Sunrise and Sea Smoke
This was the sunrise over the Pleasant River in Columbia Falls this morning. Crossing the bridge, for just a moment, the sun shone through the sea smoke with this other-worldly glow. It was -10 degrees Fahrenheit when I snapped this at 7 am with my...
The Colorful Canada Warbler
Here's a colorful Canada Warbler to brighten a winter's day. They summer in Maine as well as Canada, but at the moment they're likely wintering someplace much warmer than here! Right-click on this link and select "save target/link as" to save this...
A Tree for the Birds
Despite the fact that my feeders are full, bird activity has been a little slow lately. The squirrels and the mourning doves have been my only regular visitors. With snow in the forecast for this afternoon, I spent the morning setting up bird tree....
Downeast Thunder Farm Boo Kitty
When putting up our Christmas tree last month, Hannah pointed out that we have Ginger, Gidget, and Cinder ornaments, but no Boo. So, Snape (aka Boo) makes it on the tree the last day before we take the tree down until next Christmas. Meet Boo...
An End of the Year Treat
Hannah and I braved the chilly afternoon with a walk by the river to work off some of the molasses cookies we've enjoyed over the holiday. Although there's little snow here in the yard, in the woods, under the cover of trees, things were a little...
The Rambunctious River Otter
Occasionally I see a river otter frolicking around the river bank. Their tracks in the snow are very curious because of the long, thick tail they drag behind them. It almost looks as if they like to slide along the snow rather than walk - although...
Gracie the Border Collie
Gracie was a sweet Border Collie rescued by friends some years ago. She enjoyed a loving, happy home in her senior years, but sadly passed away this fall. I designed this ornament to honor Gracie. While this pattern was designed to match Gracie's...
Christmas 2016
It occurs to me that Christmas 2016 is the last of an era in our house. This is likely the last Christmas with Hannah at home full-time and times are changing. It was 7:30 am before we were up and at 'em and even then, Hannah helped with breakfast...
Merry Christmas!
I sit here on a rainy Christmas Eve with my family watching Scrooge wondering where the time has gone. Didn't I just put away last year's Christmas decorations? The house smells yummy - cookies, cheesecake, munchies, bread, pineapple stuffing, and...
A Canty Cardinal Pair
The cardinal is the female bird I have been asked to make over and over again. While I often played with her, the girl's coloring is so much more subtle than the male's that I couldn't find the right felt for the pattern. This time, I approached...
Fleeting Autumn
Winter has descended upon Maine. Today, our first snow day of the year, has me looking back at my camera roll wondering where past two months have gone. It seems that autumn was so fleeting, and but for the pictures, I may have missed it. There's...
The Giving Season
It's that time of year when the Women's Health Resource Library in town hosts their Christmas Tree Festival. We pluck baby balsam fir trees from the woods, pot them up, and invite folks in the community to adopt one and decorate it. The decorated...
Family Night Out
Hannah, Paul and I took a break from the hustle and bustle of life and attend a local paint and sip event. None of us have much experience with painting anything other than a wall, but we had fun! The subject was seascapes. From left to right:...
The Snowy Owl Family
This new Snowy Owl and her owlets were designed for my wreath donation to the WHRL's Christmas Tree Festival. I hope they give you some inspiration for your Christmas decorations! Right click here and select "save target as" to save this printable...
Autumn Geese
I spied this flock of geese late afternoon last weekend. I parked and slowly wandered towards them, snapping pictures with my camera. They were on alert but seemed to grow comfortable with my presence and went back to nibbling whatever they nibble....
Downeast Thunder Farm Fox on Wood
Browsing through a craft show yesterday, I spied a display with holiday decorations created from wood discs with wood burned designs. Last year, I cut discs from a downed birch tree, but never did anything with them. I found Hannah's wood burning...
My Custom Wrought Iron Pot Rack
Last spring, I showed Paul a picture of a wrought iron pot rack I saw on Pinterest. Granny Gadget gave me a wonderful set of pans that have a copper-type finish that easily scratches. A pot rack was the perfect solution to keep my pans off the...
The Charming Chipmunk
Who doesn't find a chipmunk charming? There's been one squatting under the little crate on my stoop. When I open the door, he scurries by, startling me every time. With this cold weather coming, he's seemingly got this sights set on moving in!...
Exploring McClellan with Gidget
A crisp November afternoon found Hannah, Gidget, and me at McClellan Park. We'd planned to walk the short trails but instead spent the afternoon scrambling across the rocks; a picture perfect afternoon! Gidget was a trooper, but Hannah ended up...
In Denial
I've been pretending that this school year is like any other. Going through the motions, trying to ignore the milestones that bring Hannah closer to going off to college. Take senior portraits for example. Since summer, I've watched portrait after...
The Regal Reindeer
As the weather begins to turn colder, my thoughts are jumping ahead to holiday projects. Yes, I know - it's not yet Halloween but a reindeer is definitely in order! Enjoy! Right-click here and select "save target as" to save this printable Reindeer...
A First Last
Hannah's senior year started in September. At the beginning of the year, she spoke often about first "lasts", marking somewhat inconsequential milestones in this final year of high school. Her "last" first day of school. Her "last" first day of...
Enchanted by a Frosty Morning
Gidget was taking her time when I took her outside the other morning. While I dawdled with her, I began to notice the frost. Silly, I know. Yet, ten minutes later I'd snapped numerous iPhone pictures of frosty plants. It started with the clover....
Block Print Owl
I just finished taking a class on Linoleum Block/Stamp Making at the Women's Health Resource Library. Over the course of two nights, we learned how to carve linoleum block and rubber print-making blocks and then how to ink them and print on paper...
From the Top of Waggoner’s Gap
Hannah and I are in Pennsylvania for a quick college exploration visit and Hannah's first college interview. This afternoon, I took Hannah to Waggoner's Gap where dad took me a few of years ago. The sun was in the wrong spot for good photos, but...
