A Sunday Morning Glimmer
I've read that a glimmer is a small moment of joy or peace that arises from appreciating simple things. This morning, that glimmer was an unexpected photoshoot from my living room: a white-tailed mama deer and her youngster wandered through the...
January Moments
Looking back at my photos from January, I realize it was a quiet month for pictures. Still, two moments stand out as highlights. My first beach walk of the year with Hannah was brutally cold, but the lack of wind made it bearable—although our walk...
Merry Christmas!
I'm sitting here watching the birds at my feeder in the woods, a gentle snow falling. Christmas Eve and I'm feeling a bit subdued. I've got the week off, so there's been time to clean house, tackle a few projects, and prepare, but I'm not feeling...
Holiday Week Activities
After creating felt ornaments for more than 13 years, you can imagine the scraps I’ve collected. Occasionally, I’ll dip into the scrap bin for a bit of this or that, but the scraps have mostly been forgotten. Christmas shopping with Hannah...
December Snow Day
December has arrived with January’s chill in Coastal Maine. So far this month, our average temperature has hovered around 20 degrees. Three rounds of snowfall have transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland. Thankfully, the accumulation...
Graced by an Owl
I was chatting with Hannah in the kitchen late this afternoon when she interrupted me, exclaiming, "Mom! Mom! Mom! OWL!"It took me a moment to spot her, but there she was, perched on the clothesline post. We snapped some pictures with our phones,...
Last October Sunday
I just returned home from a two-week visit with my dad in Pennsylvania. I made excellent time on the drive back, completing it in just 12.5 hours. The trip down on the Friday of the holiday weekend took an exhausting 17 hours—a record-long...
Hannah’s New Adventure
I am so excited for Hannah (and proud of her!). Tomorrow, she will deliver her artwork to Rising Tides Downeast Artisan Collective, located in the Schooner Gallery on Main Street in Millbridge. She has long donated and gifted her art, but this is...
Saying Goodbye to September
September is a month of change that often brings a bittersweet feeling. The sunny days of summer begin to shorten and warm days morph into crisp nights.In reflection, September was a time of herons and hummingbirds.A time of butterflies, bumblebees...
Neighborhood Seal
As I crossed the bridge in town on my way to work, I did a double-take. Was that a seal on the rock? It's a rare day that I remember to bring my camera, but today was one of those fortunate days. I made a U-turn, parked on the edge of the road and...
A Monarch Summer
There's something truly magical about raising butterflies. Five years ago, I planted my first milkweed in my garden, with the hope of: "Plant it and they will come." And come they did. That year I nurtured 25 monarch butterflies into being. Fast...
Magic in the Verbena
I’ve spent the last two evenings wandering around Verbena at Milbridge Commons. The late September light is soft, the shadows are long, and the colors are spectacular. What makes it even more magical is watching a dozen hummingbirds flit about,...
Pumpkins and Jack-O’-Lanterns
I wasn't nearly as productive during my recent staycation as I'd planned. My house still needs to be cleaned from top to bottom, and my butterfly book still awaits my attention. However, I did embrace the onset of meteorological autumn and created...
August Comes to an End
August has flown by quickly, likely because it has been such a busy month.Hannah returned home from her summer work in Brunswick, and we celebrated her birthday.Although my creativity has been low, I've enjoyed watching Hannah's "art", as we call...
Farewell Boo Kitty
In late July, we said goodbye to our kitty, Snape. He had cancer and had been failing for a while. Yet just like with Cinder Kitty a few months ago, we knew it was time to let him go in peace. Purfessor Snape joined our family, along with his...
Monarch Magic
Monarch butterflies arrived at our home in Downeast Maine much earlier than ever before. I saw my first one on June 16th, though Hannah claims she spotted one the week before. My experience seems to be the exception rather than the rule this year....
WHRL Summer Silent Auction 2025
Another Women for Healthy Rural Living Summer Auction is upon us. Hannah and I both designed wooden step stools for this year's "Step Up for a Good Cause" Online Silent Auction. I'm so proud of Hannah–her submissions are stellar. She did two...
Sunday in the Garden
Lately, there haven't been many opportunities to spend time on the porch due to travel, work, and uncomfortably hot days. However, today was not one of those days—it was absolutely wonderful. The morning was cool enough for reading with a blanket,...
Highlights from the Hummingbird Feeder Cam
While spending the last couple of weeks at Dad's, I had the time to sift through the hundred or so clips from my hummingbird feeder camera. Here are some of the highlights from the first month or so. They'll be happy when I return this weekend and...
A Summer Black Bear Visitor
While I am away, the black bear comes to play. I'm in Pennsylvania, but I caught this guy on the camera posted at the end of the house. I capture all manner of critters with this camera (more critters here). Thankfully, I've not put bird seed in...
Garden Fairies
When we think of magical creatures in nature, our minds often drift into the realm of fairy tales. Yet hidden within my garden and the surrounding woodlands is an insect that reminds me of fairies: the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth.The lilacs my mom...
The Undercover American Badger
This pattern has been sitting on my drawing board for months as I struggled to create a realistic-looking American badger. They are not nearly as cute as the European badger found in children's storybooks. The American badger lives throughout much...
Morning Mallard Visitors
This winter, we lost Doodle Duck to a predator. One moment, she was in the yard, and shortly after, when Hannah went to tuck her in for the night, a horribly frigid night, and she was gone. After an exhaustive search, we had to admit defeat. This...
April Retrospective
Where did April go? It has flown by in a whirlwind of new beginnings, travel, and garden hopes.I spent some time dabbling with my new basket-making skills with this garlic basket.And this basket that wraps around a jar for posies, pens, or...
Farewell Cinder Kitty
We had to say goodbye to our Cinder Kitty yesterday after 18 years of love. Just when I thought I had the emotions under control, this morning the sadness bubbled to the surface again. Her pillow. Her empty dish. A scratch pad. The absence of her...
