Wisconsin's June has sliped in without notice, how can that be?

Somehow May has disappeared before I could even record it!

Why does time fly when I am having fun?

June finds our earth green once more,

Summer flowers have started to appear,

My heart is light, and my soul is bright,

Joy fills the day with wonder

and I Celebrate! 

This tree peonies is huge almost the size of the stepping stones next to it.
The rain drops add to its splendor.

Further away I can compare the tremendous size to
its surroundings in this picture.

Columbine even seem bigger this Spring!  I went out 6:00 a.m. to take
pictures on my daily walk around looking for the surprises that might
have appeared .  The night rains that we had still cling to her delicate
skin.  The early morning light gave her the intense depth.

 

As I quietly slip into the next garden room my eyes gaze on the old  sink  Dick set into  antique wood barrel.
Something my married son had and didn't use, so gave it to me.  It fit perfect and this morning it was brim full from the rain we had.  Using it for a birdbath, I will have to find the right size stone to put in, safely giving the birds a place to perch and sip the fresh water.



                                  I love birdbaths almost as much as my collection of bird houses.                      

Nestled into a wild looking area blue ceramic pot holders make neat birdbaths.
We had to have a big Ash tree that died last year cut down so used some
of the peaces to hold the birdbaths.

In the upper gardens the areas are nearly wild.  Have lots of shady spots
and yes places for the birds to get water.
We had a very severe cold winter which delivered many, many below zero degree days which brought many very hungry deer into my gardens.  Here the Walking Stick shrub was munched on and also died back to just a few leaves sprouting out.  Behind it is a huge rock that was hidden before but I fill the natural hallow with water as a bird bath in the upper gardens.

Sometimes what seems like a disaster, turns out as a benefit.  Really
opened this area up and the statue stands out as clearly as the rock
bird bath behind it.

With the abundance of rain storms this spring everything has grown twice its size.  The coolness of June in this picture taken at 10:00 this morning is so inviting.  I love to take a walk about each day with my camera at my side ready to record all the eye candy that I see.  This arbor has benches in between it's two sides inviting all to rest a bit.
it leads to the 2nd upper gardens

Entrance to 3rd upper gardens is also shaded.  The Cedar trees show
empty branches from the deer feeding on them last winter.  High as
they could reach on their hind feet.

Another entrance into the third upper garden that Dick helped me make years ago.
    I had seen the movie The Secret Garden and asked him to build me the stone wall and gate with the pillars accenting each side of it.  Usually I hear it can't be done from him, but after talking about it for weeks on end, Dick figures it out, and starts by talking to a mason, who told him that in Wisconsin you need a 4ft. cement foundation under it to prevent cracking and that each layer of rocks had to be done in sections different times letting the concrete dry.  It was a summer long project because I wanted it to look like an old barn had been there and only a corner was left.  I loved the close by property that we traveled past while going into town each day which had a barn, with only the foundation left.   Lots of native over growth and vines graced the picture I held firmly in my mind.  I often pointed it out to Dick as we whizzed by in the car.  The scene slowly developed first as a special dream, to a strong need, and today reality, gracing my eyesight as I take my daily walk through all the different gardens.  Most all my gardens started out that way.  A picture I see in a magazine, a movie, something I see along the road as we drive and usually Dick can build the objects needed, and I fill in with plans of flowers, bushes, and trees to make this nature wonderland we live in today.  All the land held was a corn field on a hill and valley next to a Hickory, & Oak, woods with a stream babbling through it 29 years ago when we bought it.

Another setting that Dick added table and seats made out of limbs
from trees and old barn boards.

As I enter the path that takes me
down to the horse barn I pass the chicken coop which has two new apple trees in back of it.  We planted these trees a few years ago and now they are first developing apples.  After this harsh winter we just went through, the sight of all these apples beginning their summer growth made me smile in delight.  I will be watching this exciting surprise in nature the next couple months to see how they are doing.

This same entrance brings me through another dream picture I had many years ago of Crab apple trees lining a path with planters filled with flowers.  To the left is the new birdhouse garden that I still am developing.  A feisty wren that took up residency, scolds me when ever I work around this area.  Love that tune, thought it was singing to me and other bird experts informed me that she was scolding because I was too close to her new home.  

This is the birdhouse garden in the month of May.  Dick had just placed the center beam in with my new birdhouse I got for my birthday.  It still has a lot of work to be done in the gardens that surround it.  But little by little this summer I will get things ripped out, other plants replace what has outgrown its space.  The beam has vines on it from a honeysuckle bush we had transplanted but it did not survive.  The dead vines will stay and support the new honey suckle vine we placed there. Hummingbirds love the flower.

     Just like some Miracles in life, dreams sometimes take time to develop and happen.  Trusting God to take care a difficult situation in life,  trusting Dick to figure out how he can help me put my dream into place.  Somehow they are connected aren't they?  When a dream does not go away or when my prayers just won't stop life develops into God's Plan - My Plan.  I thank God and Dick everyday of my life for all these good things.  Dreams waiting to become reality.

Luke 6:43-45

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known 

by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. "

Blessing in abundance I pray for all of you!

Peace

Kate

Quiet Elegance of Wisconsin's - Merging into Spring Time.

Each new day brings surprises

Dawn brings another day.  It is predictable that morning rises.  But with Wisconsin
Spring it might mean 40-60 degrees or then it might be only 17 above 0 degrees the
next morning.  It might be raining when you go to bed, and wake with a couple inches
of snow covering the day.  But in April that snow quickly melts in the central part of our state.

 

  With the snow melted away, the warm sun quickly starts to green the pasture fields.  The horses already nibble the new shoots coming up. The plowed fields are open and ready to dry out enough for the local farmer to set seed in the field we let him use.  Last year he put in soybeans, this year, well it could be corn, we never know.
      Out back in the wooded area the deer already have settled down to finding the perfect spot for her new fawn to be born.  There is a pond back there so no need to come to the creek that runs through our front woods.

 Domestic Crocus have pushed their way up through the thawed ground.  A hail
storm with a couple inches of snow did not defer it to wilt or die.
Spring growth have a toughness about it and seem to carry a
special glory of their own.  Rejoicing that our Great Creator
has released them from the tiny bulb beneath the
 frozen tundra of Wisconsin soil.

  

Wood hyacinths come in several

shades of blue, depending on how much sun they get.

As I walked through the woods with my camera late afternoon I noticed many things that were just as beautiful as the flowers were.

Fungus growing on a dead branch looked like sea shells.
The white compared to the grayish colored bark was stunning!

A close up picture shows the intricate artful texture.  Nature is God's smile in our world.  Only God could create this big wonderful world.  It certainly put a smile in my walking around the woods today!

I constantly took pictures at every turn in the path.

This picture was on a large tree.  The bark was rough and different colors.

As I turned around a group of new growth was pushing up, noticing in the wet area near the creek it was beginning to show the pointed beak of the skunk cabbage in the picture below.

Skunk cabbage was given the funny name because it smells horrid if the stem or leaf is broken off.  The red buds are the flower of sorts.  Pushes up through the leaves and very moist soil and turns green as shown in the middle of the two blossoms.  It likes shady areas and of course wet feet but not under deep water.

Red dogwood in the woods has turned this bright red and the growth from
 last year is a contrast on the lower  older gray stem it grew from. The brightness
is caused by the surge of new life from the warm sun.  I always watch during the month of March
 the dull red color of last years stem until they turn this bright red, a sure sign that spring is finely here!

 The Hickory tree bark is a lot more noticeable in the spring.  The shaggy bark is an art peace of its own.                                                                                                                                                                  

Looking up towards the top,on this cloudy day made it look almost spooky.

The soft almost lime colored moss looks nicely compared to the gray 

rock that surrounds it.  It is in bloom and oh so soft feeling.

Coltsfoot flowers coming up first, leaves are following, nestled in between
 twigs, and branches, they also love wet feet.  What is yukky for humans
to walk on, is heaven to the wetland plants.  These coltsfeet are near our creek
 that floods in spring therefore making perfect soil for their growth.  

Close up showing flower and leaves surrounding it as it ages.  The leaves will be
the size of a bushel basket by mid summer.

 Picture below shows where the creek flooded its banks and eroded the soil, making it mushy for the Coltsfoot to propagate and also it can move under ground by root connection. What one would think a catastrophe is what prepared the life giving nourishment and environment  for the life of the Coltsfoot. This process of the Coltsfoot is very slow so therefore not that aggressive and can be dug out to put in another spot that erodes.  It grows as tall as humans so also can be used as a privacy barrier.  We just let it do its thing the past 29 years and it is beautiful.  I first saw it at the Milwaukee Botanical Gardens and it took me a few years to finely discover a garden center that sold it.

The Virginia Blue Bell is close by to the creek but likes it a little dryer.  The deep black purplish green leaves are startling to see at first.

Sharing the same area Gingers soft fuzzy leaves 

just barely showing next to the Virginia Blue Bells

Hole at the bottom of this tree housed some critter
that hibernated all winter and pushed his way out of the hole not too long ago.

     As I leave the wooded area I walk up to the upper gardens that are domesticated and carefully placed.  They hold a more orderly fashion.  Groomed and pampered the past 28 years, still natural but 

hold an expected array of beauty.  I am not surprised with their growth, I have seen it many years, but it still gives me that smile.  Knowing what the flower will be, knowing I will have to wait for its summer month to bloom.  A contented feeling.  While in the woods I am like a child looking here and there for a thrill which only spring can bring me.  Summer the woods become deep shade, flowers are scarce. The domesticated gardens then are in all their glory full of bloom and beauty.  

Peonies stems poke through the soil, a bright crimson red.
Latter turning to the deep summer green.

Miniature Daffodils are the first to blossom in the formal gardens.

Columbine Stems pushing upward look like a
 flower in its lime green Spring dress up.

                                                           

The light blue hycine is a domesticated flower I bought out of a bulb catalogue.  It is very delicate and only a few inches above the ground.  Easy to miss if I am not searching for it.  I place it in a special place in the gardens to high light the other empty spots yet to be filled with sleeping perennials merging through the cold soil.

Luke our Airedale greets Miraculous.  They kiss greetings by rubbing noses.  Ginger our pony turns her butt to Luke ready for defense attitude.  Miraculous the little Painted mini horse shows her vulnerability by rushing to greet Luke, trusting he will not harm her.  I am like both some times.  Worry about getting hurt, put up defense mechanisms like Ginger, and other times take a chance and open myself to others in greeting, not worrying about whether they will like me, hurt me, just let things happen....

My Scripture in quite time was Matthew 6:27-28 this morning.  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Blessing you all with

Faith

Love

Hope

Our Great God Hovers over you

Blesses you

and is closest to you in the pain 

of growing

Just like Winter leaving

troubles prepare us

for blessings

Flowers surge up from 

the frozen tundra

Christ also rose from death

is here in our midst

Trust Him

Love Him

His Grace is enough!

Love to you all!

Kate

Will Winter Ever Release Wisconsin ?

Another Day Of -9 Degrees Below Zero

This large deer is cutting across the back hill to get to the woods.

      Many deer come through at dusk, traveling through our land to get to the back area on our 21 acres.  It is amazing how they survive in this bitter cold but we missed the many blizzard's and 12 inch snowfalls that the center of United States got. So there is a lot more food available for them this winter, compared to the deep snow we had last year when the deer were terribly skinny.

These two stopped to eat closer to our home.  Our large Airedale's
barking usually keeps them from coming too close.

It was -9 degrees below zero again this morning.  One benefit is we have the warm bright sun shinning in our  many large windows, and it actually saves on heating bills.  We have electric heat here, it is also a benefit, because many gas users had to scramble to find sources to buy from up in Northern Wisconsin.

    

 Because Ashma keeps me inside during the bitter cold  Dick has been doing chores down in the horse barn and the chicken areas.  He never gets sick and loves the cold.  He would stay outside all day if he could.   

Looking Down From The House At The Barn Area And The Chicken Coop

    Not being able to breath in the bitter cold, staying inside is my only option.   I spend many hours keeping busy with writing my first book, quilting, and this winter I got out many, (24) old photo books to look through and search out pictures.  Putting some on flash drive to save by scanning the picture and transferring it to computer, then to flash drive.  That's a first for me because I usually save it on disks.  Good to make this old mind learn something new.  

     Actually it was easy.  First scan the photograph on my HP  Photosmart 6520 printer which has a copy devise on top.  There is a computer in it that tells you all kinds of things like ink is low, gets almost frantic when I ignore it and use up the ink to the last drop :)  It told me how to do everything step by step with the scanning devise.

Picture shows scanner open with picture facing down.  Closing
the top lid, and pushing scan on the little computer in front of machine,
brings up the directions that lead me to putting it on my computer.

      Then I tapped it where it said computer and low and behold there it came up on my screen with lots more good advice.

My computer with screen which has the beginning of this blog
on it.

       I cannot tell you it was easy to figure that part out.  I got a new Windows 7 professional mother board with office professionaly as an extra.  My what an advanced set up it is compared to my old windows xp.  :)

But with lots of trials and tribulation this old brain figured it out and BINGO  got the picture off the computer into the flash drive which was plugged into my computer mother board before I even started with it all.  I have transferred hundreds and hundreds pictures the past week or more.  I use the Windows Photo Gallery on the computer which has oodles of advice on  it to get all the stuff done on the pictures.  I did a lot of cropping of the photos, which were saved to the portable flash drive.  Took lots of tryouts till I got what I wanted but went so easy with the rest of numerous pictures!

  

My mother board of  my computer's lower half with the
 orange flash drive
plugged into it.  

      Besides working on the many photo albums I also take hundreds of pictures of nature through my many windows because I cannot go out in the sub zero weather.  Luke our Airedale dog also is confined inside,  he just got a haircut and ends us shivering out there.  His potty breaks have to be fast or his feet get so cold.  He is constantly looking out the windows and when he starts to wine or bark I go for my camera.  There is usually deer out there or a rabbit, cat, etc to take picture of. The tri-pod is always ready which shows in the picture below.   Of course the camera is not in there, it is in my hands taking the picture.  :)   

Quilting is another of my loves!  I do mostly hand stitching for my quilts.  There is something about having that quilt on my lap and experience it getting bigger and forming into what I dreamed it to be.  

I made my son and his bride a King size quilt all hand pieced and quilted for their wedding.  But....  it took me 10 years to finish.  I told them I sure was glad they stayed married all that time so I could finely give them their wedding present!  The picture of the quilt I am working on was started way....back in the 1980's.  My mom stitched some of the Gramma's Flower Garden octagons, and I did the rest.  It sat for a few years in my quilting area waiting to get the edges finished.  I was not sure what I wanted to do with them.  I did not want the uneven edges to finish it off.  Did not want to put a boarder on it, and this year I finely decided to make a pattern for the uneven edge and fill it in to make it straight.  

Streight edge after filling in with small peaces.

Picture of the uneven edge and the pattern and piece I made
to fit in.  When I get finished sewing them in all by hand it
will give me a nice straight edge to bind.  I will use just a very
light batting, because it will be used for a summer covering.
When that is all done, it will have to go on the wooden quilt stand
which will be set up in the living room (no other spot big enough).
The finishing step would be the hand quilting along each octagon.
Emmmmm   might take me another 10 years to do that.  Mean while
I will enjoy touching and looking at the many pieces mom and I made.
Memories floating around much the same as the stitches being placed.

     I loved my mom.  She was such a big influence in my life.  She taught me to enjoy the simple things.  Take life as is.  We had thirteen kids in my family so there was a lot to take.  I think I treasure the most was memories of her quilting.  She did machine quilting and it was usually the star pattern if I can remember right.  My those quilts we all had on our beds sure took a lot of wear and tear.  Just like the life we lived. 

But mom gave us spirituality besides all the stitching to hold us together.  Her eternal hope in all things and not giving up just because it was hard, helped me many times in my own marriage when things got tough.  If I would call her and complain she would say, oh Kate, just bake a nice apple pie and when Dick gets home everything will be good again.  I still chuckle about that....  I soon learnt that it took more than a pie to keep a marriage together.  :)  Mom also did a lot of Rosemal Painting and had a little business selling it all.  She  did lots of flower gardens like I do now.  Homemade baking and cooking always had our home smell so good when entering the doorway.  Mom passed away more than ten years ago, but the memories are as if she still is here with me.  We never loose the spirit of our loved ones.

"I will not withhold My power and My glory from any seeking heart.

They who desire Me, I will surely reward:  I will not fail.

I will fill every longing heart and satisfy every craving soul.

My grace will I pour out as a tumbling waterfall.  

I shall be glorified, and I shall be magnified,

and I shall rejoice in My people, in that day

when they yield themselves fully and freely to Me.  

Yes, when they give themselves utterly to Me and cut loose

from all besides.  Then shall I cast My love about them

as a cloak, and I shall whisper My words in the ears."

Quote from book Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts

Tullips are bought from the store.  Quilted piece was made last year.  

   

Peace My Friends

Remember Spring is almost here.

Love to you and yours!

Kate