Celebrating

I went to pick up my son from college on Saturday to bring him home for the summer. This is my happy time. It's hard to believe that he has completed two years of college. It is always my favorite time when he comes home for the summer. While I was there, I took some interesting pictures. The first picture is of an American flag hoisted on a crane and flying over the street. I think there was some sort of celebration in the town going on. I know that Saturday was graduation at the university. The second picture is of a blooming hosta that was outside of the house where my son lives. The last two pictures are of the sunset that I took at my home on Thursday night.

A Really Cold Week

It has been such a cold week with windy, rainy days and cold, cold nights. It's going down into the 40s again tonight. It's a great evening to drink tea and cuddle up with my cats and my stitching. I took a picture this afternoon of a dove sitting on my back patio, with the wind ruffling his feathers. My yellow-headed male blackbird was still here Sunday on his migration route north.

Birds and Other Critters

One of the greatest advantages about where I live is that I'm ten minutes from great shopping, Starbucks, and Ulta. The other great delight is that I can go outside or look out of one of my windows, and it appears as if I live in the country. There are blue and white herons, many varieties of birds, rabbits, ducks, geese, deer, and then there are the predators, coyotes and hawks. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took around my house this week.

Mr. Bunny was watching me as I took his picture, but he didn't run away. We have so many rabbits. I have to put a fence around my flower garden just so I have some flowers over the summer.

This pair of ducks decided to hang out in my raspberry patch. Hopefully, little ducklings will be around soon. After the ducklings hatch, the duck family lives in the nature area behind my house.

The bird in the feeder was an interesting bird with a yellow face and white on its wings. I have never seen a bird that looks like this around here. The red-winged blackbirds were not too happy and tried to chase him away.

This is another picture of the yellow-faced bird. He is really pretty. I believe he is a yellow-faced blackbird.

I took this picture of a hawk from my dining room window today. He was flying from fence to fence, but the red-winged blackbirds chased him out of the yards. He was quite magnificent. Maybe this is a sign that I should start stitching Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow.

Reading with a purpose. . .or not

I always listen with great interest and attention to the titles of books my friends read. When we go around our stitching table and tell what good books we've been reading, I usually have as my bedside book something in the category of an English cozy or Scotland highland mystery by M.C. Beaton or a great mystery or gothic romance. My current book of choice is Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House. It is light and nice and enjoyable. In comparison to the books some people read, it is definitely on the softer side, without serious themes or passions. I sometimes feel like I should read more serious books in my leisure time, but then I realize that I read enough serious books as a part of my job.

Actually, my serious reading comes from the novels I teach to my junior and senior students. My juniors are just finishing The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. It is a brilliant, harrowing insight into the Vietnam War. It is memorable and the themes it embodies I don't think any of us, my students or me, will ever forget. Reading (and in my case re-reading) this book with young people and listening to their wonderful insights into the thematic aspects of this novel make reading and discussing this book even more remarkable to me.

My seniors are reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. This is the penultimate descent into the darkness that exists within everyone. It is a book that challenges the reader and is one of the most difficult literary experiences that one will ever undertake. I can never say that I like the book, but I am glad that I have experienced this book. Teaching this book is often an exhausting lesson for teacher and student, but after reading it, I can honestly say that a person never looks at life in the same way again.

I believe that all reading is important, but I suppose that after the novels that I teach, my choice of English cozy, highland mystery, or gothic romance is a balance to the intricate works that I cover each day in my classes. For me, reading for enjoyment is an escape. I cannot imagine what life would be like without reading. Reading is a challenge at times and an escape at other times. The next book on my leisure list to read is The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb.  It should be a great read, and one that I look forward to beginning soon.

Finishing Stitching Projects

I have decided to use DMC to stitch the lovely Carriage House Samplings' Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow. I am going to start stitching this project on Wednesday. I have decided that it will be my Wednesday stitching project. Do any of you have a project that you stitch on certain days of the week? I know a few people who do this. In addition, there is a group at a lovely cross stitch shop, Inspired Needle, who stitch on Carriage House Samplings' Hawk Run Series or other equally interesting projects one Sunday a month. I am going to try to make those events as well. I must confess that I have a difficult time completing my stitching projects. Other obligations or interests (lately reading) seem to get in the way. I also know that I used to finish many more projects when I purchased and worked on one project at a time. Now I seem to have many more projects, UFOs, and new items without the commited interest in finishing them. That's why I am going to start stitching certain projects on certain days. I wonder if any of you have the same problem of finishing stitching projects as I do. How do you manage to complete your projects?

Spring Days

Spring surely is gorgeous. It is spiritual and life affirming. I love the ornamental pear tree that lives beside my house. It is especially beautiful this year. Even though it's cool today: think heavy sweater weather, the blooms and spring flowers are still brightening my day. I especially love the hyacinths and the rhododendron in my gardens. I also have a pair of geese who have taken possession of my yard. They will have goslings soon.

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow

I have decided to stitch Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. I am, however, going to leave the two Halloween blocks out, thereby making it somewhat shorter. I am not fond of the witch nor the other Halloween block. I have decided to stitch my project on 36 ct. Sand Dune. I am now trying to decide whether to use Needlepoint Silks or DMC. The cost of Needlepoint Silks for this project is somewhat prohibitive, even though I think the final look of the silks is always beautiful and subtle. DMC colors are beautiful as well. What are some of you using if you are stitching this project?

Disappointed in a Book

What you ever read a book that you looked forward to reading and been disappointed? I was so looking forward to reading the next book in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone alphabet mysteries, U is for Undertow. There was virtually no mystery to it at all. Early on I had identified the kidnappers/murderers, but I don't think that was intended to be hidden from the reader. I kept waiting for a twist, but there wasn't one. The ending was totally predictable, including a gratuitous murder. I learned some more about Kinsey's family life, but that wasn't that interesting. I do appreciate the Crime and Punishment type of mystery where the reader knows who the killer is, and the crux of the novel is discovering the manner in which the detective unravels the mystery. This was the book that the television series Columbo was patterned on, but U is for Undertow did not have any of the suspenseful unraveling that a novel of this type must have. Oh well, time to move on in my reading world. I will be teaching Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexi, two outstanding novels whose prose and thematic elements will reaffirm the enjoyment I get from reading an excellently written piece of fiction. And of course, I know and recognize the difference between older and new literary classics and other works of fiction, but I expected more from Sue Grafton based upon her previous works. If you have read this novel and have a different point of view, I would love to hear it, or if you agree with me, I would love to hear that as well.

Market Wishfuls

For those of us who cross stitch and/or dream of cross stitching more, our favorite shop owners will be going to market in Nashville this week-end and bringing back lots of delectable goodies for our new projects. I have preordered Carriage House Samplings' Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow with the 36 ct. fabric Lakeside Linen Sand Dune to go with it. I am pondering whether to use DMC or Vicki Clayton silks on my project. What are some wishfuls the rest of you are looking forward to?

St. Valentine's Day

St. Valentine's Day is a very sweet day. My son and husband got me a beautiful and delicious arrangement from Edible Arrangements. I especially love the chocolate-covered strawberries, but all the fruit is delicious. My son got his aunt and Godmother, my sister, an arrangment as well, but with regular strawberries because she doesn't eat sweets. What a nice and thoughtful gift for both of us. The second and third pictures are of a birthday card that my father sent my mother. Even though it isn't a Valentine's card, it has red roses and the sentiments of Valentine's Day. The card is very old and has water marks on it, probably from the flowers that came with it (at least that's what I think). I'm not sure of the actual date, but I think it probably dates back to the fifties. It's a Hallmark card.

Snow Drifts

I love the snow drifts. It's so much fun to walk in them.

Walking in the snow at the side of the house.

Snow drift overhanging the roof in the morning.

Fenced garden asleep in the drifting snow.

Rabbit Tracks

We're expecting our biggest snowstorm of the year tonight into Wednesday, between eight and ten inches. I know this is small snow compared to my friends in the East, but nevertheless, it should be a big snow for us. During the last snowfall, which was only about two inches, I noticed the rabbit tracks in the snow. I love that the rabbits run around the house, especially at night. I'm sure they're somewhat camouflaged by the snow and have a really good time. I like to think of them having a fun time, looking for hidden treats left in the garden and looking in my windows as they run around in the snow.

A Snowball and a Quilt

My middle cat, Snowball, is difficult to photograph. He is so white that he fades out in most pictures. Yesterday, however, he was sitting on top of my Great Aunt's quilt. The red and green colors bring out his coloring well. Look at his eyes in the second picture; they are bright gold. We are supposed to get some snow tonight and tomorrow, not as much as in the East, just a few inches to brighten the day. I know Snowball would love to walk in it. His paws are protected by thick tuffs of fur between his toes. Maine Coon Cats all have this because they of course were protected from the cold and snow in Maine. He also has beautiful tuffs of fur in his ears to keep his ears warm. Snowball and his brother and sister don't go outside. They are strictly inside cats, but they love to look outside at all of the wonderful adventures that they see, especially at night. Often when I come home from work, one of them is waiting for me at the living room window; it is usually Snowball.

No More Snow

The rain melted all the snow, but it's still really cold, as evidenced by the dove all puffed up against the cold. The little dove stayed there for about two hours today. I think that it's almost colder when the rain chills the air than when it's snowing. Tomorrow, however, we're expecting snow, so the woodlands in the second picture will probably be covered with snow by tomorrow night.

The little dove is all puffed up against the cold. He rested here by the shrub in the front of my house for about two hours. His little friend is hidden behind him.

The snow has melted from the woodland area, but the water is still somewhat frozen. Coyotes live here, and I can hear them howling at night.

Idelia's Skating Sampler 1908

I am working on Clara's Skating Sampler 1891 by The Sampler Girl. Since I don't have anyone in my family named Clara, I am going to personalize it with my Grandmother Idelia's name. My grandmother was born in 1891, so I am going to use the date 1908. I think she could have skated with her sweetheart at the age of seventeen. I unfortunately never had an opportunity to know my maternal grandmother. She died before my mother got married. My mother told me a great deal about my grandmother however, and I feel that I know her. I have always felt a strong connection with her since I was young. I don't really resemble Grandmother Idelia in looks, but I hope I have at least some of her inner strength and fortitude.

This sampler is stiched on 32 ct. Antique Ivory Belfast Linen. It calls for Gentle Arts and Crescent Colors. I hope to have my sampler finished by the end of next week.

Deer, Sweet Deer

It's difficult to believe that I live in a suburb of a large city. These pictures are of deer who are quite tame. They live in a forest preserve, and people feed them. They come out close to the cars because they know they are going to get fed. I just loved watching them today and took some pictures of them. I am going to go buy some deer feed and feed them this week on my way home from work. I am lucky to be able to see them so close. Aren't they beautiful?

Freezing Fog

Today was an odd day, weather wise. In the morning the shrubs and trees were coated with a snowy ice. It was quite lovely. In the afternoon a heavy fog set in. I had to go on a short trip to take my son back to college, and the weather was remarkable. The weather forecast on the way back home said "freezing fog." I found that an unusual forecast and one that I have never heard of.

The snowy ice coats the shrub and the tree. The ice stayed on the shrubs and trees all day.

The fog created incredible scenes as we were driving along the highway. I was actually the passenger, so I was able to take the pictures. This was still in the afternoon.

Dasher looks outside at the interesting weather, while Jessie Rose decides to rest by the fireplace.

Potpourri of Pictures

Everything seems to be settling down after the holidays. I finally have my Christmas decorations taken down, except for the ones that I will probably find on a shelf about a month later. The snow is still covering the ground, but the weather is supposed to be in the twenties this week. I have a few pictures that are just an assortment: Winter, an oddity, and some decorations in a favorite neighboring town.

I took this picture of a snowy forest preserve on my way home from work on Thursday.

I'm not sure why the Remax hot air balloon was in the street behind my house, but I thought it was interesting.

This picture and the following picture are decorations in a park in one of my favorite neighboring towns. I like the way the lights sparkle in the night time.

 

Jessie Rose Hides

Jessie Rose decides to hide in the artificial Poinsettia Plant. I've heard varying stories of whether or not real Poinsettia Plants are poisonous to cats, but even though recent articles have indicated that they're not harmful to cats, I prefer not to take the chance: artificial ones will do for fun as Jessie Rose will testify.

"I can't believe you can see me in here."

Happy New Year's Day