Contact Information

It's been several years and, like virtually everyone else, I've changed phone numbers, email addresses, internet providers, etc. a few times.
email: -
jaimehansen1@frontier.com

address: -
7470 Lakeshore Rd. N.
Palms, MI 48465

phone: -
989-553-5995

As Far As The Crows Fly - Saturday, October 9, 2017

My Icelandic Sheepdogs didn't like that crows nested in a tree in the north east corner of Nordmark last summer Close enough to tease and tempt them but a safe distance - the dogs continue to keep a close watch on them proclaiming their territory from the dead branch of a tree near their nest. Clicking on photos enlarges them.

Kit has been looking for a boyfriend. I have mixed feelings about a winter litter though. I'm tempted and the right male would convince me.

The smells of newly fallen leaves beginning to decompose, the dew on the grass, and the moist earth from last night's rain are intoxicating. Autumn smells are fantastic, aren't they.

I'm so grateful that I can appreciate the morning "first lights" and sunrises again.  The views from my windows are stunning. I wished for an Ed Duff painting but got the ever changing live views instead.

Jon, Tracy, Warhol, and Frank arrived a few minutes after this family of turkeys was grazing outside Sans Souci - the pole barn. I've been watching the family grow since the babies hatched earlier this spring/summer. They are often on my road in and rummaging for food through the forest and field here.

Aren't they magnificent. I read once I think that Ben Franklin wanted them to be our national bird.

Flint Institute of Art

Last week we visited the amazing Flint Institute of Art which is about an hour and a half from my home on Lake Huron in Michigan's Thumb. This was my second visit and I'm going back again soon.

The entry had an interesting exhibition of bunnies in many styles of frames. Effective. Photos will  enlarge if you click on them.

Among the great pieces we saw: -

Cesar Santander 

Golden Cake - Wayne Thiebaud

Harry Bertoia

Jaime Hansen *

Les Bateaux - Raoul Dufy

The Rabbit Hutch - William Sommer

 Picasso's Guernica - Sophie Mattise

Aimee - David Eichenberg

Self Portrait - Philip Milbarn

Chilly Morning - Arla Slogor

(This one was for sale in the institute's store!)

Returning home after dinner at the Stone Lodge in Port Sanilac one afternoon we saw this amazing complete double rainbow over Lake Huron. Several cars including ours stopped along Lakeshore Road to capture them. The second one is outside the first one and doesn't show up well in the photos. Some shots, in my opinion, resemble paintings by Constable or Turner - perhaps. Clicking on photos enlarges them which might make the double rainbows easier to see - especially in the fourth photo below.

I have a brother and a few friends who seem addicted to their amazing phones. David also has a sense of humor - which is much needed during these interesting times. The last shot was taken in front of one of one of Flint Art Institutes signs. Sigh! Fake news?

Cool Autumn Days Ahead

I miss summer sunrises and look forward to their reappearance fall, winter, and spring when they are more visible from my cabin in the woods because they are directly in front of my windows. They are beginning again. What a joy!

This spring I planted a few daisy-like chrysanthemums; three early flowering ones have done very well all summer and are starting to flower now. I have some later flowering ones in bud and they too will flower soon. I know you can buy potted mum plants in the fall that are already in bloom and stick them into the ground; I enjoy watching them grow. Clicking on photos enlarges them.

The dahilas continue to brighten the garden. The purple daisy-like ones have been attracting hummingbirds all summer. I will dig them soon, store them in paper bags in the garage, divide them next spring, plant and spread them throughout the garden. (As long as temps in the garage don't get down to freezing, they are fine. I watch carefully and move them into the house for the very few days when that might happen.)

I love the final flurry of autumn flowers from mums and colchicums, don't you?  I don't understand why the latter are not found in more gardens; they are easy and surprise visitors because they appear as if by magic without leaves as the daylight hours decrease. (Leaves are produced in the spring and summer and produce the energy needed for bulbs to produce the fall flowers. By mid-June the leaves are usually gone.)

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

My Icelandic Sheepdogs love company and were in their seventh heaven last week because my brother came for a visit, the first in two years. David and I explored all the delights of Michigan's Thumb for a week. From Port Huron through Lakeport, Lexington, Croswell, Port Sanilac, Carsonville, Forester, Deckerville,  Palms, Forestville, Port Hope, Bad Axe, and Port Austin we traveled and ate our way through the landscape. He loves fish so, except for the first night when we had steaks, I think he had fish for every dinner: - Uri's, Stone Lodge, Peppermill, Mary's, Bob and Jamie's, Al's - all the usual down-home spots. Life returned to my "normal" after he left on Sunday.  Clicking on photos enlarges them.

The Icies miss him; quiet has returned.

Korpur, Totty, PIla

Kata

Korpur, Kria, Pila

Bear, Korpur, Totty

Totty, Korpur

Kit, Bear

Korpur, Totty, Pila

Kata, Bear, Kria

It's time to bring the heirloom geraniums into the garage for the winter; I resist but I know they do better when I take them in before it gets too cold. I had a very bad infestation of green scum on the pond for the first time ever this summer. I've heard that it's another alien invader from maybe Europe? Cooler weather and shorter days have decreased the population. I very reluctantly tried some chemicals but they did little to get rid of the algae which apparently releases toxins into the water. Some fish died but the frogs were unaffected.

Monday, September 25, 2017

This morning Lake Huron was exceptionally quiet with almost a mirror smooth surface.

Summer sunrises are so far north of me and behind my north forest that I miss them even though I'm up. The sun is now rising further south so I can appreciate their beauty.

I've never had success with Nasturtiums before. This summer they's taken over a corner of my garden and I love them, they are amazing and tropical looking - but they are quite invasive so maybe not again? Clicking on photos enlarges them.

You know that I love Colchicums and have several varieties. They are easy and make a spectacular autumn statement when their flowers come up from the ground almost like amaryllis - without the leaves. The leaves are produced in the spring and early summer and make the food that nourishes the flowers that make a last show before winter. There are several species and varieties that start the show mid-September and last through November.

One of my species Hosta

Bluebirds have started their fall migration.

Usually I cannot take good photos of Eupatorium coelestinum but this one turned out rather nice. Often the blue ends up looking almost white. Common name - perennial ageratum - to which it is not related. 

This was the first year my Michigan Hollies produced red berries. Although they are true hollies, they are deciduous and lose their leaves in the fall leaving the red berries showing on their stems. These are still very small plants. Sexes are separate so it's necessary to plant male and female plants if you want berries which the females produce. I have two male plants and maybe five females.

Autumn Orange Daylily

Autumn View of the House

I went to Port Huron this past weekend and while there stopped in to get my flu shot. Waiting I noticed this sign which made me feel very old. Speaking of which, my much older brother is arriving today from Rhode Island; I'll be leaving in a few minutes to pick him up at Detroit's Metro Airport. Carolyn and David visited two years ago and, although we talk several times a week, it 's not the same as being together. I'm very sorry Carolyn is unable to come this time.