More nature

Each year I feel like I enjoy spring more and more. 

Last night while I was being chased around the yard by ferocious mosquitoes, I snapped a few photos...

The columbine moved itself to one of the herb pots and are growing like mad. We've never had one this big.

  The irises are also going great guns. 

 The peonies are also in full bloom.

Here's a blurry shot of the roses between the houses.  They surprised me on my walk--I hadn't even noticed buds.  The white ones are starting to bloom, too, but so far are too far away for me to see.

I can't wait to see what surprises me tonight.

Memorial Weekend

Memorial Day was a big deal when I was a kid, not so much these days.  Another day to shop for most.  We usually go the the cemeteries but this weekend may be do rainy. Whatever you do, I hope you find peace and joy.

I've actually done some stitching lately but don't have photos.  I do have some more garden photos.  I've been working on walking more and this spring I've added a daily stroll around the house (not much of a walk, really, but I like it enough to be motivated to do it daily).  

 A huge columbine plant in the sage pot.

 Kale.

 Leaves in the sun.

 When I was a child, I remember someone, probably my grandmother, had a hat with little red velvet oak leaves. Now I see where the idea came from. Velvety red little oak leaves in our yard. 

In one of the Outlander books (Diana Gabaldon), there's a comment that in North Carolina you plant corn when the oak leaves are the size of squirrel ears. These are quite a bit larger now, but I noticed them a few weeks ago, when they would have been the signal for planting.

Enjoying Spring

I haven't been stitching much lately. Trying to be more active and walk more, get to the gym once in a while (and really feeling it!). Being lazy.

 On my morning walk on Sunday, I took a walk down the alley, to see new things. I had spotted this glorious lilac bush the day before as we drove past. It's at the back of a friend's yard--Tish is quite the gardener and it shows!

 The bush also smelled wonderful.

 I'm not sure what this white flower is--it was next to the lilac.

 Then a couple of houses down, I spotted this lovely flowering tree. Some kind of cherry, I think.

 One more lilac before heading into Indiana, to Valparaiso University's Brauer Museum of Art. We went to see their current exhibits and their student show, which was closing that day. It was not as exuberant as the little kids' show, but fun and interesting.

 Outside, on the campus, I spotted these sculptures. It is a sculpture installation, Borders, by Steinunn Thorarinsdottir. More information here, about midway down the page.

 It is strangely compelling.

A view I'd never noticed before, outside the Valparaiso University arts center, looking in. 

Kid Art

 Leave it to kids (and art teachers) to take recycling to new levels.  This Chihuly-like sculpture is made from colored plastic bottles. It's lit from within and just sparkles and glows.

 I love the spooklies here. Each little pumpkin has its own little spider.  The bigger spiders above, if you look closely, are tracings of the maker's hands.  A great idea. 

More recycled plastic bottles.  These were hanging from the ceiling, just below a light. Another larger panel was hanging in a window.  Brilliant in so many ways.

Finally Spring

It's warming up in Chicago. I took these photos on Sunday. The rain that is falling this week was needed.

I'm still not stitching much, but I did plant Kale in the pots recently. The kale nursery is above.

This tulip was transplanted from Grandpa Max's garden many years ago as a remembrance. He had an awesome garden. The tulip hasn't bloomed in years, but this year it blessed us.

On my walk on Sunday I was intrigued by the sidewalk covered by pollen/seeds/something. Wouldn't this make a nice background fabric? 

This past weekend we went out to Lubeznik galleries in Michigan City for the annual display from the local schools. As usual the color, exuberance, and joy jumps off the walls. 

This last photo is from one of the gallery shows (the other is self portraits this time and just felt too personal to photograph).  This is part of a lovely display of ceramics by a Korean artist, Taehoon Kim. 

More kid art next time.