Night

I eased out the door onto the front porch of this log house tonight, instantly surrounded by an intense cacophony of insect sounds reverberating through the canyon. Some bugs sang "chick-a-gum, chick-a-gum," others repeated "widget, widget, widget." It filled up my senses.

Fireflies sparked in the shadows, and I almost expected to see the sleek form of a mountain lion floating across the lawn, or to hear a bumbling black bear breaking branches in the brush. But nothing added to the background noises.

Last week a strange vocalization caught my attention. My sister and her dh also heard it early this morning. A seeking, searching loud and persistent domestic cat type of "maow" with a quivering suffix of "wub-wub-wub-wub." Never have I heard such a thing and I can't identify it on the Internet, unless it might have been an elusive Lynx. That would be a thrill!!!

A cool breeze riffled through the leaves, caressing my face. I rocked and gazed at a sky sprinkled with twinkling lights. One "stoplight star" directly in front of me blinked red/green/red/green. Minute by minute, the yellow thumbnail moon edged toward the heavily wooded ridge.

Numbness began to set in as I relaxed, I could have stayed outside for hours. Unfortunately, the children have to rise early for school and I'm part of the wake-up committee. Hoping for another night, another breeze, another moon...

Pretty Posies etc.

Stepping Out

On this relatively cool sunny morning I took my first solo bicycle ride in Tennessee. The rolling foothills, farm fields and surrounding mountain ranges are beautiful. It felt good to be active and I really enjoyed my time away.....
I've realized that five-year-old's, sometimes cute and cuddly, are also wiry and bony. My nephew can use his toes like a crowbar, or knees like a wrecking ball, in attempts to take over my resting space. A "good" night is when he only "goes diagonal" two or three times. He will have to sleep by himself on a cot. But I will miss that little hand patting my arm or clasping my fingers before he is fully awake. No wonder his mother is dreading this child's first day of school.....
Last night I envisioned an abstract quilt, which hasn't happened in a very long time. I had better make it up before I lose the creative spark, yes?

Dotee Dolls Received

With Dotee Doll swaps still active, I wanted to show some of the whimsical dolls I've received. They are all so different! Some have beaded faces, some have wild hair. Many have embellishments and a few have bead tails. Dolls in these pictures were made by Kath L, Paula P, Cheryl B, Pam N, Marja M, Mary Jane B, and two from Barbara L and 'Berta F. Many thanks to the wonderfully creative people who have exchanged their art with me.

Spring Thoughts

Crimson cardinal whistles loud his sweet spring song.
I search with eye and ear to find the singer on the branch
but he is not so near.
Half-warmed gusts of wind
seem to waft the fragrance of fresh flowers.
But it is only the melt-
the earth caught half between winter and spring.
copyright 1990
.
Frog Serenade
The sweetest sound to my listening ear
is the chorus of peepers loud and clear
on a cold, damp night in spring!
copyright 1990
.
Spring's Fertile Beginnings
The strong green succulent sprout
pushes its way up through the mouldering forest floor.
Where once was death appears new life once more.
copyright 2001
.
To her true love she did bring
Spring's first heralds- pussy willows!
copyright 1992
.
Catkins
Pussy willows, fuzzy white, now start to show some green;
and soon where kitten bundles were, new leaflets will be seen.
copyright 2004

Blue Girls

To complete one side-swap, I needed to make some blue Dotee Dolls. Next will be a few more Fairies, this time, mint green. This is so much fun, do you think I will be able to stop?

Fairies & Mermaids, Oh My!

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Here are my attempts at Mermaid Dotee Dolls and Fairy Dotee Dolls. The Fairies were the most fun. Who would have thought they would need skirts?!?! Eighteen (18) group participants will be exchanging sixty-four (64) Dotee Dolls. WOW!!!