Lakeside!

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Arrived in Lakeside about noon on Thursday. Time for the Midwest Birding Symposium 2011 at last! This time we are staying at the Hotel Lakeside, built in 1873. It was very windy and the lake was choppy and rough, but the boat cruise went on this evening.

On the way here we stopped at East Harbor State Park, and saw two unfamiliar gulls. Looked them up- greater black-backed gull and Bonapartes gull-two new birds for us!

Vacation

Wednesday evening we stayed in Port Clinton, Ohio. This is the view from our motel windows.

Started off Tuesday to drive to Shipshewana, IN; but the car broke down on the way about 30 miles west of South Bend. So we spent the afternoon in a repair shop there. It was a nice one though, with a waiting room and a beautiful ladies room! Made it to Shipshewana that evening, found our hotel, ate supper and slept. Wed. morning we went shopping - I got to go to Lolly's quilt shop (woo hoo!) We had a nice lunch, then on to Port Clinton. Took the Jet Express to Put-In-Bay - saw a bald eagle flying low right over us just as we were pulling out of the harbor; also cormorants, gulls of course and a bird I couldn't identify- it put me in mind of a pelican- will check the guide to see if I can figure it out. Had a good supper and walked around Put-In Bay. It was raining a little as we got off the boat back in Port Clinton. It was very windy during the night, but the clouds were breaking up and the moon was still out in morning.

Happy Summer Solstice

Sunlight shining in my north windows (living room and sewing room) which only happens around solstice time.

Spring Conference at Pilgrim Park

Last weekend I went to UU Women's Connection Spring Conference at Pilgrim Park; a quiet and peaceful retreat center in a little valley near the Illinois River. The highlight was a lovely and powerful circle on Sat. evening-but the whole weekend was very enjoyable. Wonderful to be with like-minded women.

Mother's Day

 

Had a nice service at church, talk was about the founder of Mother's Day - Julia Ward Howe- the day was originally for peace, to put an end to sending mother's sons off to war. Service included our flower communion, I got this peony to take home. I need to replant a peony bush to replace the one I lost last spring.

More Flowers

Spring Flowers

We're having a beautiful spring. Here are some flowers from my window,yard and along the Rock Springs trail.

Great time in Milwaukee the last weekend in Feb. for UU CMwD Women and Religion WomanSpirit conference. Starhawk was keynote speaker!

Goodbye to February

Evening Stars quilt done, icicles, poinsettia blooming for Valentine's Day.

Deer Visitors

These pictures were taken this morning from inside the house. Our owl was also here, in the redbud tree that overhangs the deck.

Christmas Eve

My reliable "holiday" cactus is blooming for Christmas - it also blooms at Easter and Thanksgiving. I put up the medium size tree this year in the upstairs living room, Christmas slipped up on me pretty fast this year. At UUFD we had a very lovely service on Christmas eve - lots of music, carols and a dance followed by treats brought by everyone.

Happy Winter Solstice!

I had just finished decorating the tree and was looking out the winter and there on a branch nearby was our owl visitor looking at us. (double click on the picture to get a close-up view)

Lilias Calendar after 32 Years!

 

I first saw this calendar back in 1977 when this calendar was originally published for the year 1978. I had started watching Lilias, Yoga and you on PBS in 1973; and on lucky days when both my babies were asleep at the same time- I could do the practice. I was living near Springfield, saw the calendar in a bookstore at Fairhills mall, picked it up and wanted it, but didn't have the money. When I went back 2 weeks later when I had the money; there were all gone. I've occasionally thought about it, esp. when I've gone by Fairhills mall (the bookstore isn't even there anymore) "oh, I wish I could have gotten that calendar".
Fast forward to the year 2009, and on Lilias' website I saw that the calendar has been reissued with the same photos and text, but just the year changed to 2010. I shouted with joy and ordered it immediately, received it today! After 32 years the universe has granted my wish!
On her TV show at the end she would say something like "thank you for coming to class, and someday our paths will cross" -- well, in 2004 I was offered a free trip to Omega Institute in New York in exchange for accompanying a UU friend there for her workshop on chant; Lilias was there at the same time, so I took her class and did meet her in person! I was thrilled! I went back to Omega for her workshop the following year also - by myself.

UUFD Weiner Roast

On October 3 we wentto a member's farm near Assumption for a weiner roast. It was drizzling a light rain and was fairly chilly for the first part of the evening, so we cooked around the fire and then went back inside to eat. Later, the weather started to clear up so we went back outside to toast marshmallows and make somemores.
As the full moon came out from behind the clouds, the coyotes started to sing. When the clouds covered it again, they stopped. It was a fun time, and then I heard a great horned owl as I was leaving. I enjoy weiner roasts a lot, and will always remember the ones when I was growing up on the farm, back in the timber when the elms were dying. We had some big fires! Especially for my birthday party, Dad took my friends back to the timber on a haywagon, Mom made hot chocolate, it was my favorite birthday.

Walk to Pond

Morning walk to Kingfisher Pond, the egret was there again today. Also I took a picture of "The Scream" tree.

A Wedding at Allerton

Terry was asked by Erica to play his singing bowls and native American flute at her "fairy tale" wedding. It was held in the sunken garden at Allerton Park; and also featured fairies, her dog as ring bearer, dancers, Scottish sword ceremony, the groom and bagpiper in kilts!, butterflies, and African drummers. It was very hot, but a lovely sunny day and a beautiful and unique wedding. The reception was in Decatur by the lake, and very nicely decorated. A fun day!

It's also my Cody's 13th birthday!

Paul McCartney and Stephen Colbert

Went to Paper Warehouse to buy a card for my dear son's 37th (yikes!) birthday tomorrow. While there I scored this 2009 Beatles calendar for 70% off. Whoo-hoo!
Earlier this week, Paul McCartney was on The Colbert Report- I don't think Paul was pleased with (or didn't get) Stephen's persona at first, but when Stephen started a duet with him of Paul's songs, he really warmed up and played along. (Or maybe he was just acting perturbed in the beginning.)