Quick! Do you like to file? Do you like the lovely vista of file folders all neatly labeled, sorted and placed in the cabinet in a perfect logical order? No? Neither do I. In fact I detest filing and everything associated with it. Except I do like Avery sticky labels. But that's IT. We do … [Read more...]
Saving Tadpoles from the Swimming Pool
Our pool was full of gunk this spring above the winter cover. You name it, we had it floating in the rain and snow melt that accumulated on top the cover: bugs, hydrangea flower heads, leaves, pieces of plastic from the roof repair, assorted garbage blown by the wind. It doesn't look too bad in … [Read more...]
Misty Mornings Mid May in Michigan
Yesterday morning I looked out the back window and saw this beautiful view of mist raising from the Kalamazoo river valley a mile away to cover the trees and most of the field behind our house. The spiderwebs sparkled with raindrops and the faint misty sunshine. Everything looked shrouded in … [Read more...]
Cold Spring in Northern Michigan – Ice Melting on Little Traverse Bay
We live in Southwest Michigan, where spring comes about 2 weeks earlier than it did in Midland and about a month earlier than further north. This weekend we went to a trade show in Petoskey, which is right on Little Traverse Bay (part of Lake Michigan) and about 70 miles north of Traverse City … [Read more...]
Waiting For the Birds of Spring
In Kalamazoo we have robins year around although we don't see them often. I have seen them near the suet feeder but usually they sustain themselves on the crab apples or berries left during the winter. Recently I saw a flock of them on the tree in driveway circle that has small fruits on it. It … [Read more...]
How to Keep Birds Alive During Bitter Cold Winter Days
Birds can fluff up during the cold and survive - if they get enough to eat and if they can get water to drink. This weekend brought bitter cold, wind and a foot of snow to southeast Michigan. It snowed about 8 inches Saturday night. Sunday morning was quite pleasant with no wind and mid 20s and I … [Read more...]
How to Get Clean Cupboards and Find All the Supplies You Lost
You know the answer, yes? That's right, you need to clean out those cupboards that are the handy stash spots for all the canned goods, bags of rice, boxes of pasta, dribbles and dabs of baking chocolate, spices, baking soda, five types of flour, etc. and etc. And the other point: sort the items … [Read more...]
Trees After An Ice Storm
Ice storms leave trees and shrubs, cars and roads all coated with a layer of ice. Sunday morning we woke up to a beautiful scene with trees all sparkling under a layer of ice and yesterday they were even prettier with a bit of snow. This is Sunday morning. Can you see the ice at the tips of … [Read more...]
Milkweed Puffs – Seed Pods Beaking Open Indoors and Out
Last time I walked out back the milkweed seed pods were bursting open, sending white downy fluffs everywhere. The milkweed flowers are a light dusky rose lavender color and they bloom in big flower heads. The plants are about 3 feet tall and will grow even where it's pretty dry. Our field … [Read more...]
What A Surprise! Finding Beauty in Wide Open Fields and Hills In Our Backyard
When we were house shopping we had several criteria: location, layout, quality, setting and price. We found houses that met one or two of these but all five together? Elusive! Setting is the most intangible. We wanted someplace that felt like a home, that had something pretty to look at … [Read more...]