High Reel

Yesterday found this fiddler spending the day with the grandson... what fun we had! A is so interested in his world, and has so much personality. He absolutely LOVES reading... he has a lot of hard books with bright pictures. If I sit cross-legged on the floor, he gets a book, stands in front of me facing away and then backs up to sit down in the 'seat' I've created with my bent legs. He'll sit like that for quite a few stories.
I brought my fiddle and some books along with me, on the chance I'd have a few minutes to play a few tunes... this is a good practice for all fiddlers to adopt. There have been many times I've been happy to have the fiddle along to play, and a few times when I regretted leaving it behind when I could have played... I haven't ever been sorry to bring it along even when it doesn't get played. Anyway, Avery got the book out of my bag and did his little routine where he backs into me to sit on my lap. I don't know what he thought when we opened the book and there were no bright pictures, or even many words! I believe this may have been his first introduction to the world of printed music! So, I started singing and following my finger along with the notes, to give him the idea of associating these things together.
I did play some tunes while he was playing, and he really liked that too... when I'd stop he'd immediately look up at me with a quizzical look on his face, utter a few undecipherable sounds, and then happily smile and go back to playing when I'd start another tune.
Avery is cutting teeth, and has been a little fussy by some reports but we had a fabulous day yesterday!
High Reel is in the Portland Collection.

Basker Family

Basking in the almost afterglow of having children in the house again, we are gearing down to the household consisting of the mom, the dad and the cat.
Richard and I have commented so often to one another over the past couple of weeks how much we have enjoyed, (loved really), having SK and Toby here. Their company, conversation, insight, tolerance, help, and generally just 'being' has been so appreciated. There can be a lot of challenges in blending families when adults with children fall in love and marry... and you never really know how everyone will get along until they're all 'there'. Both of us feel very loved and accepted by each others parents, brothers, and sisters. And we've had good experiences in the previously short visits with any of our children. This however has been the first opportunity to have the 'live-in' experience of being parents living with adult children, and it has been SO good.
When I think of family, I think not only of the personal investment of years of knowing one another, but I also think back to television shows like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. Now, I realize those were idealized portrayals of families, but still they are my mental images of how families are there for each other. Years ago I had the privilege of living with my sister Kathie, and it was one of the best times of my life in part because we truly shared our lives, our children, our cares, our joys. That's when I started reviving my love of music, with Kathie's encouragement and her extra guitar. These days, I'm especially thankful for those times... that legacy of music and family live on here in this house with Richard, and our children, and our family.
We're not the Baskers, but I do bask in the warm glow of family. SK and Toby move on and continue to live their lives independently of us... Bryan will be traveling soon, Jen's life with Jason and Avery takes its own turns... all this is as it should be. But, I am secure knowing that Richard and I have established ourselves here, on this property, with the vision that we'll be able to accommodate all our family and friends who want or need to share this space.
Basker Family can be found in the Lighthouse Collection.

Dawn

Memorial Day weekend affords the opportunity for contradancers in New England to attend the Dawn Dance, held in Brattleboro, VT. As mentioned in a previous post, I've never been, and have been pretty happy to know I'd get to do just that.
Richard and I met our friend Jim and traveled together, making the journey in about 4 hours of actual travel time, not including stops for coffee, fuel and water. We thought we'd find a place in Greenfield, MA for dinner, but nothing caught our eye so we continued on and ended up eating at the Co-Op in Brattleboro. The Co-Op is really nice... lots of yummy foods and household products in the store... with a great deli/self-serve restaurant. The food of the day was chicken (or tofu), spicy vegetables, greens, brown rice.
The dance is held in a town recreation hall/ gymnasium so there was a lot of room for dancers, and a nice stage for the musicians and caller. Vendors occupied some of the smaller spaces with clothing, food, t-shirts, etc. We got to hear great music, great calling, see many familiar faces, and do some great dances (contras, squares, waltzes, hambo, etc).
The dance goes until 7:00 am, but by a unanimous three-way concensus before we left Maine, we knew we were not committed to staying the full time. Many people who attend this event will go out and sleep in their vehicle, although there are some hardy souls who manage to tough it out and dance ALL NIGHT. We are content with the knowledge that we COULD do it if we WANTED to! So, we left around 2:00 am, taking turns driving and sleeping (no one doing both simultaneously). Check out the web site for photos of previous dances, and information about bands and callers.
Though we haven't had a lot of energy today, we certainly recognize that we're doing better than we would had we gotten NO sleep at all. As it turns out, we've worked in the garden, got a little more done on the workshop, and spent a good amount of quality family time together here at home. SK's friend Sienna helped round out our little group at the lunch table today, easily joining in the conversations and then making the trip into the village for Tubby's ice cream and a walk around the mill pond before all three young adults headed out for other parts. Richard and I took their departure as a sure sign that it was time for us to take a much needed nap!
Dawn comes from the Portland Collection, Volume Two (the green book).

Rebel's Road

Richard and I are headed out in little while for Brattleboro... Tonight is the annual Memorial Day Dawn Dance! Richard has been before, so he is a veteran... I however am a Dawn Dance Wannabe who is just now having her opportunity present itsefl... Our friend Jim is riding along with us, he's a fellow fiddler and regular contradancer, and a friend of many years, so the journey will be fun, entertaining, and will also strengthen our friendship simply by sharing the experience...
I chose the title Rebel's Road, because sometimes I feel a little rebellious in my existence... like I've never really been part of any set group, always just a little bit out of synch with whomever and whatever is going on. The fun part is that at the same time I'm not really 'with' whatever is happening, I'm close enough to know what is going on, and to know that I'm on the fringe of activities. A little bit rebellious, not really a radical personality, but supportive of rebellion in all its phases, as long as rebellion itself is NOT the true and only motivation. Adherence to personal principles, and belief in one's own abilities and ideals is the real key.
I once was involved with someone who chose rebellion for rebellion's sake, and though he did a lot of really cool stuff, I always wondered (and sometimes voiced) whether or not he was truly doing what HE wanted to do, or was he really just always doing the opposite of what was expected? Hmmmm.
For me, I sometimes feel a bit rebellious, but really, the identifying label I put on it is "to thine own self be true" which feels more honest and hopefully more 'to the point.
I'll be traveling today with my chosen life-partner, and a long time friend... both of these men know me pretty well and I draw from their perceptions of me. I'm also lately finding myself thinking about how I've been perceived by SK and Toby because in the past few weeks, they've seen me at my BEST and my not quite WORST... all of which makes me ME. And I'm happy to say I feel the freedom and the love & acceptance to be all of what I AM and all of what I am NOT, and still very loved. I hope those around me feel the same freedom and flexibility.

Musical Priest

For another viewpoint on progress being made here on various projects, check out Toby's online journal, complete with photographs. Toby has been a great help, and good company. We're happy he's spent a good part of his vacation here in Wayne.
SK has also been spending quite a bit of time with us. Willing hands and easy conversation have made this month a lot of fun with her. This evening we had a dinner party for friends of hers, Donna and Steve. The meal was delicious, the stories were great to listen to, and the latter part of the evening was playing tunes together so you know I liked that! One of the stories told was about going to what was thought to be a local televised concert/ revue of sorts at a coffee house. What happened was Religious Night karaoke with the singing priests... totally unexpected entertainment... the coffee house was so small there were only three tables so not a big audience, and because it was being televised it was impossible to leave without being noticed. You can imagine how it all turned out!
There were a couple of new recipes tried out at dinner this evening. One was Apple Chutney, mixed up by SK, very good with the roast pork. The other was Fiddlehead Pate, served with cheese and crackers. I'm not sure what went into the chutney exactly, but I can tell you about the pate.

Fiddlehead Pate

Cook, rinse and drain fiddleheads and set aside. Saute some onions and cook small pieces of bacon. Mix the sauted onions, cooked bacon and fiddleheads in a bowl. Add some goat cheese, and then season lightly with fresh ground pepper. Put through the food processor until fairly smooth.

For the Apple Chutney recipe, you'll want to email SK at thegrassishardyandsharp@hotmail.com. She'll be happy to tell you what you need to mix this recipe up.

Richard and I are going to miss having Toby and SK here at the house with us. The daily interactions, taking turns with household chores, helping each other when more hands are needed, sitting down at the table together sometimes... all these things have really given us a sense of 'family' beyond the occasional visits of a few days. It has been really good to have space to accomodate personal privacy too.

Musical Priest is from the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Bird's Nest

When we first moved to Pine Needle Alley, our house was surrounded by giant pine trees, you may remember this from previous posts. This apple tree was tucked in that pine grove, just searching for light. The forester who came to cut the pines did an amazing job at felling the trees exactly where he wanted them, leaving the apple tree intact. Richard has trimmed a few branches, and I imagine we'll need to trim more to really get the tree healthy. It's leaning quite a bit, but I have an idea of putting a sling around the tree and then supporting it with an ever-so-slight amount of tension to a couple of trees at the edge of the forest... and then increasing the tension ever-so-slightly over time to try and at very least prevent more leaning~ and possible in helping the tree come back to a little more of an upright position. Careful pruning may help give a more upright appearance too.
The sod on the ground comes from the garden spot on the east end of the house. The ground here is barren, once covered with pine needles. We have hopes that the sod will 'take' and that it will eventually become a meadow.
Each time I bring a wheelbarrow of sod from the garden spot over to the base of the apple tree, a robin flies off and cries out her warning call. I guessed there must be a nest in the apple tree, and careful inspection revealed just that.

In the crook of branches, you may be able to make out a nest, nicely protected by leaves and branches. The mama and papa robins are never far away, always perched on a nearby branch, calling out warnings, ready to rush at me should I try to get too close to their babies.

I love working out in the yard. Hearing birds, listening to wind in the top of the trees, feeling the sunshine and even drops of rain on my face... all have a calming affect on me. So, when I'm in a bit-of-a-snit, Richard thinks he'll just bring me to the kitchen door and give me a gentle heave-ho out the door into the yard to dig in the dirt, listen to the birds, and generally to commune with nature when I'm not communable indoors!
How do you zen-out from the cares and stresses (even those self-imposed) of life?

Bird's Nest can be found in the Fiddle Music of PEI, as well as Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes.

Spring Breakup

Spring is essentially over, the break-up of the season is nearly complete. Nights are still cool, and there's still danger of frost... but days are warm, sun is getting higher in the sky and we're about to turn the corner toward early summer very soon.
Memorial Day weekend is just about here. Our plans are to work around the house. The new workshop is coming along very nicely... Richard is putting in a lot of hours making this happen. It will give us the space we want for our tools and small building projects, some storage upstairs for lumber and extra supplies, firewood room in the back, and a porch on the front. The porch is an added feature, not in the original plans. It didn't start out as a serious idea, but once voiced it has become a real part of the building project. The fun thing is that we want to use it as an outdoor stage! The garden is still taking shape, photos to come of both these projects.
Sunday we'll head off to a Dawn Dance... yes, we will be contradancing until Dawn! This will be our big holiday weekend trip, our friend Jim will be going along with us to share the driving and conversation. We'll bring our fiddles along too, I think, in hopes of playing some tunes in between the dancing.
Memorial Day is the usual summer kick-off in many Maine communities... the time when summer folk open up the family camps, and the first real influx of people from 'away'occurs.
We car-pooled down to the Thursday night jam... this is the highlight of my week as far as social engagements go. I like hosting our Tuesday jam at home, but for getting out, Thursday is great for me. The music is fun whether it is an old standard that we've played a thousand times before... or a new tune that I've never tried... they're all good. Company and conversation are good too. Oh, and have I ever mentioned the hot pepper popcorn? Mmmmmm Good!
Oh, one other special thing today, Richard grilled up some Spam for lunch... OMG, what a treat that was!
Spring Breakup can be found in the Lighthouse Collection.

Miss Brown

A richer, darker brown you'll not find... well, maybe you can but still, we're very happy with the color and textue of the loam we had delivered today. This soil will be brought to the garden site as soon as the sod has been cut away. A couple truckloads of manure will get added and all will be tilled into the existing dirt to build up the soil for a healthy crop of vegetables!

The evening was filled with music and company, a perfect combination. Katie gave a full house tour to her mom, Allison, before they headed out. Then Kathie and David arrived for a tour of the new workshop site before settling down to play some tunes. A fellow fiddler, Jim, also came to join in the playing of tunes for the evening. Turns out David and Jim recognized each other from doing Christmas Bird Count in the past... small world! Conversation and music easily intertwine at most jams, and though tonight's gathering was relatively small, the agenda stayed true to form.
Miss Brown comes from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Sally In the Garden

I'm looking forward to some vacation time! These perennial beds are calling me, the new garden site is beckoning me, the grass is reaching for me to lie down and watch the clouds drift by. The weather forecast is sketchy, I'm choosing to believe the one that says sunshine and warm breezes :)
We got the lawn mower out today and started taming the grass. The recent stretch of rainy weather really made the yard lush and green... just beautiful!

Barnestorming

This afternoon, we had the opportunity to play for a scholarship benefit. The event was set up as a wine tasting and a silent auction, and we were invited to provide some music. As it turned out, Richard, SK and I were the fiddlers and our friend Jeff was the guitarist. We had a great time! The event was very nicely arranged, the snacks were wonderful, the acoustics were apparently just grand for those attending. The items set up for auction were well displayed, conversation seemed to be lively throughout the afternoon, and we had such a good time playing tunes that we knew.
As payment, we received much applause and encouragement, which would have been enough for me and I'm sure for my fellow musicians. In addition to this, we were able to have a bite to eat, and recieved a bottle of wine each. Not a big cash gig, but as Jeff says, this is all part of getting us 'out there' and hopefully generate more income and more gigs and more exposure. Jeff was prepared with flyers to hand out, and maybe well have some folks from todays fundraiser stopping in at the Thursday jam or the regular Wescustago contradance. All in all, a great afternoon!
Barnestorming comes from the Curvy Road to Corinth.

Gale

Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors at the moment. He was introduced to me by my sister, she too is a big fan. I recently finished reading Buffalo Soldier, the fifth book I've read by him and I just loved it. It takes quite a lot for me to set my chores, lists, and housework aside to just read, but for Chris Bohjalian, I'll do just that.
I've thought about his writing, his stories, and tried to determine what it is that holds my interest... what it is that lures me and holds me in the pages between the covers. I think in part it is the characters... they're real people, and at the same time they're more than ordinary. They are heroes, they are villains, they are good, bad and indifferent... they're like you and me on our best and worst days. Chris Bohjalian also takes some very real issues that we deal with in these particular times... and he makes them interesting, personal, and believable. His writing style is easy to follow, but not necessarily 'easy'. It's challenging, and I always feel that I've come away with a renewed appreciation for humanity, for people, for individuals that you never really know until you interact with them. I've come to respect and tolerate lifestyles with which I'm unfamiliar, not just because they may seem "cool" but because they are real for those that are involved. This particular book dealt a lot with grief and how different people react to it. Other books have dealt with death, the law, pressures from society, medicine... many subjects and many threads of stories running through the main idea.
Has anyone else read this author? What are your impressions? The Gale was the river that ran through the town in this most recently read book. The Gale is also a tune you can find in Along the River.

Mother's Reel

To all the mothers in my life (mom, mother in law, daughter, sisters, friends), Happy Mother's Day. And for all the fathers and significant other support people, Happy Mother's Day. And for the reason for the season in a sense, thanks to the children for making it possible... and as my father in law said, if it weren't for the fathers, we wouldn't have been mothers in the first place :)
We had a great day here, gathering family together to share stories, laughter, food, and love. Hope all of you out there had a great day too. Missed Joline and her family, no news on Miss Tasha and the soon to arrive Bailey, we're thinking of you!

Here and There

Club-E just finished a two day retreat, part of which was facilitated by a practice management consultant who came into our office to observe... and then spent a day sharing her impressions with us on how we can strive and achieve a higher level of excellence. Great information, for work and just as importantly, for me to use at home.
Personal integrity is HUGE for me. I know when I'm living it, and I know when I'm not. I recognize excellence when I see it, and I know when I am personally giving it out. I'm not talking about perfection. What I am talking about is excellence, about doing and being my best, no matter what. My difficulty lies in that in doing and being excellent, it often challenges those around me, and creates a sense of insecurity. Many times, I've taken on that I'm responsible for creating their insecurity, and in order to make others more comfortable, I back down on the things I KNOW are important. What suffers are the details of living a wonderful life.
When I am doing and being my best, I am sending the message "I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT MY LIFE, AND THOSE AROUND ME, AND EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO IT, THAT I WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE".
At work, we have as a group, made the decision to let go of the past and step forward with some exciting new leadership, implementation of new ideas, and enhancing some of the things that are already working pretty well. Although there may be some lapse into old habits, as a team we'll re-group and get everyone back on track because we have chosen this together. We will not be able to let go of the vision of teamwork, delivery of dentistry, or personal excellence & commitment. Not one of us can do it alone, it takes the commitment of everyone involved.
The same is true at home. To achieve any measure of success, a commitment to doing and being excellent is imperative. It also takes a commitment from everyone who participates to invest their personal level of excellence to do and be whatever it takes to be a part of this household.

Before we found this property, I had a vision of a communal living experience along the lines of the Nearings. In my mind it would require that any participants, for however long they were here, would voluntarily assume responsibility for sharing communal space as well as joining in whatever project was in progress. The retreat has challenged me to decide what level of excellence I choose for myself, how I can achieve that, and what my personal commitment and participation will be. It has challenged me to accept my personal standards of excellence for what they are, personal standards. I don't have to apologize for them, I don't have to cover them up to make them look like something else, and I don't have to let go of them because someone else's level isn't the same. But I do have to be committed to do my personal best at all times. Finally, I am challenged to realize that if I truly want to have our home open to others, I have to accept that other people will give their absolute best over the time that they are here, on their own schedule to be sure, but that they will be giving their own personal best.
It's not about being better, or perfect, being smarter, or being anything other than my personal best. In the grand scheme of things, it's probably neither here nor there, but in the scheme of things in my world, it's everything.
Here and There is from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Laxo Burn

We've been clearing brush and debris from in back of the house where the pines were cut, to open up space for the meadow, the workshop/shed, and the garden. Seemed the best place to burn some of this was right on the garden spot. A lot of the branches were right in this area anyway, and it was about the safest spot to have a fire since there weren't any dry twigs, leaves, etc. Richard and Katie tended the fire during the day, and Toby joined in when he arrived late in the afternoon. A great team effort by all involved. We anticipate a couple more burns before we're really all cleaned up, and the amazing progress on Sunday is great encouragement.

Last night, Katie and I came up with a delicious new recipe, which has been named but I can't remember it. We de-boned some chicken, spread it out, layered it with cheese (some with goat cheese, some with thin slices of cheddar), placed a strip of bacon and then rolled it all up. Place in an oiled pan, fold side down and then lightly sprinkle with rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so. Very, very tasty. We'll make it again, but are thinking next time of adding some caramelized onions. If you try this, let us know if you like it!

Laxo Burn can be found in the Fiddler's Throne.

Square Order Shuffle

That's how I feel inside sometimes, those three words as a group, each word alone, or any two of them as a pair.
Square... too ordinary, too establishment, too blah blah blah.
Order... too much order, too much regimen, barking too many silent orders.
Shuffle... moving things around trying to find the perfect place for things, for me, for being.

Square Order... the kind of tidiness that is ordinary and expected in a nicely maintained household, the kind of household Martha Stewart would be proud to visit.
Square Shuffle... moving things around in expected ways, calculated moves.
Order Shuffle... telling people (a-loud or a-quiet) how to shift their views to match mine
Order Square... to put their things in an order I understand.
Shuffle Order and Shuffle Square are just more of the same.

Left to my own devices, I can create and maintain a sense of order, at least for a little while until I get some crazy idea in my head for a project and then things just get blasted into disorder for a while. Somehow, when there are other beings involved (at home, at work, even in small groups like Forensics) I somehow think it's up to me to come up with a plan for things to work much more simply, with much less mess. Fact is, it just ain't really so. My description for my life has often been "ORGANIZED CHAOS" and I sometimes wonder why I get so wound up in trying to have things look so "good", so tidy, so NICE. What I've really been wanting to do are things that are the opposite of housework, the opposite of tidy, and the opposite of maintaining the status quo. What I really want to be doing is writing, making quilts, digging in the dirt, playing the fiddle, driving to Hampden to roll around on the floor/ground with little A. What I end up doing is dishes, laundry, picking up, cooking.
Would it really be so awful if I stocked up on enough Cheeze-Its and nachos to last the weekend? Is there some reason why I don't trust the wonderful people around me to pick up the slack when I just want to play, and then let them do what they do on their own schedule? Really. I'm just getting pretty fed up with myself lately, for allowing myself, for ENCOURAGING myself to get and stay caught up in all these darned chores :) I will say that I had a REALLY fun time this weekend working on building a trail in the woods, to me that really was like playing! It was one of the most fun things I've done lately, so I guess I won't give up on myself totally...
Square Order Shuffle comes from The Fiddler's Throne.

Nearly Done

This afternoon, Toby and I picked up some corn at the grocery store, planning to have it with the roast pork we'd cooked earlier. As we approached home, we saw the CMP truck working on the lines, and once we got to the house, we found we were without power!
Now, Richard and SK had been burning brush a good part of the day, and had gotten the pile down to a nice bed of burning coals. R had the idea that we could cook the corn in the husks, right in there! He tested one ear which came out tasty enough, but 10 minutes in the fire did not cook the corn to perfection.

More time was clearly indicated. The remaining eleven ears went in next...

... The coals got raked to create a little pit, the corn got evenly laid, and then raked over with more coals and ashes. Richard timed them for 15 minutes this time...

... The result? Perfectly cooked ears of corn, smothered in butter, lightly sprinkled with salt. This went really good with the pork, and some bread. A hearty and delicious supper!

Nearly Done is a tune from the Fiddler's Throne.

When You've Hooked Him Hold Him Fast

Good advice that I am happy to be taking! When I first saw the name of this tune, I immediately thought of Richard and how we 'hooked' each other... and how completely my life is wrapped up with his. I know that may sound 'old fashioned' and I suppose in some ways it is. I have friends who have been having a hard time in their marriages and relationships, and I have had my share of heartache in that department. But, my experience and observations seem to support this post's title... hold him fast. I'd add, to emphasize the point, 'and don't let go no matter how bumpy the ride!'. I realize how invested I am in the life we've started building together, and in all the plans and dreams we conjure up daily for our future. And even more important is finding time to daily share our joys with one another.

Today starts my second year of blogging! Posting my thoughts and activities started out as an experiment, sort of an on-line newsletter to share with family and friends. Over this past year, blogging has become a regular part of my life, a way to stay connected with those I see often, as well as those people who live far away. There have been a few times when I've wondered if anyone reads the posts, and that has given me the opportunity to realize that I also do it for myself. Blogging is fun, easy, fast, and provides a creative outlet for my thoughts. If you haven't blogged before, try it... you may like it :) On the flip side, I LOVE reading blogs. I've flagged a few that I read fairly regularly, some are people I've never met (and probably never will), and of course, I'm a big fan of since 11 among others.
What is your impression of blogging, either as a blogger or a reader?

Lassie with the Yellow Coatie

We've attracted gold finches! A couple of days ago, as I was getting ready to check my email, I got a glimpse of something small and yellow darting past the window... I thought it might be a goldfinch, it was just that sort of color! I ran to look at the thistle feeder, but didn't see any finches. Richard, however, has seen them and told me about them so I was happy to know they're here. This afternoon I was lucky enough to be out in the yard WITH the camera, and this little guy is sitting on the feeder. As you can see, the feeder is down on thistle, proof that the birds are finding their way here.

The perennial garden has burst into even more color this week. The rains have helped a lot. We have three varieties of daffodil, one completely yellow, one with yellow and white, and one that is a nice white on white (very elegant). Yellow tulips have also bloomed. It's been a yellow week, I suppose!

Finch in the Thistles

Richard was able to get a nice photo of the purple finch who has been frequenting the thistle feeder in the yard. We noticed him first on Monday morning. For the most part, the birds we've seen in the yard are the regular woodsy kind of birds... chickadees, juncos, phoebes, crows, nuthatches, robins etc. It's a real treat to get a new bird come to call. We have a lot of different habitats throughout the property, and as we get more settled we'll be doing more bird watching to see which ones are more suited to one area or another.

Wild One

Meet Riley, the newest addition to the Davis clan, arriving only a week ago. Mom and dad have been talking about getting a puppy for a while now, waiting until their new home's finished and they'd settled in. Well, the time finally came when they weren't able to hold out any longer, and their search began in earnest. You see here the fruits of their labor... an adorable little springer puppy. They say Riley has a lot of energy and that he gets into a lot of mischief, but I just don't see it because in between his spurts of energy he sleeps a lot! When he is lying in my mom's arms or when he is snuggled next to my dad in the chair, Riley reminds me of the little pound puppies that the kids had when they were little. This dog is truly sweet, and so very loved! Riley could not have found a better home, and I don't think mom and dad could have found a nicer dog. Congratulations to them all. One of these days I'll get to see Riley's "Wild One" mode!

Chipchase Reel

Here's a furry little friend we've seen scurrying around the woods many-a-day. I was out with the camera this morning, in hopes of catching a great image of a purple finch who's decided to feed on the thistles we've set out. That photo was pretty blurry, will try again later since he seems to be returning frequently today. As I was waiting for the finch, I heard a rustling in the leaves out by the stone wall so I crept quietly (barefoot) trying to think like an Indian, so as to get very close and then become a statue with camera poised. Hoping to see a deer, or turkey, or some fabulous large animal, you can imagine my surprise to see such a small creature emerge from the large sound I'd heard!
Small things come sometimes on the heels of big expectations, and vice versa... I'm sure there's a moral or something in there. Anyway, hope you enjoy the photo of this little guy, he made me smile!
Chipchase Reel comes from the Portland Collection, Volume Two.