It Looks Nice Enough

What is that color in the background? We haven't seen it for a while. It's not that color usually associated with some holiday everyone is celebrating today, It's not covered with those squished circles with a point on one end and two lobes on the other. Truth is, pink makes me nervous and hearts are too... round... sentimental... freeform. I like blue or yellow, squares, things with points and hard edges.

There you have it. I'm blue and prickly, and happy to be so. It was a pretty day, but WINDY. Grand Rapids recorded their windiest Valentine's Day ever with gusts of 40 mph. Here, the pine trees were littering the frozen lawn and I had to bring the tarp that covers the snowblower inside to keep it in the neighborhood.

One Small Project Done, One Giant Step Up the Learning Curve

If you remember, on January 16, I posted about some projects in progress. One of them was a pair of pajamas for Om. Well, I finished them today. The pattern of the fabric sort of obscures the shape- the legs are folded up, just to fit them in the picture. Any further pictures will probably have a body in them. Om has them on, and says they feel good.

So what's the big deal about a simple pair of pajamas? Why did they take me so long to finish? Previously (in a "past life"), I could knock out a couple of pairs of pajamas in an afternoon. Well, the big deal is what you see in the next picture.



This is the Janome Memory Craft 9000 sewing machine. It's my introduction to electronic sewing machines. I'm sort of buying it from a friend. The "sort-of" comes in because I haven't paid her anything yet. I'm finding it frustrating to learn how to do the simplest things... things I could practically do with my eyes closed on any machine made in the previous 120 years.

Now, everything about sewing machines has changed. I decided I needed a really simple project, one that wouldn't be a total crisis if I messed it up. I've had to look up how to do everything... just to reverse at the end of a seam to hold the stitching is a project. How do I zig-zag? How do I wind the bobbin? How does this one thread? How do I change the stitch length?

I can do all of those things now, although some of them are not the comfortable, easy movements they've always been. I think I'm going to keep the machine... at some point I want to learn how to use the fancy stuff... but I don't want simple stitching to be such a trial. Sigh. But I need a sewing machine. I've beat three of them into the ground and don't have a single one that works, unless I keep this one.

See Projects in Progress

SPW Ski Outing at Big M

Today was the monthly outing for the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the NCTA (just read trail club). For several Februaries now, we've had a ski day and chili feed at the Big M Ski Area. A couple more people showed up before the day was over, but it was a small turnout. Here we are, and yes, that's Om behind me. Every once in a while, I can get him into the woods.



And, indeed, he not only went for the chili, but went out with us on the Corkpine Trail.



After that, he'd had enough, but Loren and I also did the Lumberjack Trail, the other easy loop. My skill level isn't good enough for any other trails at Big M (I think). It's a tough set of loops, and I'm not very brave on skis.



This is just a pretty spot where the trail curves past some red pines. It was a fun day. The only downside is that Maggie doesn't get to go to places where the ski trails are groomed.

See SPW Trail Club Outing, Feb 2009 See Snow Fun at Big M, Feb 2010

Fox's Breakfast

I love following how my little fox friend makes his rounds and works on the business of survival. He tends to walk, more often than not, in the paths that my snowshoeing has compacted. Wild animals don't want to expend extra energy floundering through deep snow if they don't have to.

These past few days when it's been so cold, I wonder when the critters get a break so they can find a meal. Well, I know what the fox had for breakfast yesterday.


There's one less pigeon to flutter around the grain elevator now. That's ok. They have it easy, just picking up free grain, and getting plump. I'm happy to know that one of them served a good purpose.

See Where the Fox Went See But Is It Sylvia?

Ford Lake - On the Job

I haven't had very many assignments for my new job this week, but I went out to do a couple this afternoon. One of them was on Ford Lake, near the small village of Fountain. Although it's only about 16 miles from me, I don't think I'd ever been there. It does have a public access site, so I need to get it added to Get Off The Couch. But I'll need to visit again in warmer weather to get better data. Now I know just where to go!

As you can see, the ice is solid and snowmobiles have been running across the surface. Not a problem with the temperatures we've been having!



Here's a view that's a little more artistically framed. The tree on the left is an alder, probably spotted alder, with some dried reeds frozen in the ice a bit farther out.



But, this one is my favorite. It's just some soft-stem bulrush poking through the ice. But I think it looks like two lines of writing in some exotic alphabet.

Nothing very unique... just a place that was new to me, and I'm sharing it with you.