Dear me, I meant to write this post for this month’s full moon, but since we are getting ready to dye eggs for Easter today, I suppose this is just as well: In colonial America, the full moons of early spring were called Egg Moons. The longer days and increased light of the season stimulated [...]
Entries Tagged as 'seasons'
Tiptoe (and Bicycle) Through the Tulips
April 18th, 2011 · 3 Comments
This weekend we were getting ready for the Tulip Pedal planned by our friend Nancy. She’d invited some folks for a day of cycling around the Skagit Valley–home of the famous tulip fields–with her family cabin as base camp. The chicks discovered our helmet-decorating project, with much cuteness ensuing: Dressed to celebrate, we cycled around [...]
Spontaneous Spring Baking (and a nice scone recipe)
April 5th, 2011 · 3 Comments
This morning I had a million things to do, but there was sun was shining into the kitchen for the first time in days, and it felt so warm and welcoming. All I needed for complete happiness was a basket of something delicious to go alongside my cup of tea. In spite of the sun [...]
Sledding in the Dark
January 12th, 2011 · 9 Comments
Last night, just as the forecasters said it would, snow began to fall at about 6:30. The entire city had been holding its breath, waiting, and we were not disappointed. We were hit with a gorgeous, swirling blizzard, right on schedule. The forecasters also told us that the snow would turn to rain and become [...]
Tags: seasons
Go Outside! My Autumn Office…
November 16th, 2010 · 9 Comments
Tom has a poster in his study, hanging right over his computer. It was created by Claire, and features a flower, a buzzing bee, and the words: “Daddy! Go Outside!” (Sometimes he accidentally gets stuck in the interweb…) Recently I heard myself think, “Glad it’s so damp and chilly, now I can stay in and [...]
Tags: seasons, urban nature
Day of the Dead Cookies
November 1st, 2010 · 8 Comments
November 2nd marks the Mexican Day of the Dead–Dia de los Muertos–a time for honoring and celebrating the memory of departed loved ones. Skeletons are everywhere in the artwork that attends the festivities, all dressed up as they would be in life–making music, baking break, riding horseback… This year Claire and I decided to celebrate [...]
The Mushroom of All Hallow’s Eve
October 31st, 2010 · 3 Comments
This year, Claire decide to be an Amanita muscaria mushroom for Halloween. We raided the scrap basket, and made over an old umbrella: Real Amanitas have white stems rather than brown, but Claire didn’t have any warm clothes in white, and we made a bet that the general public wouldn’t notice. And of course we [...]
Tags: seasons, Uncategorized
Camp Tangled Nest: Why We Love Sleeping In Our Backyard Tent
August 22nd, 2010 · 11 Comments
We’ve been off camping in the Olympic Peninsula’s Hoh Valley all week. Beautiful! But it’s always nice to be back at Camp Tangled Nest. When summer comes, we spend most nights in our plenty-big, extra-cozy backyard tent. Last year we stayed out there into October! Here’s why: Tom: Despite the occasional raccoon grunting past in [...]
Tags: seasons, urban nature
Baby Bushtits and Late Spring Birdlife
May 30th, 2010 · 6 Comments
Yesterday my friend Kathryn emailed a few photos of the freshly-fledged Bushtits in her plum tree. That same day, I heard adult Bushtits chirping in our yard, and followed them to the lilac tree and our own little cluster of newly emerged Bushtits. I love how they huddle, all smooshed together in a little group. [...]
Tags: birds, seasons, urban nature
The Spring Garden: Lows and Highs
May 16th, 2010 · 7 Comments
It’s been a strange spring in Seattle, and all the gardeners I know have been a little off, including (maybe especially) myself. First, we had a freakishly warm late winter/early spring. While our biological selves still felt that they should be huddled by the fire sipping tea, the weather was telling us we should be [...]
