More or Less - August 2016

After an extremely hot and humid July, with more of the same predicted for August, I find myself wanting less of summer and more of winter. . . .

Out and About - March 2016

March 1st was the first of my 8 watercolor classes.  We spent it learning about the different ways to put the paint on the paper.  I was delighted to discover an old acquaintance I hadn't seen in 16 years was also attending. . .

Out and About - February 2016

Compared to February 2015 it doesn't look like I've done much this month!  But I started the month busily reading more about Beatrix Potter so I could draw this map and write a new post for this month's entry for A Year with Beatrix Potter & Friends. . . .

Out and About - January 2016

♫Dream of Flying♫

January started off with my catching my husband's New Year's cold but I used the stay-in-bed time to look through all my collection of artists' journals to see which one I wanted to use to guide me through the year in my drawing challenge.  It soon became clear that Beatrix Potter's characters would be just what I needed.  You can read about that here. . . .

Snowbound

Several of my readers have inquired of our situation here in Maryland after Winter Storm Jonas blew through on Friday night and into Saturday evening.  We are fine--no loss of power even--and are in the process of digging out.  I thought I'd share the experience with those who were not in its path and give those who were a chance to share their experience in the comments section.

Friday, 4:45 PM:  The snow started two hours ago--earlier than predicted.  Really looking forward to seeing some snow this winter. . . .

Out and About - March 2015

♫Across the Universe♫

The month of March has been a mixture of Out and About.  I finished the painting on the 1st and was ready for the floor to be installed on the 2nd, but it turned out they weren't planning to come until the 4th.  It only took them one day to do the dining room.  Poetry immediately claimed it as her space. . . .

Waiting for Spring

I'm sitting here at my desk watching the snow falling outside my window. . . .

And I was thinking about Spring.  I know much of the country has had more than its fair share of winter this year and many of you are also eager for greenery and flowers!  So I wanted to send you to my very first Morning Musing's post--one of my favorites--and hope it helps tide you over until Spring does finally arrive.  Be sure to click on the link to the accompanying music. . . .

An Early Morning Walk

More favorites. . . .

Serenade to Spring

Burst of Flowers

What's in Bloom

A Foggy Morning

•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•

Take Joy!

Out and About - January 2015

♫Hallelujah♫

January's departure caught me unaware.  I woke up this morning and realized it's FEBRUARY.  I've back-dated this post so that it will show up in my January archives.....a girl has to stay organized!  And that is what I did a lot of this month--organized and decluttered my desk once I finished catching up on my photo albums for last year.  I started the month, though, going into town to look for marked-down Christmas items and found this bird's nest.  I decorated my Christmas tree this past Christmas with birds and things from nature and I had thought it would be nice to include a bird's nest, so when I found this at half-price, you can imagine my excitement.   I promptly added to my tree since we were leaving it up until after 12th Night. . . .

Snow and Ice

♫Winter Wonderland♫

We had our first snow of the year on the 6th. . . .

View Outside My Kitchen Window - December

♫It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas♫

With the wind howling last night and ice covering the branches earlier in the week it is beginning to feel a lot like winter. . . .

Out and About - November 2014

♫Perfect Day♫

The month began with the preparations for my Tasha Tudor gathering.  You can read about it here.  

Out and About - March

♫Here, There, and Everywhere♫

It seems the weather is going to dominate this month's Out and About...again.  My View Outside My Kitchen Window post on the 1st showed only patches of snow on the ground.  This is what it looked like three days later....

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

We woke up to a covering of snow this morning.  As always, it is beautiful!  But, after the warm weather we had last week and the discovery of daffodils pushing through the earth, the snow seems out of place this mid-March morning!  So I was delighted to discover Sarah's blog post (in Dorset, England) and be regaled with photos of daffodils and a poem by William Wordsworth.  Sarah asked her readers if we had a favorite childhood poem.  I'd have to say mine would be Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

Susan Jeffers has illustrated a beautiful 
children's book of this poem....

If you, too, need a dose of daffodils, be sure to visit Sarah's post A Host of Golden Daffodils.

Out and About - February

♫Here, There, and Everywhere♫

February's weather was not any better than January's, but we did go out more because we had things to do---like help one of our son's and his wife move into their new rowhouse on the 1st.  All their friends and family showed up with their cars and moved them the half-mile....

Out and About - January

♫Here, There, and Everywhere♫

There's more About than Out this month with January being so cold and snowy.  I started the month off by feeding my neighbor's cat while they were away.  It's just a short walk through our woods to her 1935 log cabin.  I have this dream that one day she'll sell it to me and we'll move there and let one of our sons and his family live here.  The cat comes and goes through a cat door in a room under the front porch so I did not get to go inside the cabin, but on this 1st day of the year it was warm enough to sit on her swing in the front yard and enjoy the view....

The cliffs peer over the roof in the background.  In the winter I can see the outline of the cliffs from my bedroom window as the sun rises over them.

Let It SNOW! 2013

♫Let it Snow♫

Let It Snow!

♫Let It Snow♫

Christmas Eve it started....

 

Solitude

♫Solitude♫

Solitude:   the state or situation of being alone : she savored her few hours of freedom and solitude.• a lonely or uninhabited place.

When I walk through my garden in winter I feel a solitude I do not feel when it is green and bursting with flowers...