I thought there was only one there.

Sorry I couldn't get any closer to them!

*****

I did not take the next photo, my DH did with his cell phone! He was walking Winston a few nights ago and they stepped over this guy, who was occupied with his dinner. My DH had to use his Petzl headlamp to illuminate him for the photo. A little research showed he's probably a Checkered Garter Snake, not poisonous. My DH said he was about 18 inches long though and right on the path. I'm kind of glad I have daylight hours walking duty with Winston! :)

Tomorrow I will share a few of my flower photos.

It's so easy to fall in love with Spring Time!

Happy Spring!

2010-04-06T14:18:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, we celebrated Easter in our household. Over the past 24 years of celebrating ANY holiday with my in-laws, it is common practice to have "extra" guests join us. Since it's inception, my MIL has been part of a group that welcomes the international students studying here at the university. The group is called Bloomington Worldwide Friendship. Unlike a host program where students come and live in ones house, BWF connects these faraway from home kids with people who will invite them over for dinner or other typical American life events. International students can't just head home for the weekend, so BWF encourages local friendships. Once students are matched with a host, they remain "connected" for the entire time the students are studying here. There are no requirements for getting together. My MIL, who is an active lady and always thinks of others, invites her students to BB games, concerts, the farmers market, church, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other event she thinks might be interesting to them. If you are lucky enough to know my MIL, you know an amazing lady!

I took these photos and everyone agreed I could post them here. So, here's a glimpse at our family and friends!

The Dining Room group:

Zhen, Sunnie, my FIL (Bill), Joe, Zhixu Su (wife of Yi), my MIL (Kate).

Sunnie and Joe are NOT students! They are parents of one of the students at dinner (Elise) who happens to be the girlfriend of one of our gang. Elise is from West Virginia.

The Outside diners:

My baby girl, Shulan, my son, Jialu, Lu, Haitao

The Sun Room diners:

Elise, Harald, my DH, Yi (Xshu's DH)

Zhixu Su and Yi made and brought this very tasty (and cute!) cake.

I made these little carrot cake cupcake treats.

*****

My favorite story of past students my in-laws have hosted includes one where a grad student was here from England. He came to my in-laws house for a holiday meal and engaged in conversation with my BIL who was maybe 18 or 19 at the time (my own DH was just a baby then). My BIL was in a rock band with his friends and it just so happened that this grad student had a son who was a little older and was in a rock band too. The grad student asked my BIL, "Have you ever heard of a group called The Rolling Stones?" His son was Mick Jagger! True Story! Up until Joel Jagger passed away about five years ago my in-laws exchanged Christmas letters with him.

Because of my MIL, I have met individuals from all over the world. Someday I will have to step up and be a host myself. But for now...I'll just enjoy helping out.

Unexpected Finds...

2010-03-17T17:38:00.007-04:00

When Winston and I head out for his walks, I expect to find wildlife in our path.

It is about time for the deer to have their young. I am hoping each time we head out (camera in hand) that I will spot a fawn. I have read that newborns do not smell, so I don't expect Winston to point them out! I observed several deer together last week and one was being aggressive to the others. Again, I have read that when a doe is close to having her babies she will chase the others in the herd away.

But alas, no young yet near the Burrow! I remain patient.

*****

Yesterday on Winston's and my first walk of the day, I did find not one, but two very surprising finds...

.....domesticated bunnies, dumped in the woods. Shocking!!! But not really I suppose. It is spring break and I am sure these babies were cramping some ones plans. Winston and I walked right up to these two. Do you think they would have survived long in the woods? I was quite a sight as I stuffed first the black bunny and then 40 steps later, the white bunny into my coat vest. Winston was a very good boy. All he was interested in was smelling the bunnies.

Thankfully, my daughter is not home this spring break. She did not have to go with me to the animal shelter. She will be upset that we didn't adopt both of these fluffy balls, but now was not the time for adding to the menagerie of our home. Our local shelter is an invaluable asset to the community. I am sad that they must exist, but happy that our community can be supportive. Once again I would like to encourage all my readers to give to your local animal shelter!

I was angry with the irresponsibility of these humans living near me and for their dumping these pets. If they are comfortable dumping pets, I wonder what else they are comfortable doing......

Serenity!

2010-03-14T12:38:00.009-04:00

Spring has finally sprung in my neck of the woods! Yesterday I noted this first flower: Harbinger-of-Spring, aka Salt-n-Pepper, popping up near the stream.

It's such a tiny little flower, if you aren't down by the stream floor you might miss it! I read it's called Salt-n-Pepper because if you pick it, as it starts to dry out the little red stamen turn black.

Above is the foliage of the Spring Beauty,

another early bloomer.

I'll be looking for these blossoms over the next few weeks.

Textures are starting to come alive in the woods too!

Flower leaves, moss and tiny little ferns

lay at the base of many trees.

Stepping back a bit, here's what that mossy area

two photos above looks like at a distance.

Even with a lack of soil, these little bulbs have survived the winter and form a little cluster of lush green on the wood floor.

I noticed that the Towhee's are singing again too!

Can you see him sitting in the middle of this photo?

At my kitchen window... a bouquet of Snow Drops.

I find the awakening

of flora and fauna in the Spring

refreshing for my soul!

Hootie's Almost Famous Cinnamon Scones

2010-03-07T13:22:00.000-05:00

I have had several requests for my almost famous scones recipe. This is a recipe that I created...hence the fancy name! My words of caution are: the hardest ingredient to find is the Cinnamon Chips and, once you make them they will disappear quickly. I order my chips by the case because they are not available in the stores where I live. I prefer Hershey's Cinnamon Chips and they should cost about $2.50 a bag. If they cost more than that you are getting ripped off. When I head out of town on vacation, etc I always check the local grocery stores to see if their shelves carry this baking treasure.

Hootie's Almost Famous Cinnamon Scones

1 1/2 C all-purpose flour

1 C rolled oats

1/4 C packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 C (one stick) unsalted COLD butter

1/2 bag (between 3/4 & 1 C) Cinnamon Chips

1/2 C milk

Cinnamon & sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

**********

Mix all dry ingredients, but DO NOT add chips yet!

Cut in cold butter, use a knife first and then a pastry blender.

Mix should resemble pie crust dough before any liquid is added.

Stir in chips and milk using spatula.

Fold onto stone...dough will be dry.

Shape with hands, dust with flour and roll to a 12 inch circle

(approximately 1/4 inch thick)

Cut into wedges, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar then bake.

Scones bake in 400 degree oven for 15-17 minutes.

Finished product!

Re-cut and enjoy!!!!!

Yields 12 scones

House Hunting!

2010-03-05T07:35:00.003-05:00

A month ago I caught these house hunting Bluebirds checking out my digs!

I can hear Bluebirds singing each time I am outside. I think Spring really is just around the corner. :)

The Gnomes in my Home

2010-02-28T17:46:00.003-05:00

This gnome in the middle is Pawley. He's named for Pawley's Island, SC and was created by Tom Clark. I think I have 29 of Mr. Clark's creations adorning my shelves. I have collected them for years, but really love TC gnomes with shells as their theme. A few in my collection came from my Grams. Long before she passed away she decided she was going to die and needed to clean house. She really never made a dent in her "stuff" but that is probably common for most people!

Pawley came from my husband's aunt's house. She passed away last December, just after we saw her at Thanksgiving. I have wonderful memories of her, especially when I see Pawley. She was a beach lover too and we spent many vacations together...several shopping at Pawley's Island!

Last weekend I tried to go through some boxes of my own "stuff." How does one part with old photos of family? Love letters of their parents? And trinkets that are powerful reminders of lost ones? For me...I put the lids back on the boxes, enjoyed the reminiscing, and decided that another time I'll maybe part with my "stuff"...maybe. :)

Freshening Up!

2010-02-22T07:20:00.001-05:00

I am getting bored with the plain white surroundings outside! So I decided to freshen up my blog with a little color. What do you think? :)

Knitting For Charity Update

2010-02-19T13:22:00.007-05:00

...Here are photos of my daughter (the blue) and my (the pink) cat throws we crocheted on MLK Day. Very appropriate that Jack would pick the boyish color to clean himself on and Lily the girlish color to lay on!

Kitty endorsed. :)

I delivered our finished products just today even though they've been ready for a few weeks. Now we'll have to make Jack and Lily there very own blankets.

For anyone seriously interested in the pattern...it was the most simple crochet: cast on any number you like (we shot for 50) and then single crochet the rows until the entire skein was used up or you are happy with the size. I believe we used a G or H sized hook. The edging was just single crochets all the way around. I used a different color, but my daughter used the same color as the main body of her throw.

It was very easy to make these; I taught my daughter how to crochet that morning. I can see myself making many more of these in the future! What a nice way to use up old yarn...and the cats certainly won't scrutinize ones handy work! :)

Just the two of us...and our dog!

2010-02-15T18:55:00.001-05:00

When you are outdoor loving individuals and have been married for many, many years AND you still have teens at home, the best way to get a little alone time is to take a walk! Yesterday for Valentine's Day - and as is our Sunday habit - my DH and I took a long walk in the woods with Winston. The ground had about 6 inches of snow on it, but many others had traveled the paths too.

In places the creek appeared frozen over.

This looks like it might be Oriental Bittersweet to me.

Ten years ago, my Mom and Grams would probably pay good money for this little bunch just to use as decorations!

Unfrozen, flowing streams to cross.

The hidden dam once again...from the base this time!

Water was dripping over it's edge;cascading down the stair steps which hold back the lake above.

I love the symmetry of this evergreen against the stair ledge of the dam.

Icicles formed like stalactites off the ridges in the ravines.

Some even reached all the way to the ground inviting one

to come see what's behind the curtain.

We stayed on the trail though...maybe next Sunday.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

A week ago I bought myself a little present. That doesn't happen too often! For Christmas I requested a CD which I did not get...Joshua Bell At Home with Friends.

It is fantastic! And, it has one of my favorite songs of all time on it...

My Funny Valentine, totally appropriate for today! I love listening to this whole CD; it has an international feel to it and it makes me very happy!

Yesterday I got flowers!

They were from my FIL. He brought them over and told me it was a little thank you for taking care of him over these past few weeks. My MIL had been in DC and did get snowed in there due to the snowopcalypse. While she was away I fed my FIL dinner each night and just made sure all was fine with him each day. I could tell by the end of the almost two weeks without his wife around he was really starting to miss her. He's of that generation who is totally capable, but really likes to be waited on. Old dogs can learn new tricks but they just don't like to...do you know anyone like this? I accommodate old dogs!

*****

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I love living next door to my in-laws for this reason...I want to be able to be here to help, when ever!

*****

This year for Valentine's Day I made my friends some of my homemade coconut butter cream filled bon-bons. They haven't received them yet though due to the snow we've had and my in-ability to get to school and deliver these treats. Hopefully tomorrow! And, if any of them read this blog posting then they will know what else to expect too!

Thanks to Alison by Hand, I was inspired to make some of my own little containers! What an easy to follow tutorial! Thanks, Alison. :)

One of my very special friends will be receiving a little crocheted heart I made. I found the pattern in an old crochet magazine I picked up while at a book fair with this friend. The other heart is going to my MIL.

Here's what Crafting Central has looked like for me lately.

This morning Winston and I made a special delivery of one of these little containers filled with chocolates and doggie chew treats to a neighbor and her dog, Lovey. It was so fun to give a valentine to someone who didn't expect it.

Her smile was priceless! :)

*****

What did I receive from my sweetheart you ask? Well, really only a true love could appreciate his thoughtfulness...my very own gaiters! Are you familiar with what those are? They are covers for one's pants from your knee down to your boot/shoe laces. Here's an example at L.L. Bean...gaiters. They are perfect for walking in the snow with a dog in the woods! :) I've been borrowing his, my DH's, that he's had for 30 years. It's fine to share a pair, but like today, we both went out together and then only one of us had the benefit of no-snow-sliding-down-our-ankles-and-into-our-shoes. That was me, btw.

Maybe tomorrow I'll post a few of the photos I took from our almost three hour Valentine hike!

xoxoxo,

I'm gonna listen to my CD again!

Eye Candy Outdoors...

2010-02-08T18:48:00.007-05:00

Friday we were supposed to have a snow storm; 4-8 inches of heavy white stuff. School was cancelled before the fun even began. Our town sat on the freezing temps line all day long...just barely at 34 degrees! Cold, windy, rainy weather. YUCK! After 4 in the afternoon the temperature finally dropped enough to make the woods look magical.

*****

I went out Saturday afternoon with my camera, of course.

A tiny little pond tucked away in the hills.

The tree affectionately known as the palm tree by my family.

*****

Below it was HEADS or TAILS.

Look north (above)...and south (below) for two completely

different pictures of the woods.

The road ways stayed fairly clear. One might call it the perfect snow storm! Tonight we are set to add to our total accumulations. Usual the old snow melts before a fresh batch arrives. I know tonight I'll have two teenagers saying their prayers for another snow day! :)

Bluebird of Happiness...Indeed!

2010-02-03T23:09:00.002-05:00

Over the past two months I have acquired a dog and a new camera. I'm sure by now you've read my updates about Winston on his blog...Winston Speaks.

Probably the most amazing thing about owning him is that he forces me to get outside several times each day. I have, however, decided I am not a huge fan of walks in the cold rain. As a retired-hunter, Winston is still always "on" duty. He's learning that I hunt too, but with my camera. He knows when I need him to stand still so I can take a few "shots." Commands and signals are coming along.

As a new camera owner, I am still feeling my way around. My well-read manual is close at hand. I have a few of my Grandma Theresa's bird loving genes in me. So my walks in the woods with Winston are a treat in my day; especially with camera in hand.

Last week I was very excited when I saw a flock of Bluebirds eating the Holly berries in my tree out back. My mood for the day was set when I was able to capture several photos of one of my favorite birds! I couldn't help but feel my grandmother's passion for these feathered friends creeping through my veins.

My hometown is just on the northern edge of the Bluebirds winter habitat. We are so lucky that they will stay here year round. That means our nesting boxes get used earlier too! Walking down by the lake I could see it was mostly frozen over again. Where the stream head meets the lake the ice cold water was crystal clear.

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I have a ton of photos of songbirds who frequent the woods nearby, my yard and feeders. But, I am always on the hunt for Birds of Prey! They are really hard to get close to and I don't have a big enough zoom lens to be that far away.

When Winston and I were out on Tuesday I spotted this owl who was watching us! I think this is a Barred Owl.

It's amazing how silent owls are when they fly.

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Recently I spotted this Red Shouldered Hawk nearby too. He was being chased by some Blue Jays and Crows so he was much easier to notice.

Finally, I think there must be at least a dozen deer living in the woods behind my house. There droppings are everywhere and Winston and I spot them ALL THE TIME! It's almost a non-event seeing a deer any more. I think they feel the same way about us too. Usually they will hold their ground and size us up. Their general protocol is (1) Watch the potential threat, (2) Stomp your hoof to see if they will turn tail and run, (3) Snort at the threat as you run off. Usually I stomp my foot back at them. Winston stomped at this gal which surprised her and made her run. I am working on teaching Winston "NO" when we see the deer. He is not allowed to chase them with me. Loosing my new buddy is the last thing I need! Good to spot the deer, good to give them a little exercise, bad to go after them.

I think the woods of the Burrow are wonderful!

Partners in Crime!!!

2010-01-27T16:52:00.009-05:00

They always look innocent, don't they?

Last night, I left a piece of cooked, boneless chicken on the counter while

I ran to pick up my ballerina from class.

When I returned home...well, you can guess what was missing!

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Winston, the henchman.

Jack, the boss.

Lily, the Queen.

I think the boss did the dirty work and the henchman

just cleaned up the evidence, this time.

The Queen was off sleeping. She missed out on all the fun.

I wasn't really upset...I had cooked this for them anyway

while I was making Chicken Soup for us. :)

Secrets Close to Home

2010-01-25T23:12:00.003-05:00

Well, I suppose these aren't really secrets but...

Few people actually get to see this beauty up close. This is a small lake near where I live. I've always wanted to go see it but it's supposed to be "off limits". IU does have research facilities nearby and has signs posted requesting people stay away & not interfere with the "studies". As a responsible citizen, tax payer and alumnus, I wanted to see what's going on. I'll always promise to take only pictures and leave only footprints as I walk the marked trails!

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My DH was my guide.

University Lake

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Walking to the lake and dam in early January we saw

spectacular icicles dangling from the rocky bluffs.

Can you believe I am walking distance from my house?

I tell you, I didn't leave the state!

I did have to walk at least an hour before I got here.

Above and below are photos of the dam at University Lake.

This stairway looking wall was so pretty.

My DH recalls being a little boy and coming back here with his mom and dad.

He tells me, at the base of the "stairs wall" there use to be an old well-house or some other building. No evidence of it's existence remains;

just a breath taking ravine fills the view.

Truly, I can't wait to hike back here again in a few months

when the wild flowers start blooming!

(Insert cute heart thing-y here) Crafting Giveaway!!!

2010-01-23T16:54:00.000-05:00

Hurry, time is running out to enter! Head over to my friends at Wee Folk Art to enter. You can catch all the rules there. :)

Be careful though...you can easily get sidetracked on their blog! :)

Knitting For Charity

2010-01-19T07:16:00.008-05:00

But there were supplies available just in case; wool yarn, knitting needles and patterns.

Sandwiches were also donated as well as cookies and water!

Young...

...and not so young!

Who is this serious crocheter?

I'm still working on my cuddle mat for the animal shelter. I'll share photos of my daughters work and mine asap. :)

The Sweater!

2010-01-17T12:34:00.005-05:00

Flower child that I am, I finally finished crocheting my sweater! I started this project four and a half months ago. My original goal was to have it completed by Thanksgiving. I found it hard to work on something so big for myself on a regular basis. But, now that it's done, it may have to wait for warmer weather to be worn. It's much too long to wear with a jacket.

When I am knitting for charity tomorrow I think I will have to wear it! :)

My next projects include a felt (kit) Christmas stocking for my soon to be born niece of nephew for December and I want to learn how to knit or crochet hats and gloves.