Baby Geese, Baby Birds

Now that May is half over it is time to post photos of Momma Mourning Dove and her hatchlings. I watched the dove nest from my second story office window during two weeks in April.

Then, at Cedar Bluff along Lake Huron at White Rock Shoal, Mama and Papa Canada Goose raised their family on top of the seawall at the base of the bluff.

White Flower Monday

It's a dry, cold spring Monday in Michigan. The warm spring rains have eluded our part of the north country and it still feels cold. I'm still wearing wool turtlenecks and down vests. I unlock the door to the office early on Monday, put down my backpack and my eye catches. . .two wondrous white amaryllis blooms that unfolded over the weekend.

Wondrous flowers. Wonder of growth. How can it be that those dry, sometimes brittle bulbs that we plant bring such warmth of hope with their blooms! Here, harbingers of spring sparkling with their white petals gleaming against the glass block south windows. Spring!

Crazy Weekend Working on Book

Well, the weekend is almost over. It's been cold, but sunny on Sunday. I'm totally wrapped up in the next quilting book that we're publishing at Graywood Designs. I want to be DONE! The last photo shoot is this week and I'm ready to move on to promoting this book and other important things like gardening and golf.

The photos are VERY preliminary looks at two of the many projects in the new book. The train placemat for Max got the ball rolling for this book and the little placemats (think kids playing restaurant!) and the tea cozy are later additions.

Knitting Needles from Dad

My Dad, Stan Hayes, has been gifting his daughters who are knitters with a wonderful ongoing treasure -- Signature knitting needles. I just received another pair in February since that's my birthday month.

Signature needles are made in Kenosha, Wisconsin using aircraft aluminum and excellent machining techniques. Dad has been sending me needles with spiral ends and stiletto tips. Knitting with these needles can spoil one. They are light and smooth and a joy to handle.

Currently I have two projects going on Dad's needles -- a velvet scarf with a reversible cable that you can see in the photo with this blog entry and another scarf that is being knit with Jo Sharp silk/wool blend.

So far Dad has given me three sets -- sizes 6, 7 and 8. Dad, these are such a thoughtful gift and I think of you whenever I pick up these needles and knit!

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Link to Signature's website:http://www.signatureneedlearts.com/

Roses From My Valentine, Ed

My sweetheart brought me a beautiful bouquet of roses and orchids for Valentine's Day. He ordered the bouquet as a replacement for the bouquet that was presented to me in Hawaii on the night that he received the OPASTCO Chairman's Award, an award that he richly deserves.

The flowers stayed behind in our hotel room when we flew home to Michigan.

How thoughtful of Ed to bring me another bouquet, just like the one we left behind. Even now, more than a week after Valentine's Day, six of the roses and several orchid sprays decorate the dining room table.

I love you, honey. Thank you for a very thoughful gift!

My Mother, Vallanee Rose

I found this lovely photo of my Mom today. It was in a directory on my laptop that's labelled "scrapbook." I must have saved it there when I was plowing through CDs of photos sometime in the last two years.

Mom died in January 2007 so the winter months always seem reminders to me of how empty the world gets when someone precious to you departs. I call it the "hole in the universe" feeling -- that feeling that there's some big void that you know used to be filled and now is a hollow, empty space that still echoes with sorrow.

Mom's middle name is "Rose" and here she is, posing with a bouquet of roses that's placed in front of one of my sister Mary Beth's quilts, this being one of her colorful cat quilts. This photo was taken at Patrick and Mary Beth's home in February of 2005 when we were visiting Wisconsin with Liesl after our first grandchild Max was born.

The roses, the cats which Mom loved, just knowing how she and Dad have been cared for lovingly by my sister and her husband, seeing Mom look so content -- well, all of this is a tender reminder of how good life really is.

Winter morning

The Thumb has been blanketed with snow again midweek. Wednesday evening's snow was soft, quiet -- almost comforting after the gale force windy snows of the holidays. Here are a few photos of Graywood Farm on Thursday morning.

The weathervane on top the machine shed has taken a beating this winter. If you click on either photo to see it larger, you'll see the Cooperative Elevator buildings just at the horizon pretty much straight up the driveway.

Robin Buschlen's crew clears our drive very early, usually in the dark. This morning they were at the Mennonite Church next door around 5 am. The sound of the tractor plowing snow woke me so I was having a first cup of coffee when our driveway was plowed.