Apple Blossom

I planted this apple tree several years ago. This is the first year I have seen blooms on the 4 ft. tall tree. It is loaded with blooms. Maybe someday I will eat apples from this tree. 

STEM Haiku

A haiku is a short poem that follows a 3 line pattern of 5-7-5 syllables written in present tense usually about an experience in nature or the seasons. Here is my haiku that relates to STEM (science, technology, engineering & math).

Building for respite

Protection from predators

Strength for all weather.

Aunt Charlene

My Dad's baby sister, Charlene seemed so much older.
I now realize she was only seven years older than I am.
When I was ten, she would take me to the cafe to get a Coke.
Charlene only sipped and never finished the drink.
She talked and told stories the entire time.
She'd get so tickled as she told me stories of her life.
I was too young to understand the funny parts of her stories.
I quickly drank my Coke and thought we should leave.
I was too young to understand the art of conversing at leisure.

Our lives took different directions.
We never made time to visit over a Coke.
I would have understood her stories if we had.
She would have listened to my stories of life.
The last morning she read her birthday cards.
Her husband fixed lunch and they took an afternoon nap.
Charlene could not be awakened.
She passed on her birthday.
Her husband said recently she had cut back to only one Coke a day.

May Apples

The May Apple is starting to emerge. On a recent walk to the pond with my Golden Retriever, Ellie, we spied these small shoots. It won't be long before they are sprouting all over the woods.

I was reminded of a quote by Aldo Leopold, "The wild things that live on my farm are reluctant to tell me, in so many words, how much of my township is included within their daily or nightly beat... Who is the more thoroughly acquainted with the world in which he lives?"

Ellie and I are trying to acquaint ourselves with our acreage, but we find something curiously new with each foray into the woods. I am trying to pay close attention to what surrounds me, while Ellie always has her nose to the ground.

Future Studio

This is the south facing view from the loft studio/apartment I am in the process of completing. I took this picture in February and plan to continue taking pictures of the view so I can document seasonal changes.

The room has plenty of natural light. I plan to have lots of shelves to store books and supplies.  The area will provide workspace room so I can work on various projects. It will also have a kitchen, sitting area, bath and a Murphy Bed for overnight guests.

I've collected pictures of other studios for inspiration. The goal is to have the space completed before June.  Right now I have lots of stuff in the upstairs hall. It's scattered on my desk and not conducive to creating or concentrating. I hope to use the studio as a place to relax, dream, read, teach and create.

Here you can see part of the south facing window and one of the higher windows along the sides.