Author: Anna

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

I made this mushroom illustration for the Spring 2020 Issue of Woolgathering, my quarterly ad-free magazine about seasonal mindfulness.  And, then, today I realized that the limerick that I wrote for the April Woolgathering Podcast was also about mushrooms. Our shiitake logs have not produced 

Honeysuckle Beads

Honeysuckle Beads

At Spring Bird we are steeped with an invasive honeysuckle, with which we are probably going to be at war forever. But, aside from constructing dead hedges with the fallen soldiers, we are constantly trying to invent other purposes for it. Last year, I turned 

2020 Spring Bird Artist in Residence: Diana Sudyka

2020 Spring Bird Artist in Residence: Diana Sudyka

Patrick and I are so excited to announce that illustrator Diana Sudyka is Spring Bird’s 2020 Artist in Residence!  While at Spring Bird, Diana will be working on finishing her own picture book manuscript and its accompanying illustrations.  Diana’s work is so heavily connected to 

The Pink, Grass Moon of April

The Pink, Grass Moon of April

Happy Full Moon! This month’s moon is typically called the pink, grass, or egg moon. I have chosen to depict the first two here. This moon is about the new life that Spring brings to us. I love the image of pink because it is 

Woolgathering Podcast: April

Woolgathering Podcast: April

Welcome to the April Episode of The Woolgathering Podcast! This episode features a short story about three raccoons emerging from a winter of hunger. This story was inspired by the three raccoons that my daughter and I would watch from her bedroom window. Last April, 

Miracles of Spring

Miracles of Spring

This illustration came from the Spring 2020 Issue of Woolgathering.  It was for a piece about three miracles of spring – the first duck eggs, the morels, and  antler growth.  We received our first egg on the 17th, Patrick’s birthday This is the second time 

Good Luck Snake

Good Luck Snake

Way back, on the first day of March, Pat found this little snake warming itself in the hoop house. I decided she was a good omen for a bountiful growing season.  I keep thinking how lucky we are to be in this season of Spring. 

Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox

Happy Spring Equinox! This is the season of rebirth and renewal! We are so lucky to be here – to have made it through the winter. Many of us – probably most of us are in some version of isolation. I wish for you to 

Making Rainbows

Making Rainbows

Today you might be feeling restless, afraid, nervous, bored, secluded, happy, sleepy, or some mixed cocktail orchestrated by these uncertain times. For me, this uncertainty of emotions mirrors the uncertainty of the weather that we experience in Spring. A Spring day contains multitudes – bitter 

Woolgathering – The Origin of Spring Bird’s Name

Woolgathering – The Origin of Spring Bird’s Name

These are illustrations from the Spring 2020 Issue of Woolgathering. I wrote about the origin of naming Spring Bird – Spring Bird. After much searching, Pat and I each offered a bit of us to the name! Read the whole story in the latest issue! 

March’s Worm Moon

March’s Worm Moon

Are you beginning to feel the thaw? The earthworms are definitely feeling more room to wiggle as the ground softens and melts. This month’s full moon, which is happening today, is often referred to as the Worm Moon!  Today, I am definitely smelling mud and 

The Woolgathering Podcast: March 2020 Episode

The Woolgathering Podcast: March 2020 Episode

Welcome to the debut episode of The Woolgathering Podcast, which in turn welcomes Spring!  This episode features a short story about a migrating flock of robins and a limerick about snowdrops.  Also, see an illustration from the story and download a Spring word search! Have 

Introducing The Woolgathering Podcast

Introducing The Woolgathering Podcast

I am very excited to announce a new project from Spring Bird – The Woolgathering Podcast – a podcast presentation of monthly nature stories for the celebration of seasonal mindfulness.  On the first Thursday of each month, we will be releasing a short podcast featuring 

Celebrating Spring: Snowdrops!

Celebrating Spring: Snowdrops!

Even though we are in the final days of February, I am delighted at some signs of Spring – including my darling Snowdrops, which have been popping up for about a week now! Have you spotted any Signs of Spring near you?

Fat Tuesday, Yellow Sun, and Black Crow

Fat Tuesday, Yellow Sun, and Black Crow

Hello Folks! Happy Fat Tuesday, which (I am learning) was celebrated in Pre-Christian times as a holiday devoted to the Sun – as in – “please return to us, Sun!” I have been enjoying seeing a bit more of the Sun each morning and evening.