Lil's Garden Tour

Signal

2012-01-27T20:00:00.000-06:00

Retired signal from the Illinois Railway Museum, Union IL.

From the Shadows...

2012-01-24T09:27:00.000-06:00

...New life sprouts

Hunkered Down for the Storm

2012-01-20T23:22:00.000-06:00

Today was my day off, so I was happily holed up my my house, catching up on some neglected things (like my Blog) thankful that I didn't have to drive in the snowstorm.
Then the phone rings. Okay, no big deal, a few people know I have the day off. I answer.
"Hi Mom!" my son Eddie says cheerfully. "Guess what? I'm in a ditch!"
Okay~ I ask if he's okay. He says he's not hurt, he just slid off the road on his way to work and his truck is fine (little S10 Chevy), no damage, he's just stuck. Not to worry though, he's already called the tow truck and it's on it's way.
Okay good. I tell him to call me back when he gets out. We hang up. A couple of minutes later the phone rings again.... "Hey Mom, Guess what? I locked my keys in the truck and you have the only spare! Can you bring them to me?"
Sigh... So much for not going out today.
He went off the road across from the Illinois River Lock and Dam Visitors Center. I grabbed my camera on the way out thinking I might as well get a few shots of the river while I'm there.
The roads were a mess, it was slow going, but I saved the day (again) and made it in one piece.
By the time I got there, the tow truck had pulled him out and was long gone. One of the people who worked at the Visitor Center was kind enough to let Eddie sit with him in his car until I got there~ Yes, there are still good people out there! Thank you Bob!

The snow was really coming down now. The Geese above were hunkered down for the night, heads tucked down against the snow. The looked quite comfortable.

And the other side of the river was barely visible.

I snapped my pictures and then we drove slowly home.

Snow Covered

2012-01-20T15:17:00.001-06:00

Dust of Snow

Robert Frost

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I rued.

Okay, I've had enough already! Bring back the warm!

It Finally Snowed!

2012-01-14T18:25:00.000-06:00

Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL

It snowed two days ago actually. This was the first time I could get out with the camera.
I must admit, I wasn't thrilled when it started snowing because I was at work had to drive home in the middle of the storm. I'm am a transplanted Illinoisan and driving on snow and ice doesn't excite me, but now that the roads are cleared and the sun is shining again, it really is very beautiful.

I love the way the light sparkles in the snow in the late afternoon sun, as in these pictures here. And the way the long blue shadows reach across the snow is very inspiring.

Yes, I guess you could say I do love the snow, from an artist's perspective that is....

my tracks

weeds on cliff at river's edge

Illinois river~ South Channel, looking East towards Lock & Dam

Illinois river, Lone Point Shelter, (south bank), looking west toward Starved Rock

Tiny Iceberg on Illinois River, Looking North

Bald Eagle Speck

2012-01-14T17:53:00.000-06:00

See that little brown bird with a white head? It's in the exact center of the photo! Look close!
That's a Bald Eagle!
I swear someday I'll get a telephoto lens for my camera! Then you'll be able to see that eagle!
There is a river between me and the eagle and this is as close I could get.
Another photographer came up beside me, "Did you get a good shot?"~ he was holding his DSL with it's big ole long lens...Yeah Right!
I had to crop this one just so you could make out that there was an eagle in the picture!
Anyway, the Eagles are back at Starved Rock State Park.

January Birch

2012-01-06T23:04:00.000-06:00

January 6th and still no significant snow. Temperature was 55 ~ I actually left my coat behind today.

I really don't mind. I got to go outside and mess around in my garden a little~ picked some kale and looked at my new perennial bed. The lavender and wormwood are still looking good and the penstemon seems impervious to the little cold spurts and frosts we did have. My butterfly bush still has green leaves on it! I do live in North Central Illinois right? Average January temps around 10 ~ 20 degrees... with windchill....

Another New Year is Here....

2012-01-02T22:07:00.000-06:00

Last sunset of 2011

Another Year has come and gone, ~too fast for me it seems.
I gave up making new years resolutions long ago, as I never keep them, but instead strive to live every new day the best I can and be happy with who I am and that God has given me another day to touch the lives of those around me.

I've sent my third son, the Marine, back to California today, so he can continue training before his deployment to Afghanistan in the Spring. I really wish he didn't have to go, but that is not my decision. He is comfortable with this, so I must be too, though I will fight it every step of the way. Only Prayer and Faith give me comfort now.

"Winter work" now keeps me busy. The Horse making has slowed to orders for birthdays or just because~ Just enough to keep me in practice. And I have resumed painting and writing my books again, something I really enjoy~ a "great escape" if you may....

And with the arrival of the seed catalogs, the gears begin to change again. I am making lists of seeds I need to order, answering requests for special varieties and gathering growing supplies.
I will soon be busier than heck again~ but hey~ It keeps you young, right?

And as I close this post, I will ask all my family and friends for forgiveness in advance~ for my neglect in correspondence. As you are finding out, I am terrible at it...
I will try to be better.....

Happy New Year One and All!

Lil

Last Minute Gift Idea!

2011-12-24T03:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Pills!

You'll need:

M & M's

Old timey glass canning jar with bail

Business cards for printer & publishing software

(optional but helpful)

Printer Paper, Printer, Glue, hole punch, scissors

ribbon to decorate,embroidery thread for hang tag

Save below pictures to your computer, you will have to reduce size

(this is where the publishing software comes in handy!)

Use buisness cards as a hang tag. You will have to print both sides.

Print out another label on printer paper to

trim and glue to the glass~ use a sticker or mailing label templet for this one.

You won't be able to wash the jar without losing your label though!

Have Fun and Merry Christmas!

right click, save image as

Antique Embroidery Art

2011-12-21T02:12:00.000-06:00

My old "hand embroidered" Triumph Motorcycle Jean Jacket

Original "OOAK" no pattern, no photo,

just out of my head, a lot of embroidery thread

and tons of patience!

It took me over sixs weeks to do ~

20 years ago.

(I had painted a matching horse on my
'70 Triumph Bonneville Motorcycle tank too
but sadly, I no longer have the bike).

The Shoe Tree

2011-12-19T18:58:00.000-06:00

Deep in the land of Corn and Beans

where Route 23 ends

Stands an Enchanted tree...

of Wishes and Dreams...

Bring your old shoes and tie the lace

stand beneath and close your eyes...

make a wish and keep a smile on your face...

and throw to the skies...

by Lillian Davis

Thank you!

2011-12-17T22:33:00.001-06:00

Christmas Orders are Now Closed

Thank You Everybody!

Merry Christmas!

from Lil's Garden

Posie

Stick Horse Christmas Orders Announcement

2011-12-04T04:00:00.001-06:00

US and International Orders will not make it for Christmas unless you request Express shipping! contact me before you order~ include your Zip or Country please!

(Current turnaround time, from sewing to shipping: 2 ~ 5 Business days)

*Heads are shipped USPS Priority Mail~

Delivery Usually in 2-4 business days within the US.

*Heads with Sticks attached are shipped UPS-

Delivery in 3-5 business days within the US.

International orders of *Heads Only* are shipped USPS First Class International and can take up to Two weeks or more to arrive.

Express mail: 2-4 business days USA,

3- 5 International~ are available**

Contact me before ordering for shipping estimate~

please include Zip Code or country in email

Rowdy

Talking in Their Sleep

2011-12-02T18:06:00.001-06:00

"You think I am dead,"
The apple tree said,
"Because I have never a leaf to show-
Because I stoop,
And my branches droop,
And the dull gray mosses over me grow!
But I'm still alive in trunk and shoot;
The buds of next May
I fold away-
But I pity the withered grass at my root."
"You think I am dead,"
The quick grass said,
"Because I have parted with stem and blade!
But under the ground,
I am safe and sound
With the snow's thick blanket over me laid.
I'm all alive, and ready to shoot,
Should the spring of the year
Come dancing here-
But I pity the flower without branch or root."
"You think I am dead,"
A soft voice said,
"Because not a branch or root I own.
I never have died, but close I hide
In a plumy seed that the wind has sown.
Patient I wait through the long winter hours;
You will see me again-
I shall laugh at you then,
Out of the eyes of a hundred flowers.

by Edith M. Thomas

Sewing Machine's a Smokin!

2011-11-22T11:37:00.001-06:00

It's Tuesday again!

.... and I'm sewing like crazy!

www.LilsGarden.etsy.com
Faceboook/LilsGarden

Horse Head Tuesday!

2011-11-09T00:12:00.000-06:00

Latest Additions

Christmas orders are getting started and I'm sewing horses almost every day now.

Tuesdays are my most productive days (hence the title) as that is my day off from my 8:30-5 job.

I will spend almost the whole day sewing!

(thank goodness my daughter Heather loves to cook otherwise we'd starve!)

Tuesdays are the days I usually add new colors to the lineup~ if I don't have any orders for that day.

I really love seeing a flat piece of fabric come alive into a new horse as I cut it out and put it together.

Then I get to name them am create a little bio for them.

The whole process is a lot of fun!

old faithful

And here is the magic horse machine!

It's an old circa 1960's Singer that I bought at a garage sale several years ago for a whooping $25.00!

We keep it maintained and it runs smoothly (a little minor tweaking now and then).

I hope we can keep it going forever because nothing is built to last like these old machines!

It still has metal gears inside.

I have a fetish for old sewing machines and pick them up whenever I find them....

You should see my collection ~ but that's a whole other blog post!

I'd love to have you visit my Etsy shop!

LilsGarden.etsy.com

or come see me at my FaceBook and leave a comment or two!

Precious Light

2011-11-07T22:04:00.000-06:00

Glimmers of Hope, no matter how small....

It just keeps blooming

2011-10-15T23:28:00.001-05:00

My yellow sunset climbing rose refuses to believe winter is coming

and continues to produce bloom after bloom.

complete with bee fly

I think it really loves the cooler weather.

My Armur Maple on the other hand,

turned briliant red and dropped it's leaves at the first hint of fall!

I love its color!

A Little Bit of Fall

2011-10-03T18:54:00.000-05:00

October trees at the Starved Rock Lodge

Chain Saw Sculpture

2011-10-03T01:38:00.001-05:00

Today we went to Starved Rock Lodge to look for fall foliage.

There were bits of color here and there but not much to speak of yet.

So instead I'll share some chainsaw sculptures carved out of dead trees trunks.

Theses are all still rooted in the ground

Last Evening in September

2011-09-30T21:17:00.000-05:00

Good Bye Summer.... sigh

She traded in her broom for a stick horse

2011-09-20T23:45:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

"Brooms are so outdated" Artemisia Wormhollow was quoted in her interview to the Samhain Quarterly. Artemisia age 19, has been attracting a lot of attention as she rides her bewitched stick horse back and forth to the university every evening. "Everybody I know has one [a broom]", she continues, "But I'm the only one with a flying stick horse!"

Artemisia and her flying stick horse is a Halloween card, reproduced from my original colored pencil Illustration. You can find her at my Etsy store: FlyingAppyStudio.etsy.com and at LilsGarden.etsy.com

A Walk in the Park

2011-09-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today was a beautiful day for a walk along the

Illinois River in Starved Rock State Park....

Peek ~ A ~ Boo!

2011-09-14T00:21:00.003-05:00

I see you!

(do not adjust you monitor! the bug is upside down!)

This little praying mantis was getting a drink after I watered my plants on the porch.

War of the Sugarwater

2011-09-14T00:07:00.001-05:00

Every evening, about 20 or more hummingbirds gather in my backyard for an evening meal.

And you would think that with 6 feeders, there would be enough for everyone to share and be happy (I added a new, 32 oz. 6 port one today).

But no. Hummingbirds are little bullies.
They'll spend their precious energy defending the feeders from the rest of the hummingbirds.
The little meanies are also chasing off my poor little chickadees who aren't bothering a soul and even the sparrows are afraid of them!

The air if filled with the tiny sounds of chattering, fussing and buzzing and the small sounds of tiny bodies crashing into each other. It's surprising how noisy these little guys are!

It's a wonder the feeders are emptied at all but, somehow, they mange to do it and quickly!
I just refilled them all today with fresh homemade syrup and by Saturday, they'll be empty again.
There may be more than 20 birds~ but it's hard to count them while they are racing around the yard in hot pursuit of each other!

Steve and I will sit on the back porch and watch them. This is our view from my table. I have two feeders hanging off each corner of the roof.
The birds will chase each other between them, buzzing by our heads as if we weren't there.
One nearly crashed into Steve yesterday, stopping about a foot from his face.

The nights are getting cooler and they are gathering in preparation to migrate south.
They are building energy as fast as they can before they go.
I used to take my feeders down with the first frost- to encourage the hummers to move on and not hang around and freeze. But I just learned from a person who rehabilitates birds, specializing in hummingbirds, that this is a myth. The little birds know when to go and wont hang around because of easy food. But, by leaving your feeder up as long as you can into fall, you will be helping stragglers make it through their journey by providing them with a little extra food and energy.
And now is a good idea to make the syrup more concentrated to give them that extra boost. Change the ratio to 3 parts water to 1 part sugar.

All in all, Bullies or not, the littler humming bird is one of my favorites.