First Snow

Our first snow is falling softly.
I made a wish.

The Cardinals fill the backyard with color.



The male Red Bellied Woodpecker
calls the backyard home.



Wrapped in my blanket
I stayed warm
while I had my morning bird time.

A pair of Downy Woodpeckers and
a pair of Carolina Wrens came for suet.

They also call my backyard home.
I am so glad they all do.

November things are packed away.
Time to make ready.
Joy filled December is dawning.

300,000 Snow Geese

The Song of Hiawatha

The Song of Hiawatha

is a classic poem.

May you and yours have a safe and
Happy Thanksgiving.

The female Cardinal

The female Cardinal is my favorite bird.

Often I ask her to speak for me.

She is kind to do so.

Today I am working on my hat and purse.

I am thinking about those that are traveling.

May they be safe.

Wild Fibers

While shopping in the bookstore last night,
looking for books on millinery,
my husband found this periodical.



I am smitten! I shall subscribe.
I have learned so much from this magazine already!
I never knew about qiviuk, the underwool on an animal.
Nor did I ever think about the Yak or the Muskox.



The article about a rare guanaco herd on the southwest coast of Wales
introduced me to this fantastic camelid.

I want to feel some of this reknowed fiber.

Fishguard, Uk looks to be an interesting place to visit.

The largest flock of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
in North America is in Colorado.
Desert Weyr is a sustainable small ranch that provides
fantastic fleece for spinners and knitters.
Maybe even this felter will aquire some Black Welsh Mountain Sheep fiber.

I never thought about Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
before today.
I did not question what type of sheep I have.
I am smitten with fiber.
I am wild for wool.

I shall be thinking of a name for my sheep.

I think she is an ewe. Any suggestions?

What a fun word to say, "Ewe".

Yes, I am smitten, head over heels and over the rainbow!

Thanksgiving

Holiday cards

I have been asked to be a participating artist
in a collection of greeting cards.
The Bird Sings is a retail store in my city
with a card line.

I have two Holiday cards available.

Wholesale orders are being filled first
with a few on the rack in the shop.

I also have a birthday card collection.
It will be available in a few weeks.
You can get a sneak preview at The Bird Sings.
Click on "Birthday Cards" my collection comes right up.
I am very excited and very grateful.
The owners of The Bird Sings are kind and respectful people.
My photographs are in good hands.
Mr. Cardinal is singing a song of Peace.
Wee Snowman is sending Joy.
I have a new career!

Hannah

Hannah, the hat form, came today.
She came from Canada.
I had found her on E-bay.

She is my hat size, 21 1/2.
She is a new friend for Madeline and me!

My teal hat will fit me perfect now!
I have more hat forms I am watching.
Hannah will need brims and more friends.

I shopped at the secondhand store; stocking up on wools.
I even found a sheep to keep watch.
(I have already deemed wool to be the textile for 2009.)
The wools will be felted next week.

The north wind is blowing today. Low tonight 17 degrees.
I will need lots of hats to get me through the winter in style.
Thank goodness Hannah arrived in the nick of time.
Can you imagine depending on a mixing bowl for proper fit?

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly came out this afternoon.
It had warmed to 60 degrees F!

She came to the pear I had put out
just in case a butterfly emerged.



The Question Mark is very similar to the Eastern Comma.
There is also a Gray Comma in my area.

An identifying mark is the small white dot
under the comma on the underside of the wings.

There were bees out today too!

Hats!

After walking this afternoon I sat on the deck with a cup of hot tea.
It was chilly out but the sun was warm.
The female Downy Woodpecker
came for suet.

The hat I made this morning was warm.
I love making hats.

I thought about the teal sweater I had felted this morning.
I had an idea.
I tried on a couple of bowls and found one that fit my head.
I decided to mold the drying felted sweater over the bowl.



Tomorrow I will line my new hat with some pretty silk.

I think I will add a feather too!

Chilled

It was cold this morning.
The temperatures hovered at freezing.
The Blue Jays came for their morning peanuts.

The leaves are gone from the Dogwood.
The berries have been eaten.
The branches are bare.



The female Cardinal waited for the sunflower seeds.

The Purple Finches waited for the feeders to be filled.

The male Gold Finches are changing into their winter plumage.
It smelled like winter this morning.

I was hoping for more Indian Summer.

Too cold to play

An Orange Sulphur butterfly was laying
on the driveway this morning.
It was 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Too cold for butterflies.



My husband brought her in.
She warmed up.

She flew about, perching where she was comfortable.

I have set out nectar pots for her.
It is too cold for her to go outside.
Maybe Indian Summer will return and
Orange Sulphur can find a warm spot outdoors to over winter.
If not she is welcome to stay inside with me.

Corn Dance Song

Madeline

When I saw Madeline on e-bay I fell in love.

I knew she was my dress form.

I knew her name was Madeline.

I knew she would come and help me design clothes.

I have been tracking Madeline as she traveled over the ocean.

She flew over the mountains and was driven over the rivers.

She finally was in my city last night.

Today she came to my house.

Welcome home Madeline.

You are my new best friend.

We shall dance and sing.

I have waited all my life for you.

All good things come to those who believe.

Hawks and Wrens

I was outside enjoying a bit of sunshine

when I heard the Hawks.
A pair soared over the house.

The Carolina Wren heard them too.

When he saw me he forgot all about the Hawks.
He was more interested in the plate of food I had brought out.

Indian Princess

I closed my eyes for just a moment.
The smell of sage transported me
to a different time.



I could hear the whispers in the Garden Rue.



In the morning mist the Rosemary
reminded me of the Indian Princess.



My father gave me popping corn one year for Christmas.
I treasure the tin it came in.




I thought of the Corn Maidens.
I thought of those that once walked on this red road.
I cut a bouquet of sage, garden rue and rosemary
for my kitchen table.

I am an Indian Princess.
I am Red Woman today.
I will walk a mile in my moccasins.
Please join me.

Indian Summer

The wind shifted.
A south-western breeze
brought warmer air into the gardens.

The female Gold Finch stayed with me on the deck
while I had my morning pear.

The female Cardinal came for breakfast

as did her mate.

The clouds are beginning to break up.
The air is warming.
Indian Summer has come.