crow roosters crow

connected

2012-01-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

I learned of this lovely store from Victoria's always lovely space SF Girl By Bay. Connected is a wonderfully curated shop full of Fair Trade products that embrace attention to detail, color and beautiful craftsmanship. It is a worth a peek if only to leave feeling a bit inspired and happy.

finally...snow

2012-01-14T15:21:00.000-05:00

It is so nice to finally have some white stuff on the ground. Hooray for snow!

lately

2012-01-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

baking

painting

stringing

snacking

trees

2011-12-19T14:56:00.001-05:00

This year we decided to cut a tree from a local tree farm. Usually we just meander into our back woods but we never came across a sweet pine and seemed to long for that woodsy, holiday smell. Our local police officer boils sap into syrup in the spring and grows trees to sell in the winter. We headed over in our truck, saw in hand. It always takes awhile to find just the tree. We walked the rows many times before coming upon a short, plump one. It is our Botero tree and I am quite smitten with it.

My heart always skips a beat when we actually cut it down. I feel a bit badly. But then I remember what my Dad says which is that to sacrifice something means to make it holy. So we cut the tree with gratefulness and intention and care for it while it is in our home. We water it each morning and I find myself staring at it many times though out the day. It's branches are covered in small white lights. It is a light that I am so happy to have as our days get darker towards solstice. Thank you little, fat, beautiful, holy tree.

2011-12-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

My sister's scarves are now for sale at a darling store in Taiwan and I am feeling very proud. You can visit the shop here or see more of her amazing work at her etsy shop here.

It has been awhile and I hope this finds you all well, really.

2011-11-18T14:03:00.000-05:00

from freunde von freunden.

sweet paul

2011-11-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

As usual, the holiday issue of Sweet Paul Magazine is darling as ever. Filled with sweet crafts and divine looking recipes. I'm sort of dreaming about taking one of his food photography and styling workshops one day. How fun!

And...I have a tiny new section of this blog called, "Currently Loving". See it over there? It's an ever changing list of sites that I am finding particularly wonderful. When I find new ones I will put then at the top of the list and move the older ones on down to my link list!

Hope this finds you all well!

to share.

2011-11-12T15:01:00.001-05:00

I have been meaning to share these lovely teething toys and nursing necklaces by Koukku for a long time. Anna Koukku from Finand crochets over wood beads using non-toxic materials. I love the marriage of the natural wood with the brightly colored yarn.

I am always so happy to get a letter in the mail and I loved the idea of this project.

I was so happy to be introduced to Covet Garden, a wonderful online magazine through this blog.

I will keep a link to them somewhere around here.

There are more images on my little tumblr page! Take a look if you would like. Maybe there will be something that you like too!

Be Well!

October Snow

2011-11-08T14:09:00.002-05:00

For quite a few days we were without power here in our little New England town. A heavy, wet snow came quickly to the ground, weighing down the fall leaves, breaking countless branches and downing power lines. It was as I have never seen it before. Really. Our cobalt blue stove kept us warm and I was, as I often am, grateful to live in a tiny, south facing house, whose large windows provided us with an abundance of light and warmth during the day. We gathered snow to melt for washing dishes and to give to the sheep and chickens. The new icy snow became our fridge.

Our brick sided elementary school became a shelter for those who needed help keeping warm, some company or a good meal. Its ever changing message board out on its front line read, "Good neighbors lend Things, Great neighbors lend Themselves". And indeed they did. Friends, whose power was restored before ours, were quick to invite us over for a feast of chicken and barley, chocolate cupcakes, wine and music. They made an extra batch of it all for us to take home in their cherry red dutch oven for dinner the following evening. Our 98 year old friend who still lives alone down a long dirt road was taken in by her neighbors. There they lingered around the breakfast table in robes and slippers, spent evenings by the wood fire with nothing to do but enjoy each others company.

That is what I was reminded about most of all during those days. The true, generous spirit of people. We can, us New Englanders, be a quiet, private bunch at times. But with only the slightest of prodding we will be there to help, to offer companionship, to take care of our community. We will break through our shells in the most honest and good natured way. A sign at our co-op read, "Free Coffee and Shelter at the Town Hall until Everyone has their power back on!"

Our life which is very quiet and simple became even more so. There was no hum of the refrigerator, no tick of the clock. It felt like washing dishes became a whole morning activity. Our evenings were spent by candle light, drawing and reading and crawling into bed even earlier then we go to bed now. When we went to a local store to get a few more head lamps, they too were out of power. And so a receipt was written by hand. Hand to pen, pen to paper. How intimate! I was thrilled to be able to feel a bit like Anne of Green Gables, because who doesn't want that!

So, when the power clicked back on one night there was lots of dancing and singing but also, I admit, just a little disappointment.

I am however feeling forever grateful for the true gift of clean running water and electricity. How lucky we are to have it. What a privilege. And I know, in truth, that I could only enjoy it because I knew it was only a matter of time until our lights clicked back on again.

Click.

2011-10-24T14:52:00.002-04:00

Just a little note to say I am still here. I know it has been rather quiet in these parts for some time! I guess I have just been feeling a little quiet, preparing for our winter ahead (oh, the amount of wood that needs stacking!) and thinking about where to lead this old blog of mine. So...I do hope this finds you well, dear readers and I will be sure to be back soon in one way or another!

2011-10-16T14:28:00.000-04:00

tooth pick god's eye.

2011-09-23T13:55:00.000-04:00

1. a lovely home

2. white pots and paul

3. radish as art and another lovely dwelling

4. wool sweaters and wall hooks

5. a perfect boot ( via here ) and crystals

and a happy autumn to you!

cake bunting

2011-09-20T14:25:00.000-04:00

Before we left to go to the sea we had a little celebrating in order. I made some paper bunting to go on top of our favorite almond cake. Here are some simple instructions!

w h a t y o u w i l l n e e d ::

2 little sticks (I used bamboo skewers)

Embroidery thread

Origami paper

Glue stick

Scissors

Cut the origami paper into small triangles and using the glue stick attach them to the embroidery thread. Just put a dab right on the top. Press down leaving a bit of space between each triangle. Tie each end of the thread to the sticks and there you have it! Now eat cake.

little notes.

2011-09-07T18:47:00.000-04:00

We have gone to the shore again for one last summer adventure!
A great big thank you to Sonya for her kind words about this space of mine on her lovely blog.
I hope this finds you all well and savoring these last days of summer. Be back soon!
a.

Photo from this old post!

2011-09-06T14:34:00.001-04:00

tumblr inspiration.

one
two
three
four
five
six
for more images visit here.

charlotte

2011-08-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

We have our very own Charlotte. She lives amongst our flowering thyme and mint and rosemary. I can only imagine how lovely her house smells when the breeze whisks all of those herby delights her way.

The hurricane, Miss Irene, blew her house apart, but the next morning, when the sun was back and shinning bright, there she was again. She had rebuilt her home thread by thread and tucked herself right back into it's middle. I find her quite inspirational. I can only hope that all those affected by the storm will be able to slowly rebuild their homes and livelihoods as well. Thread by thread, thread by thread.

2011-08-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

sweet wood birds by sanna annukka

2011-08-22T08:32:00.001-04:00

pillowy white cosmos

seeding fennel

dripping sun golds

hens in queen anne's lace

fuschia zinna's

2011-08-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

An ever growing list of cookbooks that I love and use is over on the sidebar now. Maybe you will like one too! These are some pictures from an old post. Honey & Rosemary cake. Good for a rainy day and the tummy too.

2011-08-10T14:13:00.000-04:00

>>>neest<<<

the shop

the blog

2011-08-09T13:40:00.000-04:00

........mister finch........

2011-08-08T13:34:00.002-04:00

...........the south is blooming ..........

friendship bracelets

2011-08-03T13:50:00.000-04:00

When I saw this image and this one too, I became so inspired to try my hand at making a friendship bracelet. I remember making them with my older sisters when I was about nine or ten. I used to make a different kind where you would take the thread in each hand and sort of weave them together. This was my first try at this kind and it was so satisfying. It feels like such a summery campy craft, like something you would make to give to a new friend who you would be saying good-bye to before heading home in different directions (was that a perfect run on sentence?). Anyway, it brought back wonderful memories as I tied knot after knot after knot and now I want a whole wrist full!

2011-08-01T15:28:00.000-04:00

the beautiful photography of jonathan levitt

here

musings

2011-07-27T08:16:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about what I will be when my little boy doesn't need me in quite the same three-year-old way that he needs me now. Believe me, it's not that I really ever want that to happen. The thought is rather terrifying, like I'll be sitting alone on that big, unmoving rock in our yard wondering, "What just happened? What am I supposed to do now?" I will always be a Mama first and foremost and I know that the ways in which I am needed will only change and not simply go away. But, I think, there will be a new space and the lingering question of, "Who am I now? I never really figured that out before having my son and I wonder if I will ever be able to piece all of the different parts of me together. I think I will. I hope I will. In the meantime, what better thing to do than to make a little (or not so little, as the case may be!) list. Here it is.....and feel free to stop reading whenever you want!

Turn the old town barber shop into a flower store and get early morning deliveries of Poppies and Ranunculus and Lilacs. Come home with my fingers smelling of wild roses.

Open a little toy store that smells like bees wax and baby's breath and the sweet lingering scent of the sweaty brows of happy children.

Have a cafe where I make my own lemonade and serve it out of big glass jars with fresh lemon slices floating on top...and there would be almond cake and fresh yellow eggs too!

Go to France and have a cherry orchard and learn to make that tart I once had there filled with the tree's ripe fruit and pine nuts. Sophie was her name.

Have a home child center where I can read, "Blueberries for Sal" on an old sheep skin-covered rocker and have little children at my feet (my own included!)

Write a book about something. Not sure what it would be about but I would want the paper to be matte and the format to be small enough to fit in a pouch. I would dedicate it to my son and my partner, my parents and my sisters and my brother too. (can you do that?)

Become a real shepherdess and breed our darling Baby Doll Southdowns (but how could I possibly say good-bye to those sweet lambs?)

Open a community play center where all children could come and have access to lovely toys in an inspiring and beautiful space.

Convert a Sprite camper into an egg cart so I can go to farmer's markets and sell our beautiful, perfectly delicious yellow eggs!

Have an antique store where sun light bounces off glass prisms and the music of smoky-voiced singers plays on the old record player.

Learn to play the guitar and get brave enough to be in a blue grassy folk band. (That's more of a fantasy!)

Okay, that was fun and I think enough for now. Thanks for indulging me!

And what about you? Are there things that you daydream about doing?

2011-07-21T13:23:00.000-04:00

a little sneak peek at some new tumblr images.

sources here.

Red Bird Crafts : : an interview with Emily Neuburger

2011-07-19T13:39:00.000-04:00

I first met Emily almost 4 years ago. I was working in the little shop that I owned with a friend when Emily came in to see if we would be interested in selling some of her tote bags and children's shirts. She had one charmingly chatty, red-haired three-year-old in her arms and a belly newly plump with another baby on it's way. I was pregnant with my first child too and I liked Emily right away! Since that first chance meeting many years ago we have remained dear friends. She is a true kindred spirit and I am grateful each and everyday to have her by my side as we navigate the journey of motherhood together (while drinking white wine and tea on the side!) Oh, but I digress! Emily is also a talented maker of all things lovely. She teaches art classes locally and is the author of a craft book for families and educators which is due to be published by Storey Publishing in the Spring 2012.
It was wonderful to have the chance to interview Emily and to learn more about her craft. Hope you enjoy it too!

What are some of your earliest crafting memories?

Mostly, I remember being completely immersed in my art projects. I kept an album filled with drawings of various random things and people dressed in costumes and different kinds of clothing. As I created these drawings on paper, I’d also envision stories about them in my head.

But, truly, my earliest memory of crafting is noticing that my hands were covered with paint and markers and not having any recollection of how it happened.

How has your crafting changed or developed over the years?

For me, the most exciting crafting development has been the integration of my teacher self with my artistic self. Lately, I’ve been spending lots of time developing imaginative crafts, which are meant to help children (and adults) use their imaginations to explore their creative within. I love witnessing people become confident in their own creative expression; this kind of teaching brings me such joy. As I’ve been writing my book, these two parts of myself have merged together in a way that feels incredibly exciting and fulfilling.

Have you consistently worked with your hands during your life or has it come and gone in waves?

I took a little break while I was getting my graduate teaching degree, but then when I was in the classroom with my students it all came flooding back. I used art and crafting in many, many of my lessons.

When and why did you decide to start a blog about your work and how has it added to your craft?

I decided to start a blog on the first day of 2009. It was a cold, snowy day and I remember sitting by the fire with my family reminiscing about the past year. I was trying to remember all of the crafts I had worked on during the year. It slowly came to me that keeping a blog would be a really nice way to have a visual record of my work. I viewed it as a little adventure.

Do you think there are any drawbacks to having a blog about what you do?

Hmm. I really can’t think of any right now.

I find that motherhood has really encouraged and called upon me to be more

creative. How about you?

Oh, yes! For sure! My two lovelies are so much a part of so many of my projects. Watching them be so free to be led by their imaginations is such a deep source of inspiration for me.

How do you balance your own creative work with being a mama to two young

children?

It feels important to me to feel balanced, and finding exactly what works isn’t always easy. In the past, I’ve had some really wonderful people come to the house to play with my kids while I was in the house working. I really liked this set-up because I got to hear them buzzing around the house while I was busy in my studio. Lately, now that the girls are a bit older, I find pockets of time when they are independently playing to squeeze in some short spurts of work. When I need longer stretches, I find time in the evening or during the day when they are at school.

Are there any new skills that you would like to learn?

I’d love to take an Adobe Photoshop class. (and, maybe follow it up with an Adobe Illustrator class.) I’m always excited to learn more about print making.

What do you find yourself daydreaming most about in terms of your creative life?

I dream of running a little art studio/workshop space where children and adults can take art classes and also buy beautiful art supplies. I also daydream about visiting and touring a letterpress studio.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

I love wood, paint, cereal box panels, brown paper bags, stones, carving blocks, ink, fabric, and watercolors.

I especially love working with found and repurposed materials. It makes me so happy to find a use for something that was going to be discarded.

What craft is in your basket today?

A pile of hand painted stones. (bright colors, of course.)

Thank you so much, dear Ariana, for asking such thoughtful questions. This interview provided me with a nice opportunity to be self-reflective about my own process. I don’t think I do that enough. And, might I add that I treasure being in a blog community where beauty and ideas are swapped and shared. Thank you for inviting me to share a bit about myself in your lovely little blog space.

redbirdcrafts.blogspot.com

redbirdcrafts.etsy.com

Thank you Emily!

All photos from Red Bird Crafts blog

2011-07-14T15:24:00.000-04:00

Just a little note to let you know that my sister is now selling egg-prons! They are available HERE! And although they are wonderful for collecting eggs, they are just as good for holding clothes pins, baking or really for just about anything!

I am...

2011-07-13T13:59:00.000-04:00

I am : :

Giddy about our first summer harvest of the sweetest of sweet peas and calendula flowers.

Feeling proud of our Zinna's now in bloom - the first flowers I've started indoors by seed.

Happy that other folks plant so many flowers that they let me pick and take home.

Marveling at the littlest and biggest of mushrooms pushing their way up through our forest's floor.

stitch & hem...my is she good!

2011-07-11T13:38:00.000-04:00

Here's a little peek at two gifts I got for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. They were made by my sister. The first is an egg collecting apron (an eggpron, as she calls it!) It has lots of pockets perfect for placing those fragile shelled eggs.

That's her beautiful wood button below. It is stamped with an s & h for Stitch & Hem, the name of her company.

She also made me the most amazing pair of pants out of a light weight gauzy blue cotton. They are almost too nice to wear!

I am a rather small gal so it always feels so nice to have clothes made just for me. I realize how often I go around in ill fitting garmets. It is so nice being drapped just perfectly and the fact that these pieces were made lovingly by my sister makes them all the better. And thanks to my other wee sis for being my, "model". We pretended we were on a photo shoot and she made me laugh out loud with her ridiculous faces and model antics. It was a wonderful birthday! Oh, I forgot to press the pants before taking some pictures. I was too excited!

stitchandhem.etsy.com

stitchandhem.blogspot.com

the lovely photography of leslie williamson

2011-07-05T14:04:00.000-04:00

f r o m h e r e .

2011-07-03T14:34:00.000-04:00

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.

Rainer Maria Rilke, Letter to a Young Poet, 1934

little notes.

2011-06-25T09:10:00.000-04:00

1. For some time now I have been meaning to post about the new line of tote bags from The New Domestic. I don't read many blogs but this space is one I have been visiting for some time now. Nerissa and Peter have such a keen eye and their graphic design sense makes me swoon. Anyway, a little while back they launched an online shop for their bags and I wanted to spread the word a bit for them (in whatever small way I may!) So, go take a peek if you are so inclined!
The New Domestic
2. I have many new images on my tumblr page. Ah, it is so fun to see the things I love all in one place.
3. If you find any Yard Bombing in your town I would love if you would take a picture and leave a link here! It would be so fun to see.
4. I love Saipua
5. Hooray to New York for joining our little state in approving gay marriage.
6. Would you take a look at that! Did I just do three posts in one week? Well, I never!
6. Happy weekend to you all!

* image from here.

yarn bombing

2011-06-22T13:48:00.000-04:00

I am quite taken with this new craze. The other night, after having some dinner across the river, I noticed our parking meter was covered in beautiful knit yarn. I've just read that there is a little trio of young gals who are leaving their secret marks around town. I hope they head this way soon. Isn't is amazing?

Images From:

Here

And a book about it here.

on lambs & fires in june

2011-06-20T14:13:00.000-04:00

One would not think that come June we would still be starting early morning fires in our stove. Just last week we had one of those days where it felt too hot to move. It reminded me of being in India where everyone seemed to be walking so slowly and we were quick to learn that you had to do just that in the hopes of staying a bit cool. So, there we were last week trying to be still. We took dips in the water, sat by the twirling fan and devoured popsicles. But then, all of that changed yesterday morning. We woke to air that was cool and damp and before we even sat down for breakfast we were gathering wood, crumpling newspaper and lighting matches.

New England is so funny in that way. It is hard to know what is coming next and we seem to spend a lot of time talking about the weather. It's just something that we can't control but it has so much bearing on our day and on our mood. It is a good lesson for someone like me, someone who always likes to know what is coming next, someone who gets a bit anxious when I don't know. I think too, it is a nice lesson in parenthood. This need to let go, to take things as they come, to become comfortable in all of the unknown in life.

And these two new little lambs who have become part of our homestead are helping with that too. They are darling and it feels quite perfect having them here. But they are such sensitive creatures and often with their transition to a new home(especially when it has been so wet)come things like worms and bloat, things I really knew nothing about. So, we have have spent afternoons on the phone with the vet, and at the vet, and at the farm supply store stocking up on medicine. And nestled among the worry of making sure they are okay, of not knowing what is coming next, is this kind of wonderful excitment, the kind that comes when you are learning something new. And last night when I had to strap on a head lamp and head out into the dark to give our lamb one last dose of his medicine I think I actually sort of liked it. I was doing something I had never done before, I was taking care of this fuzzy creature who needed care, I was breaking from the known into the unknown and it wasn't so scary after all.

p.s. This is an old post that I wrote last week. Now the lambs are good and healthy and the sun is warm and bright. Just like it is supposed to be!

2011-06-10T13:53:00.000-04:00

A happy weekend to you and yours.

2011-06-06T14:13:00.000-04:00

The pictures of this lovely apartment in France inspired me just enough to pull me from my blogging hiatus for a bit. The colors are so rich and soft and the play between vibrant pattern and barren walls so divine and perfect.

I hope this finds you all well!

Off to day dream....

2011-05-25T14:41:00.000-04:00

I'm still here, really I am! For some reason lately I just haven't felt like I have had much to share. Does that ever happen to you? And I'll admit it, I have a bit of a love hate relationship to keeping a blog. At times it inspires me and at other times I wonder what it is all about and question where it is headed. Plus, the sun is finally out after days and days of rain so we have to be outside each and every moment. We have seeds still to plant and mosquito bites to get and mud that is just waiting to get our shoes muddy. But I will be back in the next little while. Yes, I think I will be. Until then, I hope this finds all you dear readers happy and healthy wherever you may be!

All the best,

a .

Shepherdess with Her Flock, 1864 By, Jean Francois Millet

lovely dresses

2011-05-13T16:06:00.000-04:00

These handmade dresses are some of the most lovely I have seen. They are made in New York and are available here. Now, could some one out there please make one for me?

Read about D E S I G N on CRC here!

and..

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

p.s. Did blogger erase any of your posts today? I am re-posting this one because it seems to have magically disappeared. Hmmm...

lovely blankets

2011-05-10T12:16:00.000-04:00

Maybe this post is a bit out of season for us here in New England, but I think a good cozy blanket is always good to have around. Don't you? These beautiful blankets are made from 100% Australian, biodynamic, merino wool. From Denmark. Make sure to see them all HERE.

Hope this finds you all well!

2011-05-04T13:23:00.000-04:00

There's a new little word up there in my header, design!

I have so enjoyed gathering images of interior spaces, children's clothing and products, art and all sorts of lovely things on my tumblr page that I have decided to add it into my blog space here. So, whenever the spirit moves me I will share something that I have stumbled upon that I love. It might just be a picture with no words but I will always be sure to link back to the place where I first saw the image.

Although this won't become a design blog (I would still like to share crafts and photos as well!) I thought it would be a nice way of keeping this space active as our days of crafting indoors by the warm fire have slowly ended and we spend more and more time out in the dirt and fresh air.

I also want to say that in sharing these images I am not trying to promote the idea of going out and buying lots of new things. In truth, I really do feel that less is often times more. That if we are able and lucky enough to spend a bit more on one, beautifully made object or piece of clothing that we will mend over the years and pass down from one to another, it is better than buying many inexpensive, disposable goods. It seems that many of the things that I find really beautiful are often quite expensive (and rightly so!). I share them more as pieces of art work or little bits of inspiration more than anythings else.

Anyway, maybe that is too many words just to say that I hope you like this new little addition to this space.

All the best,

a.

may

2011-05-02T14:02:00.000-04:00

w e l c o m e m a y .

natural dyeing

2011-04-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

We dyed this cloth alongside a batch of white eggs for Easter. The eggs didn't work quite as I had planned but the cloth was quite nice. For the blueberry dye, we put some frozen blueberries in a bowl, covered them with hot water and let them steep. For the tea dyes, we just put tea bags in bowls and and let them sit in hot water too. We added a bit of white vinegar to each batch to help the color set and then left the cloth in until they were dyed to a color we liked. It is always nice when mistakes become something new and exciting, isn't it? It is a good thing to remember.

P.s. THIS is a good book on natural dyeing!

egg hunt

2011-04-26T13:07:00.000-04:00

we are

2011-04-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

sipping tea on the porch

wrapping packages for friends

watching seedlings sprout

turning mistakes into treasures

marveling at the whiteness of these eggs

loving the smell of melted beeswax ready for dipping

cookie recipe!

2011-04-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

A few readers were curious about the oatmeal thumbprint cookie recipe so I thought I would post it! I also added a simple one for almond thumbprint cookies from the same cookbook. Excuse all of the cookie photos...I just couldn't stop!

Oatmeal Thumbprint Cookies

3 Sticks butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-1/2 cups oats

2 cups flour (we used both whole wheat and white)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

jam

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

3. Add egg and vanilla, beat well.

4. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, including the raisins and nuts (if using).

5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend well.

6. Roll dough into 1- inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets.

7. Flatten balls slightly and make a thumbprint in each cookie. Fill with jam.

8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Almond Butter Thumbprint Cookies

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup almond butter

1-1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 teaspoon salt

jam

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cream butter.

3. Mix in syrup.

4. Mix in almond butter.

5. Combine the dry ingredients and then add them to the wet ingredients. Mix well.

6. Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet.

7. Press centers with thumb and fill with jam.

8. Bake for about 12 minutes.

oatmeal thumbprint cookies

2011-04-18T08:22:00.000-04:00

When I was a Waldorf kindergarten teacher, I spent many, many mornings baking away with a tableful of eager little hands, so I was happy to see that many of the recipes had been gathered into this one, sweet book, The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book. I find this cookbook handy and nice for a couple of reasons. One, is that all of the recipes can be baked or cooked in a morning (even the breads!)because they all come straight from Waldorf classrooms where one is challenged to bake an apple-crisp with twelve children in the midst of a busy classroom and have the table neatly set with a warm crisp in the center by a certain time! And secondly, they are all quite healthy, nourishing foods, sweetened with honey, and syrup and often made with whole wheat flour. We recently made these oatmeal thumbprint cookies and they were really quite delicious warm out of the oven and with a cup of tea! Do let me know if you would like me to post the full recipe, okay?

Have a lovely start to your week!

2011-04-11T14:26:00.000-04:00

i m a g e s f r o m m y t u m b l r : s o m e t h i n g s f o r l i t t l e o n e s

and of sea

2011-04-07T03:00:00.000-04:00

of air

2011-04-06T08:12:00.000-04:00

apartment love

2011-04-04T14:21:00.000-04:00

I am so smitten with the images of this apartment. If I had to live in a city I think I could manage if I had a place like this to come home to. It is so bright and cozy and filled with treasures from nature. How nice.

boiling

2011-03-31T13:51:00.000-04:00

I just remembered that I never shared some of the photos I took of boiling our sap to make maple syrup. Here they are! We have used both an outdoor fire and our wood stove inside. It is quite a long process. It takes many hours for the water to evaporate and you need many gallons of sap to make a good amount of syrup (40 gallons of sap makes about one gallon of syrup!) Once the process is done, we put it to cool in glass jars and the next day we(thanks mama!) filter it through coffee filters. What we are left with is nothing short of pure, delicious perfection! The syrup is a golden amber color, as sweet as nectar and has a wonderful woodsy, maple flavor to it. It is like gold I tell you! And really it is almost too good to be poured on pancakes. I think it deserves to be eaten by the spoonful straight from it's jar, or gently poured over some good vanilla ice cream!

Here are some picture of our dear maple trees!

egg in a basket with a jam heart

2011-03-28T12:26:00.000-04:00

I think eggs in a basket are pretty darn brilliant. Who came up with the idea anyway? The bread gets all buttery and perfectly crisp as it toasts in a skillet on the stovetop. I love how the egg yolk breaks and sends a river of yellow to moisten the toast just at the right moment. Recently, I have been cutting a whole in the bread with different shaped cookie cutters and it makes me smile each time. Sometimes it's just the little things, isn't it? I like to spread a bit of jam on the cut out piece of toast which add just a hint of sweetness for a finishing touch!

2011-03-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

I thought that every so often I would post a little collage of some of the pictures I have gathered on tumblr. They inspire me a great deal and I hope you see something that inspires you too!

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

StrandRedesign : : an interview with UNNI STRAND

2011-03-23T08:41:00.000-04:00

I first saw Unni's work about a year ago while I searched Etsy for something like chicken + silkscreen + shirt. I was drawn to her work right away, and after visiting her blog for some time I felt drawn to her and the life she had created for herself and for her family in Norway. The internet is sort of funny and magical in that way. You can feel connected to someone far, far away, who you would not have known otherwise. Anyway, I was so grateful when she said she would answer some questions for me and I am happy to share my interview with you today. All of the pictures are from Unni's own blog and from her Etsy store as well! Enjoy!

* * * * * *

Can you tell us something about where you live? Do you live in a rural or urban environment? Who lives under your roof with you? Do you have animals?

I live quite rural but still near the city. I have a ten minute drive to the city and a five minute walk before I am in the middle of the woods. From our house we can see farms and farmland.
 I live with my partner, Henning, my daughter, Moa (5) and our rescue cat, Tulla. I have a grown up son. His name is Martin (19).  At the moment he lives with his grandfather and grandmother in another part of the country while he is studying. We also have an old toad and a couple of cute slow worms in the garden.
I know you grow many of your own vegetables. What is your favorite thing to grow?
 
Oh, that's a difficult question! There are so many vegetables I love! I guess it is tomatoes. But I'm also very fond of broad beans, green beans and potatoes. I think leaf salad is one of the most rewarding and easy vegetables to grow. 

Did you grow up in a creative household as a child? Do you have one early memory of making something with your hands?

My nearest family was not a very creative one. But my grandmother was a painter, and I have other relatives that are graphic designers and a cousin who is a ceramicist. When I started drawing, I just drew floors, only colored squares, for a long period. My twin sister drew tadpole drawings, like children usually do at that age. But suddenly, one day, I started to draw detailed cats with toes and everything. Another thing I remember is that I sewed a tiny envelope purse with a button when I was six. A girl who was eight wanted to buy it. I was so proud because this big girl wanted to have something I had made!

Have you always crafted or has that desire come and gone through out your life?
 
I have always made things. My mother used to sew clothes and I loved to hang around when she did, rearranging her sewing box and playing with the buttons. I started to sew some clothes for myself when I was twelve. My mother was kind and let me use her sewing machine. Later I made dresses for school balls and other parties.
My grandmother taught me to paint on china and I had that as a hobby for several years.

How did you come upon screen printing and textile as your medium?
 
Actually, painting was my thing for many years. I painted landscapes and flowers and wanted to be an illustrator. But I have alway sewed too. In upper secondary school, I chose the art and craft program. It annoyed me that there were so few nice fabrics in the shops so I played with the thought of being a fabric designer. But I chose to be an art and craft teacher. I specialized in weaving. A couple of years ago I was sent by my job to a screen printing course. I had wanted to do screen printing for a long time, and it was great! Finally, I was able to work with the combination of drawing, pattern and textile and combining this with sustainable redesign made it perfect for me!

I love your animal prints. Why were you drawn to representing them in our work?

I love and respect animals very much. I haven't thought about it before, but when you asked me this, I started to think about why I choose animals as much as I do. I think it is because I'm very concerned about animal welfare. And, of course, everyone loves animals, both children and adults. So it is a popular motif.

When did you decide to start selling your work?

After my teaching education, when I specialized in weaving, I rented a studio and worked as much as I could with this beside my day job. I sold some carpets and scarfs. I was in the middle of my twenties at the time. I had the plan, that when I was "grown up" and in my forties I would work half time in my studio and half time teaching. But weaving is so slow. You start to plan something and if you are lucky, you have finished it a couple of months later. It was a relief to move on to screen printing. It is a relatively short way from idea to finished product. At least if the silk screen is ready. The patterns may take a long time to design. I'm thinking and working with my designs for several weeks. But I might print the fabric for a tote in the morning and finish it during the day.
I started my Etsy shop in 2009. And my dream is to be able to work half time with this.

I find motherhood really calls upon me and encourages me to be creative? Do you?
 
I find this question difficult to answer. I don't think there's a link between my creativity and my motherhood but I love to make thing for my daughter and with her. I still feel that I should have been better at planning activities that suit her.

How do you balance your own creative work with being a mother and also an art teacher?

I struggle to keep up with it all. I mainly balance it by doing less housework than I feel that "normal" people do.

Can you tell us something about the Norwegian Handmade Championship that you and Elisa Kolle developed?

The Norwegian Handmade Championship (Håndlaga 2011) is inspired by the popular Etsy seller Rikrak's Handmade Olympics. I thought it was such a fantastic idea and wanted to do something similar in Norway. I asked Elisa if she wanted to join me, and luckily she did, because she's been such a great partner in this! We are in the middle of the nominations now and people have been so positive and supportive. I can't wait to move on to the next step, which is the judging and voting. 

Are there any new skills you would like to learn? A new vegetable you would like to add to your garden?

I would love to be able to construct patterns for clothes. I also would like take a course to learn to master my overlock sewing machine better. This summer, I want to have a cutting garden with lots of flowers to have in the house and to give away.

What do you find yourself day-dreaming about? Is there a place you would love to travel? Something you would like to experience? Something you would like to make?
 
My day-dreaming is always about new things I want to make!
If I had more space (and money) I would have more styles of organic clothes in my shop, more colors and other models both for adults and for children. And if I had more time, I could make more prints and more totes. I guess I should be more content and remember how lucky I am to be able to do this as much as I do already. It makes me so happy when people like my designs.

When it comes to my garden, I would love to have a warm summer again, like the one when I managed to grow two small melons.

Thanks so much, Unni! 

Visit StrandRedesign on Etsy HERE

and Unni's blog HERE.

Mother Maple

2011-03-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned before how much maple syrup my little family goes through each year? A ridiculous amount I tell you! It's a guilty pleasure and one we will be enjoying for a life time I presume. Luckily, we do live in New England where there is a great bounty of that golden deliciousness. This year we tapped a couple of our big maples. We have one in particular who we've taken to calling Mother Maple. She is dear to all of our hearts and is so grand and old, old, old. When her leaves turn a crimson red in the fall they float down to the ground below and make a brilliant ring of red around her base. And when we had to put down our beloved dog just a few weeks before welcoming our son, we went down and dug a deep hole in the frozen, snow covered ground below her to bury him. Somehow, the thought that he would be protected by her expanding roots and hovering branches above made the heart wrenching experience just a little bit more bearable. It seemed she would be watching over him.

Anyway, we have been busy collecting sap and boiling it down into syrup. I will share some pictures of the boiling process soon!

Oh, and I hope you can join me later in the week when I share an interview I did with mother, artist and teacher Unni Strand of StrandRedesign!

Until then, a happy spring to all of you!

thinking of japan

2011-03-19T09:09:00.000-04:00

H E R E

resin

2011-03-16T13:41:00.000-04:00

I think these resin rings and bracelets are lovely. They are full of wheat and feathers and lichen. From HERE.

I hope this finds you all well!

the joy of unplugging

2011-03-08T14:38:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let you know that I am putting away the old computer for a week or two. Sometimes it feels so freeing and wonderful just to unplug! I am looking forward to reading and writing and just sitting about doing nothing for a bit. Maybe by the time I am back in this space there will be even more brown earth to be seen, more melting of snow and more green leaves just about bursting towards the sun. How is it that our little thyme plant looks so happy after months under feet of snow and ice? An inspiration I tell you!

Anyway, hope this finds you all well and be back soon!

p h o t o f r o m : : crowroosterscrow.tumblr.com

witch hazel, birch bark, lace hydrangea & snow

2011-03-03T15:04:00.000-05:00

clothespins and snow

2011-03-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

The Improvisational Quilts of Susana Allen Hunter

2011-02-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

I feel so happy to have come across the work of Susana Allen Hunter thanks to the lovely site of Rosa Pomar. When I saw these quilts I just sat and stared and took a big breath. They are so rich, layered and perfectly imperfect. One has the feeling that behind each and every stitch lays a story waiting to be told. These must be the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen and I felt so excited and eager to share them in this space.
Susana Allen Hunter (1912-2005) was an African-American who lived in rural Wilcox Country, Alabama where she and her family were tenant farmers or sharecroppers. Below are some of her quilts.

Susan Allen Hunter

All images from Daintytime : Sherri Lynn Wood

Thank you!

daydreaming

2011-02-21T13:28:00.000-05:00

last photo by :: jdw

crunch crunch granola

2011-02-16T14:20:00.000-05:00

I really love this granola recipe from no other than my beloved Mrs. Nigella Lawson. It has a nice simple base which makes it perfect for adding dried fruit and nuts to it as you please. We like to have a little batch on hand all of the time as it is a wonderful mid morning or late afternoon snack right out of the jar. It is also delicious with milk or thick yogurt and fresh fruit. It seems to have become my go to recipe when my little one (or I!) have the sudden urge to strap on our aprons and bake something nice but may not have much time or all of the ingredients we may need. There is just enough measuring and mixing to satisfy the soul. And oh, the sweet smell of the oats cooking slowly in the oven is divine.

4.5 cups rolled oats

1 cup sunflower seeds

3/4 cup sesame seeds

3/4 apple sauce

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/3 cup brown rice syrup, rice malt syrup or maple syrup

1/2 cup honey

3/4 cup light brown sugar (you can use less!)

2 cups whole natural almonds

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons sunflower oil

2 cups raisins

Mix everything in a bowl except the raisins. Spread the mixture out on two baking sheets and bake in a 300-325 degree oven turning the mixture over once about half way between baking. Try to get the oats to brown evenly through out. When the granola is out of the oven and has cooled completely you can mix in the raisins or other dried fruit and store in an air tight container. Delicious!

What are some of your favorite things to bake with a little one? Can you leave a comment with a link to your post if you have shared before? I would love to know!

2011-02-14T15:43:00.001-05:00

little notes.

2011-02-13T13:45:00.000-05:00

A big thank you to the Katie Brown Home Workshop for sharing one of my Valentine's crafts on her blog. How nice! Also, my sister has started a darling children's clothing company called Stitch and Hem. She sews and hand knits lovely, simply designed and practical clothing out of wonderful materials. You can visit her here to find out more! Finally, I have added many new pictures to my tumblr wall. Goodness, there are so many beautiful and inspiring things in this world of ours. Take a peek!

match box covers

2011-02-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

We use candles quite a bit in our little house to mark special times of our day together. I have always been drawn to these little match boxes and thought it would be nice to cheer them up a bit. Simply trace, cut and glue on some nice paper to each side of the box. We used a different pattern for each side but whatever you fancy would be wonderful!

Wishing you all the loveliest of weekends and thanks again for stopping by!

rose bud & straw valentine's garland

2011-01-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

Here is a simple craft for Valentine's Day, or for any occasion at that. I tend to like garlands because they add just a touch of holiday cheer without being too over the top (even though that can be good too!)

You will need::

*a nice bunch of dried rose buds :: I had some in the form of loose tea so you may be able to find them at a health food store or co-op) You can also get them here.

*swedish straws from here

*needle and thread

First, decide on a pattern you like. I strung three rose buds between each piece of straw but you can do whatever you fancy! Next, cut the straw to the desired length. Although I used a sharp knife I think a razor would work best. The straw is fragile and can split easily. Finally, string your garland. Poke through the very top of the rose buds (where there is a little raised soft spot) and then into the hollow straw. I find it is easier if the straw is cut a little bit shorter than the length of the needle so you can push it through the straw and pull it out on the other side with you hand. Make sure to leave some extra thread on each side of the garland so you can tie it some place nice. And there you have it!

You can find my little Valentine's craft from last year here!

The End.

2011-01-24T13:15:00.000-05:00

We took another lovely adventure to the home of some loved ones. It is a beautiful place.

I will have a simple Valentine's Day craft later in the week!

Hope this finds you all well!

snow & ice & rosy cheeks

2011-01-21T17:23:00.000-05:00

Finally, it really feels like winter is here. I had begun to worry a bit when we could still see fall's grass in the middle of December. We are supposed to have snow here in New England after all! And then it came! Big, white snow flakes adding up inch by inch on the frozen ground below. It felt like my childhood again when the snow would be so clean and white and abundant that we would fill pie plates with it and pour maple syrup on top. Anyway, the snow came, and then the rain which turned to a thick layer of ice on the newly fallen snow. It looked like our town had been covered in creme brulee. Before the ice came we made this fat, jolly snowman. I had some extra beet powder which I like to use to give a bit of color to some lip balm I make. I mixed a pinch with some water and put it in a spray bottle. It worked well, even though I got a little carried away and forgot that the color would spread out in the snow. I think it adds a nice, lively touch. It is, after all, the little things that matter.

Wishing you all the loveliest of weekends.

TUMBLR

2011-01-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

j morgan puett :: chicken coop

I am feeling rather excited about having a new Tumblr button on my side bar over there. Funny that it wasn't too long ago that I didn't even know what a blog was (really!) and now here I am with a Tumblr account! A woman of the times I tell you! Anyway, there are so many beautiful and inspiring things on the web, art, design, food, clothing, projects. I have a very, very long list of bookmarks on my computer and have often wanted to share some of what I find in this space. I decided that instead of doing that, I would just upload pictures to Tumblr. Seeing them all together in one space makes me giddy indeed! It feels like an indulgence of sorts and I love it. So, that being said, I hope you make your way on over there some time (and keep checking back!) It is my way of supporting (in some little way) some very talented folks and I hope you find something there that inspires you too!

2011-01-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

So, I thought I would just go ahead and jump right back into it! It does seem this wee space of mine has been quiet for quite some time. The desire to work in this format, molding things into something visible and concrete really comes and goes for me. How about you?

Anyway, we did go to a lovely dinner party the other night with our little one right there by our side. It was quite magical and otherworldly in many ways. I felt like I should have been in another era (which suites me just find since I often feel I should have been living long ago. Is that a cancer thing?)I wish my lips had been painted bright red and that some sparkly rhinestones had graced my ears and neck. Nonetheless, it was fun and the evening shouted out, "Please take some picture of me!". So here they are.

I also wanted to make sure that the start of this New Year did not go by for too long before I said a big thank you to all of you who have stopped by here, who have taken the time to leave a comment, to say hello, or who have shared one of my crafts elsewhere. It brings me great joy and makes the world seem a bit smaller and more connected. I gulp a little time I push the carrot-orange, "Publish Post" button since I have discovered that I am by nature rather shy and protective of myself and family and home. Having this blog is almost an act of bravery for me, strange as that may sound. (Hey, is that a cancer thing too?)So, it is with tremendous gratitude for this space and for all of those who have become a part of it that I say thank you and happy New Year too!

2010-12-21T13:14:00.000-05:00

h a p p y s o l s t i c e.

almonds & butter & sugar, oh my!

2010-12-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

This is by far one of my favorite cakes. We make it for birthdays and holidays and for dinner guests. It is equally delicious with a sifting of powdered sugar and roasted almond slices or with a thin layer of jam spread on top while it is still warm from the oven (or all of the above!)I have dreams of slicing it in half and stuffing it full with a layer of cream. The recipe comes from Alice Waters and was passed down from a family friend. Here is a link to the recipe (Oh, I am feeling a wee bit lazy!) The thing I find most important is that both the butter and eggs be at room temperature and of course the fresher the eggs the better! It also makes for a divine breakfast with a dark cup of coffee!
I hope you like it too!

drift wood & clay beads

2010-12-03T14:28:00.000-05:00

We have had a lovely bundle of drift wood sitting in a glass jar since coming home from a week on the beach this summer. On a whim the other day I decided to pull out our paints, homemade clay beads and twine and figure out some way of putting them all together. We live in such a little house (really!) that it is always nice to reclaim even a small amount of counter space!

Anyway, at first it felt a little funny painting the wood. It is so beautiful in its natural form and the color is always so soft and dreamy. Somehow though, adding some nice colors didn't seem to take away from seeing their true shape and it was fun to paint in all of the nooks and crannies. After letting the wood dry in the sun, my little one cut some long lengths of string which I wrapped and tied onto the main piece of wood, letting the extra hang down. Then, I strung a bead and tied a knot to keep it in place, wrapped the twine about six times around the painted drift wood, tied another knot and clipped off the extra length.

I rather like it in all of its imperfection and haphazard twine tying. I think too that it will add a nice burst of color as our winter days grow nearer and it will fill us with memories of warm summer days in a little cabin on the beach packed full of the people we love.

Hope you all have a delightful weekend!

:::a little note:::

For you folks who subscribe (saying that makes me laugh) to this little blog, I'm just wondering if you have been getting emails when I do a new post? I'm just not sure if it is working! Okay, off I go.

baked brie & pecans

2010-12-01T09:03:00.000-05:00

Food, and gathering around the table for our daily meals is such a big part of our home life and it is always nice when one of us tries something new that we all enjoy. I had been wanting to make a baked brie for some time and Thanksgiving seemed the perfect day to do it. It is not something I would make all the time but it is a nice holiday or dinner party treat. It is simple to make too!

Ingredients ::

One 9 ounce Brie Wheel

1/2 cup pecan pieces

3 Tablespoons maple syrup

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

Directions ::

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake Brie for 15-20 minutes.

Remove the Brie from the oven and let cool slightly.

While the Brie is cooling, place pecans on cooking tray and roast slightly, about 7-10 minutes.

Sprinkle the nuts over the cheese.

In a small saucepan combine syrup and sugar and bring to a boil until frothy, about 1-2 minutes.

Drizzle sauce over the Brie and pecans and serve with crackers or baguette slices!

Recipe from no other than Miss. M

P.s. I hope everyone has a lovely first day of December! It's a wonderful time to make one of these!

walnut shell & wool pin cushion

2010-11-22T14:11:00.000-05:00

I was so happy to walk into our market to the sight of big bags of nuts:hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds! We nibble on so many different kinds of nuts in our family and I was excited to show my little son a bit more about where they come from. We decided to bring home a bag full of walnuts and he delighted in cracking them open. Many of the shells just broke into pieces but the ones that were split perfectly in half left lots of room for the imagination. I made one half into this wee pin cushion simply by needle felting a wool ball the same size as the walnut opening and then gluing it into the bottom of the shell. I found it helpful to start the felt ball outside of the shell and then to shape the rest while the wool was in place.

The shells would also work well for these boats. Who knew that there were so many things one could made with a simple walnut shell! And you get to snack on nuts while you work! How nice.

2010-11-19T13:21:00.000-05:00

Another necklace. This one is made of three peachy vintage lucite beads and two little german glass beads. Strung on thin pink leather cording.

Wishing you all the happiest of weekends!

2010-11-18T08:58:00.000-05:00

Another little milkweed necklace made with glass beads and a double loop of thin hemp cording.

so lovely & i'm still here.

2010-11-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

Oh goodness, it has been quite awhile since my last post! It always feels so nice to take a break from the old computer, and although we have had many wonderful adventures I have just felt like leaving the camera behind. It is good to do that sometimes! Our days are so short now and we have been busy getting things ready for the winter: stacking wood, washing woolens, and being outside when the sun is still out and shining. Anyway, I couldn't resist sharing some lovely things I have seen on Etsy in the past little while. There are just so many talented folks who have their work there! I know it is not the most original thing to post about but I must say that seeing these things all together, in one place, makes me quite happy indeed! Maybe I will need to share some more things soon. I hope you like them too and that this finds you all well!
1. Delilah Merry Mobile
2. Paper Puppet Sheep
3. 2011 Mini Wall Calendar
4. Sewing Kit
5. Linen Pin Cushion

2010-10-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

New on my sidebar is a link to Milkweed necklaces, an ever growing list of my necklace making adventures. Most are made from vintage glass beads and there are acorn necklaces as well.

the end.

miss mouse

2010-10-24T14:13:00.000-04:00

We had a visit from this little lady. Isn't she divine? There may be nothing sweeter than a plump woodland mouse. I think her name should be Eloise or Petunia or maybe Lola. Anyway, she made us very happy indeed.

save seed

2010-10-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

At the start of the summer we were gifted with a bag full of mammoth sunflower seeds saved from a friends garden. We planted them in our own garden beds and they quickly grew into proud and very tall flowers. The other day we cut them down(with a saw no less!)and plucked out their plump seeds to save for next season when we will plant them again. It is such a nice thing to do, such a celebration of the cyclical nature of life and a lovely way for new little hands to work away.

2010-10-07T14:02:00.000-04:00

The other day we brought home some lovely cobs of corn from a local farm. The iridescent kernels look like the shimmering scales of a mermaids tail and never cease to amaze me. I thought it would be nice to string them into a fall harvest necklace. Maybe you would like to make one too!

1. Find some lovely corn (even all yellow kernels would be beautiful too!)

2. Take off the individual kernels. This part is fun for little hands!

3. Soak the kernels in warm water for a few hours until they are soft enough to push a needle through.

4. Thread a needle and start stringing the corn. The white part of the kernel is usually the easiest part to push the needle through.

5. When you reach the desired length tie the two ends together and there you have it!

Oh...and the husks can be soaked in warm water too and made into a corn husk doll!

2010-10-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

After a dry summer we finally had enough rain to fill up the ponds and puddles and waterfalls and to soak the earth with its newly planted spring bulbs. We brushed aside our frizzy hair made wild from the dampness and heat and pulled on our rain boots coats. Then one night the clouds broke and gave way to early morning sunshine. Just in time for a weekend of bike rides, the stacking of fire wood and another fall festival. I do love this lovely season of ours.

2010-09-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

Hello there! Just wanted to let you know of a new little button I have over there in the sidebar. Now you can subscribe to Crow Roosters Crow. Just add your email address and you will magically get a notice in your in box when I ever so randomly post a post! Oh I really feel like a woman of the times now! Well, not really.
Okay, off I go. Hope this finds you all well!
a

2010-09-23T13:35:00.000-04:00

There are signs of fall everywhere. One needn't look very hard to find them anymore. Even though I feel a bit wistful for the long, hot days of summer, the beauty of this season makes it so much easier to move forward. We can hear the geese overhead flying south, and the loud rustling of leaves as the busy woodland creatures ready for the cold months ahead. There are squash and pumpkins to devour, apples to pick and make into pies and sauces, there is wood to be stacked and woolens to wash. There is so much to be done during this lovely season and on this first day of celebrating the fall.

2010-09-22T14:27:00.000-04:00

2010-09-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

a little paint project.

and

happy weekending!