Getting Ready to Fly

The baby birds are getting ready to fly the nest! Two of the birds flew away when I opened the door. Here are the other two waiting for their turn.







This morning when I gingerly opened the front door a crack, I was able to get a picture of one of the birds getting ready to fly. I took the picture quickly so as not to scare it away.



I don't know if they come back to the nest or they are gone for good. I also have not seen the 5th bird.
It has been interesting and fun to keep track of this one family's progress.
It reminds me of how my own family has grown, from birth of my 2 sons, the growing up years and all the nurturing, and the leaving the nest to build their own lives.
My youngest son is getting married the end of this month. We are so excited to be expanding our family. I know I will be tearful at the service as I think about all the joys, love, heartaches, laughter, and new adventures my son and new daughter-in- law have in store for them. The cycle does go on! It's a GOOD thing!

They have feathers!

The baby birds now have feathers developing. It won't be long before they leave the nest.

Anybody want to name them? Two are pictured here. I saw one more peaking out but didn't want to stay too long as the momma was getting nervous.

Baby Bird Watch Update!

They are getting bigger! I was able to count 4 beaks. There were 5 eggs so I'm hoping the other one is there too.

Eggs Have Hatched!

The eggs have hatched! There is a lot of fluff in the nest! They are so cute!

Surprise on Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day and what better day to discover that a bird has made its home in the Christmas wreath that is still hanging on my door! It's been a long cold wet winter in New England and along with my procrastination the wreath still hangs on the door! Today was warmer and I was going to take the wreath off the door when I discovered that a little finch had made a nest nestled in the wreath. This had become its home and it had laid 5 eggs in the basket. So how could I take the wreath down? I guess it will have to stay up a little longer until the little birds fly away! This could get interesting! Fortunately we do not use that door. Occasionally someone comes and rings the door bell for that door but usually its pretty untouched and quiet.

Here are a few pictures:

I'll post pictures as things progress.

A hint of Spring!

I received my Daffodils! The local Stop and Shop Grocery Store had them. They opened up and were beautiful. One of my sons sent me Tulips for my B-day. The house felt like Spring! It was wonderful.

Here's hoping Spring is on it's way! I'm ready to leave Winter behind!

Inauguration Day

We now have a new President! Along with that we have new hopes and dreams and possibilities. It was a beautiful day and we celebrated. A group of friends came over for an inaugural luncheon, average style. You know cold cuts, potato chips, salad. And we watched together the swearing in of our 44th President of the United States. It was not without tears as we all realized the enormity of this day and what a great country we live in. Where else do you have this coming together every 4 years in peace to celebrate the wishes of the people. Sometimes we make mistakes but we can always correct them by electing someone else next time around. The key here is it is always in "Peace". As Americans we always come together whether we voted for the person or not.


Today we began the process of righting the awful history of prejudice. We still have a way to go but we have made a big step. In 2017 I hope it will be a woman! And I hope I am alive to see it! But for now, Barack Obama is the right person and he has brought the people of this nation together once again.


I am so proud of my country today. Now is the time for new direction, for change, and for renewing the way the world looks at us. We are truly an amazing nation! Let's show our better side with leadership, humility, and grace. Best wishes President Obama and Mrs Obama. May your time in the White House be the best years this country has seen.


Waiting with anticipation for the moment we can say, "President Obama"!





And what would a celebration be without food!

Thanks everyone for celebrating with me. It was a fun day! And we were inside and warm!

Christmas Snow!

OK, we had a real snowfall yesterday and last night! It's still flurrying and another storm is on the way.



I finished my last weaving order for this year and spent yesterday and today baking Christmas cookies. I love to bake when the snow falls, so the timing was perfect. Of course when I heard it was going to snow on Friday, I made sure I had all my cookie baking supplies on hand and ready.

We all have our favorite Christmas confections. My family has a love of homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries which I have made almost every year since I learned to make them from my cooperating teacher, Mrs. Lyday, when I student taught. I won't tell you how long ago that was but it has been a tradition ever since. Usually I am making them on Christmas Eve Day but this year I am ahead of the game! Yea! My family from Florida arrives on Tuesday and I am aiming to have everything ready so I can enjoy them and the few days we have together.

I also want time to reflect on the season and all the people for whom Christmas brings on added stresses and burdens. Several of my friends are job hunting and having a tough time of it. Jobs are few and far between. There are so many applicants for the same jobs that it gets discouraging.

If you know of any jobs that can help my friends, please let me know and I will pass the info onto them. They live in Plymouth, MA. One is looking for full time administrative secretarial work. She has accounting and computer skills and a good sense of humor. She would love to work with non-profits but needs to be paid. She already does a lot of volunteer work now.

The other friend is looking for something in the human services area. She is struggling to make house payments and would like any hours that would give her an income. She has experience volunteering with social service agencies working as a mediator. She is a person with a lot of initiative and is very resourceful. Both of these women have helped me in my business on various occasions.


No matter what your circumstances this Holiday Season, I wish you Joy, Peace, and Love. May you see the blessings around you and may your heart be filled with graditude and Love.

Baking traditions

I'm going to deviate from talking about weaving to talk about baking traditions. I learned how to make Baklava or Paklava (Armenian) today. I had a wonderful day with a woman from my church who makes the best Paklava. When I asked her if she would be willing to pass the recipe on to me and teach me how to make it, she said yes! Today was the day. We had a wonderful time, not only making the Paklava but sharing each other's stories about our lives and the paths we have gone down. And the Baklava came out good. Not as good as she makes it but she has many years of practice on me. Someday I'll be able to pass on the recipe to someone close or dear to me and share her story that now is blended with mine.
I love family traditions. They are what brings people together with a common thread. There's that fiber reference! I knew I couldn't stay away from it.
You know weaving has those same traditions that have been passed down from the people I call our "weaving treasures". A few summers ago I met one of my "weaving treasures" It is a woman named Joyce Harter. She was at a weaving conference where I was manning my friend's gallery booth. She came in and sat down and began telling us her weaving story. It was wonderful!!! She was so willing to share and teach! I'll never forget it.

There have been others like that, my first weaving teacher, the "weaving mothers" in the Rochester Guild, the study group women in the Philadelphia Guild, and I could go on and on and on. Some are famous, others are not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that they love to share their stories. And I am richer for that.

This Holiday Season, seek out someone you consider a "treasure", spend an hour or a day with them sharing your stories. You will be glad you did.


"Dancing Ladies" by Cheryl Olney of Louise's Daughter.

First Snowfall

It snowed today! This was the first snowfall of the season. As I was driving down the road I was looking at the pure white beauty of the snow on the tree branches. What an awesome sight!

I love seeing the snow fall for the first time. It always makes it feel more like Christmas, at least when you live in the North East! I remember when we lived in Rochester, NY. We would go to church on Christmas Eve and you could almost always guarantee that by the time you came out of church it would be snowing! I miss that guarantee for even though we live in Massachusetts, when you live near the coast it does not necessarily mean it will snow. So today was special. It was a Christmas snowfall, just enough for a blanket of snow but not so much that you cannot get around. "The new fallen snow", remember that phase from The Night Before Christmas? How does one relate to that in Florida?

My son lives in Florida but he comes North for Christmas. I can't help but think he likes to get his snow fix that one time of year. Here's hoping we have a White Christmas.