Nature Journal Winter 2025

 

Hi everyone! It could hardly be a more wintery day, temps in the 30s, gale winds, heavy rain that earlier wanted to be be sleet. Flood alert, no view of the Pink Full Moon.  Mo is not well but improved, he did take meds and eat. Tail unfurled, always a bad sign.

Today we're looking at my Perpetual Nature Journal, entries for this winter of 2025.

I sketched my finds weekly but didn't finish them until I was recovering from both Covid and then an IV treatment. So I am all caught up now. 

Possibly out of order, here goes:

Winter Hydrangea on the right/ last year hydrangea leaves in bud on the left.

Amaryllis bulb

Wild grape vine. I love the curlicue shoots

Random storm blown leaf, much more olive grey than my drawing/ photos

Last of the Locust leaves, again found after a storm. I thought it was a fern at first.

 

one of my more successful page layouts 

Crepe myrtle pods and seeds

No drawings for a few covid weeks, recorded the event instead

Grosbeak in the trees, migratory visitor

google image

Drying daffodil stem, trying for a soft airy result

Pressed tulip petals

Pink Full Moon April 12. [rained out] Inspired by Flying Geese's Pink Moon antique quilts collection and sale. Pink Moon Quilt Collection  I'm so inspired by this quilt curator, 15% of all her sales contributed to funding women's issues. She also hand washes every quilt she sells--which is a huge thing, to be buying a fresh clean textile. @_flying.geese_ 

English Ivy [evergreen vine / very invasive here]. This was a fun project. IG artist Louise May Watson

@louisemaywatson  had been so encouraging, personally messaging me with ideas. Then she did this fun Ivy post, for people who aren't confident at drawing. "Draw around it!" I was amused to see such a ''cheat'' by an amazingly accomplished artist. How fun! 

Mo and I hiked off one cold day to find ivy. It is invasive here and much hated, though I remember how proud my grandma was of her ivy, brought from her ancestral home in Alsace France. Anyway, the only  ivy was on my friends''  grey fence. The ivy is now neglected and allowed to grow since they moved away 5 years ago, April 1st. Mo was so excited o ''visit them''--then he cried when we didn't go into their once beautiful secret garden and see our best friends.

 I admit I cried a little too. We usually avoid their house now, wonderful memories but sad---the good times, those best times,  are now gone. 

I snipped my ivy leaves and we trudged home, trying to be upbeat about about our success so far. I enjoyed the drawing and painting later. Funny how a couple of little leaves can be so evocative.

Back home, the gathering bowl. It has beautiful to me bottles and a few shells. Left to right: beach found* w stopper I made years ago; Mason jar found back of  my mom's cupboard; chewing tobacco/ spit jar from Mel w original lid. So ick, so pretty though. I love it. My SIL used to collect these for her handmade candles.

Thanks for looking!

Having a great week.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

This is what, with blog friend Jean's help, we think was the original look of the seaglass bottle my friend found. Colgate Toilet Water, 1915

And gale wind whipping the ugly locust outside my window. Sorry right now I can't figure out how to turn it right way up.

*mystery bottle: beautiful clear glass, blown in a mold w hand finished neck and lip---but modernish " ' ' ' / " / markings on the bottom; no seaglass patina but found on tideline after a storm. Originally had a cork that dried and disintegrated. Volume about 1 pint.

Delayed

 

Today's blog post will be delayed, will post hopefully tomorrow or Sunday, then Easter stuff next Thursday or Friday. 

Mo woke up again in terrible pain and distress; has responded to meds. But we're exhausted. See you soon as possible.

love

lizzy and Mo

April! ~ Random Thoughts, Finds---and More Pansies

 

Well, yes, it's April, spring has arrived.

You can see why I am not a fan. 

But the grocery guy brought me pansies. I was pretty amazed. They had 6" pansy pots listed on the weekly flyer but they never ever deliver live plants.

Arent they so pretty. I love how the shopper chose two different but coordinating pots.

The pansies always make me smile. Of course it's too cold to put them out yet, might have a frost this next week. Prob I 'll set them out on nice days, if any, til May.

In honor of the sweet surprise, I covered  a rectangular pillow with the green pansy print from a few posts back. Just a fold and pin, for fun. It's how I audition cushion covers.

I know the sofa looks ridiculously over-pillowed. Must move something to the window sofa .

More spring flowers and early Easter decor.

These are tiny chickens by the feedsack animals artist. 

Gifted from my  brother who wrote: "If you can't afford eggs, at least you'll have chickens." 

Bunny and pig by same artist who sells at Springfield OH flea. I must have him get the person's name.

Pics from my brother, too---his big collection of Lego flowers. Legos for grown ups. Who knew!

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Some online shopping and interesting things:

From Claire at Chickenpants, darling Pug graphic [I think it's a sticker]. Chickenpants shop online HERE   She is also on IG and has a newsletter. Solo woman/ business.

And darling strawberry Pugs. Right now available as a t shirt but maybe Spoonflower yardage too in the future. Wow I'd love a quilt with a pug print backing, adorable.

Springtime means new sneakers and I found these. Oh so Lizzy, they come already distressed and dirty. I hate big ol' clumpy bright white sneakers. However. They cost approximately $685.00. It is me, or is that expensive? I for one cannot afford almost 700.oo for shoes.

So cool tho.

Anticipating summer I ordered these solar lights for my deck.

Amazon calls them ''fireworks lights'' but to me they are dandelion ''clocks'' [seed heads]. They're so cute, I tried one out then brought them all in til summer actually comes---3 months! That's better than 6 or 9, right?

And a find for cracked painful fingertips. My thumbs especially are prone to cracking in the cold weather. Very painful and they bleed, makes it hard to sew or knit. Anyway I started using this Gold Bond hand cream in January. It really did seem effective both in preventing and healing the cracks. It does last through many hand washings. Not expensive. Amazon. [caveat--while I was so sick w Covid I did very little dishwashing or housework which may have also helped promote healing. Still--worth a try?] PS Other Gold Bond products are okay but nothing special, Curel makes a better general moisturizer, for ex.

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Mo is doing well, though on strong meds. He has gone on two outdoor walks, once in the rain! And up and down the stairs. Maybe soon he and I will do a daffodil hunting walk again. Keep us in your thoughts.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....