Going to Texas

I will know I am in Texas
when I can put the top down on the car!

I am going on a road trip.

I am looking for birds, butterflies
and warmth!

The Lower Rio Grande Valley
has all three.
Stay safe and warm.

Freeze/thaw/freeze/thaw

Once again we ride the roller coaster.
The freeze- thaw cycle continues.
Today we were on thaw.
The temperature is 59.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
The wind is calm. It will shift soon.
A cold front is moving in.

Milkweed pods have opened


sending seeds floating lazily about the backyard.

A feather fell onto the dried rose.

An Autumn leaf still clings in the neighbor's fence.

Snowy morning

Snow flurries turned





into snow showers.


I sat outside with the birds for a little while.
It was very cold.



Lots of birds came to the deck.



The wind had spilled my bamboo.
A pile of white sand begged for a heart.



I sat a bowl of suet butter out for the Carolina Wren.




The wind shifted.


Cooper's Hawk came looking for lunch.

The sun came out.

I bundled up and went walking.

I have missed my daily walk.

It is so good for digestion.

Winter Feet

Artic air is blowing into my gardens.
Ice blue skies greet the afternoon sun.

I am grateful for the forced tulips.

They bring warmth to this chilly day.

The dish gardens are starting to bloom too.





The hyacinth are scenting the house with spring.

Soon the crocus will bloom.

It is too cold to walk.

I think I need a treadmill.

In the country

I went to a luncheon in the country.
It was in the home of a fellow felter.

I walked on her 20 acres.

Her husband built a fishing shack near the pond.

I want to come back in the spring
when the wildflowers begin to bloom.

I want to come back in the summer
when the dragonflies are mating.

I want to come back and take a felting class from my new friend

in her beautiful studio.

I want to go back.

I had fun!

61 degrees

It was 61 degrees at 2pm.
This is January 9th.
It seems strange.
Surreal.

A slight breeze from the south-west felt refreshing
when I was walking in the sun.

The ice has melted from the little pond.

I could hear the Northern Flickers call to each other.

The Carolina Wren was waiting for me at home.
It is too early for nesting.

I looked about for bugs.
I only saw a gnat and a fly.

I sat in the sun and took my socks and shoes off.

The wind will shift. It will be cold again.

Today I just enjoyed the warmth.

Open

Like the seed pods



I am open for adventure.



No need for concern.

I fit right in.

I spoke right up.
I belong.


I went to my first Weavers Guild meeting today.
I met other artists that work with fiber.
It is exciting.
I have the fiber glow all about me.

A January sigh

It was sunny and almost still, making the 33 degrees feel like 50.
I went walking in the little woods near my house.

I could hear the Robins high in the trees.
They were waiting for the sun to warm the ground.

Three Brown Creepers were hunting for bugs.

These are darling little birds!

Someone had made a wreath for the birds.
I heard a sigh deep in the woods.
The ice on the pond was breaking up.

Gathering Sweet Gums

It warmed to 50 degrees.

I went walking in the cemetery.

I am packing up the Christmas decorations.

I needed a break.

I needed some Sweet Gums and Goose feathers for the

January potpourri bowl.