Getting Fancy...

Today I'll be making some serious decisions about what I'll be wearing on Friday and Saturday for our granddaughter's wedding. (I know. More "last minute" from Donna.) Our 100 year old maple is getting a head start.

She's already starting to turn the glorious orange-red we've come to look forward to every fall. I think it's early this year, but it's so beautiful I'll take it anyway.

This tree stands taller than our farmhouse, and every spring she houses squirrels with litters of babies. They play among her branches until they're old enough to venture out on their own, and some have already returned to collect and store nuts from the nearby hickory trees.

I've listened to owls hooting from her branches as I fall asleep at night, or blue jays scolding the dogs or cats when they're outside. She's home, or a resting spot for other bids, too. Hawks and even an eagle sat on a high branch looking in my bedroom window this summer!

She is the mother tree whose roots and canopy communicate with all the trees around her, and I speak to her every time I'm in our front yard. I have even shared a special experience with her - believe it or not.

Have you ever watched "Trees" starring Dame Judi Dench? It's a visual and audio accounting of how trees communicate with each other and their surroundings. Then I've watched a few other videos about the health and psychological benefits of being a "tree hugger". I found myself trying to duplicate those experiences with our maple.

I love being barefoot, inside and outdoors. I try grounding techniques when I'm in our yard - an intake of earth's healing energies. I do this year round, and it's not unusual to even see me barefoot in the snow when I take the labs outside.

On one particular day this past summer, when the breeze was nearly imperceptible, I decided to try my own experiment from a video I'd watched.

I went and stood about a foot from the lowest branch on the tree. (I admit I did move a slight few inches closer during the event.) By the time I was finished, I was in tears.

As I stood there facing our maple, I began speaking softly. I told the tree how important she is - to us, our yard, and everything around her. I told her how beautiful and special she is. And then, I began my experiment.

I told her it would be okay with me - no, I'd be honored - if she wanted to reach out and touch me. I know. This is the part where you're beginning to question following this Nature Girl's blog all this time.

I continued speaking in a soft voice, when I noticed a change. The branch began to slowly move. Not the way the wind moves it. It was deliberate, slow movement toward me. I stood as still as possible so I wouldn't taint my experiment.

I stood there for nearly five minutes, talking to our tree, until she eventually covered my face with her leaves. I swear to you this is true. I was literally in tears as this happened. (I even did this a second time so Handsome could be my witness!)

I stood there a bit longer, and then thanked Mother Maple. I moved forward to her trunk, wrapped my arms around her and thanked her as tears fell down my cheeks. Then, I thanked my Dad for teaching me to notice and love the outdoors with all my heart and soul.

I hope you don't mind me sharing this experience, for in doing so, I've exposed the very essence of who I am with you.

I'll be going outside soon to talk with Mother Maple again to tell her how much I love her autumn attire. I want to let her know before she releases all of her leaves and withdraws her lifeblood to her roots in preparation for another winter.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story today. Perhaps when you're in your quiet frame of mind, you'll seek out a tree on a windless day and try my experiment for yourself. If you do, please send me a message to tell me what happened between you and "your" tree. I'd love to hear about it. 

Handsome is having breakfast with a friend this morning. I worked from 6 am until 2 pm yesterday, so I'm recuperating today. I'm going to take care of the girls, and when Handsome gets back,  I'm going to try on the dresses I purchased as "possibles" for this weekend. I'll have him take pictures so you can see what I was (or wasn't) thinking.

I'll be back tomorrow. I'm off the rest of this week, so I can focus on our most important family event. Thanks again for being here today. Sending hugs to you all.

Home All Day...

No appointments today, so I'll be doing things here at home. I'll start by checking the bird feeders and cleaning the birdbaths so they have cool, fresh water. Next is to put in a load of laundry, and then im going to sit down to my needlework frame. 

It's hazy and smoky here from the Canadian fires, so even though it's a bit cooler, having the windows open isn't wise. I'm praying for safety for the wildlife and people to our north.

Our lawn is filled with wildflowers - Queen Anne's lace, chickory, clover, wild oregano, wood sorrel, bird's foot trefoil, and a few others - taking over our yard these days. They thrive (because of their deep roots) when grass browns due to lack of rain. When it doesn't rain, we don't mow because it just browns and stresses the grass. Between you and me, I love the riot of wildflowers taking over. I think wildlife does, too.

So for now, I'm the wild child walking barefoot through our yard, enjoying how Mother Nature takes over when we allow her time and space. I'll definitely be spending some time enjoying the display today.

Nature Time...

Web Image

I saw this online and just had to share it. This is the very essence of who I am. I'm happiest out in nature (or sitting with needlework on the farmhouse porch). One of these days I'll share photos of my shadow box frame that's filled to the brim with found feathers, eggshell remnants from an abandoned nest, a beautifully preserved dragonfly that I found in our yard, sand from a Florida beach, or small pieces of wood or fungus. It's filled with all the things mentioned in this verse!

I didn't stitch today. I was sidetracked by another project I'm doing for a friend. I'm sorting through my copious fabric collection in search of fabrics for a project she's working on. We frequently barter back and forth. She supplies me with found goldwork supplies, threads, and abandoned needlework linens. I reciprocate with fabrics, and other useful project ingredients for her.

I had a great few hours at work...seeing folks who thought I'd either quit, been fired, or heaven forbid, died. They registered their surprise, and then how happy they were to see me again. I can say, though, that by the time I clocked out, I was done in! Handsome picked me up from work, and when I got home, I went straight up the stairs, put on my sweats, and napped for an hour with my leg elevated. My ankle was a bit swollen at the start, but just a little time elevated was all I needed to get back to normal.

I work again tonight, but won't be expending too much energy before hand. I'll likely stitch a bit, and plan to do some canning tomorrow instead. Maybe I'll go outside for a while and just take a little walk around the place. I haven't done that for months, and it might be just what the doctor ordered. I'll let you know. See you tomorrow!

Tuesdays With Tag - Meep! Meep!...

 

 Hi, Everybody!

No photo of me today. Nope. I want you to see that one of the shy locals was visible this weekend. I was in the livin' room with Bella and Mom when Boo looked out the window and started a low growl. Whew! It wasn't directed at me for a change.

Mom stood up behind Bella to see "Wile E" saunterin' across our north field. Mom put her hand on Bella and said we should just quietly watch, so although Boo made chuffin' noises, she didn't bark and alarm the visitor.

He (or she. Who can tell from these pictures?) would stop to sniff at the ground, look around, and then keep goin' toward our east tree line. We figure it was lookin' for somethin' to eat, and it was really cool to watch. Don't worry. Claudette and Crystal are in the house these days.

Even so, Mom's been takin' us out at night on a leash. Just to keep us close and safe. She says she wouldn't want either of us gettin' into a scuffle. This one was healthy and large for a coyote. 

Another one got hit on the highway near our house about ten days ago. It was right in the middle of the roadway, and as Mom was drivin' toward it (we were with her), she noticed cars and trucks were really swervin' to avoid somethin'. She pulled over, put on our flashers, checked to make sure there was no traffic, and pulled the body into the ditch so no other critters (lookin' to clean it up) or people would get hurt. It had a beautiful winter coat, and Mom was sad that it was killed. When she came back to the car, I was pretty curious about her hands, but she had Wet Wipes in the car and got its scent off her hands. She said it's just not right for vehicles to be part of the Circle of Life. 

So, she was really happy to see this healthy canid, and we all like hearin' them howl to their pack at night. It's comfortin' to know that there's still a place for the wild things outside.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Be A Good Dog."

The Hickory Hill Gang...

Brynwood Needleworks - Deer

There is a group of deer - ranging from 5-8 in number - who cross the north field every morning and evening. I got pictures of them last night as the sun was dropping behind the woods up behind our farmhouse. We've taken to calling them "The Hickory Hill Gang".

Every day, they can be seen crossing from the woodlot back to the east (on the right side of this photo). There were these four in the lead group.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Deer

These are the three that were toward the end of the line in the photo above. There are larger deer, plus also a few little ones. Our friend, who hunts turkeys on an adjacent property, said he's counted twenty three deer that are resident in our neighborhood.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Deer

 

This was one of the last ones in line last night. I counted a total of seven in this group. The night before there were eight. Handsome and I watch and smile. While all of us are "distancing" to stay healthy, Mother Nature is alive and well, doing just fine without us. I think it's God's way of telling us everything is going to be alright.

  Keep Calm and Carry On...At Home (For Now).

Kindred Spirits...

Brynwood Needleworks via Anna Speshilova Art - Swallows

I recently came across the artwork of talented artist Anna Speshilova. I immediately fell in love with her watercolor images of humans interacting with wildlife. If you've come to know me through my posts, you'll understand how I instantly felt that she, her subjects, and I are kindred spirits.

Anna Speshilova - Instagram image

This is her Instagram image, and (to me, at least) it's plain to see in her kind eyes, where her creative muse originates. This lovely, young woman, immediately captures your heart with her images of animals and human interactions.

Brynwood Needleworks - Anna Speshilova A Walk In The Woods

I haven't found her titles for these pieces, so I've named them myself. The kindness and compassion; the sense of sharing space with nature are evident in every piece I've seen. I'm not even addressing her skill as an artist, which is clearly exhibited. She's quite gifted.

Brynwood Needleworks - Anna Speshilova Bedtime Story

 

 I'm sharing the link, in case you'd like to see more of her artwork. Just click HERE to view additional pieces, or head right to her Instagram account HERE to see even more!

It's been bitterly cold here (before windchill temps at -11º), so I've worried about our resident opossums with their naked ears, paws and tails. I pray they've been huddled together in a sheltered place to keep warm. The raccoons have their big, furry coats to keep them warm, so I don't fret for them as much.

Yesterday, I took cat and dog food, grapes and blueberries, along with the fruit and nut birdseed mix to keep all my wild friends nourished (and to share a little Valentine with them). Today, the temperatures will rise out of the deep freeze, into the 30s. I'll go out and check on the trail cam to make sure everyone is okay. See? I'm telling you. We're kindred spirits.

 

Done and Done...

Brynwood Kirby Crossbody Bags and "Abby" Custom Clutch

 

It was a busy day, but I finished two "Doxie" and one feather-print Kirby crossbody bags, as well as  the custom "Abby" Clutch. One Doxie and the clutch are packaged and will go out in today's post.

The other "Doxie" and the feather-print Kirby will be listed up in my shop today. While I made the bag with the feather print, I thought about how I'd like to start a special line of nature-themed fabrics. 

 

This feather bag will be the first in my "Nature Girl" Series. They'll be limited edition and all have an outdoor/animal/bird/nature theme. Of course, they'll all have cork as their primary fabric, too. 

I've got a few homekeeping things to do today, and then I'm taking our granddaughter to a special girls' night out concert this evening. We'll have dinner out with Grandpa (Handsome), but then just the three of us will go to a Milwaukee Symphony performance of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They actually screen the movie while playing the sound track. We're all very excited about going!

The weekend will be dedicated to making Grammie's Jammies for our grandchildren. I won't be able to show pictures until after Christmas, though. Don't want to spoil any surprises, just in case nosey people check out my blog ahead of time!

I'm still fighting off this attempt at a cold, so I'll be medicated the rest of the day. I don't want to spread any bugs while I'm with our girls! I can't wait to tell you about the concert, and I will share what else I accomplish (except the jammies) with you on Monday. Happy Weekend, dears!

My Good Deed Yesterday...

f

Farmhouse "Drive Thru" Bird Feeder

This is my "non-hummingbird" feeder, located in my kitchen garden. I fill it with birdseed blocks that fit two-up, and are a mixture of seeds and grubs, which appeal to multiple bird species. I first put it up during our late spring snowstorm, and have kept it filled ever since.

Lately the birds have been emptying it quickly. I also have a chipmunk who climbs up the raccoon carving right under it, and then jumps into the feeder to fill his cheeks before running off. They'll surely have the feeder empty again late today, and I'll refill it for them. I love watching them when they visit.

Bird Feeder Opening

I went outside today, and heard a fluttering in the garden. When I turned around, a sparrow was stuck in the feeder. In an effort to get closer to the seeds, he (or she) flew into the diamond opening that's usually closed off by the seed block.

With this lesser amount in the feeder, the little bird could fly into the diamond opening and stand on the seed block while it ate. However, when it wanted to fly out, it turned around and got stuck in the wire.

How The Bird Got Stuck

It's tiny head was where my middle finger is, and a wing came through the openings on each side of that. He couldn't fly out, and because of the angle of his wings (with the wires in his "armpits"), there was also no way he could have backed out alone.

I calmly walked up to the feeder, and as he was fighting against the wires, I put my hand in behind him through the diamond opening. I supported his body to calm him, and slowly finessed each wing back through the wire. I spoke quietly to him as I did this, being careful not to damage his wings.

I continued to hold on to him as I brought him back through the diamond. I cupped his sweet body in my hands and petted his head before I opened my palms. He immediately flew away, so I knew he hadn't been hurt.

I must not have frightened him too much either, because it wasn't long before he was right back at the feeder, sitting inside that opening again! The only thing different was that he didn't stray far from that opening, and he kept reaching out through it to keep his bearings. After that, he flew in and out many times.

The little sparrow wasn't harmed, and I didn't have to cut the wires on my feeder either (although I would have had it been necessary to free the bird). I'd say that was a good day with a happy outcome. It was pretty wonderful holding such a lovely creature in my hands, too.
 

The Unexpected Tenant...

 A couple of years ago, I was gifted a beautiful, handpainted gourd by

Aunty Margaret. When I brought it home from Wisconsin, I installed

it in the large magnolia tree that lives in our front yard where I could enjoy

 it every time I found myself outside. It's been unoccupied until recently.

Last week, Handsome suggested that I check out the newest tenant in our 

yard. I walked to the magnolia tree and found the most unlikely occupant.

 One of the local tree frogs decided that this would be a comfy place

to set up housekeeping. Sunny, safe digs during the day and a nice

warm place to sleep after an evening of chirping and eatin' bugs.

 I especially like the pose. He/she looks just like an old lady watching the

neighborhood from her front porch. I think it looks like it's just leaning on

the edge of a window sill, don't you? We're happy to have this little frog

 live here for a long as it cares to. If I thought other froggies would move

 in, I'd add a few more gourds just for that purpose. They make me smile.

Thanks for the get well wishes. Recuperating can be difficult, but I'm doing
better by the day. I'll be back to normal very soon, and will take it easy over
the holidays. I only have one more project to finish and hope to be

 able to work on it today so it can ship. I really appreciate your prayers.

Goodness. Christmas is just around the corner!

I hope you're able to celebrate the reason for the season and

not feel like you're caught up in the trappings. We'll be looking forward

to special times spent with family and friends. That's what's important.

Nature Always Finds A Way...

You never know what you'll see if you walk softly and keep your eyes open. Yesterday, I found a partially-built hummingbird's nest under one of the trees.

I've seen quite a few of these precious, little jewels over the past couple of weeks, so I wasn't surprised to see a nest on the ground.

It's been windy and this one was so light that the wind just carried it out of the tree. It was almost transparent because wasn't finished, so there was no worry that eggs had been lost. I would guess that a new nest is already being constructed. Nature always finds a way.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to see baby hummingbirds? They must not be much bigger than a bumblebee. Maybe if I'm very lucky...

Nurture And Nature...

Father's Day was spent nurturing Handsome.

Time in the studio was not on the agenda.
Homemade lasagna was the meal request, and I was happy to oblige.
A trip for two to SweetScoops for ice cream cones after dinner.
The day was a treat for both of us.

When you keep your eyes open, you never know what you'll see.
What appeared to be a piece of bark near the pool, revealed a
caterpillar struggling to emerge from, without a doubt, the most
interesting cocoon I've ever seen. Sadly, when I went back to see
how it was progressing in its efforts to escape, I found that the
struggle had been too great, ending in its demise.

(Just so you know what you're looking at in the photo:
The actual caterpillar is the first three "segments" at the top
of the cocoon. It was white, with black markings and a little
brown on it. If you look closely, you can even see a tiny leg on
the left side of each segment. It was sooo close to freedom!)

I was so curious to know what this caterpillar would become.
Now, I'll never know.
If you haven't toured my studio yet, you can click here to
have a look around and enter my drawing.

I Love Barns...

We're in Wisconsin!!! Thanks to my Wisconsin blogger friend, Christine E., (and a few others) who apparently put in a good word with the man upstairs, the weather was absolutely perfect to greet two weary Florida travelers. The first time we got out of the car in Wisconsin, even Kes was jumping around like a little puppersnapper! I had a great time with my camera after I put my crochet hook away. Let me explain.

I'm sure I haven't shared this tidbit with you before, but simply put, I love barns! I have this almost primal reaction when I see them, and upon entering them, they inspire an emotion in me that I can't really put into words. When I try to explain it to someone, I almost choke up. That's how strongly I feel about them. Their shape, their color, the light coming in through the boards, the memories of animals long gone...everything. Yup, even the smell - empty or not.

Everything about barns has captured my soul since I was a child. In fact, my brothers and sisters all felt that at some point in my life I would find one, renovate it and then move in. I never even noticed that, on childhood family trips, I would always point out farm buildings and barns. I now know all these years later, that I was transfixed by these buildings. Maybe in a previous life, if one believes in those things...

So, on this trip, as we rolled through Wisconsin (at 60-70 miles an hour), Handsome drove and I snapped photographs. I took pictures of barns, farms and wind generators. I was - as we say around our house - in hog heaven.

I've made today's mosaic a link to all the photographs I took that I deemed worthy to keep. You can understand that oncoming semis blocking a particularly lovely building and blurry photos would not make the cut. I'd love to know if you feel the same way I do about barns. Perhaps you can explain it better than I can.

I'm having so much fun reading all your comments in my 100th Giveaway and subsequent posts! Thank you all for showing me so much affection. You're all my inspiration and I'm looking forward to Friday when I can share the love. If you're new, you can leave comments in each post since the 100th Post Giveaway and subsequent posts for entries into my Friday drawings. If you become a "follower", you'll get TWO extra entries. If you have a blog and link to me, you'll get a Bonus entry! Thanks again!

Pure Grace...

Last night, I was sitting thinking about the events of the day. I accomplished a lot. I was cleaning house...in more ways than one. I scrubbed blinds, washed windows and baseboards, and vacuumed carpets (even though we only have a few, as most of our house is tiled).

Cleaning house also helps me clear my head. I thought about the relationships in my life and the friends and family I love so well. Both near and far away, they sustain me when times are difficult. I'm not going to bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that I had a lot of stuff rolling around in my head yesterday!

So, as I was sitting and thinking last night, I notice my legs were dry (yeah, well). The name of the perfume and cream that I currently use - and love - is called Pure Grace, by philosophy. I have about five products in their line and what I used last night is the body butter. (Don't we all love butter in all its forms?) I grabbed a container of cream that I've used many times before, but for a change, I read the label. I want to share with you what I read. It's something that brought me great comfort at the end of a long day of cleaning and thinking.

"One of the best tools for longevity and good health is not just taking a walk outdoors, but taking your walk while holding the hand of God. When we walk in gratitude for each and every moment, we empower ourselves by empowering our spirits. When we breath in nature through our eyes, ears and lips, we become certain that not only are our souls eternal, but that God knows how to manage our lives, our troubles, our worries and our days better than we do. So today and every day "let go and let God".

Was it a coincidence that I now read this message? I couldn't believe that God was speaking to me through a body cream! (But don't we know that He's always where you least expect Him to be?) It was a perfect way for me to end my day, but as I write this to you, my friends, I see that this message is a perfect way to start my day, too.

I hope you find comfort in these words as I did, and that you have an empowered and blessed day. I'm going out for a walk now. We'll chat again soon.