When I'm home, I usually have to go to the Ditch to see wildlife, apart from a bunny or two. Up at the cottage, I need only look out the window at the right time and see dozens (yes, literally) of Canada Geese.
I can't say these are birds I adore on the beach! They're very dirty and it's a constant rake-up of goose poo. But they are fascinating to watch and really quite beautiful.
My friend Suzanne, who lives in London, Ontario, came to visit this week. We were celebrating Belated Christmas. (And belated birthdays, too.) We decided to give up on presents for birthdays (being of an age where we really don't need anything and are or will be downsizing!) But we still like to shop for each other, so doing one big bash a year is perfect.
I was changing sheets on Suzanne's bed and on mine. I had an assistant.
It's been quite a couple of weeks. To be honest, I'm getting a little tired of it all! But the best part was Valentine's Day! Rick pulled out all the stops -- a terrific gift and a dinner to die for with wonderful wine!
The main course? My all-time favorite, shrimp and grits! He knows me well!
You'd think after the last week, with the art sale eating most of the time, I'd be laying low. And in some ways, I would have liked to. But there was too much on the agenda -- the fun and the not-so-fun.
The fun was a belated birthday party for Rick and me and our friends Mark and Jan. Jan's birthday was in May, Rick's in July, mine in August and Mark's early this month. But we hadn't celebrated a one of them! So I decided to have a birthday party for us all.
It's been kind of lonesome around here of late. Rick's been north, doing his annual retreat at the cottage, which culminates with his closing it up for the year. Once the temps drop and the leaves have fallen, I'd rather be home! He's home now, but it felt like a long time! This was our first Halloween where I didn't make chili while he handed out the treats. That was a bit weird! (It was also weird that we only had 15 goblins come to the door and now I have to unload 45 packets of Oreos to someone who isn't watching their sugar!) The photo is just SOME of the leftovers.
Sigh. We wrapped up art camp last weekend, after 18 days of friendship and creativity. And a good 18 days it was, filled with lots of painting, walks, good summer food and some good nature sightings. And, I might add, some pretty nippy weather. Even Lizzie hunkered down by the heater!
Our weather turned cool (no, cold!) and we found painting on the porch was no longer a possibility -- well, at least till the last day or two. It didn't stop us but it's not nearly so much fun! Here's some of the stuff I did. These are some cards.
It's hard to believe that Easter is about a week away -- and it's as late as it can be this year, so we are well into official spring. Not that you would know it by the weather! But the mini-daffs, the first to pop each year, are looking perky outside and buds on the later spring bulbs. For the bigger ones? It's Trader Joe's! You go with what you can, right?
The house is looking a bit more springy. The spring/Easter decorations have been up for a bit, but I keep adding to them, moving them around!
Rick and I are off for a bit. After my most stressful summer in years (ever?) we hope to get some real R&R in Bath, London and elsewhere in England! Hopefully, I haven't overpacked!
She came mewing at the front door about an hour ago. Rick heard her. Hungry and home. Thanks for all the comments on THIS POST. I'm graateful for your ideas, good thoughts, and prayers. Thank you, thank you.
A quick post to alert you to something very sad that has happened -- and right before we leave on Wednesday for England.
My sweet Lizzie has disappeared. Vanished. Put on the cloak of invisibility. And I am frantic and bereft.
Early summer. You can't beat it -- temps are warming but not hot, sometimes with a breeze. Here in Michigan where we often have cloudy days, the sky has been blue and the days bright. (OK, a little rain, but that's good for the yard!)
I've been doing a little painting, a little reading, a little walking. Cataract surgery kept me from lifting or bending for a week so I'm looking forward to actually bending over and deadheading my geraniums!
It has been a quiet week here at the homestead, with Rick on his bike hike. And sometimes, that quiet is good! I've enjoyed some walks and seeing how lovely it is now that spring seems to be setting in for real.
There's a lot of pink in those trees but the green is coming in quickly.
The house is full of flowers, some from the garden. . .
September tends to be a favorite month for many reasons, but it also has its moments when I want to clutch the best days and bottle them for the days that are far from the best. Yes, "the days grow short when you reach September."
I had my official start to the holiday season over the weekend. My friend Jan and I took our annual visit to the Northville, Michigan greens market. This year they moved it back to the center of this charming little Hallmark Town. The market was in the street and it worked rather well -- but I still miss the town square with its Santa cottage.
Before I wrap up the last of our postcards from the (mostly) lake for this season, a few images and moments I want to remember that I don't think I've posted before! So here are a load of photos (check the captions) that I don't want to leave behind.
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| My friend Maryanne gave me these to-die-for colors for my birthday! |
I remember when I was working and how hectic spring used to be. I sometimes wonder how I managed to have much of a life while I still had a job. Oh wait, maybe I didn't manage all that well!
It seems as though my calendar has been more or less empty for so many months, I don't know what to do when something fills it up. I took a quick glance at an upcoming week. The doc. The dentist. Going with Rick to a retirement planning seminar. A birthday gathering for a dear friend turning 70.
The good thing about February is that we see signs that winter won't be forever here in Michigan. Yes, we will still get snow -- maybe even a lot of it. But then you have melting days where the temps are warmer and the snow begins to reveal the grass beneath. And, as we celebrated Christmas late, we did Valentine's Day late, too -- so only about a month till "official" spring. Time flies!
I've started bringing out the fa la la, getting the house decorated for the season. It's a time I always enjoy and yet for some reason, this year I am a little slower, perhaps a bit more deliberate. And maybe that is a good thing. (Cue the music!)
We've had a little snow -- and then it goes. I'm OK with that. I dream of a White Christmas often -- but I'm not that big on the days before and after!
I'm back at the lake, finally! And look who welcomed me back!
Rick will join me for an extended time when he wraps up his annual Dalmac bike ride (Lansing, MI to Mackinac City, 100 miles a day). He's captaining a tandem with his friend Nino, pedaling behind. (Or not, as the case may be!) This early September is lovely and I wanted to be here sooner but life got in the way. You just have to fly with the birds and go with the flow.
The Christmas music is blaring as I go between computer and kitchen! Lizzie will be your guide!
You've seen the living room. Check out "Christmas" in the family room, kitchen and office.
My family room is one of the main reasons I chose this house. The pine walls remind me of the cottage and while the fireplace isn't currently functional, it still adds a warm feeling to the room. It's one reason why my mantel is a bottlebrush forest -- it just seems to fit here!
This tree I call the "Mom" tree, because it has ornaments that either she collected or made or things I know she would choose if she was doing that tree herself. My dad made the gingerbread tree topper, back in our days of having a contest to wrap a gift in the most original way!
Lizzie's feeding station is at the window, where she can watch the birds, so of course she needed a cat tree!
And beside that on the window seat, a selection of faux greens with little lights within to brighten things up at night.
Opposite the fireplace is the little dry sink I found for a ridiculous price at a garage sale one year. It matches some of my other Hitchcock furniture and makes me smile! On the top is a swag made at Southern Exposure with one of my favorite Santas and a tree that has some of my felties.
I wish I had hanging tags on the rest of the felties! Or a few I'd sent away this Christmas.
Here's another look at my feltie friends.
Here's that Super Santa. Isn't he rustic and fun? This room feels like my "up north" room.
The family room bumps up to the very tiny kitchen. Rick just rehung my rack above the sink. The silver bells at the top come from a friend who has sent one each year for decades.
And the creamer and sugar was a hostess gift for a Cork Poppers party once. I had to stick in a few of my many bottlebrush trees here!
It's fun doing holiday vignettes!
On the other side of the room is the baking rack safe and the shelf-that-should-be-hung-but-sits-atop-the-microwave. Hey, real life.
A few of my Santas have found their homes on the rack above the micro.
There's a small hot cocoa/tea/sweets spot. (I replenish the M&Ms often!)
The face on this fellow reminds me of one of my friends!
And my friend Kate's bird calendar is flanked by more tiny trees.
More of my favorite holiday friends are on the baking rack.
I was thrilled the day I found the teapot for my Spode Christmas dishes!
And this fellow was a craft show find about 30 years ago.
Ready for baking!
Finally, a quick look at my little office. Again, very bad lighting!
Another Vintage by Crystal figure, under glass!
Two small trees are in this room. The small blue one was a steal at Home Goods.
This has been around a little longer!
Your guide, Lizzie, is hunkered down by her bowl, waiting to be served.
Till next time, Be Merry.
