Fiber Glow

I sat with the birds this afternoon after my walk.

I told Tonya, the Tufted Titmouse,
all about the Weavers Guild meeting I went to.

Teakettle, the Carolina Wren came to listen.

I reassured all the birds I would still spend time with them.
I just want to be with people sometimes.
People who love fiber.

The Weavers are wonderful people.
They were kind to me.
They welcomed me into their group, with open arms.
There was roving to buy after the meeting.
Real roving, soft, lovely llama fiber.
I met the lady who raises the llamas and sheers her llamas.

I am joining the Weavers Guild.
I am joining the Fiber Guild.

One member offered to teach me how to knit.
Another invited me to her home for a gathering.
Another took me in under her wing.
I fit right in.
I belong.

We are a community

While I worked with my paper crafts this morning
I thought about my community.
I thought about you.

I made my January bookmarks and cards to send.
Inside each red envelope is a card.
I can write a Haiku or a thank you.
I can send a "thinking of you" or a "get well".
Marmee, from Things I Love, asked to see the bookmarks.
She is interested.
It is amazing to be in a community of interested people.

Yesterday, Marvin, from Nature in the Ozarks, sent a link in comments, for a poem he remembered from his childhood. I printed the poem and made a bookmark for my Puffin book. It is a charming poem. It was kind of Marvin to share. It is what we do in this community. We share. We share ice storms and dragonflies. We share the birds that grace our backyards. We care. Thank you for the smile.

Julie Zickefoose is one of us.
Her paintings and writings touch my heart.
Sometimes she touches so deeply I have no words.

Julie has a story in Bird Watcher's Digest this month that touched me deeply.
She has friends that are birds that come to her feeders.
She wrote about Ruby, a female Red bellied Woodpecker.
I too have relationships with birds.
I too know the sadness when a bird that is my friend dies.

We may be continents apart but we are community.

We care.
Thank you for inviting me into your backyard.
Thank you for kitchen table time.

Puffins

Maybe someday I will see
a Puffin in the wild.

Until I do I will dream of them.




I have the red envelopes out.

I am making January bookmarks

and slipping wishes into others.

These are going in my decoupaged memory box for 2009.

I have the sides finished. I can add to them if I want to.


The top I will add to
as special pieces come my way this year.

This was my art project today.
I have set up a portable paper craft studio.

Honoring the east

An Haiku a day
will keep the winter blues at bay.



Rice lanterns in the stairway



rice hats on the doors.
I am getting ready for Chinese New Year.
I am getting ready for the Year of The Earth Ox.



The Penguins are out.
They are very good.

A walk in the meadow

It warmed to 64 degrees.
We went for a long walk in the meadow.



I am studying the Cottonwood Tree in 2009.
It is native to my area.

There is a large stream in this meadow.

A Northern Mockingbird patrolled his territory.

An American Kestrel hunted in the meadow.

A few bugs were out.

I watched as a Nashville Warbler caught them for supper.

The western wind shifted to the north.

A cold front is moving in.

Temperatures will drop into the teens tonight.

Twilight comes quickly and does not linger.

It is winter.
This was only a break.

Beautiful Blues

The Blue Morpho butterfly is considered,

by butterfly enthusiast,

to be the most beautiful butterfly.

They are very beautiful.

I love all the butterflies.
They all are beautiful.



I have fallen in love
with the creatures from the sea.

The underwater world is mysterious and so very beautiful.

I posted a slide show of my safari on Holiday.
Please join me.

First Footing

First footing is a grand tradition.
The first creatures to step into Corner in 2009
are a pair of exotic butterflies.



Perhaps 2009 will be filled
with exotic adventures.



I have lots of photographs to process.
Safari was thrilling;
the butterflies fantastic.



We hiked in a forest.
A bitter wind blew from the north.
A juvenile Red Headed Woodpecker
entertained me for twenty minutes.
I forgot to be cold.

I only knew the sound of the trees and the birds.
I was in the now.
I was in joy.

2009,
the year of
Joy.

On Safari

I am going on a safari.
I am looking for butterflies.



I have glass boxes for the butterflies that did not make migration.
In the winter I bring them out.
I once again admire their wings.

My florist bouquets always seem so sterile
with out butterflies.

The glass boxes are on a pink crystal tray
on the dining room table
with the dish gardens.

I miss the butterflies.

My husband is taking a few days off work for our
Winter Safari.
We know of a butterfly conservatory about four hours away.
I plan on spending a couple of days with the butterflies.

We also will stop to see the Swans.

I am packing the camera bags and a picinic basket.

~Happy New Year~

Dazzling

A dusting of snow fell over night.




The air was full of light at sun rise.

I have chosen the Woodpecker Family to study in 2009.
In my backyard two pairs of Downy Woodpeckers,
one pair of Hairy Woodpeckers and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers
come for suet and nuts.

I have seen Red-headed Woodpeckers in two of our city parks.
I have heard rumors that Pileated Woodpeckers are near by.
Lots of different Woodpeckers to get to know.

I will still feed the Blue Jays their peanuts.

Blue is my color for 2009.

Auld Lang Syne

Plaza Lights

We went to the Plaza for our Christmas Eve dinner.

It is just the two of us this year.

We took the cameras.

We strolled about while we waited for our table.

Christmas Eve on the Country Plaza
could be a new tradition.
The cameras were well behaved.

Christmas Eve Delights

The Carolina Wren delights me.
He seems to be a very happy bird.

The Cardinals fill my world with radiant color.
Each one different. Each one beautiful.

The House Finches mingle with the Purple Finches.
I love their little sounds.

I think the Black Birds are elegant .

There are many birds in the backyard today.
Many darlings to be delighted with.
May you find delight in your backyard.