Sue Schlabach – Artist, photographer and upcycler living in Vermont. Viewer of the world through eyes and lens.

© Sue Schlabach

129twigandvine

Today it’s raining. A few days ago we hiked to t

Today it’s raining. A few days ago we hiked to the top of a ridge in a nearby 100 acres of woods. What a treat in the midst of isolation. Hundreds of acorns underfoot, blue sky overhead. @cowponiesandchevys knew the way.

Patches of thyme growing in the lawn led me to my

Patches of thyme growing in the lawn led me to my latest act of gardening spontaneity. There is a submerged flagstone path here about 2" below the sod, and I started digging out out on Sunday afternoon. The thyme was originally planned between the stones, no doubt. Pictures from the 50s already show the path being overtaken by the lawn, so who set the stones? Who planted the thyme? Probably all was done over a century ago. Perhaps these stones were freshly set during the 1918 influenza when this house surely saw quarantine.

End of day headache and the couch is calling.

End of day headache and the couch is calling.

Thyme is growing rampant across our lawn. Bundled

Thyme is growing rampant across our lawn. Bundled some up for soup tonight. #thelittlebrickvt #thelostgardenvt

We're all a bit more contemplative these days. Gra

We're all a bit more contemplative these days. Grateful to have hills to walk on, free of snow at last. Grateful for frog song in the pond hinting that peepers will be chorusing soon. Grateful for the kindness of neighbors, nearness of family, and for the essential workers finding creative ways to get us our groceries safely (@southroyaltonmarket), keeping our cars running, the mail arriving. And so grateful for the hero medical workers in our midst.

The first Glory of the Snow are popping up all ove

The first Glory of the Snow are popping up all over the east and south lawns, with one single flower in bloom. This weekend I think the whole thing will burst into blue. One little hint of normalcy during quarantine.
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#gloryofthesnow #chionodoxa #scillaforbesii #springinvt #ilovermont #quarantinelife #eastbarnardvt #thelittlebrickvt #thelostgardenvt

When I'm stressed out I move the furniture. What d

When I'm stressed out I move the furniture. What do you do? #thelittlebrickvtstudio #thelittlebrickvt

Thanks @state_14 for publishing my story yesterday

Thanks @state_14 for publishing my story yesterday!
From State 14: Maybe we need stories now more than ever... to hear them, to tell them, and to connect with each other through them. ✍️ Becoming the Village Crier is a story about loss, love and community. Words and photography by @129twigandvine. Up now at state14.com | link in bio. 👆Be well. Take care of you and yours.

Goats came to East Barnard's First Social Distance

Goats came to East Barnard's First Social Distance Book Swap. Not one, but two baby goats! And many people too. They dropped off and took books, kept a respectful distance, and caught up at the cross roads.
(Thanks for sharing goats @green_mountain_meg)
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#eastbarnardvt #socialdistancecreativity #communityspirit #ilovevermont #thelittlebrickvt

Dead stalks in the garden don't stand a chance aft

Dead stalks in the garden don't stand a chance after I finish this cuppa. (@blueplumpottery mug)
First tea break outside! It's 36 degrees, but sunny. Last snow is melting. Birds are singing like crazy. Kinda windy.
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#thelittlebrickvt #lostgardenvt

A modern troubadour played for @cowponiesandchevy

A modern troubadour played for @cowponiesandchevys and me as we drove through. @fiddlerjoebob, so glad you're our neighbor! #wereallinthistogether #eastbarnardvt

Reposted from my friend who is a doctor in Chicago

Reposted from my friend who is a doctor in Chicago. #wereallinthistogether

In case you wondered: this is a color photo. Happy

In case you wondered: this is a color photo. Happy first day of spring.

Here's a bit of yesterday's blue sky to cheer you.

Here's a bit of yesterday's blue sky to cheer you. Today is dreary, and my mood is swinging like a pendulum.

We still have snow down here in the valley, but for the last few days we've hiked up over the hilltop on bare fields. It helps clear the head of fear and anxiety, at least for a little bit.

The difference of one day.

The difference of one day.

The forced forsythia branches are about to pop! I

The forced forsythia branches are about to pop! I cut these last Sunday. So happy I did. If you're nearby, come cut some.

To follow up my ukelele post of a few days ago. H

To follow up my ukelele post of a few days ago.
Here is Forrest Glass in the 1920s and Grandpa Forrest singing to my brother @broad_brook in 1967 shortly before his death.

Here are memories from my Mom about Grandpa and his ukelele. I learned from reading some letters that the Martin ukelele I have was given to my Grandpa by my parents in the late 1960s. His earlier instrument was lost or broken at that point. “We often heard Daddy play his ukulele and sing - alone or with Mom singing alto - old cowboy songs, gospel songs, popular songs of the day, and lullabies. My favorite of the lullabies he sang was ‘Go to sleep, my little bukaroo; remember that your dad was once a kid like you; so go to sleep, my little buckaroo.’ I loved to sing ‘On the Jerico Road’ and ‘A Beautiful Life’ with Daddy and I think the words to the latter sum up his philosophy of life: doing golden deeds, helping those in need, letting his light shine, living each day as a child of God - all done quietly and without fanfare.
The final picture is of Daddy playing his ukulele for an enchanted little Freddie at Christmas 1967; it’s the last picture I took of him before he died and it makes a lovely final memory. (And, yes, I’m shedding some tears as I write!). “Daddy tuned the ukulele by singing ‘My dog has fleas’ and the song he sang: ‘I found a fly right in my soup, My temper wasn’t sweet. The waiter said, Don’t worry sir, How much can one fly eat? On my ukulele, I am strumming daily. On my ukulele, O diddy diddy dum dum day!’ “

#familystories #loveoffamily #richheritage #ukelele

This little Martin ukulele belonged to my Grandpa

This little Martin ukulele belonged to my Grandpa Forrest Glass. My brother @broad_brook and I learned three chords and made up dozens of silly songs on the porch when we were growing up. We tuned it to the words My Dog Has Fleas sung to us then and remembered now. This is how I tuned it today, and I still remember those three chords. Maybe @fiddlerjoebob will help me learn some more.

Happy leap day. We’ll celebrate with our neighbo

Happy leap day. We’ll celebrate with our neighbor who is 100 years old today (or 25, based on real birthdays he’s celebrated).

Farewell to North Carolina. You gave us some sun a

Farewell to North Carolina. You gave us some sun and 60s. You gave us snowflakes.

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