Thursday, March 8, 2012

Spring is in the air, or at least in the trees...


Although Spring is not yet here, there are buds on the still bare trees, though not enough buds to cover last summer's paper wasp nests. This one is well over a foot across. When Spring truly arrives, a big wind will likely knock this out of the tree, and construction will begin anew.


Spring is certainly eminent now: we went to the river trail for a walk, and Mama Owl is in her new nest. It's in the same tree as she was in last year, but she has moved to a new branch. Being in the nest alone so far, she had herself hunkered down so that only her ears show over the top of the nest. I'm not sure her nest construction is completed, as it is not as big as last years nest. Three babies would definitely not fit in this nest. So, either she will make it bigger, or maybe she will lay fewer eggs? We will keep an eye on her, but I will try to keep from posting as many photos of her as I did last year. I'm pretty excited, though, because my grandkids will be coming for their Spring Break, so they will get to see her in her nest.

It occurs to me that both Mama Owl and the paper wasps are quite amazing fiber artists in their own right. Paper wasp nests are truly amazing, especially when you can see the  honeycomb structure inside. Mama Owl's nest isn't quite as tidy this year as in the past, which is why I am wondering if it is still a work in progress. But for her to weave a basket-like home for herself and her owlets in the crook of a tree branch is pretty wonder-full stuff, as fiber art goes!

On my own fiber art front, I have been making good progress on the Nativity tapestries, and am truly enjoying my weaving time. In fact, I haven't been this weaving-obsessed for a long time. It seems that every other thing I am doing right now is just an interruption of what I want and need to be doing in the studio. I will post photos in a few days.

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