Visiting With The Animals

Each morning I walk up the hill and back.  Its always a lovely, quiet walk. A rabbit greets me each day.  I stop my walk while he sits in the grass by the side of the road.  There we have a bit of a one-sided conversation -- me talking and him listening.

However as hard as we try to have a quiet conversation, the crows seem to want to put their two cents worth in.  Whereas the rabbit is quite a introvert, letting me speak softly and wiggling his ears as he listens, the crows are definitely extroverts.  They squawk and squawk overhead as if their message is very, very important.  I'd like to think they really have something to say but I think what they're saying is 'get out of here, you're in our territory'.

No matter Mr. and Mrs. Crow -- I have things to say to the Rabbit and I shall continue to say them no matter how noisy you are.  

If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages

Think of all the things we could discuss

If we could walk with the animals, talk with the animals,

Grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals,

And they could squeak and squawk and speak  and talk to us.

Lyrics by Leslie Brecusse

Autumn Celebration

What is better than the celebration of Autumn - with crows, pumpkins, bittersweet vines and buds? 

An aged black frame surrounds the design and overstitched wool felt backs it.  I know I probably say this every time -- but I really had fun working this design.  Just in time for Halloween too!

"I still get wildly enthuiastic about little things.  I play with leaves.  I skip down the street and run against the wind" - Leo Buscaglia

The Sounds Around Me

As I walked this morning there were sounds everywhere.  We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood with very little traffic -- thus the sounds I hear on my early morning walks are purely natural.

This morning I heard the cackle of wild turkeys, the ever present caw of the crows, the busy sounds of the squirrels and then there were the various birds - hiding in amongst the foliage but making themselves known through their song.  And I wondered what 'silent' creatures were hidden away among the leaves and on the ground, those whose sounds I will never hear.

The above stitchery came out of a long ago "Quilting Arts" magazine.  It is one of the most wonderful stitched renditions of a crow (or raven - I'm never sure the difference between the two) that I have ever seen.    Sadly I do not know the name of the artist -- so I share it with you making apologies for not being able to give you the name, perhaps some of you recognize this needlework and will let us all know whose it is.

"A bird in hand is a certainty.  But a bird in the bush may sing". - Bret Harte 

Yuletide Wishes

"White Is In The Winter Night" - Enya

Have you seen the mistletoe, it fills the night with kisses

Have you seen the bright blue star, it fills your heart with wishes

Have you seen the candlelight, it shines from every window

Have you seen the moon above, it lights the sky in silver

Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly

Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody

Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers

White is in the winter night that everyone remembers

Have you heard the boys outside, when all the girls are skating

Have you  heard their sweet hearts cry for all this time they're waiting

Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly

Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody

Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers

White is in the winter night that everyone remembers

Have you seen the children playing, tiny hands are frozen

Have you seen them hurry home, when suddenly its snowing

Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly

Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody

Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers

White is in the winter night that everyone remembers

Have you heard that bells are ringing, ringing out their story

Have you heard the choir singing, Glory, Glory, Glory

I wish each and every one of you all the gifts of the season.