4 short stories

The past few days have been a winter-wonderland filled with beauty of all kinds!  I ventured out into the midst of it and I also passed time being comfy and cozy inside my home working on wintry themed projects. We've had day after day of cold, cloud and rime ice.  Each day became whiter with the build up of the rime ice. I have the proper gear that affords me safety and comfort so I can embrace this beauty Mother Nature has bestowed upon us! 

naturing

Far off distant views were non-existent on this day so I found enjoyment admiring the close up scenes while listening to the sound of silence.  I was somewhat sheltered along the valley floor that followed along side the creek.  The creek is now snow covered as you can see at middle right. The Mallards were no where to be seen nor was the coyote I tracked a few days ago, but I did see a....

.....a Great Horned Owl! The last time I saw a Great Horned Owl at the Birth Forest was two years ago. When the cold and snow hit last year, I checked for the Owl but had no luck.  I don't know if it did not return last year or if I just did not see it.  On this morning as I swished through the new fallen snow feeling  the rime ice against my face, the Owl flew out of the trees in front of me and landed in the trees across the trail further along.  I contained my excitement and focused on capturing a few photos while admiring it from a distance so not to disturb it.  This was such a special few moments in time between me and the Owl in the peaceful Birth Forest! 

knitting

I shared with you back on November 20th that I was ready to attempt to knit a pair of mittens. This would be my first time ever knitting mittens. My hope was to finish them before the end of winter so as least I could put them to use.  I started knitting the mittens four times, each time having to undue what I did due to the stitches falling off the needles.  I had success with the fifth try.  A few stitches did fall off but I did my best to pick them up.  I made many mistakes which I accepted and just continued to stitch along.  I eventually completed the right hand mitten! I was so pleased that it actually looks like a mitten and that it fits me perfectly.  I am now working on the left had mitten.  I am enjoying this craft and it is bringing much fulfillment.  This second mitten is knitting up much quicker and easier than the first.  I am already thinking about knitting a second pair but I would prefer a brighter colour of yarn and I may also try knitting them on a circular needle instead of the four needle method.  

gifting

It was time to celebrate a friend's birthday! We made a toast to her special day and shared gifts before lunch arrived.  I made a greeting card by doing a water-colour painting of her and her "best friend".  The sentient was printed on a second sheet and attached to the painting with twine. While it was not my day to celebrate, she did bring me a gift.  She is in the midst of repurposing some items.  I was the beneficiary of two Marjolein Bastin sculptures as you can see in the bottom photo.  Both the Indigo Bunting and the American Goldfinch are now on display in my home!    

painting

While "out & about" on this day, I hung another Christmas Tree decoration on a snow-covered tree to caputre a photo of.  This decoration now holds a nice little story and is ready to be hung when I put up my Christmas Tree in my home.  I have never seen a Cardinal!  I have this decoration with Cardinals and I also have a decoration of a Cardinal wearing a green scarf. The colour of them pops in a winter-wonderland. Some things I see in life, I see with child-like eyes and the wonderment that comes along with that.  This decoration looked complicated to paint and do it justice so I googled to find a Cardinal painting in a winter setting.  I found the perfect tutorial which I followed yet added a different touch to make it my own.   While out in a winter-wonderland, the little girl admires the beautiful red Cardinal with child-like wide-eyed wonderment!