Showing posts with label Home Arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Arts. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?



Well, my dear friends, I have been away from the blogs for a fair piece (returning soon to see what you have been up to in my prolonged absence), but I haven't been to see The Queen or even a lowly jester. Instead, I have been about the business of treasure hunting . . . for true wealth, as can only be found in the memories made in each passing day.

With Autumn still about two weeks away from her official debut, the welcoming coolness of these late, late Summer days has paved the way for coming away from the fans and back out into the gardens for fun and work and a host of other activities.



Around here we choose to mix up work and play,
Evidenced here in the building of a treehouse


For one happy girl (and dad, too, I see),

Who will lie back and gaze at this wondrous site.

Not one to enjoy wielding a hammer or saw,
Miss Lydia prefers to run amongst the flowers and trees.
These sweet days offer no finer opportunity
To dance among the trees


Finding flowers laden with unexpected gifts,
Like this Praying Mantis Maiden
Coyly searching for a mate.

Another rich memory greeted us one sleepy morning
When we tumbled out of bed
And found this delightful brunch awaiting us.

Rachel had set the table,
Prepared the meal,
And then simply waited for us
To discover the surprise.

Truly priceless memories found amongst these days.

Still, there's more . . .

More spinning dates.
More to learn.

Like how this unusual contraption
makes a skein of yarn into a tidy package,

Which can then be turned into something very special
(like this blankie Elizabeth has fashioned
for a soon-to-be-born little boy).

Miss Elizabeth has had especially busy hands these days.
Here you see her very first pie crust

And the mouthwatering dinner we enjoyed.
Trust me . . . it was soooooo rich and delicious!

With so much happening around our busy homestead,
We easily lose track of time . . .

But the maturation of these "chicks"
Reminds us that time does fly.

Similarly, some things never change,
As you can see that Miss "Freckles"
Still plays the loner.

"Company's Coming!" always delighted me as a child,
and the passing of years has not changed that one bit.

Getting together with a treasure trove of friends
Makes for a day overflowing
With the kind of wealth and blessings
That satisfy long after the meal has been consumed,
The table cleared,
And the dishes stowed tidily away.

Our dear Friend, Chef Karl,
"Laboured" away over a fully-laden BBQ

While his wife Lily and her sister Susan
Enjoyed catching up on all the happenings
Around here since our last get together.

Relaxed fun for all!
(You can't find that in a bank vault.)

As the sun slipped slowly away
We chatted by candlelight,
Wishing we could find a firefly
To add to our cache of beauty
In this gently, rich life.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Spinning Dreams, Knitting Hearts Together

I took my three Little Women
and set off to visit a dear friend, Adele,
for an afternoon of spinning, knitting, and friendly conversation.


Upon entering the welcoming home,
we saw the star of the show . . .


But before lessons began
we enjoyed perusing a collection of
Ukrainian and Russian heirlooms
received from family and friends.


We ventured into her textile studio and admired
her latest quilt creation in progress
made for orphans in Ukraine.


The loom in the center of the room caught everyone's attention
with it's simple beauty and intricate mechanics.


A pattern book holds the key


To weaving gorgeous fabrics like this Ukrainian Rose pattern.


We returned to the living room
and the wool rolled out to welcome these eager pupils.



The softness of the wool


Combined with the skill of a retired Home Economics teacher,
who bought her first wheel in 1975,
produced marvelous results.

First up . . . Rachel


Who showed a natural flair.


Lydia began her knitting lesson
while Rachel practiced spinning.


Next Elizabeth began spinning


While Rachel took up her knitting needles for lesson time.


Eventually Lydia switched to the wheel,
though she said she found knitting much more to her liking.

She, too, found her groove and spun some wool,


While Elizabeth launched into knitting.


All too soon our time together ended,
but Adele surprised us greatly
by sending her "spare" wheel home with us
for some practice time.


Smiles graced all faces
as we loaded the wheel into the car
and sped off for home
with a date to get together again next week
for another delightful afternoon of
spinning and smiling and sharing.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday Wonder


She seeketh wool, and flax,
And worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:13



* * * * *



She layeth her hands to the spindle,
And her hands hold the distaff.
Proverbs 31:19




* * * * *




Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:31



* * * * *
My dear friends,

Please forgive me for not following through with the completely "spun" post I promised recently. All of this spinning wonder this past week has spun our schedule completely out of our ordinary orbit. We attended a spinners/weavers guild meeting on Saturday and met the most delightful women. We shared our lives, our passions, and our lunch in a most wonderful afternoon. After a week of non-stop activity (with not one single day "just at home" as is our usual schedule), we have fallen into an exhausted heap. I shall rest fully on This Lord's Day of Rest and thus will be bright-eyed and nimble-fingered to tackle the blog post on Monday morning. I do have SO many pictures and stories and thoughts to share . . . but I cannot just now (she says with droopy eyelids). I will see you on Monday.
: D

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Just a Peek . . . for now

We packed up some freshly-made buttermilk scones with jam


and set off to visit a dear friend.


She had many wonderful things to teach us.


Like this . . .

and this . . .

and this.

It was a very full three-hour visit,
which I will blog about tomorrow
(when I have rested up).

For now I thought you would enJOY
just a little peek.

More to come . . .

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Surprise!


Look what I found in my inbox this morning from Franklin Springs, the distributor of the West Ladies Homestead Blessings DVDs:

20% off savings coupon
Please take a moment and browse our entire library of seventeen different family edifying films that are available for purchase. For five days only, we are making available the below 20% off coupon code good for orders of any amount.
Browse our library of 17 titles

Your coupon code:
20offmyorder05


ENTER COUPON CODE AT CHECKOUT.



Since the fine people at Franklin Springs invited me to share this with my friends, I thought I would pop it right on here for anyone interested to enjoy the savings.

The email also included this exciting bit of news:


NEW RELEASES COMING SOON...

Three new Homestead Blessings DVDs
with the West Ladies

We are very pleased to announce that coming in late summer we will be expanding the Homestead Blessings series with three additional DVDs hosted by the much beloved West ladies...












The Art of Gardening

This exciting new DVD will show teach the joy of working in the garden. From the basics of seed preparation and planting, to the rich time of harvest, this DVD will provide a wealth of information.

The Art of Canning

From picking the right jars to storing the final items, this DVD will provide a complete overview of the process of canning your own food.

The Art of Herbs

From treating an injury, promoting better health, or simply seasoning a good meal, this DVD is packed with helpful instruction on how to properly use the hundreds of herbs available.

These exciting new films will be available in late summer. I can hardly wait!