Hiatus

I'll be taking a break from blogging for a bit. My mother passed away this morning after a long illness, and it's going be a while before I can think of much else. I may be checking in on your blogs as time allows, but I won't be posting here until everything is settled. I will be back when the spirit moves. Til then, be well.

Round Robins: First Signs of Spring

My beloved spake, and said unto me,

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,
and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

~ The Song of Solomon, 2:10-13

Crocuses are usually the first sign of spring around here, blooming sometimes in early January. In this year of endless snow, they're only now appearing.

The first sign was actually the squirrels gathering leaves for their nests. Even the daffodils poked their noses out before the crocuses, which has got to be a first.

No matter. It seems winter is finally losing its grip, and the Round Robins are finding reasons to rejoice. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see all the spring things they've gathered: Join the celebration here!

*Special thanks for this week's topic go to Nan at Life is Like a Lunchbox.

Photo Hunt: Metal

"Metal" is the name of the game at PhotoHunt this week, and a great topic it is. Smooth and sleek to rough and rusted; precious gold to common tin.

This is one of those pin toys that takes on the shape of whatever it's pressed into.


Step back a bit, and see if you can make out what this one is.

*PS: While we're on the subject of metal, check out the weirdly beautiful properties of ferrofluid -- You've just got to see this stuff in action -- and the amazingly beautiful and complex sculptures of artist Bathsheba Grossman. Techies, be sure to click on the Technique button. You ain't gonna believe how these are made. Enjoy!

*Update March 24: *Answer to What is it: It's my left hand, fingers folded down, palm up. The upper shot is just a macro of a detail there. So ... I had one hand under the pin thingy and I held the camera with the other. Try holding all THAT still sometime.

Photo Hunt: I Spy

I didn't think I had anything to post for this week's PhotoHunt topic, "I Spy". But I've just taken this photo of a great old barn, and when I uploaded it I discovered four starlings, including a pair staking out territory for a nesting hole. Can you see them?

Hints: Click here for a bigger photo. Still stuck? Click here for a zoom shot of the right neigborhood.

*Updated with a larger photo March 17, 2008.

Round Robins: A Nice Place to Sit

This week the Round Robins are looking for a great place to settle in for a while. I've chosen this little chair, built for my younger son by his grandfather.

It's hard to believe my boys were ever that small. Son the Younger used to sit here for hours, strumming a ukulele with two strings and singing along with Rafi tapes. Now it's a good spot for a bookworm bear. Some days, I'd give a lot to see that baby again. Some days, I'd give a lot to be this bear.

Thanks for this week's theme go to Tammie Jean of the blog Long Drives To Nowhere. Be sure to click over to the Robins to see all the entries!

Photo Hunt: Different

There are a lot of "different" things around here -- my taste leans to the weird side -- and this is one of my favorites. It's a Treasure Jest, a kind of intricate little box created by Harmony Kingdom. The heads are a cleverly concealed lid, and the design is full of little secrets. I'd collect them, but they're expensive to buy for oneself and nobody seems to want to give me any more. Few in my circle share my appreciation for them. Do you?

For other entries, stop by at PhotoHunt.

Monday Photo Shoot: Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice is the topic of this week's Monday Photo Shoot from Karen at Outpost Mavarin.

Fire is in short supply up here, unless you count these walk lights or the buried gas grill and patio lantern. Ice, though ... yeah, we gots it.
These photos were taken over the last couple of months, but it's been pretty much like this since Thanksgiving. Last week, with icicles hanging all over the house, my older son commented that I should be out taking pictures. Not knowing I'd need some new ice shots, I told him I just didn't want to look at it anymore.


At the moment, we have only a light dusting of snow, but there's more on the way. It seems winter has come to stay in Indiana.

Monday Photo Shoot: On the Clock

I once won a blue ribbon at a craft show for this clock. My husband made the wooden case; I designed and stitched the face. Here it's sitting on a Victorian fern stand, where it would be if the cat would promise not to knock it off.
Detail of the face.
Hello, Dali ... I tried the Aquarium setting on my camera for this one, thinking it might not reflect the glass so much. Weirdness ensued.

Here's the link for the other participants: Monday Photo Shoot. Be sure to stop by and check out the other entries, OK?

Photo Hunt: Party

Here's to the Monarchs who munch. Aren't they too much?

For this week's PhotoHunt I've used an older snapshot that reminds me of the party song from the Sondheim play "Company". Beautiful, idle, captive, besotted with sweet fruit and warm sun, these ladies will never know the power of their wings.