Tulip Tree Hill

once again, I couldn't have said it better...

2011-10-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life...Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become." - Steve Jobs

reflection

2011-10-05T17:19:00.000-04:00

I've just returned from a two week vacation at a little cabin in the Adirondack mountains. One of my favorite places for many reasons; peace, tranquility, and seclusion not being the least of them. It is a place of great beauty and lends itself to an appreciation of nature that for me, at least, approaches a gentle awe. While the ocean is nice, I am a person of woodlands, valleys, streams, and mountain lakes. Sun-dappled clearings, mossy rocks, and the calls of belligerent crows all unclench my chest, soothe my soul, and bring peace to my spirit.

The cabin has no electricity, and so no television, radio, or electronic white noise to bombard the ear - allowing for a quiet that few of us seldom, if ever, have the chance to experience. Coupled with the location, it is a perfect situation for relaxation and reflection.

There were walks with the dogs, good books, visits to charming shops and galleries, discovery of local farmers markets, and wonderful food at little cafes. I enjoyed the freedom of standing in the sunshine halfway up a mountain and singing out loud knowing no one could hear. I also spent a not inconsiderable time simply staring into space. Reflecting on where I am, where I want to be, and how I want to live my life. There are times I feel the need to remind myself that I only get one. Life, that is. And to not allow it to slip by without noticing.

I renewed my commitment to not live according to other's expectations. To live joyously. To spend more time creating art. To remember to find peace in the cool of the day. To enjoy the simple things: a hot cup of coffee outside at dawn, a walk without a destination, good conversations about nothing in particular, and quiet dinners with old friends.

Driving home, leaving the high peaks, brought tears to my eyes. It almost felt like a good-bye. I hope not. I hope to go back.

song of the blackbird

2011-08-22T07:07:00.002-04:00

"song of the blackbird"

abigail pictured herself as quite the performer

2011-08-15T06:15:00.002-04:00

"Abigail Pictured Herself as Quite the Performer"

k

2011-08-08T06:15:00.002-04:00

"k"

CityFolk gallery in Lancaster, PA wanted to spell out their name in 3D letters for their front window display, and so asked eight artists to each decorate one. Receiving the "k", I painted it as a landscape and then added the scene at the top.

Why doesn't the bird just fly up to the nest? And why does she seem daunted by the prospect of climbing the ladder? Perhaps because sometimes we forget to use our God-given skills and so what could be simple becomes harder than necessary.

These letters will all be auctioned off to support the social mission partners of CityFolk. Find out more by contacting CityFolk.

sing a song of sixpence

2011-08-01T06:07:00.000-04:00

"sing a song of sixpence"

over achiever

2011-07-25T07:03:00.003-04:00

"over achiever"

hatched

2011-07-18T06:59:00.001-04:00

"hatched"

empty nest

2011-07-11T07:01:00.001-04:00

"empty nest"

happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T08:55:00.000-04:00

"the blackbird's flag"

and the day came

2010-09-16T12:14:00.002-04:00

"And the day came when the risk to remain in a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Anais Nin

so, it's been awhile...

2010-08-28T21:42:00.000-04:00

I cannot even believe how long it's been since my last post! Chalk it up to being busy as well as not having much to show or say.

Recently, I was asked to decorate the letter "a". It's for the cover of "Fig" a local publication that promotes the downtown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

To celebrate the new issue, Fig held a launch party and since I did the "a", I was invited. I got to dress up, eat hors d'oeuvres, sample local beers and wines, listen to a couple songs from Opera Lancaster's upcoming show, and meet a lot of interesting and very nice people. What a wonderful opportunity to be a part of something so fun!

twins

2009-11-02T07:50:00.003-05:00

I have nothing to say about this piece, really. It was just a bit of fun.

the princess and the pea

2009-10-26T07:06:00.000-04:00

Inspired by the old children's story, this princess is resting on a stack of seven cushions. Near the bottom is a pea in a pod, keeping her up at night.

The cushions are made of ceramic, as is the princess, but she also has wire for hair and a tin crown.

perched

2009-10-19T06:31:00.002-04:00

Above it all, perched on her very tall chair and enjoying it, or wanting to get down if she can just figure out how? Maybe both. As she is torn by conflicting desires, blackbirds are watching and waiting to see what happens, but not helping.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

the wonder of flight

2009-10-12T07:19:00.000-04:00

Perhaps it's just me, but I think the sensation of flying is one we'd all like to experience. Soaring through the air, the wind rushing past us, the utter feeling of freedom. Getting outside ourselves, out of time and place, and just being in the moment...

This is a subject I've explored several times, but seemingly one that I'm not yet done with.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

morning has broken

2009-10-05T06:44:00.003-04:00

Morning has broken,

like the first morning.

Blackbird has spoken,

like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing,

fresh from the word!

Sweet the rain's new fall,

sunlit from heaven.

Like the first dew fall,

on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness

of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness

where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight,

mine is the morning,

Born of the one light

Eden saw play.

Praise with elation,

praise every morning,

God's re-creation of the new day.

That old hymn, originally an even older gaelic tune, and popularized by Cat Stevens was the inspiration for this piece. It's this sort of song and performance that makes me wish I was a musician and singer. The best I can do is to try to capture the mood, feeling, and emotion the piece evokes.

I might take another shot at this, perhaps making the scene more lush in order to better capture the mood of the song. I'll have to think on it...

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

symbiosis

2009-09-28T07:33:00.002-04:00

In the give and take between human and animal, a serenity is achieved while the knitter works and the sheep takes comfort in companionship.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

going places

2009-09-22T07:29:00.000-04:00

Delicately balanced through his forward momentum, this crow has places to go, people to see, and things to do. Busy, busy busy.

You know, sometimes we are so busy trying to get where we're going that we fail to enjoy the moment. Crowding our lives with so much activity that we don't even notice we've lost the ability to be still. How long has it been since you've laid on your back in the grass and watched the clouds go by? Or sat on a porch swing with your eyes closed and listened to the sound of birds? Or gone outside at dawn just to breathe deeply of the morning mist before the rest of the world wakes up? Try it. Slow your brain down and think of nothing but the enjoyment of the moment. It will fill your heart up.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

in my studio

2009-09-20T22:24:00.002-04:00

I keep the bits and pieces of works in progress on a small table in my studio. There they stay safe and organized. They also stare accusingly at me every time I walk past as if to say "hey! we're still not done, and yet you dare to start another piece?" That's right, my work gives me attitude! You can see glimpses of two different pieces in the photo above. The woman is part of a sculpture which will probably be titled "freedom". Gruesomely, her legs aren't yet attached to her body (not that she seems to care). Eventually, she'll be sitting on the back of a crow in flight, and the whole deal will be hung from the ceiling. Clearly I'm not done yet with the subject of flight because another piece is in the works which also explores that subject matter.

And here is a little vignette of one corner of my studio work table. I got this table third-hand and happily don't have to worry about ruining the surface since it was already pretty messed up when I got it. At times I think I should sand it down to make it nice again, but but so far have resisted the temptation since then I'd have to be careful with it.

a quiet life

2009-09-16T19:58:00.006-04:00

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."

Albert Einstein

Impossible for me to have said it better. I've been thinking about this in my own life recently and was pleasantly surprised to happen upon this quote. Living here on the hill for four years now, my life has become increasingly quiet, less complicated, more in tune. With my dogs for company as I work, farm animals for the occasional distraction, a garden for physical exertion, and a good book to read in the evening, I am rarely bored.

When we deliberately slow down the pace of our lives and stop allowing ourselves to be constantly bombarded by everything that screams for our attention, we are able to find the quiet moments to think and reflect. To allow imagination free reign to entertain us. To dream and to ponder the "what ifs". For me, that's where art comes from. That quiet place.

rainfall

2009-09-14T11:07:00.000-04:00

For those of you who couldn't make it to the show, I'll be posting images of some of that work here in the next few weeks. I hope to continue this, posting images of new work as it is finished. There is so much in my head begging to be let out that sometimes I hardly know where to start. But what with the big push to get everything completed in time for the show, it seems I'm now back in creation mode - the long drought over.

And so here we have "Rainfall"...

Still in his shell and refusing to come out and face the world, this little guy is hunched in his nest and seeking protection from the elements with a rather flimsy umbrella. All within a glass cabinet, as though preserved like a specimen.

I sort of like the whole specimen concept. I may have to pursue this further... more little cabinets, more odd vignettes.

At Diddywopps & Keeffers gallery in Monkton, MD.

I hope to see you tonight!

2009-09-12T06:53:00.000-04:00

So tonight is the opening of "In My Own Backyard" at Diddywopps & Keeffers. This will be my third show there in three years, but I'm still excited, thank goodness. The day it stops being exciting and showing becomes ho-hum is probably the day I should stop. Happily, that doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. I continue to amuse myself while making the work and hope it strikes a chord with those who view it.

I'm a pretty private person and so putting this stuff out there has always been a stretch for me. Sort of a "here's what goes on inside my head, please don't smirk" kind of thing. But the reward of a piece making a connection with someone is worth the risk of disdain. I think. At least as long as I don't have to witness that disdain personally.

a preview of September 12, part 9

2009-09-11T07:35:00.000-04:00

a preview of September 12, part 8

2009-09-09T07:33:00.000-04:00

kreativ blogger award

2009-09-08T07:04:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Michelle over at Boulderneigh for sending me the Kreativ Blogger award! One always likes to be appreciated - or maybe that's just me, hmmm? Anyway, as I understand it, I'm to list seven of my favorite authors and then seven blogs to nominate for the award. So without further ado, here we go...

My seven favorite authors:

Dean Koontz

Gene Logsdon

Jonathan Kellerman

Patricia Cornwell

John Sandford

Michael Crichton

Dean Koontz

Okay, I cheated and put Koontz in twice. But really, these days most of the books I read come from the library with the exception of Koontz. If he has a new book out, I buy it. Because what I've found is that they are good enough to re-read. More than once.

Seven creative blogs:

http://hilarypfeifer.blogspot.com/

http://meganauman.blogspot.com/

http://blackeyedsuzie.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://stellarcafe.blogspot.com/

http://oneblackbird.blogspot.com/

http://sodabyamy.blogspot.com/

http://tollipop.typepad.com/tollipop/

I encourage you to visit these blogs and see if you don't agree that they are quite creative! Each one different and unique, but with something special to share.

a preview of September 12, part 7

2009-09-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

a preview of september 12, part 6

2009-09-06T06:52:00.000-04:00

a preview of september 12, part 5

2009-09-04T06:15:00.000-04:00

a preview of september 12, part 4

2009-09-02T06:48:00.000-04:00

a preview of september 12, part 3

2009-08-31T07:02:00.000-04:00

a preview of september 12, part 2

2009-08-29T06:57:00.001-04:00

a preview of september 12

2009-08-27T10:47:00.003-04:00

Here's a little preview of what you can expect to see at the opening of "In My Own Backyard" the evening of September 12 at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show is just over two weeks away and I'll be posting more of these tidbits between now and then.

change

2009-08-21T09:06:00.006-04:00

I said before that I've been running in four different directions, but to be perfectly honest, it's only three - graphic designer, mixed media sculptor, and wannabe farmer. Which brings us to the subject of change... the designation of wannabe farmer is changing to just farmer. Okay, so in some folks minds, with just under 4 acres that's stretching the term quite a bit, but that's okay. It will be a micro-mini farm, or as I'm calling it, "the tiny little farm at Tulip Tree Hill". The core of the farm will be a greenhouse for growing heirloom vegetables and flower seedlings. Additionally, there will be a market garden for produce and cut flowers both of which will be sold at growers markets. I'll still be a graphic designer (my primary source of income) and a mixed media sculptor. And so this blog's somewhat split personality will birth a new blog about the farm. The only changes you'll see here will be a lack of gardening/farming posts and hopefully more emphasis on art. That way the folks interested in the tiny little farm won't have to wade through art posts and those who like art won't have to read my ramblings about farming. Unless of course, you want to.

Speaking of art, my new show at Diddywopps is opening September 12, but I need to have everything completed and delivered by the 6th. I. am. not. ready. Oh, I'll get everything done, and it will all be wonderful of course, but things will be hopping out in the studio!

in my own backyard

2009-08-14T10:13:00.004-04:00

I have been quite negligent in keeping up with this blog lately and have no excuses, really, except that I feel like I've been running in 4 different directions at the same time. And when you're doing that, it's hard to get anywhere at all!

One of the directions will soon bear fruit with the opening of my new show at Diddywopps & Keeffers. The show runs from September 10 - October 19, with the opening reception on Saturday September 12, from 6-8 p.m. If you're in the neighborhood, do stop by - everyone is welcome. One of the reasons I like Diddywopps so much is that Tami has created such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, without the pretensions. Just fine art and craft, presented beautifully.

Hope to see you there!

garden guests

2009-07-25T07:51:00.003-04:00

Can you see my little friend here? It's a black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar munching on some dill in the garden. Upon closer inspection, I counted a dozen of them. But I don't mind, after all, there's more than enough dill for all of us. And who doesn't love butterflies?

a pastoral scene

2009-07-23T19:36:00.006-04:00

This is the view from my back pasture, looking out into the neighbor's field. This scene is so much better in person - the quiet and gentle peacefulness of sheep grazing in a lush pasture, the single tree providing soft shade, and the bounty of the newly harvested field - it fills my heart up.

they don't sound as pretty as they look!

2009-07-07T06:54:00.000-04:00

So this is what I heard last night.

That's right, you try sleeping after that.

remembering

2009-07-01T13:42:00.001-04:00

"To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves."

Gandhi

some thoughts on gardening and art

2009-06-27T21:57:00.002-04:00

To be perfectly honest, I've not been particularly creative or productive, sculpture-wise, for the past two months or more. However, the garden is looking better than it ever has. Pondering this, I realized there was a correlation. The need to create, specifically to create something of beauty, thoughtfulness, and worth is ingrained pretty deeply. So if I'm going to garden, then it needs to be an aesthetically pleasing garden. Productive, yes, but also attractive to the eye. So combined with my love of being outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine, along with a lifelong enjoyment for growing things, and you have my creative energies going into a garden rather than into sculptures. So all those pieces I've started, along with the ones that are still only an idea in a sketchbook, have been patiently waiting for me to return to them (do they have any choice, really?). And return I will, just as soon as I pull a couple more weeds and admire a few more bee-covered blossoms, and maybe check to see if there are any baby tomatoes yet...

another good read

2009-06-25T06:58:00.004-04:00

A lighthearted, yet thought-provoking book that actually made me laugh out loud in a couple of places. In it, the author chronicles his experiences of his first year in his attempt to "live green" on a ranch in New Mexico. From battles with his rose-eating goats, to driving a truck whose exhaust smells like Kentucky Fried Chicken, we are given an insiders view into the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows of learning to live more in tune with the earth and less in tune with fossil fuel.
Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living

garden blossoms-part 2

2009-06-24T10:01:00.001-04:00

one of the many sunflowers that are blooming

my kitchen windowsill

2009-06-23T21:41:00.001-04:00

Find and enjoy the small beauties in life.

a garden weekend

2009-06-22T07:13:00.000-04:00

The garden has grown so much in the past couple of weeks and so I wanted to share an updated photo. The "three sisters" of corn, beans, and squash are doing well after getting off to a sluggish start, literally. The slugs chewed them up pretty heavily until I left some weeds for them to go after. Now that the sisters are bigger, I've gotten rid of the weeds once again. Salad greens are nearly over, getting ready to bolt and become bitter. The spinach is already a goner. The red beets did particularly well this spring, producing much more than expected. They've been going in salads, roasted as a side dish, and now pickled. Good stuff.

pickled red beets

The sunflowers are turning their faces to catch the rays, the mustard is in full bloom and covered with honey bees, potatoes are just going crazy, growing and blooming on and on. The tomatoes have also begun to bloom, so hopefully soon I'll see some little ones growing.

Some of the herbs were big enough to begin cutting. The mint planted earlier this year has just taken off - doing its job and filling in a hard-to-mow area which has been turned into a mint bed. I think it likes it there. I was also able to cut some parsley and basil, and as you can see at left, all three have been hung up to dry in my kitchen. And by the way, the kitchen smells great! Best of all, this is just the beginning of a harvest that should last until the end of summer.

so, how many lambs can YOU fit in a VW Bug?

2009-06-20T14:56:00.002-04:00

Only two in my bug, but then two was all I was in the market for. Ever since visiting Shelley at River Bend Farm late last summer, and then again early this spring, I've been looking forward to getting a couple of Shetland ewe lambs. Today they finally came home with me. Their names are Aster and Apricot. Aren't they beautiful?

helpless

2009-06-16T14:01:00.003-04:00

Checking on the garden this morning, I heard some robins making quite a ruckus. Glancing into the yard, there was my standard schnauzer, Biggie, lying on the ground and looking at something between his front paws. Realizing he must have one of their babies, I quickly took it away from him, seemingly unhurt, and deposited it on the other side of the fence at the edge of the woods. So far I haven't seen the parents taking care of it, but they sure know where it is, because when I went back out to take this photo, they strongly voiced their disapproval. The babe seems nearly feathered out so hopefully he'll make it.

my salad days

2009-06-15T07:24:00.004-04:00

Garden salad of green leaf, red leaf, and buttercrunch lettuces, parsley, spinach, diced radishes, sauteed baby beets, hard boiled eggs, and pumpkin seeds. Topped with the Tulip Tree Hill house dressing.

Right now the garden is providing an abundance of mixed greens and spring roots, so salad is on the menu more often than not. With the exception of the pumpkin seeds, everything in the salad above was raised right here. Pretty cool, huh? Hopefully with this year's pumpkin crop, even the seeds will be homegrown next spring.

My favorite dressing right now is a creamy sweet and sour herb mixture. Here's the recipe:

Tulip Tree Hill House Dressing

In a one pint jar, add the following:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup salad dressing

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1/4 teaspoon thyme

Put the lid on the jar and give it a good shake until well blended.

Open the jar, stick your finger in and give it a try.

Adjust sugar and/or vinegar to taste.

That's it, all done!

Please keep refrigerated.

it won't go down without a fight

2009-06-14T08:14:00.000-04:00

See, this is what I meant about bamboo getting sneaky when threatened. These tiny, little, seemingly innocuous, grass-like clumps are actually bamboo. This is an area well away from the main stand where I cut some down last year in an effort to stop its spread. The rhizome didn't die, it just waited for the opportunity to come back in disguise. Later today the weed killer will be put to good use. Unfortunately, some other plants may get hit in the crossfire, but that's what I meant about collateral damage. I have also begun cutting mature stalks, but there are probably a couple hundred of them and they're woody and tough. It will be a long fight - but one that I mean to win.

what I'm reading now

2009-06-13T11:52:00.005-04:00

Living Seasonally

by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd

A wonderfully written book that's a pleasure to read. It puts into words so much of what I feel but don't quite know how to express about gardening. You know, like when I get asked why bother growing potatoes when you can buy them for almost nothing... my answer is usually less than eloquent, like "ummm, because it feels good?" There's so much about the love of growing things that's hard to verbalize, but these two guys seem to manage it.

Also at times, when reading this book, I wanted to be them (except for the part about living in Vermont - somewhere warmer is more up my alley).

my how they've grown!

2009-06-12T07:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the first day that the broilers were allowed to go outside. At 4 weeks old, they finally seemed like they were ready. It was a bit damp and rainy, but a few of the braver souls ventured out between showers. They enjoyed pecking around and looking for ~~nasties~~ goodies in the grass, such as worms, grubs, slugs, etc. I've kept bantams for four years, but this is my first foray into raising meat birds - specifically Cornish Rock crosses. Compared to egg-layers, these broilers are awkward and somewhat fragile, growing faster than they can feather out (a bit pathetic, really), hence being kept inside for so long. Next year, my choice of meat birds will likely be a standard heavy breed such as Barred Rocks. They'll probably take twelve weeks to reach a good size rather than the eight for broilers, but since I'm not pushing for quick turn-around, that's okay. I'll be a lot more comfortable with the "normal" growth rate and increased vigor.

garden blossoms-part 1

2009-06-11T07:54:00.002-04:00

potato,

mustard,

mesclun (salad mix),

cucumber

Aren't the potato blossoms just gorgeous? They'd look nice even in a flower border. So would the mustard. And the mesclun isn't too shabby either. The bonus is that you can also make dinner from them.

know your enemies

2009-06-10T06:58:00.006-04:00

I moved here four years ago and have been battling a stand of bamboo ever since. Believing we could live in harmony, it started out with me just breaking off the new shoots that were growing where I didn't want them. Apparently that made it mad. Showing its true colors, it made a dash towards the house, coming up through the deck, disrupting the stone patio surrounding the water garden, and invading the hosta bed. Amazed by the audacity, I countered with more severe pruning as well as judicious applications of weed killer. Hostilities escalated. Last summer, it ran twenty feet into the woods. That was the final straw - I envisioned a future where nothing remained in my woods except a few older trees and bamboo. No wildflowers or saplings, no place left for the native flora and fauna to survive, let alone thrive. So bamboo and I were now locked in a battle to the death. Clearly there was no way to live in harmony with this monster. Accepting that there might be some collateral damage, I vowed to do whatever it would take to completely eradicate it.

So when I found a book on bamboo at the library last week, it came home with me. I thought perhaps at the very least, there would be something about containing the beast, if not killing it outright. The book is well written and speaks so glowingly of the beauty and benefits of bamboo, that if I didn't know better, I might be tempted to plant some. Reading through the book, I finally got to the part about keeping it contained. I learned it can go under sidewalks, driveways, and even roads in some cases. The root system is usually significantly larger than what you see above ground and it can run for fifty feet underground before popping up in another location. FIFTY FEET! What are people thinking when they plant this stuff? Let me just say here that in my opinion, it is irresponsible, short sighted, and selfish to plant bamboo without adequately containing it with a permanent barrier that is up to the task. Seriously.

Reading further, it was as though the heavens opened and angels sang when I saw the following: "Killing bamboo is not easy, but it can be done." For the benefit of anyone else engaged in a similar war, I offer the following:

"Bamboo can be eliminated without the addition of any herbicides or chemical fertilizers, but these can be employed to accelerate the process. There are variations on the theme, but an effective regimen for eradication is as follows: cut the aboveground growth to the ground with a lawnmower (who are they kidding?), pruning shears, hand saw, chain saw, or other implement, as fits the situation. Water and fertilize to encourage the rhizomes (roots) to generate new growth. If necessary, limit the height of new shoots by pruning. As soon as the new shoots have leafed out, stop all watering, fertilize very heavily with a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and spray with a strong herbicide. Remove the culms (shoots) and foliage once the herbicide has been fully absorbed. Remove all subsequent shoots before they leaf out. Damaged by the herbicide and stressed and weakened by over-fertilization and lack of water, the bamboo's demise is accelerated."

Aha! A plan of attack! It will be a big job and not one I will likely get done this year, but at least there's hope. There is just one fly in that ointment, however. I have seen this bamboo, when stressed, send up tiny little shoots that look nearly identical to grasses. In the woods this will be hard to spot, but I'll stay on top of it.

Wish me luck.

wow

2009-06-04T13:52:00.001-04:00

check it...

honored guests

2009-06-02T07:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was spent with my sister and her husband at the New Holland horse auction. They were going to look for a pony for their youngest daughter's birthday and I was going, well, because I like those sorts of things. When the smoke cleared, they had bought two ponies instead of just one. Their older daughter already has a small horse, but it's too big for her and they're hoping a smaller one will help build her confidence. These two are very sweet, calm, easy going, and small. Perfect for young girls just starting out. Oh, and they also bought a pony cart - which should be a lot of fun!

Since my niece's birthday isn't until Friday, and the pony is a surprise, they'll be staying in one of my paddocks until then.

what are they?

2009-06-01T07:20:00.000-04:00

I happened upon these delicate blue wildflowers over the weekend quite by accident. Other than the blossoms, they look just like clumps of grass mixed in among the honeysuckle at the edge of my woods. They are sky blue with a clear yellow center on the inside. I've never seen anything like them before and would love to know what they are. Anyone know?

the garden

2009-05-29T07:14:00.000-04:00

Here is an overview of most of my garden. From left to right you can see the "three sisters" planting of field corn, beans, and melons. You can also see salad greens, sunflowers, potatoes, mustard, tomatoes and peppers (in the red plastic).

The three sisters is something I've read about but never tried before. You plant the corn first, four to a hill, and when it is 4" tall plant pole beans in between the corn plants. Then in between the corn/bean hills, you plant melons, squash, pumpkins, etc., two to a hill. The idea is that the corn will support the beans as they grow, the beans will add nitrogen to the soil, and the squash will shade the ground to minimize weeds. It's an interesting concept and one which will be fun to watch play out. I've mulched the three sisters heavily in between the hills with cardboard covered up with horse manure/bedding and then topped it off with wood chips from last year. The weeds don't stand a chance (hopefully).

The field corn is from seed saved from last year's planting. It worked out great last year - the animals got some for treats and I got some for corn meal - which was very good, by the way. I encourage you to try your hand at growing it for yourself - but get an heirloom variety so you can save your own seed.

The beans for three sisters were: Emerite pole bean, your typical french green bean; Chinese Red Noodle bean, an oddball that is supposed to get 18" pods that are bright red; and Vermont Cranberry bean, a nice red spotted bean that's good for drying and using for soups and chili. The melon/squash component consists of Banana melons, Thai Golden melons, a Pepino melon, french "Cinderella" pumpkins (Rouge Vif D'Etampes), lemon cucumbers, a plain old slicing cucumber, and a couple zucchini.

Salad greens, red beets, onions and sunflowers are next to the three sisters. The plan is that the greens will be done by the time the squash becomes rampant, and the sunflowers will be well above it all. I've been eating a LOT of salad lately.

Potatoes: two white varieties and a blue variety. Supposedly the blue one stays that color even through cooking. Should be interesting. This picture was taken last week before mulching was started. At this point, I have about half the potatoes mulched, first laying down a thin layer of newspaper and topping it off with the manure and wood chips.

Mustard: Brown, black, and white. They're looking good, so hopes are high for home made grainy mustard.

Tomatoes: Limony, John Baer, Wapsipinicom, Black Sea Man, Orange Strawberry, Green Zebra, and Mexican Midget - all heirloom varieties.

Peppers: Early Sunsation, Satsuma, Mandarin, Hungarian, Jalapeno, Cayenne, and Lemon Drop.

There is also a row of zinnias and cosmos for cutting, a couple of cotton plants, a few carrots, Danish Ballhead cabbage, peanuts, and a few roselle, a relative of hibiscus from asia. Roselle is what gave the zing to red zinger tea. I wonder if it will be good in a blend with mint.

In what was supposed to be the oats bed, I put in indian corn, broom corn, popcorn, and sweet corn. Just a little of each. The oats were a failure, hardly any germinated, so I 'tilled them under for the sake of the corn contingent.

Next to the corn, the wheat is actually making a comeback! Not a nice, full, dense stand, but hopefully enough to harvest. It is making seed heads now and so really does look like wheat.

So now all the planting is done. More mulching is next on the list and then it will "just" be keeping ahead of the weeds and of course, enjoying the harvest!

early morning beauty

2009-05-28T07:37:00.002-04:00

As seen on a pre-breakfast walk in the woods.

peep show

2009-05-27T07:32:00.001-04:00

Two weeks ago 25 cornish rock crosses arrived via the postal service. Right now they are in the barn until they can safely be put in an outdoor pen during the day. Compared to the bantams, these babies sure can eat and drink! I can see why they are known for their fast growth. According to the hatchery, they could be ready to butcher as early as eight weeks old! To slow down their growth a bit, it's recommended to put their food away at night so they're not eating 24/7. In the video above you can see what it looks like when I give them their food back in the morning. Hungry little buggers!

taking the leap

2009-05-26T09:26:00.006-04:00

It had to happen eventually. Having started eight sculptures in the past couple months yet seemingly unable to finish a single one of them, I finally managed to complete one - and none too soon. The deadline for the Lancaster Museum of Art show was Sunday at 3 p.m. I got it there at 2:30. Would have been earlier in the day and would have been a different piece, but as I was putting the final, and I do mean final, touches on it, I broke it. Snapped a piece right off. Not wasting any time on regrets, I quickly finished the wall sculpture shown above. And as I drove it to the museum, it was still drying.

"Taking the Leap" is about moving forward and taking risks. Growing and changing. And while change sometimes seems dangerous, it often comes with great reward. For those breaking out of their shell, the risk of falling to the ground is outweighed by the reward of soaring.

As for the piece originally planned for the show, I think I'll start over. The idea is a good one and still worth pursuing. Referencing a quote from Winston Churchill, it makes a bit of a political statement which is unusual for me. Generally I stay away from that stuff. At the rate that sculptures are being completed lately it might be ready for next spring's show - if I'm lucky!

rocky? is that you?

2009-05-20T07:43:00.004-04:00

As it turns out, my brother gave me very good advice when he told me I'd never want to put a cat door coming directly into the house. Into the attached garage is fine, but not the house. Steve the cat has quite a penchant for catching small creatures and bringing them into the garage to play with. Alive. He'll play with them until they die. Sometimes he'll eat them and sometimes he'll leave them for me to find and clean up (nice). Most of the time it's voles, sometimes baby rabbits, and once a catbird. The voles and rabbits don't bother me much. The catbird had me pretty irritated since it was one of a pair that was nesting in the tree right outside my bedroom window, and I LIKE catbirds. But this morning really took the cake. There he was, in the garage playing with a baby flying squirrel. Quickly intervening, I deposited Steve in the house and donning a pair of thick leather gloves, caught the little guy and put him in a box for the short trip back into the woods. I wanted to take a picture of him, but didn't want to prolong the torture of confinement longer than absolutely necessary (the photo above is one that I found). Taking him to the base of a very large tree, tipping the box on it's side and opening it up, I released him. He quickly scampered up the tree to safety. Hopefully he's old enough to be on his own or his mother finds him.

For those of you who have never seen a flying squirrel, they are very small nocturnal creatures that can glide from tree to tree using the webbing between their legs for lift. It's been many years since I've seen one and I'm glad to know they're around.

some unfinished business

2009-05-02T15:30:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since any new work has been posted here so I wanted to show you why. Above are six sculptures in various stages of completion and I've begun yet another one. And next week I plan to start a commissioned piece. But I'm not stressed or concerned about all the unfinished work because it will all get done in good time. For the most part, the details are worked out and I know where I'm going with them so it's all good. But keep checking back in folks, because surely if enough work gets started, something will also get done.

international year of natural fiber

2009-04-29T17:19:00.004-04:00

2009 has been designated as the year of natural fibers by the United Nations. The objective is to improve the food income of poor farmers by increasing the demand for natural fibers. Natural fibers run the gamut from wool and cotton to jute, sisal, silk, flax, cashmere, alpaca, mohair and yak.

Also, as a part of this year-long celebration, natural fiber lovers from all over the world are invited to help create the world's longest scarf. Sponsored by Keep the Fleece in partnership with Heifer International, the goal is to raise $250,000 which will be used to donate fleece-bearing animals to needy families all over the world. To participate, visit Keep the Fleece for all the information.

Personally, I think this is all very exciting! I love natural fibers - the look and feel as well as being a renewable resource rather than a petroleum-based product! And in honor of this being the year of natural fibers, in addition to the wool my sheep grow for me, I'll also be attempting to raise a tiny little patch of organic cotton. We'll see how that goes since Pennsylvania isn't exactly the right environment for heat-loving cotton. But it will sure be fun to try.

Oh, and by the way, a wonderful way to celebrate the year of natural fibers is coming up this weekend! The Maryland Sheep and Wool festival is being held at the Howard County Fairgrounds. I'm planning to go with some friends on Sunday - they will all want to look at yarn and I'll want to look at sheep - good times!

happy earth day!

2009-04-22T11:15:00.003-04:00

"Migration Song"

they survived!

2009-04-18T20:43:00.003-04:00

NEVER in a million years would I have believed that the goslings would have survived their night in the cold. Today, I happened to look out in the pasture and saw these three little beauties being carefully watched over by their parents. Amazing. There is still a fourth egg in there and Griselda went back in and spent the rest of the day sitting on it while Teague took care of the newborns. I have a hard time believing that the fourth egg is still viable, but then I had also given up on these three, so who knows?

spring woodland

2009-04-17T07:06:00.001-04:00

I took a walk in the woods yesterday after I was done working and wanted to share some of what I found...

a beautiful orange butterfly...

tiny clumps of moss...

a salamander under a rock...

mayapples just beginning to unfurl...

a squirrel's cache of nuts...

the first fern fronds.

A happy spring day to you!

it's a mystery

2009-04-16T08:29:00.002-04:00

Well, things are not looking good for the about-to-be-hatched goslings. Last night at bedtime, I heard the geese calling. That was unusual, so went out to check. Griselda was not on her nest in the barn, so I checked the eggs and could actually hear them peeping through their shells. I looked out in the pasture and saw both geese, but without a flashlight couldn't see much more than that. When I went out this morning to check on everyone, I realized that Griselda was on the OTHER side of the pasture fence and apparently had been all night. Checking the eggs again, they were cold and silent. I went out and herded Gris back into the pasture and she immediately went back on her nest, but it is most likely too late. Probably the goslings died in their shells and it's doubtful Griselda will start a new batch again this year.

So what happened? In nearly four years, the geese have never gotten out, and the only way I can imagine she did was by going over the fence. But it's a four foot fence and I've never seen her achieve a lift of more than 2 feet. These are not flighty birds - they prefer to walk. Griselda is a good mother and has barely left her nest in a month. What caused her to leave her nest and go over the fence? The only thing I can think of is that she was going after a predator, a fox perhaps. But why wouldn't Teague, the gander, have been the one to do that? He's been standing guard since Griselda started sitting. Also, none of the other animals were bothered.

It's a mystery, and a shame.

another farm and studio update

2009-04-15T07:36:00.008-04:00

FARM:

Last week I started the tender annuals such as tomatoes, melons, peppers, herbs and flower seeds indoors. Outdoors, beets, lettuce, and spinach went into the garden. So did the sheep muck from the barn - good times, folks.

Spearmint went into its own bed in the garden paddock, hopefully to be followed by peppermint. I'd like to start drinking more tea rather than soft drinks.

The local conservancy was selling trees and so I bought 20 douglass fir which have now been planted out in the woods.

Sad to say that my winter wheat "field" that was planted last fall didn't make it. Most likely the sheep and geese grazed it down too hard - my fault for keeping them in the garden paddock for too long. And so I tilled it under and planted spring wheat in its place. Next to the wheat, a new bed has been tilled and oats have gone in - another new thing here on the hill. Hopefully these two crops will do better than the winter wheat. But hope springs eternal - I sure would like to try making baked oatmeal or whole wheat toast for breakfast from grains that were grown right here.

Goslings are due to hatch on Saturday and Mayapple should have her lamb(s) by the end of the month.

STUDIO:

I have six mixed media pieces underway in the studio, most of them very close to being completed. There are also several in my sketchbook just waiting to have life breathed into them. Winter is a tough time for me, and I'm still coming out from under the proverbial rock, or hibernation, or whatever it is. But the good news is that creativity and productivity are on the upswing as temperatures rise and days gradually become longer!

SCORE!

A local building is being torn down and I was able to do a bit of salvaging. In addition to some miscellaneous scrap wood, I got several old windows that I plan to use to make a coldframe for starting plants in the spring, extending the salad season in the fall and keeping tender perennial herbs in the winter.

There was also an old piano that no one wanted because it couldn't be kept in tune, so I disassembled it as much as possible for the parts. Quite a lot of bits and pieces come out of a piano that are very interesting. I took all the piano wire, the keys, and the entire striker/hammer(?) assembly as well as some of the wood. I could perhaps have gotten more, but the building was literally being torn down around me and so I felt some pressure to hurry a bit. I use quite a bit of wire in my sculptures, so that's a no-brainer, but the rest of the piano guts may sit in my studio for awhile before they are put to good use. It felt a bit odd to take apart a piano - kind of fun, but also like I was doing something wrong, somehow - like maybe the piano police were going to come and haul me away for disrespecting a musical instrument. Anyway, with all of the front of the piano off and the soundboard and wires exposed, it looked a lot like a harp. If I ever get another chance at an old tuneless piano again*, I'd love to try to mount that whole wire assembly on a wall. It was quite beautiful.

*So if anyone out there lives anywhere near Lancaster, PA or Northern MD, and wants to get rid of an old, tuneless piano, let me know and I'll come get it!

spring flowers

2009-04-14T07:28:00.001-04:00

The bluebells are blooming.

learning a new skill

2009-04-13T07:24:00.003-04:00

On Saturday morning, I learned the basics of how to spin yarn using what's called a drop spindle. My motivation for learning this skill was to eventually be able to spin a bit of wool from Rose to be used as a decorative accent to the hat and hand warmers made from Jack's wool. Now normally even though I truly enjoy looking at and fondling beautiful fibers such as wool, actually knitting or sewing makes me pretty tense. And so while it was a skill I wanted to learn, I wasn't real excited about it. But happily it was quite a bit more fun than expected. Rather than being stressful, it's meditative and relaxing. Who'd have thought?

Anyway, in the photo above is my brand new "learners" spindle with my first-ever yarn wound around it. Behind it are some wool roving samples for me to practice with. Love, love, love that green!

I also learned a bit about carding as well as winding yarn into skeins and balls - all by hand using simple, beautifully crafted wooden tools. Just taking this one class took the mystery and intimidation out of creating yarn from the wool of my sheep. Which is kind of funny when you think about it - I've been using serious power tools for years, but twisting a bit of wool into string was beyond me. I suppose it's all what you're used to seeing in use. Which again, is kind of funny. Power tools such as table saws and belt sanders are a new invention compared to drop spindles, carders, and niddy-noddies (see, I'm learning the lingo!).

So if any of this sounds interesting or intrigues you, find someone to help you get started - you just might enjoy it more than you think.

happy good friday and easter!

2009-04-10T08:52:00.001-04:00

This little bird is wishing everyone a wonderful Easter weekend!

Etsy Easter update

2009-04-02T07:22:00.004-04:00

Yesterday evening I uploaded several new items to my Etsy store, all with an Easter theme, so go ahead and take a look if you're the curious sort. You'll find these tiny carrot ornaments as well as several ceramic egg rattles. If you haven't checked Etsy out yet, you should. It's a fun place full of everything that is hand-crafted - no industrialized machine-made stuff there.

Have fun!

the start of an orchard

2009-04-01T15:21:00.004-04:00

A package arrived from the nursery last week and since it was so nice out yesterday, I decided to take a break from the computer and get outside and plant. Although there's not much to see, in the photo above there is a Concord grape vine (my all-time favorite grape), a Himrod white seedless table grape (new to me), and three black raspberries. Also in the package were two black currant bushes (photo below). All planted in the garden paddock.

Still on order are two filbert bushes. Partly because of space constraints in the garden area, the filberts, along with most of the fruit trees that are planned will be planted along the fences that divide the pasture into paddocks. There are several benefits to doing this: The trees will be able to be spread over a larger area, hopefully cutting down on pests; any fruit that drops can be eaten by the chickens, geese and sheep; aforementioned livestock will have additional shade; and it will be aesthetically pleasing. Please note that the real emphasis is on the aesthetically pleasing part of the equation. I envision these fence lines growing up in a mix of fruit and nut trees, roses, herbs, and native plants such as honeysuckle, allowing the wire fence itself to all but disappear. At least that's the plan.

I can't wait.

shipment of cuteness

2009-03-30T15:04:00.005-04:00

Now seriously, have you ever received anything so cute in the mail? Yes, in case you didn't know this already, you can place an order online and they'll send you a box of chicks! How great is that? Opening up a box of baby chicks is always exciting and rewarding. I guess to me they represent innocence but also future potential - beauty, enjoyment, and of course, the inevitable eggs. Oh yes I know, eggs should probably come first in that list, but part of the enjoyment of keeping chickens, at least for me, is their beauty. So while there are many, many breeds that would be more productive, I choose the ones that give me pleasure to look at. In this instance, form beats out function. Hey, I'm an artist - are you surprised?

So in this box are White Crested Black Polish bantams, Blue Silky bantams, and Porcelain bantams. If you're interested in getting some chickens yourself, or are just curious about poultry, visit the McMurray Hatchery website and take a look. You never know, you might find something you like.

farm and studio updates

2009-03-29T08:53:00.005-04:00

Here is Rose's little lamb meeting Jack for the first time through the nursery fence. The next day I put her and her mother out with the other sheep and all went well. Jack seems to have taken on the role of loving uncle - a bit protective, yet with some discipline. Very interesting to watch.

Tomorrow, I expect the arrival of a box of peeps. No, not the marshmallow kind, the real, live, fluffy, cute-as-a-button kind. Cannot wait!

I fired up the little kiln yesterday and went out this morning to open it up. It's sort of like opening a birthday or Christmas present. Thankfully everything fired beautifully. In the back you can barely see a seated woman, she's for the top of a very tall (4') piece I've been working on. I'll share it when it's completed. In the middle is a bowl on the right and a pine cone on the left. Both of these were just experiments - I have to refine the method of making them the next time. In the front on the left is another experiment. It's an egg that I burnished when nearly dry. You can just make out the soft shine of it. I really love this finish, but since it is just an experiment, I'll take it a step farther and try something else - putting it in my wood stove to see what happens. I'm hoping to get a smokey finish. I'm also hoping it doesn't break! I don't know if or when I'll ever use these techniques, but they are fun to try.

So here's the next piece to go into the kiln. It's my second attempt - the first one I broke after it dried but before it was fired. So although this one is maybe not quite dry, she's going in the kiln to rest until ready to fire. This way I'll minimize handling her when she's at her most fragile. Want to know what she's doing? Well, flying of course! But it won't be on her own. She'll be holding the legs of a flying bird and the whole thing will be suspended from the ceiling. I hope it works.

once in a lifetime

2009-03-25T06:42:00.008-04:00

Asgard Cavalier, CDX, AX, AXJ, HCT, JHD

Isaac

March 29, 1993 - March 25, 2004

Everyone loved you and you loved me.

You were my buddy, my partner, my friend - my companion in every sense of the word. Asking nothing more than to be at my side, a willing participant in anything I wanted to try if it meant we could do it together. You were the most dependable, reliable, honest and steady dog I've ever known. Our trust was mutual - you knew I wouldn't ask anything of you that you couldn't do, and I knew if I asked, you would try. But more than anything, what I will miss most is the feeling of knowing, the wordless communication, the simple and quiet pleasure in each other's company. There was still so much left to do and to try together, but we ran out of time. And the last thing I ever wanted to say to you was goodbye.

Earning 10 titles in his nearly eleven years, Isaac earned his Companion Dog Title at 18 months old and his Companion Dog Excellent at 3-1/2 years old. When he was 8 years old we tried herding and he earned his HCT, followed by his JHD six months later at age 9. We also started training for agility when he was 8, earning his Novice Agility and Novice Agility Jumpers at age 9. In 2003 at 10 years old, he earned his Open Agility, Open Agility Jumpers, Agility Excellent and Agility Excellent Jumpers titles. He was awarded the Standard Schnauzer Club of America Agility Dog of the Year for 2003.

Five years later and he is missed still.

He will be missed forever.

spring has sprung!

2009-03-21T14:23:00.002-04:00

I arrived home from a breakfast meeting and upon going to the barn to check on everyone, this is what I found! The first daughter of Rosebud and William, and the very first lamb ever born at Tulip Tree Hill! I must have come home literally minutes after she was born because she was still wet and figuring out how to use her feet. Very precious.

I knew Rose was due any time, but other than her udder becoming large, you would never have known she was pregnant. And so I guessed - correctly - as it turned out, that she was going to have a single lamb rather than twins. But that's okay because this little girl appears to be quite healthy and robust.

So now, a name has to be thought of. Since it's the second day of spring and since all my sheep's names will be botanically oriented, I'm thinking of something along the lines of spring flowers. I've always wanted to name an animal Daffodil. Anyone have any better ideas?

And by the way, this little girl will be for sale, as will Mayapple's lambs when they arrive later this spring. So if you're in the market for a registered Olde English Babydoll Miniature Southdown lamb, shoot me an email.

he was me

2009-03-19T19:43:00.006-04:00

I happened across the most wonderful little animated short. Poignant, wistful, slightly sad, yet hopeful at the end - you should watch it...

"He Was Me", by Peter H. Reynolds

(you'll need Quick Time to view the movie)

Mr Reynolds also has a most thoughtful and book/art loving blog. He is a children's book illustrator and author as well as co-owner of a bookstore called Blue Bunny, and a media company called FableVision. Reading his blog just makes me feel good.

Oh, and here's his web site.

go red

2009-03-17T08:16:00.004-04:00

I was asked, and agreed, to donate a sculpture for the American Heart Association "Go Red For Women" luncheon and auction on May 8, 2009. The piece at left, "Soaring Heart" is the one I chose. It is a mixed media sculpture about hope, joy, possibilities, and living life with a heart freely shared. The dove is soaring from a heart which has grown rich and full, and attached to the base of the tree is the key to the heart.

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association national campaign to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women (more than the next 14 causes of death combined), and women's greatest health threat; almost 1-in-3 will die of heart disease.

oh the indignity of it!

2009-03-10T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the shearer came and gave all the sheep their yearly haircuts. They are half the sheep they used to be without all that wool. Poor Jack looks pretty scrawny next to the rather "robust" babydolls, and William is cuter than ever with his big fat legs and ever-sweet expression. Jack is in front with William the ram right behind him. Mayapple is to the left, trying to get into the picture, and Rosebud is heading out at the top left. You can see all the different colors, very beautiful.

The shearer agreed with me that both ewes look pregnant. Rosebud will probably lamb first, maybe by mid-April and I'm estimating Mayapple's due date to be the end of April.

the maple trees are blooming - can spring be far behind?

2009-03-10T07:44:00.004-04:00

With the spring-like weather we've had for the past couple of days, the silver maples have burst into bloom - and so ends maple syrup time. But that's okay, because out of the 8 trees I ended up tapping, 5 quarts of dark amber maple syrup were produced! Slightly less than my previous estimation, but certainly plenty for one household. French toast has been on the breakfast menu several times already. My favorite way to make it is to dip thick-sliced sourdough bread into a lightly-beaten egg (no milk, cinnamon, etc.), fry it up and serve drenched in warm buttered maple syrup with a hot cup of strong coffee on the side. Now that's breakfast!

dreams of flight

2009-03-08T14:37:00.001-04:00

So I don't think we're really in the winter doldrums anymore, but if by now you are really feeling the need for green growing things and fresh blooms, take yourself off to one of the many home and garden shows that are going on this time of year. Maryland puts on a good one at the Timonium Fairgrounds near Baltimore. I'd say it's about half garden and half home type stuff, but mostly I just go for the garden displays. Some really wonderful landscapers compete for awards and go all out for this show, turning the "cow palace" into an indoor garden complete with water features, flowers, and seriously large trees. There are also vendors selling any number of garden related items, from orchids, african violets, and bedding plants to statuary, gazebos, and everything in between.

This year, Diddywopps and Keeffers was asked by last year's winning designer to provide art for their focal display garden, and I am proud to have provided a piece that was included! The piece is titled "Dreams of Flight" because although this woman is bound to the earth and incapable of flying away, her heart is pierced by longing, her thoughts are filled with dreams, and her very being is enriched by creatures of the air. (once again, please excuse the poor photography!)

The Maryland Home and Garden Show is being held March 6-8 and 13-15 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. Find out more by going to their web site.

goose eggs and custard

2009-03-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

Griselda and Teague, my American Buff Geese, have set up housekeeping in their stall in the barn, and Griselda has begun laying eggs. And what eggs they are! Simply beautiful. I've had these geese going on 4 years now, and I'm still not tired of seeing their eggs every spring (well, almost spring, anyway).

Once egg-laying begins, I usually leave a few marked eggs in the nest to encourage continued laying, but will check daily for fresh eggs for my own use. Then in mid to late March, I'll allow a clutch of about a dozen eggs to collect in the nest, which will usually prompt her to start sitting on them. Once she's sitting, the eggs will take 31 days to hatch. If all goes well, goslings will be here sometime around the first of May.

For those of you unfamiliar with geese, here's some trivia...

Geese generally mate for life and can live 20+ years.

They are very family oriented and form strong bonds.

Seasonal breeders and layers, they will usually mate, nest, and lay eggs from February through late spring or early summer, generally laying between 20-30 eggs per season.

A typical large chicken egg weighs in at 2 ounces. A goose egg is about 7 ounces.

Since goose eggs are much higher in protein than chicken eggs, they are great for baking.

My all time favorite goose egg recipe is egg custard. With the higher fat and protein content, what is usually considered a delicate recipe is a breeze. Here it is...

Baked Goose Egg Custard

2 goose eggs

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups milk, scalded and cooled to room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

nutmeg

- preheat oven to 325°

- beat eggs slightly

- whisk in sugar and vanilla

- add milk slowly while whisking

- pour into a lightly greased casserole

- sprinkle with nutmeg

- set in larger pan with 1" hot water

- bake 50 minutes or until firm to the touch and golden

Enjoy!

love is in the air

2009-02-28T19:09:00.002-05:00

Jack with his friend.

This morning while feeding the animals, I looked out in the pasture and witnessed the strangest and yet most endearing display of affection. Jack, the shetland wether and this young, previously unattached goose have apparently taken up together in a gentle, though odd love affair. Nuzzling and rubbing each other, they seemed quite content to let others of their own species go about their business, while they kept company. When I went back out with camera in hand, Ms. Goose seemed a bit shy of flaunting their relationship in front of the paparazzi even though Jack had no such qualms. And you can see him here gently rubbing his face against her shoulder while she coyly looks away. Very sweet.

winter doldrums suggestion #8: visit the American Craft Council show in Baltimore!

2009-02-23T11:18:00.001-05:00

suggestion #8: look at great art!

One of my favorite things to do in the last couple of years is to go to the American Craft Council show in Baltimore. The largest juried indoor craft show, it is held at the Baltimore Convention Center and this year will run from Friday, February 27 - Sunday, March 1. Over 700 artists will be exhibiting jewelry, furniture, clothing, home decor, mixed media, and more! Materials range from glass to ceramics, wood, fiber, metal, and almost anything you can imagine.

Check out the web site for more information, and if you have a free day this weekend, GO!

seed-buying for 2009

2009-02-20T16:05:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I went a little crazy. My only defense is that I kept finding more interesting plants to try. I mean, how can you not love a Thai Golden round melon that's supposed to yield six pound fruits that look like a pumpkin but taste like a combination of pineapple and papaya? Or Chinese Red Noodle Beans, the pods of which are 18" long and deep red; a cucumber that looks and tastes like a lemon; and a pumpkin shaped like Cinderella's coach? Then of course there are so many wonderful heirloom tomatoes in all shapes, sizes and colors who can resist them? Not me. And what about mustard? Several years ago I found a recipe for and made my own grainy mustard. Now, I've found three different varieties and hope to try out that recipe once again, but this time with seeds I've grown myself. Then of course, there is lemongrass, basil, dill, hot and sweet peppers, lettuce, spinach, beets, cabbage, and carrots.

My real downfall was when I decided to pick out just a "few" flowers to plant. Of course I had to have sunflowers (do you have any idea how just many varieties of sunflowers there are, for crying out loud?), sweet peas, bachelors buttons, hollyhocks, cosmos, and zinnias.

There's more, but it's ridiculous.

My only hope is that I can keep up with the garden this summer.

winter doldrums suggestion #7: visit the tropics

2009-02-16T15:27:00.007-05:00

suggestion #7: go see the tropics show at Diddywopps & Keeffers

Tami of Diddywopps has arranged a group show of about 20 artists centered around the theme of the tropics. It runs from February 19 thru March 30. An opening reception will be held Saturday February 21 from 6-9 p.m. Everyone is welcome and invited to come and join us for the opening - it should be fun and a good break from the cold weather while being surrounded by tropically-themed art*.

*(I also hear there may be caribbean-themed music and umbrella drinks, but it's an unsubstantiated rumor.)

maple syrup

2009-02-15T12:51:00.004-05:00

Today I am boiling down my first ever batch of maple syrup! Wahoo! I am using a standard grill-type propane tank and an outdoor cooker (like a turkey fryer). I started it outdoors because apparently the steam contains quite a bit of sugar and that's not really something you want all over everything in your house. Unfortunately, it wouldn't boil. Maybe too cold out there, or too much wind, but anyway I brought the whole contraption into the garage, and so now we have boilage! Yeah, the garage might suffer from a coating of sugar, but really, who cares? It's a garage. I started out with 10 gallons of sap and am down to three. By the time it's done I expect it to yield about a quart. A side benefit of doing it in the garage is that now it is warm, steamy, and smells slightly sugary out there. Sort of like a confectionery sauna. Mmmmm, nice.

Perhaps next year I'll do it out in the wood shop. After all, there is a small wood stove out there that really cranks the heat out. I could fortify myself with a thermos of coffee, a good book, and some sculpture projects to work on. You know, that sound so incredibly appealing that I may just have to do it next weekend!

happy valentines day!

2009-02-14T06:40:00.000-05:00

winter doldrums suggestion #6: grow something

2009-02-09T07:11:00.000-05:00

suggestion #6: grow some sprouts!

What's not to love about fresh sprouts? I especially love alfalfa sprouts. The problem is finding some in the grocery store that are fresh and not half wilted or dead looking. Taking the matter into my own hands, I decided to try to grow my own, because seriously - how hard can it be? There's a great resource online to get you started. The company is called "The Sprout People" and their web site address is www.sproutpeople.com. You can get everything you need there from seeds to containers in which to sprout them. More seeds than you can imagine. I decided to start with some that I knew I liked (alfalfa and mung beans) and also one that would be new to me, at least in sprout form (peas). I also got three lid/screen combos that will fit on wide mouth jars to do the sprouting in. You could also go to your nearest health food store for the seeds and just use canning jars and rings with some cheesecloth. This doesn't have to be an elaborate or expensive proposition.

So hit back at winter and give it a try - truly fresh alfalfa sprouts on a salad or sandwich, or mung bean sprouts in a stir fry are great!

First Friday In Lancaster

2009-02-06T07:25:00.000-05:00

Not to belabor a point, but if you get a chance, try to get out to First Friday tonight. Galleries are having openings and shops are staying open late. Many times there is street music and everyone strolls down the sidewalks talking and laughing. It's like a giant block party. I'll be at City Folk so stop by and say hello!

the making of a toucan

2009-02-04T07:34:00.001-05:00

Diddywopps is having a multi-artist show in February with a tropics theme and so I decided to create a piece called "The Toucan's Flight".

Please excuse the poor photo, but I finished him just in time to deliver him, but without leaving myself any real time to take a good photograph. However, along the way I took photos of the various steps taken to create him and so here is a little photo essay...

Several pieces of tulip poplar were glued together to make a block of wood thick enough for the bird's body.

And another piece of wood was planed thinly for the wings. The drawing was transferred onto the wood.

The rough shape was cut out on the band saw,

and further shaping was done on the belt sander.

A dremel was used for final shaping and to add the wing and feather texture as well as other details.

A base coat of gesso was painted on and sanded, then wire legs and feet were attached with epoxy. After the epoxy cured for a day, the bird was painted, then given a hand-rubbed wax finish.

Now onto the tree which will hold the suspended toucan in mid-flight...
Holes were drilled in a branch and heavy aluminum rods were inserted and epoxied in place. The rods were then wrapped with multiple aluminum wires which make up the smaller branches and leaf outlines. About 17 wires were used.

The wire branches were then almost totally covered with epoxy to add stability, thickness, and texture.

Then the leaves were covered with old dictionary pages using matte gel medium, wrapping the wire with the paper.

One of the last steps, and the last one that I took a photo of, is wrapping the branches with matte gel medium and tissue paper. This completely covered up the wire and epoxy, providing a nice texture and smooth surface to paint on.

After that, the branches and leaves were painted with multiple layers of acrylic mixed with matte medium and matte gel medium to achieve the look I wanted.

Finally, the toucan was hung from the tree with thin black wire to give the look of him swooping through the branches.

winter doldrums suggestion #5: go antiquing

2009-02-02T07:28:00.003-05:00

Suggestion #5: spend some time in an antique mall

Winter is the perfect time to go antiquing because there's absolutely no guilt about being indoors on a perfectly nice day. Yesterday morning I went to Renningers Antique Mall in Adamstown, PA. The place is huge and I knew I'd be able to find good stuff there. That's my haul in the photo above. Not sure yet what I'll do with most of it, but it'll get used somehow. I especially like the red-painted turned wood knob-type thingy.

I did end up using one of the watch faces for "The White Rabbit's Mirror". I made a new heart - this time out of wood - and painted it red, then attached the watch face to it and hung it by a chain to the frame. Much better than carrots and the ceramic heart that I originally had. Still a bit sweet, but not quite so cute.

oh my ears and whiskers!

2009-01-29T10:17:00.006-05:00

"Oh my ears and whiskers how late it's getting!"

Do you know that line? It was uttered by the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland because he was late for a meeting with the Duchess. In the spirit of all things Alice, here is a looking glass I did for the show at City Folk which will open Friday, February 6 - just one week from tomorrow. For a tiny little preview, check out their web site. The opening reception is from 5 - 9 p.m. And don't worry about being late, the Duchess won't be there.

Addendum: After having this hanging in my house since yesterday, I couldn't stand it anymore and I took off the carrots. They just caused the whole piece to veer dangerously close (maybe/probably even crossing over the line) to a "ducks-in-bonnets" aesthetic, which makes me vaguely nauseous. For now I'll leave on the heart, but what I think the piece really needs is a scruffy vintage pocket watch. I may have to go to an antique store tomorrow or Sunday to see if I can hunt one up.

winter doldrums suggestion #4: visit a conservatory!

2009-01-26T08:03:00.000-05:00

Suggestion #4: visit a conservatory on a sunny day

A wonderful treat for the senses in the middle of winter is to take a day and go to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. They have the most wonderful conservatory. According to their literature, it shelters 20 indoor gardens with 5,500 types of plants within 4.5 acres of glass-enclosed space.

I hope you enjoy the following photos nearly as much as I enjoyed being there!

the lawn in the main building - sort of makes you want to take off your shoes and walk on it

the silver garden

phalaenopsis in the orchid room

a collection of orchids and bromeliads

a display of spring flowers

hydrangea

the tropical room

carnivorous plants, beautiful but deadly if you're an insect

Doesn't it feel more like spring already?

making bread

2009-01-24T08:18:00.002-05:00

"Without Bread all is misery." —William Cobbett, British Journalist (1763-1835)

My Aunt Ruth makes the best bread ever. Amongst all my aunts, uncles, and cousins, no one else can touch her. Several years ago she gave me her recipe and I've been making bread off and on ever since. It still doesn't quite match her level of deliciousness, but it's pretty good. It's your basic soft white bread, good with just butter or some home made jam - especially when it is still a bit warm from the oven. And since this recipe was freely given to me, I thought I'd pass on the love.

I use my KitchenAide mixer with the dough hook, but Aunt Ruth sure never did. So feel free to mix and knead the traditional way.

Aunt Ruth's Bread Recipe

Into a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups warm water (about 110°F).

Start the mixer on low speed and add the following:

1 3/4 tablespoon shortening (butter, lard, or crisco [ick])

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon yeast that's been dissolved into 1/2 cup warm (110°F) water

6 cups flour, adding just one cup at a time.

Add only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking excessively to the bowl. I'll usually add 5 cups and as it's kneading only use as much of the last cup as needed. The dough should be soft and shiny and elastic. It's probably better to add too little flour than too much. Too little just means it will be a bit harder to handle. Too much and you'll ruin the texture of your bread.

When finished kneading, place in greased bowl and turn over to oil the other side. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double. Punch down and let rise until double. Using oiled hands, divide into two, shape into loaves and place in greased pans. Let rise again until double.

Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes, then 325°F for 15 minutes.

Remove from pans and allow to cool on racks.

If you're feeling feisty, you can exchange honey for the sugar. Also consider adding some crunchy wonderfulness to the mix. You'll want to add this stuff right before the flour. I've used as many as four or five of these at once. It turns a simple white loaf into something rich and hearty. But take note: these are my own additions, if you don't like them, don't blame Aunt Ruth. It's not her fault.

Here are some ideas:

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup red and/or golden flax seed

1/4 cup white and/or black sesame seed

1/4 cup poppy seed

1/3 cup wheat berries (soak overnight first)

city folk

2009-01-22T06:51:00.000-05:00

Great news, folks! Starting in February, I will be represented in Lancaster, PA by the City Folk gallery. Gaye Cox is the proprietor and I have long admired her style at City Folk. She has the most wonderful mix of folk (and other) art, french antiques, and garden art and accessories. It's always a pleasure to look at the latest treasures she has found and displayed so artfully.

Lancaster will be celebrating First Friday on February 6, from 5-9 p.m., and I hope many of you will come out and enjoy the festivities! I will have about eight pieces at City Folk, one of which is a mirror which will be a part of a special "Alice's Mirror" display Gaye has planned featuring several artists that she represents.

In the meantime, check out her web site at www.cityfolkonprince.com.

City Folk is located at 146 North Prince Street in Lancaster, on Gallery Row.

what it was...

2009-01-21T07:05:00.003-05:00

For all those of you just dying to know what that thingamajig was from last Wednesday's post, it is a tap to collect sap from maple trees. There are eight maple trees here on the hill and it occurred to me that I could try my hand at making maple syrup. So after researching it on the web, I decided to go for it. All I had to buy was the taps and so am able to start out small and affordable. My best estimate is that I can expect 6-10 gallons of sap per tree, which should boil down to about 7 quarts (combined total). This estimate might be off because most of the trees are not sugar maples, but silver maples which have a lower sugar content and therefore will need to boil down further. This is all an experiment and a learning experience and I could fail miserably, but we'll see how it goes - I'm pretty excited.

Congratulations to Margie of Resurrection Fern, who was the correct guesser. She'll be receiving a bottle of syrup as soon as it's ready. BUT, for being good sports and playing along, Bonnie and Michelle will also receive a little something.

a new kiln!

2009-01-20T07:12:00.004-05:00

Okay, so it's used, and it's on the smallish side, but it's new to me and bigger than I've ever had before, which isn't too hard since it's my first one. Tami at Diddywopps offered it to me - for free - since that's how she herself came to have it. Apparently it's been handed down several times from artist to artist, and somehow that makes it even more special.

What's really great is that I'll be able to experiment with ceramics without having to conform to any one else's schedule. I can fire as much and as often as I like rather than having to wait weeks to see results. Good times!

Thanks, Tami!

winter doldrums suggestion #3: bring home cut flowers

2009-01-19T07:27:00.001-05:00

suggestion #3: buy yourself a bouquet of flowers

Do this for yourself! A simple bunch of flowers - or even just one - can brighten a room and your whole day. When I was a college student, my apartment was right across the street from a florist and so fairly regularly, I'd go and buy the cheapest bunch they had. For several years after graduating I'd treat myself to fresh flowers, but unfortunately somewhere along the way, the habit died. Too bad, really.

So let's not let practicality rear it's sterile head and interfere with the joy of fresh blooms! Go out and buy some flowers!

*the pot above was made by Amedeo Salamoni, a neighbor, potter, artist, and fellow participant in the southern lancaster county open studio tour.

do you know what this is?

2009-01-14T16:22:00.006-05:00

Can you guess what this is and what my next hare-brained plan might be? I ordered a dozen of these today and hope to start using them in mid-February. Make a guess in the comments section. I'll select randomly from the correct guesses and the winner will receive a free gift that relates to the above item (if all goes according to plan, that will probably be in March - if my plan fails and nothing comes of it, I hope you'll be understanding.)

Amendment: Since almost no one is guessing due to probably not having a clue what this doohickey is, here is the new deal - if there are no correct guesses, then the winner will be picked from all those who've given any guess at all.

Further ammendment - Margie of Resurrection Fern guessed correctly and so the game is over.