Beyond the Glass

Off the grid most certainly does not mean 'out of touch', as all of my senses are stimulated by the bounty that lies before me, including my sense of wonder. "Wonder is that extravagant state of bliss induced by something new - the strange, astonishing, mysterious, and unexpected. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow." (Sarah Ban Breathnach)


Just this morning, as I stood in my backyard taking in the cool salt air and surveying the lush greens, purples, and pinks awash with 3 days of nourishing rains, a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird took center stage of my awareness. Against the backdrop of Tamarack, Balsam Fir, White Spruce and Lupines, he performed his courtship display not 15 feet from where I stood, stock still!

During the courtship display, the male hummer flies back and forth in a wide arc, like the pendulum on a clock, making a whirring, buzzing sound on each dive. Reaching heights of 20+ feet at each end of the arc, he swept down to within 2' of the ground with each pass. There was an ethereal effect to this early morning occurrence as the fog had thickened around me obscuring all by my immediate surroundings. I live in a hollow, my driveway circling around the back of my house, giving me the sense of being in the bottom of a bowl on days when I'm banked in by the fog.

I thought I was so lucky to have observed this behavior through my kitchen window on May 30 and 31st, but now I feel honored, humbled. This small delight will carry me through my day as I wait for the next magical moment to unfold before me.

I leave today with this thought to share:

"There is a real world, beyond the glass, for children who look, for those whose parents encourage them to truly see." Richard Louv, "Last Child in the Woods"

Seventh Summer

I have been off the grid since returning to my Cape Breton island retreat on May first and have, with childlike delight, been rewarded over and over again by Mother Nature with gifts large and small.

Without transportation and pretty much confined to my immediate area, I am reminded almost every day of the wonders in our own backyards. My new motto: A little bit of awareness goes a long way. This phenomenon is not necesserily new to me but each time I witness "an event", it gives me great pause, and the whole world stands still as I observe. I feel badly for those that flock to video stores and malls in search of entertainment.

My yard list is already quite impressive, including a couple of uncommon and rare visitors just passing throuogh, one of which was an Orchard Oriole. My attempt to entice him to linger longer was to set out some orange halves and some homemade blueberry jelly. Not surprising, my 2nd year male visitor moved on, but what was a delightful surprise was to discover the resident Song Sparrows frequenting the jelly! It goes without saying that the "jelly cup" is filled each and every morning as part of my routine.

Before I returned to Isle Madame, I purchased some wonderful soap from Long Winter Farm and I often like to end my day soaking in a tub of hot water and lathering up with my favorite scents. This soap is marvelous - a special treat - and I can't wait to afford ssamoling som of her other products. Most days are still cool here, facing the South onto the water, and nothing takes away that deepened chill better.

Many thanks to Peggy from Three Bridges Sewing Co. for sending such a beautiful, well crafted give-away giftr. With much anticipation, I unwrapped a navy blue, nautical print cosmetic bag, too nice to use! I thought waht fun to be able to order a few now, then spend until Christmas picking up little items to fill them for different people. What lovely, fun and personal gifts they would make.

I sit now in the warmth of the waning evening sun, out of the wind, and enjoying all of the bird life around me. I give thanks for another beautiful day and tmy good fortune at being here among my island friends and neighbors.

Mother's Day , Spring, and Etsy

A fellow Etsy Maine Teamer, Peggy, is having a Mother's Day Promotion at her store. Stop by and check out her gift items! You won't be disappointed. I have ordered a few little things from this talented and professional crafter and have always been delighted with my purchases, especially the lavender filled goodies!

The Etsy Maine Team has a very clever Spring Promotional Page with lots of "pretties" on display! Another must-see, just in time for Mother's Day!!

The team has also collaborated on developing a Favorites page, as well, to make your shopping experience on Etsy fun and easy. Easy because once you see all the talent Etsy Maine Team has to offer, you won't need to shop anywhere else.

Check out the Maine Team's ARTIST of the MONTH at www.jamieribisi.etsy.com. Stop by her blog to congratulate her!

A New Home?

I love spring and the anticipated arrival of all the species of returning birds. Tuesday morning the Tree Swallows returned to Central Maine and I was entertained by a spectacular aerial display starring 10 or more swallows while I enjoyed my coffee sitting in the warm morning sunshine.

They were checking out some nesting boxes that line the property and I think they found a suitable prospective new home, as this morning they have been going in and out. A Downy Woodpecker was looking for a tasty treat on the post of this house and the swallows were quite upset that he was there. It took several minutes of being dive bombed for the woodpecker to get the message and move on to the next post to continue his foraging!

Wordless Wednesday

Pebbled Pixie-cup
Cladonia pyxidata

Stop the car! STOP THE CAR!!!!!!

When you are driving with a birder in the passenger seat, these are the three words you must be prepared at all times to hear, even on the highway!

On a weekend trip to Caribou, Maine, a four hour drive, a very large bird flew in the air space in front of the car. I, of course, was sitting in the backseat, engrossed in an audio book and working on a flying geese quilt. All of a sudden, we pulled over and stopped. My first clue was the da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da noise from the rumble strips at the edge of the road, then the abrupt application of the brakes. My brother-in-law already had binoculars in hand and jumped out practically before we had stopped.

Fortunately there isn't much traffic on the way to Caribou, Maine.

I fumbled in my bag for my binocs, tangled in my camera strap, and jumped out just in time to get a very good look at a very rare treat.....a GOLDEN EAGLE, riding the thermals and making his way across the horizon.

The Golden Eagle is a bird from the West, most commonly associated with the mountains. In the sky, can first be mistaken for a Turkey Vulture as unlike the Bald Eagle, it has a V-shape to it's wing spread, and that's exactly what the front seat occupants initially thought they had in their sight. But as it soared closer, Don let out "the call".

everydayandeverynight.com/

Check out the size of this bird!!

Although not a lifer for me, it was still very exciting and the best view I've ever had. I DID add a lifer that very same evening, however. There was a large flock of seagulls in the old potato fields near Don's parent's home. He scanned the crowd and found not one, but two Lesser Black-backed gulls! They are a European bird whose winter numbers are increasing along our eastern coast.

I must mention we stopped once upon our approach to Caribou to scan a pond known for breeding Ruddy Ducks, and sure enough, there they were, along with one pair of Redhead Ducks and a flock of Ring-necks. I believe the Redhead is a life bird for me, as well, but I, of course, left my life list in Cape Breton.

The following morning I spotted 2 Snipe along the forested edge of a pool behind the old homestead.

Birds, birds, everywhere!!!! I'm so glad it's spring.

A Worthy Award

I was so surprised and delighted to receive this award from
Audrey's Country Crafts.
Thank you, Audrey!

"The Renee Award. This Award was created by Bella and Ces in honour of their friend Renee, an incredible lady who in the face of a frightening life battle is tackling each day with great spirit and courage. Please check out the blogs of these three creative ladies."

"Here is what Bella says of this award:
"this is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns...""

And now the daunting task of passing this award on to 7 bloggers who, in my opinion, are so deserving. I follow so many blogs that inspire and motivate me both in the Crafting World and in the World of Nature that it is going to be a difficult to only choose 7.

My choices are: (drum roll, please)

Jamie Ribisi-Brayley, who, along with her twin sister and her husband, are creating a venue for artists to find inspiration, creative energy, and a home away from home. Jamie is very involved with the Etsy Maine Team and is so giving of herself. How she finds the time is beyond me.

Laura Trevey, another Etsian who has brightened my life with her beautiful watercolors, her positive attitude, and her friendship.

Amanda Beth , a young spirit who keeps me abreast of fashion in her most creative way and warms my heart.

Heather, one of my many nature bloggers that has inspired my photographic attempts with her beautiful dialogue and glorious photos. Heather patiently waited me out while I experienced a hic-cup in my blogging, along with Poetikat, an insipiring poet/wordsmith who encourages with her variety of original posts.

Stephanie, at Loft Creations, is one of the true motivators that I follow. I have trouble keeping up with her incredible creative energies! It is through her blog that I have found so many other inspiring quilters to follow.

And Kajsa who is like the little energizer bunny and is probably the most original crafter I've ever met!

Please take the time to visit these ladies and introduce yourselves. And my thanks to them for bringing sunshine into my life during this past long, cold winter!