"Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh with your whole being. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be ALIVE.”
William Saroyan 

Needed this little message this morning.  It is so easy to fall into the habit of just existing. I don't need big excitement every day,  I can be happy just taking pleasure from things that are there already.  Operative word is taking.  Being alive is a concious decision, you have to be attentive or you will miss it.

Breaking news

We have an OWL!!!

As I write this it is enjoying the sunset view from the Irish Cottage chimney.  I dare not go closer lest I disturb it.  It's a spotted eagle owl.

Last year I received two owl houses for Christmas.  In June when we did winter pruning, we selected trees to put them up.  One behind my studio, and one next to the barn.  Owls need space, they don't like to live too close together.

Henning had to risk life and limb to mount them.  Fortunately he has a safety harness.

Owls like a south facing entrance, and they prefer a clear approach to the nest.
We had to trim quite a few branches.

 Once the nests were mounted, they were hardly visible.

I was told not to worry, the owls would find them.  It might take a few years before they decide to move in though...
Ever the optimist, I've been watching for signs of activity since the start of spring.
Oh how I wish the owl would decide to stay!

Owls are fantastic snake and rodent catchers.  Want your own owl house?  Find the details HERE

Strawberries, anyone?

I am trying my hand at making a cloth ball jointed doll.  Feeling pleased with the way it is coming together so far. 
Summer is a good time for eating healthy, I'm nibbling on fruit as I work.  At one point my doll turned into a handy strawberry holder!

I have also been making a little bit of progress with the ceramic mould project that I'm working on.  Soon I will be able to show you what that is all about.

Wishing you a good week!

Small pleasures

Over the weekend I pottered around in the garden, mostly pulling up weeds.  Henning brought a few baby koi home from the pet store so time was spent pond gazing.   I worked on my cloth Hittys and baked a batch of cookies.   Not a lazy weekend, but very relaxed.  Lovely!

I've been trying to make miniature thread spools.  These are 1:12 scale for a dolls house.  It's fiddly work, but I'm enjoying trying to make them look 'real'.

Wishing you a good week.