Blurry Robin

On our walk today, Riley noticed some fat robins sitting in a crab tree, next to a very tall snow bank. Next thing I knew, he jumped to the top of the snow bank and nearly "got" a robin. Good thing the robins were awake. Or alert. Pardon the terrible picture. I really do need a new camera. The focus on this one isn't working anymore.

Later, as we finally were able to move on (no robins coming back to the tree), I realized that I was hearing birds chirping and seeing birds flying around. It's been so cold here in Maine that it is usually silent except for the sounds of snow blowers and plows. So birdsong. And robins. And sunshine. This may just be that January thaw "tease" we have in mid winter. And then February beats us down again. Though, I think winter just about gave up by Valentine's Day last year.

The Chicken Marsala was fantastic, G said. I didn't eat any. So I drew 4 stars at the top of the recipe card so I would know that it's a good card. I sauteed, reduced, finished with butter. I even piled and then twisted the pasta on the plate for excellent presentation.

I painted fabric yesterday and worked on my Chair. In fact, I now have a positive and a negative image of the chair. I just need to get the sewing machine going and stitch the two chairs down. I enjoyed painting. I, of course, didn't have the colors of paint I wanted, but in the end what I did have was exactly what was needed. Funny how that happens. There is a recognizable style in my work when I use my own painted fabric.

I came up with an idea for some fabric Valentine's that I could possibly sell for the coming holiday. I don't know whether I have enough time to get it done and into a retail venue. But I will keep working on the prototype. And another idea for Mother's Day. I want to keep it pretty simple because it is production work and that can be so boring. Both are very small and therefore inexpensive, IF I don't over do the amount of time it takes to make the things.

I could use the money to buy a camera.