Elise Creations & Passions

Friday, February 7, 2025

Birds Dining

Chickadee In Flight

The sun came out today, so I fed the birds and did some birdwatching.

NutHatch and a Chickadee Dining Together

Robins Feasting on dried fruit.

Some Robins do migrate in winter and many remain in the same place year-round. During the winter months robins gather together into huge flocks, sometimes numbering hundreds or even thousands of birds, flying around in these flocks in search of fruit. When they find it, the whole flock will descend and strip every berry from the trees and shrubs that they find, often in a single afternoon.

Hens

Nuthatch & Finch

Titmice

Robin Eating Crab Apples

Gold Finches

Worms For Lunch

My photographs are available for purchase

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Bird Houses & Sculptures

South Hero Bird House Forest

Champ Hanging Out With The Birds

Champ & T Rex In The South Hero Bird House Forest.

Located in the swamps just north of Whites Beach, near the roadside, are hundreds of brilliantly colored Bird Houses that hang from the many hardwood trees in the thick marshland. According to the owners of the birdhouses, "Well, as you can see, we’re surrounded by swamp” he said, gesturing to the swamps surrounding his house. “So there are a lot of mosquitoes here, Or at least there were before we put these up.” The bird houses are home to tree swallows, and tree swallows eat mosquitoes. “They make it so me and my wife can sit outside on the lawn in the evening and enjoy ourselves. We don’t get eaten alive.” He started this project 25 years ago, with only 20 bird houses. His wife was the one who convinced him to paint them the striking bold colors. After a year, he went to check on them and found that each one was occupied. So he built more. Now he has over 400 of them. Asked if he was planning on building more. “We’ll see” he said chuckling.

As of 2019 I hear there are now over 800 of them.

Bird House Fence

Clever Birdhouse idea.

How to repurpose a damaged tree.

"Embrace and Belonging"

was designed by sculptor Ai Qiu Hopen, and features two vertical steel sheets, intricately cut with images of birds, symbolizing the Sankofa bird. The Sankofa is a popular symbol in Ghana, representing a need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. This sculpture celebrating equity and inclusion stands in Dewey Park in the Old North End.

My photographs are available for purchase
Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!
© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

My Cozy Shawls & Shrugs

Here's a shawl I made that is wonderful, warm, soft, and cozy, especially this time of year. This shawl is Handmade in Vermont, by me (Elise). Yes, that is me holding the Shawl on one of our few sunny, warmer, winter days.

by @elisecreations The yarn is Lion Brand Scarfie acrylic & wool. The pattern was adapted from the Pop-Up Shawl by @wilmawestenberg : https://wilmade.com/pop-up-shawl

I made this one(in these first 2 photos)m for myself and wear it often.

To purchase this shawl go to:

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/black-white-gray-triangular-crocheted-shawl

Here's a Rectangular Open Weave Shawl, made with the same yarn that can also be warn as a scarf.

This Rectangular Open Weave, hand crocheted Shawl, made with the same yarn that can also be warn as a scarf.

$75.

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/rectangular-shawl-in-black-white-gray-crocheted-shawl

Blue And Teal Anna Lucia Shawl

Blue And Teal Ana Lucia Shawl

The yarn I used for these Ana Lucia Shawls is, Lion Brand Heartland acrylic yarn.

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/crocheted-triangular-shawl-blue-with-tealThe pattern was adapted from the Anna Lucia Shawl by @wilmawestenberg

Teal Ana Lucia Shawl With Black Tassels

Sold

Teal And Blue Ana Lucia Shawl

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/teal-with-blue-crocheted-triangular-shawl

Teal With Blue Crocheted Ana Lucia Shawl

This thick, wonderful, warm, soft, and cozy, hand crocheted, Triangular, Teal And Blue Ana Lucia Shawl is made with Lion Brand Heartland acrylic yarn. This shawl is Handmade in Vermont, by me (Elise). Yes, that is me holding and modeling the Shawl. The pattern was adapted from the Anna Lucia Shawl by @wilmawestenberg

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/teal-with-blue-crocheted-triangular-shawl

Shrugs are like a cross between a sweater and a shawl and these are Bolero style.

Tilda Shrug in Black & White

is wonderful, warm, soft, and cozy, especially this time of year.

This shawl is Handmade in Vermont, by me (Elise).

by @elisecreations The yarn is Lion Brand Scarfie acrylic & wool.

The pattern was adapted from the Tilda Shrug by rachel misner of https://www.eandpcrochet.com/the-tilda-shrug-crochet-pattern/

Tilda Shrug in Taupe & Cream

is wonderful, warm, soft, and cozy, especially this time of year.

This shawl is Handmade in Vermont, by me (Elise).

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite/product-page/taupe-white-cream-triangular-shrug-crocheted-shawl

by @elisecreations The yarn is Lion Brand Scarfie acrylic & wool.

The pattern was adapted from the Tilda Shrug by rachel misner of https://www.eandpcrochet.com/the-tilda-shrug-crochet-pattern/

For proper care, Wash by hand and lay flat to dry to protect the shape and lifespan of your handmade item. Avoid harsh cleaners. Do Not machine wash.

Please note that these are handmade, so it is normal and expected to notice some slight variation in the color of the yarn. This adds charm and character to your handmade item.

Created in a smoke-free and scent free environment.

My Site is a work in progress, so check for updates soon.

Here's the link to where you can purchase my creations:

My photographs are available for purchase
Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!
© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks.
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Gorgeous Sunsets

I have been wanting to take a great photo of this tree in Jericho, for many years and I finally got my chance. This Photo has been awarded the Photo of the Day, on Capture My Vermont, December 24, 2015.
Moon & Sunset Over Mt. Mansfield
A Glorious Winter Sunset
Bird Flying Through Sunset
Color & Drama
Flying Monkey Sunset
Sunset On Lake Champlain
Sunset On Lake Champlain

My photographs are available for purchase

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Friday, January 17, 2025

Aquatic Loveliness

Water Lily & Cattail Reflections

Water Lilies and Cattails are found in a variety of wetland habitats.

Almost all waterlilies (Nymphaea and Nuphar species) are edible and can be gathered most of the year. During the summer months, when the rootstocks become mushy and rather tasteless, they're still an excellent source of survival food. Additionally, the young, unfurling leaves can be eaten raw or with unopened buds prepared as a potherb. The seeds, high in starch, protein, and oil, may be popped, parched, or ground into flour, and the potato-shaped tubers of the tuberous waterlily (N. tuberosa) can be dug from the mud and prepared like, potatoes.

The cattails (either Typha latifolia or T. angustifolia) can be utilized at almost any time of the year, because at each stage of its life cycle it has a number of edible parts. For example, you can mash the root up in cold water to separate the soluble starches, and—once these have settled, and the fibers and water have been removed—add the material to stew or mix it with other wild flours to make bread. The new shoots can be eaten raw, and those up to a foot tall may be prepared like asparagus. The head, before it emerges, can be cooked and eaten like corn on the cob. Finally, it's possible to collect cattail pollen for use in soup or as a flour.