New Addition

Gosh it's been a long time since I've written! Life has been so busy with work for both Dan and me. Seems finally last weekend we were able to catch our breath for a bit. On the way home from breakfast out on Sunday, we noticed a camper for sale just down the road and around the corner from our home. We called the number on the "For Sale" sign and toured it that afternoon. After tons of questions and some bargaining by Dan, we became the proud owners of a used 1996, 23 foot Jayco camper in excellent condition. On Tuesday, after all the paperwork was done and the check given to the seller, we brought it home and parked it in Mary and Jody's camp sight behind our house. Throughout the week, as time permitted, I set to giving the inside a good once over and stocking it with supplies. More pictures are on my Photo Album site (link on the right).

Not sure if we'll head to any campgrounds yet this season but perhaps may at the end of this month of early in October. When I told friends of ours that we had purchased it, I was asked how I talked Dan into getting it. My reply: It only took me five years! Oh the joy in thoughts of being able to get away on weekends. Fortunately there are a few campgrounds relatively close to home as Dan continues to work 6 days a week most weeks.

But for now...it's set up and ready to go in our back yard. I've already used it for a meeting with someone - very nice indeed! So...Mary and Jody, there's still room for you when you are able to come up this way. We'll just reconfigure the "camp sites"!!!

Too Quiet; Too Still

Over the past two days both of the little baby Eastern bluebirds died. The adults are still around, mostly in the evening, but there will be no little ones to watch take their first flight. Some would say, "They were only birds". But they were much more than a mere "thing". They were a part of this beautiful creation - creatures of wonder that brought great joy to my heart. It saddens me deeply that they did not survive.

Captivated by Nature

This is fast becoming one of my favorite times of year. The yard is alive with activity! The raised vegetable garden beds are looking good and everything is growing well...so far. Even the pumpkin and watermelon seeds I planted a couple weeks ago have sprouted and are developing new leaves. If they all produce, we'll have lots of pumpkins for carving (and canning) and an abundance of watermelon to eat come early fall. I'm hoping the cucumbers do well as I really have a taste for grandma's pickle recipe this year.

Besides the garden, watching the birds has been a joy. A couple weeks ago the baby Eastern bluebirds hatched and just last week, one day, I was late for work as I spotted the little ones perched on the crossbar of our clothesline post just as I was about to head out the door. It was captivating to watch as one by one each little one took flight...all but one, that is. This little straggler needed some encouragement from Father Bird. But eventually he (or she) made a short but glorious flight. I have found it both amazing and delightful that they are still sticking around so long this year. Each evening I watch as they come out from hiding and flutter around the yard. I can't remember them ever staying so long after leaving the nest. I Imagine Mother Bird will soon be laying her second batch of eggs in the little white birdhouse. And then I can start all over keeping watch. The hummingbirds are coming around enmass. Their antics are delightful. Early this afternoon I saw a doe standing on the road and the gopher that resides way too close to my gardens greets me each morning as I leave for work. For living out in the middle of nowhere, so to speak, there sure is a lot going on!

Late last week we got an over abundance of rain. So much so that nearly the whole yard was flooded three times in one night! Luckily there was only a tiny amount that seeped into the basement and the sump pump didn't even have to start up.

Been working on a few stained glass pieces - they're in the slideshow. Health things have keep me busy...or not. With all the wet weather and higher humidity, my RA has been acting up. Add to that increasing osteoporosis and a battery of tests. So far nothing too serious. And, I've been running with Dan's aunt to doctor appointments as well.

Be sure to check out the newest pictures of Miss Amelia on my photo album site. She came for a visit yesterday and was quite the socialable little lady!

Time Off

Been a few weeks...again! Lots of things have occupied my time since I last posted. The weather has been up and down - nice warm and sunny days mixed in with cold ones. We even had frost one morning the week after Memorial Day! The three baby Eastern Bluebirds have hatched and are being well cared for. They're growing nicely and I imagine will soon be testing their wings. Yesterday I saw a female Oriole sitting on our clothes line post with some string in her beak. She's either building or adding to her nest.

The garden is planted and doing well so far and the flower beds are planted as well. A few shrubs that had seen much better days have been removed. The swing set is disassembled and pumpkin and watermelon seeds were planted where it used to occupy space. My final paper for school has been written, submitted, and reviewed. And...the fire wood pile has grown significantly in anticipation for the next two winters. Amid all this activity, we made a trip to the cemetery on Sunday before Memorial Day to plant flowers at my dad's grave. I usually had made a wreath and floral arrangement of silk flowers but this year wanted to do real flowers.

You'd think with having 10 days off I would have worked on stained glass. Well, no, I just didn't have any energy for that with all the work that needed to be done around the house. But, I went back to work yesterday and when I got home, after taking the dogs for a walk and backing a batch of chocolate chip cookies, I started in on stained glass again. I completed two small flower pieces (they're in the slide show) that will probably make it to the holiday bazaar. There is a great connection with going to work and busying myself with stained glass. I have been finding the situation at work to be frustrating and immersing myself in stained glass really helps take my mind off, well, literally everything else. Kind of like an oasis in the desert. Still sacred time...

Back At It

After a week and a half of time off, I went back to work today. Must say it was tough getting up this morning, and...that alarm was very annoying! I also got back to working on stained glass. Chose two simple flower patterns last night and cut them out. When I got home from work this afternoon I set to making one of the pieces - a hibiscus - that will be donated to the Holiday bazaar. It's picture is included in the slideshow below. It's really nice to get back to crafting - I've missed it but my hands really appreciated not getting cuts. Think I'll just do a few smaller sun catcher pieces until I figure out what kind of larger piece I'd like to work on next.

Last Friday evening our church held the annual Wine & Cheese fundraiser. I donated two stained glass pieces for the oral auction: Tulips in the Round and Flower in the Round. They brought in a nice amount of money!

Back Again

Took another hiatus but this time it was vacation...and a much needed vacation at that. Returned home in the wee hours of the morning today from Florida. Had a wonderful time with my friend. We walked on the beach (lots), shopped, lazed around, ate fruit and ice cream for dinner, had some wine and marguritas, and had wonderful conversations. What more could anyone ask for?

The palm tree in this picture is the same one in all my pictures.
The picture was taken from the patio of the beach house last Saturday before we left and headed back to my friend's house. Always difficult to leave the peace, serenity, and sheer awe of the beach. Every time I have been there I've had a significant revelation and this time was no exception. Nothing that most people would call earth shattering but it's always something that I find deeply profound - and for my "ears" only. There's a sacredness in that.

I picked a great time to go weather-wise. It was sunny and warm - but not hot (that's coming there the end of this week, at least by this northerner's standards).

It is good to be home and it was good to be there!

Hiatus

Been a while since I've written. It's been a busy time at work and I've been a bit too tired to do any stained glass work...now, that's busy!

The first mowing of the lawn was completed today. A bit on the cold and windy side at a mere 38 degrees. But with the abundance of rain last week, the lawn was looking a little shabby. I just love the smell of freshly cut grass. And also don't mind one bit doing that chore. Gives me a good hour and a half to two hours to think about nothing in particular and to be away from hearing the phone ring. Kind of like being in another world...sacred time.

The other day it was so windy the swing set tipped over! It's been quite the spring here in northeastern Wisconsin. In fact, I just took a look at the thermometer and it reads 27 degrees! Good thing it's too early for any plants to be put into the gardens...they'd freeze tonight!

The hiatus from blog entries this past week will probably be accompanied by another several days away from writing. 12 hours from now I'll be heading to Florida to spend a few days with my friend. Am so looking forward to seeing her most of all and spending time at the beach. Seems my mind has been pulled in many different directions of late and my spirit feels so unsettled. A good dose of ocean beach is sure to clarify and refresh. The mid 80 degree weather can't hurt either!

Returning Tenants

Had the day off but spent part of it in the dentist's chair. Alas, the last two original fillings had to be replaced. I wonder...now do we start over replacing fillings for the second time??? Perish the thought!

I had mentioned in an earlier post that the Eastern bluebirds had been spotted in our yard. Seemed they were here one day and then gone again until...today. Lo and behold, a familiar pair stopped by this afternoon, took a look around, and decided to once again, for the third year in a row, occupy the white birdhouse that Simon and Dan built. Soon to be mother bird was busy bringing new grass and straw into the house as she begins to build her nest.
The picture isn't the greatest as she was rather shy and after several attempts to snap one outside, I was able to snap one from quickly from the bedroom window as she rested oh so very briefly on the perch of the birdhouse before going inside. You have to look closely but...there she is! It will be great fun watching the pair complete their nest and then keeping a check on the tiny blue eggs until and after they hatch. The first year she laid two eggs, last year it was three. We do have a second birdhouse, but the tree swallows seem interested in that one - that will be good to keep the mosquito population under some control...