call me Granny!

It's normal, in the course of feeling like time flies, for the days to pass into years. Maybe it was even normal, when I had children, for the years to pass much faster. Before I knew it, my sons were out of college and married to wonderful young women. I went from young bride to new mom to mother-in-law in a blink. 

And now, I have such happy news to share: my oldest son and his wife just had a baby boy!

I am now a grandmother. And that is an exquisite new role I love and cherish.

I didn't expect to be completely captivated and head over heels in love with this perfect magical boy, my grandson. Aiden. I am putty in his little starfish shaped hands.

You can call me Granny now. No kidding!

For the birds

As you have gathered, I love wildlife refuges and birding. One of my all-time favorite places to go is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Because it is close to my home, I go there often. Today the weather was changeable and the rain discouraged me from painting, but I was thrilled to go to the Refuge.

How different it is for me to go to a park where for a quarter, anyone can buy a sack of breadcrumbs and seed and the once-wild birds come close to the sack-holders in an unnatural way.

Birds in the Park

Natural caution lost

you pursue grain filled hands

lazy, survival sure

and greed

I walk among you

whispering fly north

to the Wildlife Refuge

where you can live secure and free

Ignorance is taking comfort

in captivity and bondage

calling it a good life.