Blog

Archive for the ‘miscellaneous’ Category

update on the chickies! and miscellaneous other things

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Oh they are cute and have more than quadrupled in size. We started them in a “brooder” created with Ms Gracie’s soft-sided pen, used while her broken leg was pinned. A heat lamp was NOT a good idea but a seed starter heat mat under the bedding worked great. We monitored the temps, kept adjusting as the littles got bigger and then one day, as if by magic, they seemed too big for the available space. Plus they wanted to stretch their developing wings.

Having read that a major challenge with not-quite-adult-chicks is familiarity vs. change, we put together their coop and installed it in the dining room. It took up a bit of our living space but worked great and was highly entertaining for everyone in the household. Within days they were able to climb the ladder or fly into the roosting area. At some point we removed the heat mat and nothing in their behavior changed. Hooray! They were obviously comfortable.

Now they are 6-7 weeks old and almost, if not, fully feathered. They are able to regulate their body temps and do well as a group. Outdoors temps are quite warm during the day (finally!) and usually above 50 at night. We moved the coop outdoors this morning. They had nothing to adjust to except the availability of grass and ground, which makes them quite happy, thank you very much.

The coop is temporarily situated in between a new raised garden bed and a straw bale bed and is sheltered by the S/SE angle of the house. They have grass, ground, sun or shade and everything they are accustomed to and seem quite content.

Zooey is still very protective and the coop-run is predator proof, plus is close to the main entrance to the house. Stella, the cat, has basically lost interest since the chicks got bigger. We will ensure they are secure at dusk.

Life is good for the Star House Chickens. Next project: build them a portable run  (aka “chicken tractor”) that can be moved around the yard and orchard. With a little luck that will happen this weekend.

*****

In other news, we enjoyed a lovely lunch today with a local friend. He’s an art appraiser and a collector of contemporary art and western writers. It was great conversation, stimulating and challenging. Living outside this small town is a rich experience. People are very interesting, there are good overlaps,  we’ve been made welcome and are “at home”. Life is good.

*****

I have finally begun to feel more myself after a long recovery period from March’s unfortunate illnesses. There’s a lot of catching up to do, socially, in the gardens, the studio, office and elsewhere. This all takes so much time and tests my patience. Saying “NO” got to be a habit the past months, now I get to decide when to say “yes”. <G>

The reset button has been employed: I am not behind, rather right where I should be. All will be well.

 

Are you well? What’s going on in your lives? Drop a note, here or privately.

Be well, do good work…..

 

Four Moons

Saturday, September 26th, 2015

 

moon-1_02

Sunday, September 27, brings us a whopping 4 moons at one time–the Blood Moon, the Harvest Moon, a Super Moon, and a Total Lunar Eclipse!  Of course, they all refer to the same moon but each has a special meaning.

The Blood Mood refers to the last total lunar eclipse in a tetrad of 4 total lunar eclipses.  This tetrad started on April 15, 2014 and includes the eclipses on October 8, 2014 and April 4, 2015. The next tetrad won’t begin until April, 2032.

The Harvest Moon refers to the full moon in September.  Folklore says that this is the Harvest Moon because farmers can work late into the night bringing in the harvest by the bright light of the full moon. Nowadays I’m pretty sure that headlights have taken over that duty!

A Super Moon occurs when the full moon also happens when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit.  This Super Moon will be about 225,000 miles from the Earth won’t be this close again until November of 2016.  The difference is noticeable in both size and brightness but shouldn’t be confused with the “Moon Illusion” that makes a full moon near the horizon look massively huge.  The Moon Illusion really is an illusion–just bracket that huge full moon with two fingers–it will shrink right back to normal size.

Finally, this full moon with be a Total Lunar Eclipse.  For us, the eclipse will have already have started at moonrise but totality–when the moon enters the darkest central part of the Earth’s shadow–will begin with the moon nicely above the horizon and will last for an amazing 72 minutes!

To find the time of moonrise for your location, go to http://www.timeanddate.com/moon/ and enter your location.

Moon rise is always a magical moment, and watching one with intent makes it even better!

With clear skies, of course.

guest writer, Jeff Ross

Mare-Serenitatis

Mare Serenitatis

the long weekend

Monday, October 13th, 2014

hh-2    Saturday morning at Hungry Horse for the Le Griz Ultra Run (50 miles). We were there to crew for a good friend. It was a long satisfying day in a gorgeous place.

HH-am The weather was variable, with everything except snow. Tamaracks and aspen have turned a burnished gold.

talltrees   fall

Later in the weekend we walked around Lion’s Lake. The trees are so tall. The climate there, near Glacier Park, is more like the Pacific NW than the part of the state where I live. It is semi-arid here.

backyard  west

the view from the house, looking west.

roadhome the road home, today at noon. That snow capped mountain is behind the house.

**
Years ago, in Houston, a random person gave me this quip as an early birthday gift.

It was a delight to see the words on a bumper sticker Sunday afternoon.

the edge

Summer Solstice weekend

Monday, June 23rd, 2014

The majority of the move is complete! Hooray. Until the Solstice, things were being moved bit by selected bit. Boxes were emptied, things put away; boxes taken back to the house in Billings and refilled. My goal was to only move what was needed in this household, would have to be replaced or was of great personal value. Another criteria was that “furnishings”, including artwork, be in keeping with its character.

The house in town is a small, old fashioned cottage in a neighborhood just off the Historic District. This house is open and airy with a circular feeling interior. It was built for the wrap around view. Much of what I had lived with over the past decades had a sort of “funky” feeling that just doesn’t fit here. A few representative bits have moved, but not whole collections. Books have been carefully selected (“Will I read this again?” – or- “is this an heirloom?””)  Art that has meaning to me or that feels right is moving, personal items have been culled.

So far, so good. As boxes are emptied, everything has a place and a use, whether functional or aesthetic. I will not have to deal with mystery boxes in the future!

On Friday we picked up a truck, loaded it on Saturday and got home before dark. Sunday the truck was offloaded and returned to Helena, way ahead of the deadline. We got our shopping done  and made it home in good form. Sadly, there is still one more car trip to finish up with getting items to the appropriate charities, and of course, the dreaded cleaning. That will happen in between the 30th and the holiday weekend.

Sunday 9_17

9:17 a.m. the truck as full as we got it on Saturday. The dogs did help!

sunday11_32

11:32 a.m. Empty truck, happy people, happy dogs.

stella

Stella supervised from her chair. She wouldn’t operate the camera much less supervise the work.

***

Today is Monday, a work day. Half the boxes are unpacked, their contents put away, time has been spent outdoors and in the studio!  We have been to the treehouse once already and look forward to going up again next weekend.

west-dusk   Life is good.

p.s. if you need my change of address, email me please. All other contact info remains the same.

Happy Solstice!

Friday, December 21st, 2012

12/21/2012

Sounds yummy doesn’t it. Tomorrow the light begins returning, the days get longer and although, where I live, the coldest part of the year has yet to come, we will be moving toward warmth. I like warmth!

Please visit my Coaching Page for information on those services and for the limited time special offer!

To sign up for the Museletter go here.

(more…)

october textures

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

October 31’st. Warm and windy here but clear. The leaves are all down from the big trees out front but still hanging on out back. The lilacs will be the last to let go.

Our morning walks are beginning an hour later in the morning now, partly because daylight is slower to arrive, partly because the later it is, the fewer critters are out and about, tempting the dogs to run and chase. I’ve managed to find a walking route and routine that (for four days now) has kept Beau from collecting nasty burrs. This is important. He’s a wonderful companion but spending an hour and a half each day trying to comb him out gets frustrating. He doesn’t like it and it feels like a struggle. Saturday he had a serious grooming and “detailing”. That should help. Gracie has a smoother coat and is much easier to comb out.

A light snow, combined with heavy wind brought almost all the leaves down last weekend. What an interesting carpet texture.

Outside the studio door, the “Burning Bush” is in full glory. What astounding color. I hope it holds for a while.

***Most of my time the last two weeks has been directed to learning more about Social Media, rethinking the museletter and working with Coaching Clients. If you subscribe to the museletter, you can expect a new one in the next few days. (updated subscription information is not available yet. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, drop me a note and I will add you. You can opt out at any time).

I have room for two more Coaching Clients right now.

If you want more information, click here.

***

Of course, for the past several days, my thoughts have been with family and friends and everyone on the Eastern Seaboard who has been, and will be, dealing with the Storm and its aftermath. I am grateful that my nearest and dearest have come through, but heartbroken at the widespread devastation.

Here’s how to help:

http://t.news.msn.com/us/heres-how-to-help-sandys-victims

I hope you are well and safe and if the storm impacted you and yours, I wish a speedy return to “normal”.

all best, laura

September ending

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Although the hollyhocks continue to be wonderful, It seems so early for the leaves to be changing colors, for the mornings to be crisp and the afternoons warm, for the exuberance from the High School football stadium 3 blocks North, to be providing the sound track for Friday evenings.

Here it is, Fall, and moving quickly toward October first (is that Monday?). Looking back it would be very easy to say “where did it go?”. Even though I have spent most of the past 16 months in a fog, I know exactly where the time went. The year was spent dealing with unfinished business, clearing out a tool shed,  de-cluttering the house (and there is so much left to put into the loop!) and getting much needed repairs handled.

 

 

Can anyone tell me why, when we get rid of a lot of STUFF, the remaining things expand to fill the available space? It’s a mystery to me. <G>.

Autumn has always been the beginning of the most productive time of year for me: gardens done for the season, school begun, time opening up, cooler weather making it easier to stay indoors, and so forth. This year, my rhythms seem reversed. It’s uncomfortable. My intention for the next week is to reverse that, to get myself back into studio mode and a daily routine that supports the creative work. Tomorrow the computer leaves the studio space, I will begin the patching of walls from water damage (now that the roof is replaced, there is no more leaking in the studio, Hooray!) and look at all my spaces with new eyes.

Questions include: what do I want to work on, what set up would be supportive, and so forth. I am determined to rid myself of more excess, thereby creating clarity and more space.

If you are in my area and want to come by to adopt stuff that is going away, email me. We’ll make a date.

for information on Private Coaching, click here.]

equinox

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012

Today is the Autumnal Equinox in North America. I had my week confused (imagine that!) and thought it was yesterday. Wrong. Here we are, shifting seasons. If I sent you an equinox greeting yesterday in private mail please just consider it an early greeting <G>.

The dogs and I began our day as usual, walking the Island. Gracie (above) , at 5 months, does not know she is a puppy. She acts like and thinks like the big dogs. Sometimes they have to put her in her place, but she spends a lot of energy trying to organize games and trying to keep the larger groups sorted out. It is a Border Collie’s job: herd the sheep, even if they are other dogs or cats, or whatever. It is a lot of fun having her in the household but a challenge as well. Unlike Beau (who adopted her immediately), Gracie has no “off button”. She will run and run, and then curl up on the car seat and whimper in exhaustion until we get home. Then it’s nap time – and then it’s time to play  – more- more- more.

We have our work cut out for us here. Fortunately, she’s super smart, affectionate and motivated to please – and Beau is setting limits, which is very good. Honestly, I had only intended to foster parent her, but she has won a spot in the heart of my other 4 legged housemates and in my heart as well. Who can control love?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the gardens, the drought tolerant plants are showing off. Sunflowers, Sedum, Cosmos are all in wonderful color now. The non-native trees are shifting color, the native trees and super hardy shrubs (lilacs for example) are holding their green. We’ve managed to get through this horrid hot Summer with little damage in my yard/gardens. Although I have been extremely moderate in my use of  it, I am grateful to have well water instead of using city water to keep everything alive.

OTOH, the Winter of 2010-11, with the sustained sub zero temperatures,  did in a number of shrubs, including the grapevines. There is serious pruning/removal of dead shrubs to do in a month or so. It’s an opportunity, I suppose, to reconsider the landscaping, to reinforce my belief in  xeriscaping. In the last month or so, I have put in new shrubs to provide additional privacy since the French Door went in: bottom line – everything new must be drought tolerant and hardy to 40 below.

This is the “Silver Lace Vine” a polygonum, my “living fence”.  (it separates the front yard from the North yard and gardens, providing privacy as well as a limit for Beau who can breathe himself over the front picket fence if a  squirrel shows itself.)

This vine comes into its own in the early fall with cascades of vanilla scented flowers. In years past it has climbed up the roof, but took a serious hit a few years back when someone decided to eliminate its support, cut it way back and so forth. I’ve spent quite a bit of time this year trimming and training it, and hope that next year it will fill in some privacy spaces. Braiding, twining the sprigs provides an interesting Winter texture. We’ll see how that goes.

Otherwise, it has been a quiet day. A few wonderful conversations with people near and dear to my heart, a nap (imagine that! I never have been good at naps) and a lot of list making and reassessing.

As we move into the new season, I have to consider where my time and energy are best invested. There are decisions to make, resolutions to follow through on and so forth.

Wherever you are in your life right now, I send you wishes for renewal as we move into Autumn.

please check out the coaching page, feel free to subscribe to the museletter, and remember that there are information pages in the right hand column of the blog page.

all best, laura

 

goodies and treats?

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

No, it’s not Halloween, just getting to the bottom of the year long clearing out process.

Between the studio (which needs a gutting due to prolonged roof leaking) and the wood shop, which has been mostly emptied but still has a ways to go, to the yard, where only the rusty bits I like are left, it’s been an adventure. A lot of potluck boxes, fabrics, fibers, threads, etc. have been added to my store page. Now we are looking at different materials.

All the tools that I can’t use are gone, a lot has gone to salvage, a box is being put together for the H for H Re-Store, and now the real treasures are emerging from the bottom of boxes, bins and drawers.

Now, some of you will not see the value in any of this but there’s more than I can use, and who in their right mind would pay mega bucks for slickly prepackaged replicas from a clever marketer. (Well, I have, and so have some of you, but these are real, have substance and history and would welcome new homes.)

I think my DH saved, collected or acquired, literally, thousands of keys. Then there are the various washers, interesting small gear shaped things and more. Collage artists use these, mixed media artists use these, book artists use these. Rather than send them to salvage, I am pleased to pack them up and make them available to you.

See them and oddball bits from the studio at:

http://www.cater-woods.com./store.php

Additional interesting bits are being added daily. Thanks for visiting!

laura

Summertime!

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

Temperatures are projected for the high nineties all week. This means any out of doors work needs to be done in the morning and that the sun/shade patterns must be honored.  This is also the week the robins are fledging. There have been a many as 7 adult robins dive bombing my cats in the morning. The cats don’t like it, but they are confined to quarters for the next week or so. I prefer unhappy cats to dead or upset birds. Interestingly, Beau is curious but shows no sign of trying to retrieve the ones that get away. Mice on the other hand…

“Wafting in the Garden” <LOL>. Those of you who have had workshops with me know exactly what this means and does not mean. Suffice to say, the big floppy hat is in place but the long flowey skirt is not.And I am working HARD. Today I planted a twining honeysuckle to replace the dead grape vines, and a variegated dogwood in front of the South facing front windows. – behind day lilies and iris etc. I want year ’round visual interest. It seems to me another privacy screen plant would be a good idea,  but not today.

Next on my list is to procure chilled beverages and rebuild the side fence. Now that the steps are in (I did it! I got tired of waiting for other people’s schedules to clear and took matters into my own hands. I did it, all by myself.)  The steps  are level and to code but still require a railing. Designing the stone/brick foot path into the garden is an interesting process and will be fun – later.

Then the process of prepping for my “crazy woman clearing out the studio” sale begins. We’ll have an early bird reception Thursday, 3 p,m and the Public sale  Saturday. 8-3.

If you are in the Billings MT area, drop a note for the address and please, spread the word. All this stuff has to go so I can gut my studio, finally!

 

I hope you are having beach time but protecting your skin., that you are making stuff and doing well.

laura