tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81959044382570319712012-01-05T21:37:37.300-05:00Two suburbanite boomers throw caution to the wind, forego retirement, and move to a farm in Indiana. There they intend to live happily ever after.MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.comBlogger2151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-18403995820989758702012-01-02T10:32:00.007-05:002012-01-02T11:15:07.227-05:00

Taken January 2 2010:Taken January 2 2012, today:Well, it's January. Again. And it's snowing. Again. We Hoosiers are pretty philosophical about being cold and wet in January; it's not exactly a big surprise. Doesn't mean we have to like it, though.This was a year of never-ending Christmas. Christmas gift exchange and rib roast dinner at home with our younger son, Christmas again in Ohio with my

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-74601730457937796752011-12-24T02:26:00.000-05:002011-12-24T02:27:24.903-05:00

Wishing you light, love, and happiness.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-90789435629932387172011-12-07T11:30:00.012-05:002011-12-07T12:24:55.723-05:00

Hello, all. It's been a while since I've joined you, because Mother Nature hasn't done anything particularly interesting around here lately - nothing, at least, that I haven't already posted about. Exasperated at being ignored, the bawdy Green Lady pulled out all the stops: Flashed her boobs, she did! I swear! Saw it myself. And THEN look what happened:That, my friends, is an icicle growing

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-71543819174883189812011-10-31T01:41:00.007-04:002011-10-31T02:33:56.643-04:00

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I think we have a ghost.It's just a little one, a cat I think. It jumps up on the bed and slowly creeps up until it reaches my back, then settles down. The stealthy footsteps and weight feel quite distinct, though no impressions are left in the bedding.When it first happened I thought Gatsby had gotten in, but when I sat up to shoo him off nothing was

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-63393934147491588802011-10-23T20:53:00.023-04:002011-10-28T11:14:08.745-04:00

So there we were, eating dinner at the kitchen table, when dozens of robins descended on the back yard to hunt worms. Having rather poor vision, it took me a few minutes to figure this one out.Me: "Either one of those birds is carrying around a slice of bread, or its head is stuck in something ... maybe a white plastic lid? Wait ... robins don't eat bread."Grabbing the binoculars, I discovered

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-34764348220299410192011-10-22T12:33:00.012-04:002011-10-22T13:59:01.689-04:00

Wow ... I missed most of a season change here, didn't I? Summer faded into fall, the leaves turned to glory and are falling fast. A new groundhog took up residence under the deck and polished off every petunia and chrysanthemum blossom in the containers out there. And this morning, the first hard frost put a merciful end to the ragged stumps he left behind. He's too cute to shoot, but I

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-89152156584513507372011-09-02T14:38:00.007-04:002011-09-02T15:07:42.843-04:00

Meet Dakota and Claire, two of my three newest great-nieces! I got to meet them for the first time a couple of weeks ago at a family gathering. (Sadly, the third new niece's family couldn't make it.)Not so long ago, it seems, we grownups were chasing their parents around at these events. It's wonderful to see a whole new crop of little ones, cousins living and playing together. The older

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-63228927560361108782011-08-23T12:19:00.008-04:002011-08-23T13:50:42.662-04:00

* I'm having computer issues and won't be around much for a few more days while repairs and upgrades are done. I'll catch up with you all as soon as I can! The hummingbirds are looking pretty scruffy these days. Ruby Throats molt their body feathers in late August up here in the north, and they can be pretty comical while the new ones grow in. Look closely and you can see new growth around

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-85301987789089894682011-08-11T12:45:00.005-04:002011-08-11T13:06:02.812-04:00

My younger son goes back to college Saturday. I'm going to miss him. Passing by his bedroom door this morning ... well, noonish actually ... I was struck by a sudden, overwhelming desire to go in and wake him up. When he was very little I loved to lie down next to him in the morning and gently tickle his nose. He tried hard to pretend not to wake, scrunching his eyes shut, his mouth twitching

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-37204373980317265742011-08-10T11:30:00.014-04:002011-08-10T12:35:25.416-04:00

I just love the things I learn when I look around for something to share for Nature Notes. And I love that it nudges me out of the house and into the yard to notice the things we usually miss. Thanks, Michelle, for hosting this awesome meme! These little butterflies, about two inches across, are swarming my gravel driveway. (Last year the drive hosted red admirals, but I haven't seen a one of

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-54091517966446726032011-08-01T11:38:00.022-04:002011-08-05T07:30:38.248-04:00

** OOOPS!! **For any who may have happened by this post before now, I offer my apologies. The angst-riddled private draft got published by mistake. Below is the post that was meant to be. Sorry for the buzz kill."Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." - The

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-40157562724009343622011-07-26T12:22:00.017-04:002011-07-26T13:09:32.099-04:00

We have bluebirds again this year, just one pair, but they have three babies! They stop by every day for a swim, and it's such a joy to see them splashing around. They have zero interest in the seed feeder, and I am not inclined to pay actual money for meal worms. I don't mind keeping the bathwater clean and fresh, though.I've found a shallow plastic plant saucer works better than the deep clay

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-51488882719839419812011-07-13T12:45:00.009-04:002011-07-15T23:25:37.495-04:00

I had never gotten a really good look at swallows, much less gotten a photo, before this past week. They dart through so fast. So it was a treat when a whole family of them lined up on my gutter for the day.Most baby birds flutter their wings when begging, looking all helpless and cute. These guys stand up tall and proud, wings spread like little eagles, competing to look biggest and strongest.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-57009393356507310042011-07-07T00:57:00.022-04:002011-07-07T22:28:28.185-04:00

Well, it's been awhile. Hasn't it. Here's the thing: I turned 60 last week, and it hit me harder than I expected. Suffice it to say that my thoughts turned inward and melancholy for a few weeks, until I realized how ungrateful it is to lament getting old when so many never get the chance to do so; how silly it is to regret the things left undone when I could still do most of them if I really

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-56617201272965566872011-06-10T13:15:00.011-04:002011-06-10T15:04:32.292-04:00

I think I'm in love. Today was the first time ever that I've seen an indigo bunting, which has to be the bluest bird ever. He didn't stay long, and I had no time to switch out the short lens for the telephoto, so this is a tiny, fuzzy crop from the full photo. Still, isn't he something? I immediately went to the Web for information. It's a finch, feeds on insects and seeds, and is apparently

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-24865701040126994352011-05-20T13:29:00.013-04:002011-05-20T14:19:03.951-04:00

I spotted a doe from my office window and noticed something small and furry lurching along just behind her. Groundhog, maybe? That would be strange... I grabbed my binoculars and was delighted to see that she had a newborn fawn that was clearly taking its very first steps. She settled her little one against the pasture fence and left it there. (Deer do that - she'll be back.) Once she was out of

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-14414959302478086732011-05-07T16:08:00.005-04:002011-05-20T14:19:24.868-04:00

The hummers are back! Well, at least one of them is. So far, this timid little female is the only one to have found the feeder. Last year we had returnees hovering outside the kitchen window before I had even put out the feeder there. They apparently remembered its location from the summer before, which I found absolutely amazing. And while we're talking bird behavior...Let me tell you what the

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-166060572752189032011-05-05T11:38:00.011-04:002011-05-06T13:01:27.673-04:00

It seems like the more I have to blog about the less time I have to blog. Know what I mean?I did mention earlier that my older son is getting married May 5 next year. Traditionally, the Mother of the Groom is something of a peripheral participant in preparations. However, the bride's mom is several states away, so I get to be more involved that your standard MOG. Totally excellent. And I should

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-34778724517706543982011-04-26T13:20:00.011-04:002011-04-27T11:47:14.419-04:00

If I told you this was a rare variety of chrysanthemum you'd probably want one. However, this lovely blossom is a lowly dandelion, arch nemesis of control freaks, gardeners, and lovers of lawn. Which is to say, my husband.We have thousands of the little gold flowers in the spring. They pop up literally overnight or, as they did this year, in the course of a single day. Not there in the morning,

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-42143259970316467682011-04-08T11:10:00.013-04:002011-04-08T20:08:40.724-04:00

In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. ~ Alfred Lord TennysonYep, he's twitterpated all right. The dominant Tom turkeys are strutting their stuff, flashing their frills, bringin' the bling. The ladies pretend not to notice, but it's a tough act to ignore.Toms look huge in full display mode, and that wattle turns a brilliant red when the hens are looking. They'd be

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-2764198311096460552011-04-02T12:05:00.015-04:002011-04-08T16:51:31.839-04:00

We were driving home from an errand last week, in an unfamiliar part of town, and suddenly found ourselves enveloped in a cloud of sweet wood smoke carrying the unmistakable aroma of pork roasting on the fire. It was an invitation we couldn't refuse.We followed the smoke to a big outdoor grill and tiny carry-out, family-run rib joint. The folks were friendly and the portion choices were large,

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-32320281678046636502011-03-23T13:27:00.017-04:002011-03-25T15:16:44.353-04:00

OK, it's not really a wolf. It's a coyote, sort of a "wolf light". But he's here, and he's hunting mice in the back pasture, and I find that an amazing thing to see from my kitchen window.Coyotes are considered nuisance animals in Indiana, which means they can be shot on sight any time of the year. But they are clever and secretive, and one mother can have as many as twelve in litter, so their

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-79027055958304543692011-03-18T11:54:00.006-04:002011-05-20T14:20:07.036-04:00

Spring has finally arrived here in northern Indiana. Birds are chirping, robins are back, and last night when I got home the frogs were singing! We usually have daffodils by now. They're late, but they're on the way. Isn't it amazing how tender green shoots can break hard clay soil like this?Daffodils are my favorite part of spring. Can't wait to see those sunny yellow blossoms! Click here to

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-42084112897853022102011-03-10T12:26:00.020-05:002011-03-11T18:29:05.235-05:00

Remember this old song?Home, home on the rangeWhere the deer and the antelope play...A recent visit from the local deer herd made me think of it as they pranced and romped in the warmer weather and melting snow. The photos aren't much, taken through dirty double pane windows with the deck and shrouded pool in the way. Still, I thought you might like to see them.We don't see as many deer here as

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-76682911763910855402011-03-03T12:46:00.010-05:002011-03-04T11:23:08.706-05:00

I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted these two unlikely companions perched on the fence out back.A closer look revealed that the hawk had the remains of a mouse or vole under its left foot. The crow was hoping for the leftovers. Strangest of all, the crow seemed to be mirroring the positions and motions of the hawk. When the hawk finished its meal, the crow did fly down to the ground to

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-76888331474753545912011-02-18T12:04:00.009-05:002011-02-18T12:35:05.395-05:00

Woooo Hoooo! Look what's happening in my front yard!We've had a few days in the 40's and yesterday was up to 56 degrees, positively balmy. The pussywillow is already popping out fuzzies, and last night I stood on my front porch without a jacket and experimented with full-moon shots using new camera: The February full moon is the Snow Moon, or the Hunger Moon, as this is generally the month of

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-70840471940903329072011-02-17T13:12:00.001-05:002011-02-17T13:15:14.093-05:00

Carly at Ellipsis hosts a photo meme called Monday Photo Shoot. Appropriately enough, this week's theme is Love. I don't often participate, but the prompt got me thinking.How do you photograph love? Hallmark cards come to mind: people kissing, hands entwined, sepia waifs holding flowers, sprinkles of hearts. All nice, all romantic. But on beyond that is something deeper, something quiet and

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-29925608202124068132011-02-14T11:55:00.007-05:002011-02-14T13:43:37.913-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! And what better day to announce that we're having a wedding. My older son and his fiancee have set the date: May 5, 2012. Mother of the Groom, a whole new adventure. More to come as things unfold.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-3182310994979748782011-02-01T01:47:00.009-05:002011-02-01T23:51:58.555-05:00

So there I was, enjoying the comforts of my ... er ... bathroom, when something somewhere chirped. One note, musical, but somehow alarming. And I didn't recognize it. A couple of minutes later, another chirp confirmed the worst: The house is broken.Time to hitch up my big girl pants and go find out what's about to explode. I started with the serious stuff: carbon monoxide alarm; radon alarm; sump

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-85717752821563668842011-01-26T12:27:00.011-05:002011-05-20T14:20:07.039-04:00

Ice on the waterSnow on the hillRemembers the breath of the whippoorwillRemembers the AprilRemembers MayA sudden shower on a summer dayWhales and starfish hearts it fedAnd garden pools by sunsets redFilled a teacupAnd a leafDrowned a babyBathed a thiefDrifted in clouds on the bright sun's browFrozen in crystalTimelessFor nowI was rummaging through a drawer for a notebook and happened across a

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-15240599940981637962011-01-19T11:49:00.009-05:002011-05-20T14:20:07.041-04:00

I'm dipping into the archives this week, taking comfort in the knowledge that all these wildflowers are still out there, waiting to awaken. Another week, another inch of snow. It rained a bit yesterday and melted some of it, though. At 35 degrees, it felt like a heat wave. On the plus side, when the snow was really deep the squirrel didn't make the trek from the woods to the bird feeder, so I was

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-13815073253597184372011-01-14T15:26:00.014-05:002011-05-20T14:20:07.043-04:00

What can I say. It's still winter. There's still a ton of snow. I'm sick of photographing white fields and birds, and house plants are as close to nature as I can get these days. Somebody gave me a cyclamen for Christmas, which was gorgeous for weeks but has now gone into a rather steep decline. I trimmed off the yellow leaves and spent blossoms today, tossing them into the sink. Just before

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-5291913723519976182010-12-29T11:48:00.019-05:002011-05-20T14:20:07.045-04:00

I knew it was too good to last. A squirrel finally found the feeder. And what a squirrel. He sucks up seed faster than a Hoover upright and he is fearless. He ignored my window pounding, arm waiving, hooting and hollering. It kept munching when I opened the door. He did not run when I approached the feeder to within six feet of him. That's about as close as I want to be to a critter that can

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-64703575205220322992010-12-28T14:16:00.009-05:002010-12-28T15:53:50.762-05:00

Hey, we made it! Somehow, all the holiday stuff got done AND the days are getting longer! Seed catalogs have replaced Christmas sale fliers in the mailbox, and just knowing that spring is on the way is enough to lift the spirits. There's something about this point in the year, when the dark days are done, that rejuvenates me. Everything comes clear again and anything seems possible.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-26128979272809367072010-12-24T16:02:00.003-05:002010-12-24T17:08:08.109-05:00

From our house to yours: Happy holiday!

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-33319166583814147152010-12-10T15:20:00.007-05:002010-12-10T15:46:30.784-05:00

Mmmmmm. Friday. My day off, happiest day of the week. So I'm sitting here, NOT going out in the snow, NOT slipping and sliding my way to work, and NOT scraping ice off my windshield at midnight. (I work the last shift.)NPR's Science Friday is on, a program I always enjoy. Today there is a segment on how to grow your own snowflake. Interesting, but not exactly useful, as we have plenty of 'em. The

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-64883445768973878012010-12-04T14:05:00.009-05:002010-12-04T15:34:42.127-05:00

The neighbor's horses came strolling up the driveway this morning. They do that from time to time.One of them, aptly named Houdini, is adept at undoing latches and opening gates, and he lets everyone else out while he's at it.Knowing it would make his morning, I called down to The Hubby: "There are horses in the back yard, in case you're interested."I could hear him scrambling into his Carharts.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-42627522540837047172010-11-11T16:54:00.019-05:002011-05-20T14:20:07.048-04:00

Have the birds at your feeders changed with the season? Mine have. All summer, a pair of cardinals arrived every morning and landed as soon as I stepped far enough away. They obviously watched and waited for me, no doubt cursing my tendency to sleep in. Haven't seen them in weeks now, though I saw cardinals in the woods all last winter. The daily traffic was mostly goldfinches, various native

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-68999053422778439052010-11-06T21:02:00.012-04:002011-05-20T14:20:07.050-04:00

What a difference a day makes. The shot above was early yesterday, with just the tops of the trees catching the light. I did not expect the snow, so these first flakes came as a delightful surprise. By this morning, the bronze and gold shades had turned to silver, the treetops tipped in copper by the dawn. People at the supermarket were either shaking their heads in dismay or cheerfully humming

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-6648531360141426732010-11-05T11:31:00.006-04:002010-11-05T12:52:16.478-04:00

The last time I posted here, I had stumbled head first into the "gray market" rabbit hole, where some things are not what they seem.I was freaking out because my new Canon Rebel T2i came without warranty cards in the box and Canon was telling me scary things about that. The company I bought if from, Central Digital, insisted I had nothing to worry about and wanted a ton of money plus my firstborn

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-27079148908203371422010-10-07T14:01:00.007-04:002010-10-08T08:21:37.486-04:00

I was hoping to try out my new camera today for Nature Notes, but it just wasn't to be. It arrived yesterday from an online camera company that looked OK to me and had the best price. But it came with no logos or return address on the box, no invoice or shipping inclusions, and - scariest of all - no warranty cards in the box. (P.S. That is, the shipping box was bare. The actual kit box and its

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-63318526070430676522010-09-29T11:45:00.013-04:002010-09-29T12:50:47.054-04:00

The Pond in Early October 2009It is so quiet here today that I can hear the beat of my own heart. There are no birds, not even at the feeder. The last hummingbird has gone. No one is mowing, no planes fly overhead. The pool pump has been silenced, shrouded in plastic for the winter. No breeze rustles in the leaves or tugs at the canvas of the gazebo. The leaves have begun to turn, and some are

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-90387624562573357342010-09-10T16:38:00.008-04:002010-09-10T17:25:24.904-04:00

There's a red river running through my kitchen these days. The Hubby likes cherry tomatoes, so he planted three varieties plus the Big Boys, and they've all fruited their little hearts out this year. The ones in the photo are romas, very meaty, mid-sized ones that will make great sauce.Every few days I parboil, peel, and freeze them. I squeeze the fruit and strain the juice, and I save that too.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-19649146731578984252010-09-06T16:15:00.009-04:002010-09-06T16:47:14.824-04:00

Wow. I can't believe I missed the whole month. Thanks so much to everyone who sent emails inquiring as to my whereabouts and well-being. It means a lot to me to know you care. Let's just say there were some health issues. And house guests. But September is a new and better month. For one thing, I'm getting a new camera!I've been eyeing SLRs for a while now. My younger son enrolled in a digital

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-84065414125458962632010-08-04T00:35:00.016-04:002010-08-05T01:51:31.729-04:00

When you look at a mantis, it looks back. I mean, it really looks back, as aware of you as you are of it. Its body moves slowly, if at all, but its head swivels to follow you, intent, focused, with a fluid motion that matches your own. When I held out my hand to this one, it did not flinch. It looked repeatedly from my eyes to my hand and back up again, calmly assessing my intentions. I felt as

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-54835338761734195822010-07-31T12:27:00.014-04:002010-07-31T13:58:41.435-04:00

I'm back! MISSED YOU ALL!!!We finally dumped Crappy Internet Nonprovider and signed up for Hughes Net. We're paying more, and they bolted an ugly dish to my roof, but we can at least connect.And now that I'm here, I can't figure out where to start. To follow up on the dodder issue in the last post, it's worse than we hoped. New sprigs have shown up where the first tangle was found, and The Hubby

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-22711881469315253782010-07-02T13:14:00.000-04:002010-07-02T13:51:38.988-04:00

Picture this: You're strolling around a peaceful little pond. Suddenly, you encounter mutant yellow spaghetti.It has no leaves. It has no roots. It does have lots of inquisitive little tendrils. So WTF?A quick web search reveals the name of the beast: This is dodder, also known by such names as devil's guts, devil's hair, strangle weed, and hell bind. It is a parasite. It is fascinating. And it

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-30002187873611578292010-07-01T12:16:00.000-04:002010-07-01T12:26:33.902-04:00

Thought I'd do something a little different. Though it's been a long time since I attended a church made of bricks and boards, I often find myself quietly singing this old hymn in the cathedral of the woods. Do you know it?For the Beauty of the EarthFor the beauty of the earthFor the glory of the skies,For the love which from our birthOver and around us lies,Lord of all, to Thee we raiseThis our

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-41143117941583884942010-06-25T17:48:00.005-04:002010-06-25T17:58:18.944-04:00

Sometimes you go looking for nature and sometimes it comes looking for you. I was just sitting here considering what to post about for Nature Notes, when this little dragonfly floated up and peered in through the window. I had no time to change the camera settings, so it's in black and white. But then, so was the dragonfly, so nothing lost. Doesn't she look like she's shading her eyes for a

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-73860702428237700882010-06-23T11:24:00.003-04:002010-06-23T11:28:47.292-04:00

There's been a lot of heavy weather this week in northeast Indiana, taking out power and Internet for a lot of us. The rain is more or less welcome, though we're getting pretty floody in places, but the wind and lightning are a pain. If I disappear for a while again, you'll know why.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-23607168581500082872010-06-15T13:20:00.009-04:002010-06-17T12:32:38.724-04:00

The "herb garden" has been scaled back this year, planted in pots along the the edge of the deck. It's for the best, really. Last year I tried growing them in the veggie patch but, time and energy being limited, I eventually had to hunt through the weeds to find them. Besides, The Hubby is attacking the weed situation with a little tiller this time around, and he seems to have a hard time telling

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-11503227182987985042010-06-03T10:12:00.018-04:002010-06-03T12:10:25.726-04:00

The Latin phrase carpe diem—usually expressed in English as “seize the day” although its literal translation is “pluck the day” or “pick the day” as in gathering flowers—originates in the Odes of Horace (Book 1, No. 11): carpe diem quam minimum credula postero Seize the day and put no trust in the futurefrom About.comSee all these lovely flowers? The photo was taken May 20, and already they

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-45448126264794335632010-05-27T11:33:00.014-04:002010-06-03T10:15:49.666-04:00

When the hummingbirds returned this year, they announced themselves by hovering outside the kitchen window and peering in, looking for the feeder that hung there last summer. What a marvel that they find their way back from the far south, not just to Indiana but to this exact window. I wasted no time putting up the feeder, and they have been buzzing in and darting away happily ever since - until

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-38448391767345218362010-05-25T11:35:00.003-04:002010-05-25T12:00:35.866-04:00

Well, yesterday was the last day of training. Today, I'm on my own. I'll be moving soon from the training facility to a little gray box of my very own. It's been an intense three months, but I think I'm going to be alright. The beginners all start on the night shift, 3pm to 11pm, when things are a bit slower. That means I never see The Hubbie. He's in bed before I get home, and he leaves long

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-27719600949183011352010-05-20T01:30:00.001-04:002010-06-17T12:30:26.447-04:00

Some creatures are scarier than others. This one, hanging from the garage ceiling, sent my younger son sprinting into the house the moment he laid eyes on it. Fortunately, that four-inch long "stinger" isn't a stinger at all. This is a Giant Ichneumon Wasp, megarhyssa atrata lineata, and that formidable-looking appendage is a highly dexterous tool for boring into wood and laying eggs. How the

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-68973492077296542772010-05-18T13:47:00.006-04:002010-05-18T14:02:07.401-04:00

Look what landed on my feeder this morning: a rose-breasted grosbeak. I haven't seen one of these since I was a kid. Actually, I may have been seeing the female and didn't know it. The photos I've turned up online show her as virtually indistinguishable from a sparrow, and I have lots of those. The feeder has been a huge success. So much so that I had to move it off the front porch because of the

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-59904467945777515122010-05-13T10:32:00.011-04:002010-05-13T11:25:57.611-04:00

Back in April, we were thrilled to be able to order 20 very inexpensive trees from our Soil and Water Conservation District - a fantastically helpful group of people who have sent me loads of information on everything from planting native species to tax breaks for conservation measures we could take. Keeping in mind the great suggestions sent by Sally and the District's guide, we chose redbuds

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-5176243805619361122010-05-08T21:55:00.004-04:002010-05-08T22:02:32.232-04:00

I have gotta get me one o' these. Well, then again, at $79.95, maybe not. It's a pretty cool idea though, if you aren't the sort who cares what the neighbors think.Check out the details and some great hummer photos at the supplier, Heatstick.com.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-35816699127773764562010-05-08T09:42:00.002-04:002010-05-08T10:09:06.891-04:00

Has it really been a week since I've been online? Obviously, it has - and I do apologize for not getting around to visit or participate in Nature Notes.I'm in the final stage of training in the new job, which has been unimaginably stressful. All I want to do when I get home is eat dinner, whump down on the sofa, and stare at the TV and drool until bedtime. Sleep and repeat. But it's the weekend,

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-78487667833535475402010-05-02T20:03:00.003-04:002010-05-02T20:26:01.096-04:00

As I've mentioned before, I have a really hard time getting rid of stuff. And when my mom passed away, I inherited a whole houseful of things I felt I had to keep, most of which ended up in the basement. If it were up to me, that's where it would all have lived forever. But when we sold the house to my son, he understandably wanted it gone. And so, we had a yard sale at our old house Saturday. In

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-62751828877136105062010-04-29T00:59:00.011-04:002010-04-29T01:17:45.613-04:00

It's Save the Frogs Day, and in honor of the event I'm posting a snapshot of the kind we see most often around the wet areas of the yard. No clue what kind they are, but it's a joy to hear them sing.There's also a tiny green one that likes to hang out on the milkweeds in summer, and I suspect there are several others. We hear a cacophony of different voices in the spring, but somehow I can never

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-17557721331423730772010-04-25T11:05:00.003-04:002010-04-25T11:31:07.511-04:00

I need solitude like a swimmer needs air. I breath it in in great gasps, hoarding it deep inside, a secret reserve of strength. I am supposed to be at my son's house helping to clear my stuff out of the basement, dispatching the unwanted and outgrown to the yard sale pile and boxing the rest to bring home. I am supposed to be sorting out our finances, paying bills and checking up on our IRAs. I

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-65048974496551444972010-04-19T23:01:00.019-04:002010-04-25T11:04:37.709-04:00

Perseverance paid off this weekend. We came to the woods prepared this time, bringing a shovel along to coax the wild leeks out of their loamy home. Aren't they just the prettiest things? These are fresh from a quick washing under the hose. We only harvested a few, as we wanted to taste them but also hoped to avoid the aftermath. Ramps are legendary for their odoriferous effects on those who eat

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-89109733552996842382010-04-18T22:59:00.007-04:002010-04-18T23:22:57.125-04:00

The Hubby found these Jack-in-the-Pulpit flowers while exploring a marshy area behind the pond. I had no idea we had them.The plant grows in wet areas, and doesn't flower until it is three years old. (Technically it's an inflorescence, but I doubt many people care.)Take a close look at the shape and texture of the bottom half of the flower in the first photo. Would that make a great vase or what?

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-42070158499117926532010-04-17T00:34:00.018-04:002010-04-17T12:56:57.534-04:00

Did you know there are parrots in the Amazon speaking the dead languages of lost human tribes? Birds' feathers weigh more than their bones? Crows wait for red lights at intersections, place walnuts in front of car wheels, then collect the nuts after the cars crush the shells? You're in for a treat, I'm telling you.For all you bird lovers out there, I'm passing along this link to the audio

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-90954230621995565192010-04-14T23:49:00.012-04:002010-04-15T00:36:15.620-04:00

The woods are exploding with life and color. The first green comes from the wild leeks, or ramps, that grow in drifts among the trees. I decided to try cooking some this year, and set out with a basket to harvest a few - keeping an eye out for morel mushrooms, which often grow among them under oaks. Little did I know how tenacious they are, and that the stems would snap long before the bulbs

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-5895355697316401052010-04-12T18:42:00.019-04:002010-04-12T23:26:21.603-04:00

Take a look at these two buildings. One of them is for my husband's hobby. One of them is for mine. Guess which building I got. And guess who's still crying foul.The little shed here was a chicken coop when we moved in, complete with chicken wire nest boxes and a tiny door in the side for the hens to come and go. Visions of Martha Stewart's exotic flock of blue-egg-laying birds danced in my head,

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-35012406171743859612010-04-10T18:16:00.004-04:002010-04-10T18:38:44.113-04:00

Needless to say, I didn't get very far today.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-4564415694040330332010-04-10T01:11:00.002-04:002010-04-10T01:22:53.658-04:00

It's been stormy this week in Indiana, but the sun comes peeking through between showers. Kind of like my life right now. Sorry I've been AWOL lately ... spring break, Easter company, and exhaustion from the new job training program conspired to keep me stuck in the "real" world. But things are beginning to settle a bit. This weekend is supposed to be sunny, so I'm hoping to make some serious

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-36683289463829906272010-04-04T17:11:00.001-04:002010-04-04T17:11:40.512-04:00

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-65833507377872954282010-03-31T22:51:00.005-04:002010-03-31T23:17:40.826-04:00

It seems I'm feeding a lot more than birds these days. Fortunately, the feeder hangs high enough that El Bandito here can't reach it, and I don't really mind him cleaning up the spills on the front porch. I'm told that raccoons are often rabid though, which does give me pause, as he comes right up to the windows like this and we do keep them open in the summer. Still ... look at that face. Is he

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-48572381889461075322010-03-28T10:54:00.008-04:002010-03-28T11:35:27.479-04:00

Daffy-down-DillyHas come to townWith a yellow petticoatAnd a pretty green gown - Nursery rhyme by Nathaniel HawthorneFor me, spring officially arrives with the sweet scent of daffodils, my favorite flowers. We have a single clump of the big, classic, yellow kind at the corner of the porch, and they are in full bloom. The moon was out in the daytime when I got home on Thursday, too - double the

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-19005774680296509112010-03-14T20:06:00.004-04:002010-03-14T20:32:18.669-04:00

Good news: I'm getting a small raise and nice bonus to take to my new position. (Yeah!)Bad news: The furnace died before I could even deposit my bonus check. And it's geothermal, so the replacement will be way more than the bonus. Way, way more. (Boo!)Good news: It's been relatively warm this week, so we haven't frozen our buns off without the heat. (Sweet.)Bad news: The hubby is ticked at me for

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-34121186896583445942010-03-13T20:49:00.003-05:002010-03-13T21:02:13.992-05:00

I'm craving nutmeg. What do you suppose that means?I don't know when it started, exactly, but for days now I've been obsessed with the spice. I wake up imagining I can smell nutmeg. I put it on my morning oatmeal. I stare at my work computer, seeing nothing, longing for nutmeg. My favorite nutmeg delivery system is Jello sugar-free instant vanilla pudding, and I've eaten pools of it this week. I

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-73621248043330917322010-03-11T16:41:00.003-05:002010-03-11T16:51:41.054-05:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, the deer were feeling fine and frisky this morning. It took me a while to get to my camera, and when I opened the blinds it scared nearly all of them away. These two yearlings were too busy having fun to notice me. They ran circles around the neighbor's barn and our back yard, chasing each other and jumping back and forth over the fence.After a long, rough

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-47070325258908601002010-03-11T08:42:00.008-05:002010-03-11T09:23:28.935-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny picturesWell, yesterday was my last day on the old job. Training for the new position begins Monday, and I'm taking a couple of days off in between to recharge my batteries. It's tough to leave my comfort zone, and I'll miss all the familiar faces. But that division is closing, so there was no point in staying until the end. I am grateful and happy to have another job

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-86925298067904212672010-03-07T13:10:00.010-05:002010-03-11T16:51:41.056-05:00

Spring has sprung! It happened last Sunday, when the pussy willow blossoms suddenly burst open, revealing the first tantalizing glimpse of white fluff within. In the days that followed, the sun made a comeback. Temperatures climbed above freezing, the snow began to melt, rising in deep fogs in the morning. By noon the skies had turned impossibly blue.Today brought the first robins and bluebirds,

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-53022951006751159572010-02-28T10:56:00.007-05:002010-02-28T11:20:23.995-05:00

At last! For a few days there the seeds were disappearing but I still never saw anything on the feeder. I suspected some less welcome critter was raiding it at night. This morning, The Hubby came into the kitchen to tell me we had visitors. And did we ever: song and English sparrows, a pair of cardinals, chickadees, and a pair of titmouses. (Titmice? Whatever.)Oddly, they all came at the same

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-72570304930375503412010-02-24T21:09:00.008-05:002010-02-24T21:36:05.257-05:00

I rescued this piece of firewood from the pile because it's just too pretty to burn. Hubby was amused, but apprehensive. "You aren't going to start collecting chunks of wood now, are you?""Maybe." "Do you think you can do something with that?" He sounded dubious, but thoughtful. "Dunno yet. Just don't burn it up until I think about it, OK?" He agreed and suggested I take up wood turning on the

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-70132448385490932572010-02-21T12:25:00.005-05:002010-02-21T12:49:58.643-05:00

Live in your own little piece of Middle Earth. These unique cottages are environmentally friendly, charming, and cozy. Best of all, you build them yourself with plans and advice found at Simondale.net. * All photos used by Creative Commons permission. Property of Simondale.net.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-11810456166051353882010-02-20T21:15:00.002-05:002010-02-20T21:29:26.596-05:00

OK, I give. How come I have no birds on this thing? I had it around back, hanging off the deck on a shepherd's hook for two weeks. It was about 5 feet off the ground, and birds were never shy about perching on the deck in the summer. In fact, a hummingbird feeder was a big hit when it was in that spot. I moved the feeder around to the front porch a week or so ago, thinking maybe the birds that

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-21653067440852910712010-02-18T00:19:00.002-05:002010-02-18T00:28:02.749-05:00

Finally replaced the old, broken, corroded outdoor lights for these new ones. After a year of hemming and hawing and online shopping and indecision, I ended up just walking into a Menards store determined to walk out with something. These are them. Like 'em?

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-60343713396324535972010-02-16T15:39:00.028-05:002010-02-16T17:49:29.464-05:00

It's still snowing. In fact, it's snowing like it will never stop. They say it's "only" lake effect snow, but I have never understood the distinction. It's white, it's cold, it's wet, and it's coming down in boatloads, so it looks pretty much like the real deal to me. Nobody goes out much any more. The thrill has long worn off cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and so forth. Not that I

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-49661156045567078492010-02-14T13:40:00.002-05:002010-02-14T13:40:56.176-05:00

Lots of love and hugs all around to all of you!Vicki

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-69045092346572500592010-02-09T19:50:00.004-05:002010-02-09T20:00:53.225-05:00

I passed the test on the first try! Yeah, baby, the old girl's still got it. LOLActually, I think I must be a very lucky guesser. However it happened it's over and done, and I am free at last, free at last, great God almighty free at last!And with that, I am off to enjoy the evening with a wine glass in one hand and a TV remote in the other. I have SO earned it.P.S. - All the way there I kept

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-54331953315461861162010-02-07T17:24:00.014-05:002010-02-07T22:18:32.303-05:00

I'm doomed. After six solid days of class and studying, ten to twelve hours a day, I still haven't mastered half the material I'm going to need for the test on Tuesday. The issue is that most of it is straight memorization of tables, figures and facts, and my short term memory is practically nonexistent nowadays. I should still be studying now, but at this point the text may as well be written in

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-17178825786448143382010-01-31T22:16:00.003-05:002010-01-31T22:38:51.194-05:00

I haven't been around much to post or visit lately, and I won't be for another two weeks. I'm in the process of training to take a state licensing exam week after next. If I pass it, I have a new job in another division at my company. If not, I'm unemployed in a few weeks. So that's going to have to be my focus for a while. Quite a few of my coworkers have failed to pass this thing in the three

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-46217210230422330152010-01-30T23:48:00.004-05:002010-01-31T00:00:34.991-05:00

I just wanted to say Thank You to all of you who have offered suggestions and sympathy about Gatsby! I am leaving glasses of water around for him and floating ice in his water bowl, and I have installed a Drinkwell fountain for him. He is drinking from all of them now. His output is still much less than when he first started the s/d prescription food, but he seems to be doing OK. We heard him

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-2332520006581998422010-01-24T10:15:00.003-05:002010-01-24T10:39:14.318-05:00

As you know if you're a regular here, I have a cat named Gatsby who recently suffered a life-threatening urinary blockage. The emergency room vet said diet was the cause, even though we already had him on a prescription diet for urinary issues. (Click here for the story so far.)I wondered at the time why we don't feed cats raw meat instead of commercial foods, if even the best of those are bad.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-64227001148607956352010-01-22T09:36:00.010-05:002010-01-22T09:59:04.343-05:00

I got lucky Tuesday - I had the day off on a morning when there was an ice storm. Well, not a big storm. It seemed to be contained to our little area. But the ice was spectacular. I have never seen ice crystals form this way. Everything from the deer fence around the garden to the smallest dry seedpod was studded with needles of ice. Stems, twigs, everything. Needless to say, I strapped on some

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-13624792614347326702010-01-17T17:33:00.007-05:002010-01-17T18:43:44.309-05:00

Sick of your New Year diet already? Me too. Besides, the kid will be needing a care package soon. So I thought I'd share my best cookies with you. I like these because A. They are small. B. They are crunchy. and C. They are pretty, because the dough doesn't melt down into a thin puddle around the chips and nuts. I hate that. Enjoy! *******************************************************Grandma's

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-79772948844355979022010-01-15T10:33:00.015-05:002010-01-22T09:57:38.381-05:00

In Australian aboriginal culture, it is believed that there are two kinds of time. There is our ordinary, everyday, linear time. And running parallel to our reality is Dreamtime, the source of all creation. Everything that is comes out of The Dreaming, and everything returns to it in the end. For me, this part of the year is a kind of Dreamtime. The earth is frozen, and there is nothing green or

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-62563705114710212232010-01-10T17:31:00.016-05:002010-01-10T23:23:07.394-05:00

We dropped off my youngest boy at college today. We are so proud of him, and so happy that he is on his way to realizing his dreams. But there is also the melancholy of saying goodbye to the child he once was.Only weeks ago we celebrated the acceptance letter. Then we were caught up in a whirlwind of forms to fill out, orientation (where this photo was taken), details to attend, shopping, packing

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-36919450321146877782010-01-08T23:50:00.011-05:002010-01-09T00:31:34.031-05:00

Snow has come, deadly deep and still. Deer, driven by hunger, are eating the bushes beneath my windows. Huddled by the fire, I sense them there in the darkness, just beyond the glass, watching. I do not turn to meet their longing gaze, but I feel their icy breath whispering on the back of my neck. Or perhaps it is just the wind. Click here to see more Nature Notes.

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-73837577830573252872010-01-08T18:51:00.003-05:002010-01-24T10:14:06.936-05:00

Thanks, everyone, for your concern about my cat, Gatsby (One Sick Kitty). He seems to be recovering nicely so far. He is still on meds for pain and an antibiotic, and we've switched to a different prescription food. He's getting his energy back, seeming more like his old self. We're not out of the woods yet, as it is common for them to re-block within two weeks after treatment. But we're hopeful

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-70443255935168168602010-01-03T19:03:00.004-05:002010-01-03T22:20:07.897-05:00

We're off to a rocky start this year. We nearly lost Gatsby while we were away.We left him at my son's house when we went away for a couple of days, and while we were gone he developed a complete urinary blockage. He's had urinary troubles before, but never to this extent. They took him to an emergency clinic in plenty of time, though, so we think he'll be OK. The vet had to sedate him, which I

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-57501755037151881182010-01-03T00:44:00.011-05:002010-01-03T01:30:58.009-05:00

Well, that's it then. New Year's has come and gone, and the holidays are officially over. This was an especially good one. We really decorated the new house for the first time, and took the time to enjoy the glow of the lights and the warmth of the fire. We didn't exhaust ourselves, and we kept the gifts reasonable. Family came to stay overnight on Christmas Eve. There was laughter and

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-78032678022907849852009-12-31T23:02:00.001-05:002009-12-31T23:04:43.162-05:00

Health, wealth, and happiness to you all in 2010!

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-33989160431522149452009-12-22T00:00:00.016-05:002009-12-22T00:54:25.723-05:00

Just when I thought I had run out of things to talk about for Nature Notes, this shows up. A coyote, A.K.A. prairie wolf, is suddenly hunting in my back yard every day, making the rounds from the woods to the pond to the pasture. It comes alarmingly close to the house, and doesn't seem fearful at all about being so near people. They say coyotes will not attack anything larger than they are, but

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195904438257031971.post-40653678966059963932009-12-12T23:52:00.005-05:002009-12-13T00:33:46.344-05:00

Christmas at our house includes a lot of traditions. One of them is presenting my kids with an ornament for the tree that represents something that happened that year, or something important to them at that time of their lives. There's a Spiderman for the year my younger son spent most of his time in a Spidey costume and perfected climbing the walls. A karate figure for the year he got his black

MyMaracashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04277857661670053625noreply@blogger.com8