Early Birds, Red Birds, Strawberries and Peaches....

Although I feel as though I am living inside a whirlwind, there is not much blog-worthy going on here in Nod.  I'm certain no one cares to read about tedious (and endless) paperwork, gravestone selections, appraisals, remodel snafus and delays, legal dilemmas, Rajah's ride in the dryer, or the Great Rabbit Invasion of Nod.

However, on the happy side of the road, I am planning my second annual trip to Country Sampler in Spring Green for an unnecessary stash-enhancement spree a stitching retreat (of sorts) this weekend and wanted to post before leaving as who knows when I will be back to sorts enough to post when I return.

So...onto Early Birds:

After almost a year of having completed the hooking on "Early Bird" (a design by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm), I finally got it bound.

The photo above is a bit dark, the one below a bit light...so imagine the colors somewhere in between. (The upper and lower background wool is actually a rich dark, blackish, brown, not black as it is showing.) I could not get one that was "just right" as it seems we've entered into the rainy season here.

The photo below shows the colors probably most accurately, although it is lying kittywampus across a chair:

And, red birds:

These cardinals have a nest out front.  Something about their faces make me think they look cranky, but they really are such playful, happy, things.

I've been in a baking/cooking slump.  It seems so depressing cooking/baking the way I am used to and used to do, when there's just me.  (Yes, I know...freeze smaller portions, etc....I do, but it's not the same and just doesn't seem worth the effort.)

Adding to my quandary, like in other aspects of my life I tend to get into ruts.  Sometimes it's salads, other times pasta, etc.  The fad of the week for me is strawberries.

Today's strawberry de jour is strawberry soup:

Although I'm not a particularly huge strawberry fan generally, there are times I could eat this by the gallons. This is one of those times.

Lastly, since I haven't done a book report/review in a while, for those few who are interested, here you go:

Go as a River by Shelley Read...

This is Ms. Read's debut novel and I have no idea what drew me to it, but I am glad I chose it.  The book was inspired by the true events surrounding the destruction of the small town of Iola, Colorado, by the intentional flooding of the Gunnison River.  The protagonist is a resident who struggles to run the (dysfunctional) family household following her mother's untimely death in a tragic accident.

It is a tale of love, prejudice, isolation, and resilience...and learning to go as a river - flowing and moving forward even when dammed.

...and peaches.  Yes, it's about peaches too.  😉🍑

I'm hoping all is well with all of you.

To those of you who faithfully visit and comment - and those who even only stop by on occasion - thank you. 

You make my world so very much brighter.

Monday in Nod

 The current view outside my window invites a bleakness of spirit.

Another 10+" of snow fell overnight and it is snowing still.

I know it won't stay long, yet that is of little comfort as it seems that any snow this time of year, no matter how soon it melts, is more wearisome than during winter proper.

The cold reaches deeper, the wind bites harder and, at least for some, sleep beckons more insistently.

{Liza Bean}

Since I had no intentions of venturing out, I baked a boule of artisan sourdough wheat bread.

Thinking it's going to be another soup night.

While the bread was baking, I pulled the last stitches in my Easter stitch.  This is He Is Risen - a design by Jenny Hoffman (Country Rustic Primitives). 

 

This evening I will return to my hooking on "Early Bird" by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.

(Sorry for the crappy photo...I was too lazy to take it off my frame to photograph...some Mondays are like that.)

And then, later, of course, I will lose some hours with a book.  This is one I just finished:

I had previously read and posted about Ms. Setterfield's "Once Upon a River" (you can check that out here) and loved it, so I had to read another of her books.

I was equally enthralled.  

It's hard to condense this rich book in a few sentences, other than to say it is a haunting story, beautifully and magically written.

It begins with a young William Bellman shooting a rook with his slingshot...and the turns his life takes after.

A little bit of Dickens...a little bit of Poe...a lot of wonderful.

And, finally, a Mia update for those of you who inquired.

Mia came home from the NICU sooner than anyone anticipated.

Unfortunately, however, after a few days at home, she was struggling to breathe and had stopped eating, so ended up in the ER and a brief stint back in the NICU.

She is once again home and, once again, doing well. Thanks to everyone who prayed, and who wished her well.

And that's a Monday in Nod.

Tell Me Again...

 

....why do I live in Nod?

I know full well it could be much worse - my heart hurts for those suffering in the aftermath of the tornadoes and other storms down south but, all the same, I am winter weary.

(And, unfortunately, our turn at tornado season will come as well.)

I am (desperately) trying to focus on the promise of spring.

Since I can't shut out the view of white out my windows, I tried distracting myself by pulling a few of my favorite bunnies out of hiding.

(Ok, truth? I'm also avoiding doing taxes....)

All but one of the bunnies in the below photo are antique/vintage German candy containers.

These are one of my favorite things.  Ever.

But I like other bunnies too....

{Spun Cotton Bunny Baby}

And pussy willows....(not real...too cold and too much snow here yet.)

I've also started on some more spring-like projects and, yes, located my wayward hook.

This is "Early Bird" - an adaptation of a Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten design by Kris Miller.

     

(The colors look a bit washed out here - they're better in person.)

*************

And books...well, there's really no season to them.  I don't think I'll ever catch up with sharing them all, but I will again try to include a recent read in posts again.

"The Museum of Extraordinary Things" by Alice Hoffman was a most satisfying read.  I know I once said I'm not much for love stories, but this one had so many other things going on that I could really forget it was, in reality, a love story too.

The protagonist, Coralie, performs as a mermaid in her father's "museum," (i.e., a Coney Island freak show).  She meets a young Russian immigrant who has photographed the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and becomes tangled up in a young worker's disappearance.

It is part love story, part mystery, and part history but so artfully told it casts a spell that is hard to resist.  I was especially impressed with the accuracy of the author's depiction of early 1900's New York.

And, yes, I will be reading more of this author.

*************

Hoping things aren't quite as white where you are.