'Becky' yarn

One thing I love about living in a small town

is getting to meet some of

the most interesting people.

Ever.

This yarn was dyed

and spun

by a lady in a neighboring town.

She brought color samples into

Serendipity Yarn Shoppe

let us pick our colors,

and a couple short weeks later,

this beautiful yarn arrived.

Plus, most of the fiber

(sheep, llama, alpaca)

is locally grown.

We applaud you, Abi!

Check out her website at

http://prairiefiber.homestead.com/

{June 2012}

Oh, deer.

Yes,

The deer had a nice time

using my garden as a salad bar

one night.

I have now learned of the power of

putrescent egg solids

in the form of

Liquid Fence.

{31 May 2012}

Little projects

I've been trying to use my evenings wisely lately.

By doing some of those

LITTLE PROJECTS

that tend to pile up

and then take

LOTS

OF TIME

to finish.

Mending was one of them.

One of my least favorite.

And most procrastinated.

But, its done.

Until something else gets a hole.

Or needs to be re-hemmed.

{June 2012}

Seeing the aunties..and cousins

There's been lots going on with the aunties and cousins

on my mom's side of the family.

We got to see them recently, so I had to take some photographic evidence.

 First of all, this little guy was born.

He's my cousin's first.

And she's an only child.

So grandma is kind of excited!

 Next, my aunt and her fiancee finished their hut in the woods.

Well, nearly finished.

At least the upstairs is livable!

Last time I was there, there were snowflakes on the floorboards.

Oh. And they got married June 1.

Accomplishments!

Said aunt's first son graduated in May.

I got to make him laugh so he'd actually smile for some

senior portraits.

He's off to camp this summer.

National Guard style.

We wish him happiness and prosperity.

{May 2012}

S'Wallace Wedding

This may be my favorite picture from

Mike and Lisa's wedding.

Mike and Lisa:

grinning like happy chickens.

Everyone else:

being silly-faced.

Its all quite remarkable.

And I post this in remembrance of the lunaversary!

{28May2012}

Pianist

Say it.

Three times, fast!

Pianist.

Nephew #1 is taking piano lessons.

He plays gladly when asked, so far.

And memorizes his tunes well.

{May2012}

Day at the couch

So, we live near a town called Davenport.

And we went there one Saturday to wander around.

I asked the squids to mimic this face.

The reactions were....interesting.

We wandered around the park for awhile

whilst waiting for the circus.

Turns out, watching the elephants BEFORE the circus

was almost more entertaining than the circus itself!

{May 2012}

Wildlife in the lilacs.

Come on!

You know you thought it.

But its not what you thought...

its only some pretty bugs!

 Butterfly

 and Hummingbird Moth...

sipping nectar

And with its proboscus curled.

Sooo neat!

{May 2012}

The promise in the bow

The weekend before

Mike and Lisa's wedding

was a little rainy.

It even rained on our picnic!

But the rainbows were beautiful.

Yes, it was a double!

Check the upper left

for the second,

much fainter

arc.

{26 May 2012}

Scratch cupcakery

All I can say is: LUNCH!

This deliciousness brought to you by

Scratch Cupcakery

Salty Dog style.

{26May2012}

Conversation with a goose

A lovely trip to

Anderson Japanese Gardens

in Rockford.

 In which le Kiwi speaks to a goose. Nicely.

 And we see lovely dogwoods.

 Cascading water.

 Pose with our momma.

And contemplate the possiblity of adding water features to our own gardens.

{May 2012}

Poppy!

I recieved a new camera lens recently.

And had fun playing with it a bit.

Before using it for its real purpose.

{April 2012}