Oh my goodness, remember me??  I’ve taken a hiatus– just been busy creating life and nesting. Today is my due date–and Luke’s birthday!! Happy Birthday my Love! While I would love to give him the gift of our little girl today, she seems happy to hang in utero longer still, so I continue to nest. The birds around our yard have been busy doing the same…nature and I have been on a similar cycle:)

{A pair of Bluebirds checking the box for a possible nesting site earlier this Spring.}

{Such beautiful birds! Each year I am grateful for their return.}

{A male perched on the box.}

Most of the boxes have been nested in by Tree Swallows this year.  They are fun to watch flying through the yard, catching bugs, and protecting their boxes.  Don’t mess with a Tree Swallow, they’ll dive bomb you!

Other birds we see in our yard:{Rose Breasted Grosbeak.}

{Bobolink.}

{Female Hooded Warbler– we think! CORRECTION: Common Yellowthroat! }

{Female Purple Finch.}

{A Cedar Waxwing– stunning!}

There are lots of other birds that visit us like Gold Finches, Chickadees, Morning Doves, Sparrows, Phoebes, and various warblers. Luke took all of these photos; he’s got an eye for spotting birds and loves to be out in the yard watching them.  Most days after work and on weekends we walk the paths in our field and spy on birds. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

…must be comfy.  That’s the prerequisite for my next pair of shoes. I’ve got a red shoe thang and think that I should go for some new color, or a neutral, but I know that I should go for comfort.  With 3 more months to go and warm weather ahead, I’ve got to plan for tired and dare I say swollen feet.

{Dansko “Thea” sandal. There are other colors, including red, though green catches my eye.}

{Earthies “Cardonna” sandal.  Got to love a comfy wedge.}

{Pikolinos “Trinidad” t-strap sandal.  Definitely a contender.}

{Swedish Hasbeens sandal.  Very much a contender.}

I’m hoping that a heel will be ok given they’re all considered ‘comfort’ shoes. I think any of the above will add some ooomph to my full panel maternity leggings and dresses.  Besides, who couldn’t use a new pair of shoes?!!

My heart is full and swelling with joy–so is my growing baby bump!  Luke and I are expecting a little one in July!  I’ve lately been feeling my sweet one move around in utero and it has me beaming:)

{How cute is this hot air balloon mobile? Oh Pinterest! }

Friends of mine are expecting, too, (you know who you are!) and it’s been great sharing the experience.  One is about to have her baby any minute! I’ve been daydreaming about what’s to come, pulling together a registry, and watching my body grow! All very occupying:)

Have a happy weekend!

Well, hellooooo there. The blizzard is in motion! This is supposed to be a big one, so big that the Weather Channel has named it “Nemo” like the tiny, lost little fish of Disney fame.  Makes sense. Will the storm live up to the hype?  All I can assume is if the snowfall keeps up at this pace it will. The view from inside is blustery:

Wishing you a safe blizzard weekend–and hoping there is shelter and warmth enough for everyone.

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all peace and love. Here in Maine we are beginning to have a white Christmas with the snow falling fast– stay cozy!

Holidays are for tradition. We carry on the the traditions we loved as children and we make new ones, too. One thing I do every Christmas is bake Italian Anise cookies from my grandmother’s recipe. This year I made a batch with my mother, which was a treat. They’re a labor of love {prepare the dough, chill, roll into balls with oiled hands, bake, ice each one with glaze and sprinkle it with confetti dots before glaze hardens, repeat}. This year we skipped the tree {I figured poinsettias and a wreath would suffice} but I wouldn’t even consider skipping the cookies!

Cheers to holiday traditions and celebrating the joys of the season!

A couple of weeks ago our rooster Ruby lost his voice. Then his breathing became very labored and he wheezed like a serious asthmatic.  It was kind of scary and also kind of nice and quiet! The guy at the farm store suggested a few things.  What we tried first did the trick–adding some Gatorade to the water source {and a good cleaning of their coop}.  Within a couple of days he was back in business, feisty and loud. Who’d have guessed some electrolites would bring a chicken back to glory?!

p.s. I recently went to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival hosted by Friends of Casco Bay. {The festival is making its way around the country, so check for dates near you.} 15 environmental films were selected from about 55 for viewing.  The films are short, between 4 and 18 minutes each.  Seeing people who are passionate about the world around us, who creatively deal with things like plastic litter, or lack of resources, and the respect they have for nature was very inspiring.  Here is one of my favorites:

Another film that will put a smile on your face can be found here. {It’s short & sweet and involves a genius solution for old plastic liter bottles as a source of lighting in villages without power!}