Mouse and Fairy

 Fairy and Mouse live in my wool room here at Laughing Dove Farm.

 There was a small rectangular hole my husband left behind after installing the electrical workings of my new wool workshop. He was going to neatly cover it but before he could get around to finishing the wall a fairy and a mouse moved in , thus claiming their own little place in my wool shop.

Actually, our daughter's oldest daughter ( far left) painted my new little wool shop residents, and I am happy to have them nearby as I weave and work with the wool of my flock of sheep. ( Picture is of our daughter and her husband's 4 children.)

Fairies Need Houses Too !

 I had the blessing of two granddaughters spending a few days with me while my husband took their two brothers over the mountains for a visit with cousins and some fishing. These granddaughters love to think about where the best places for fairies might be and they love even more creating little houses for fairies. Here they are rowing our little boat around Cedar Pond, I know they love to tie the boat up at the little island and explore. Maybe there are fairies there.

 Look at what she made for the fairies from a cardboard box, twigs and leaves, and bits & pieces from my craft room !

 I think a fairy is already checking out this little house in the tree.

 This granddaughter not only made a pretty pink house, but she made lawn furniture to go with it,

 and carefully arranged it for the fairies.

 Looks like a fairy is interested in this house too. I hope the fairies move in.

"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision , that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring , is dimmed and lost even before we reach adulthood. " Rachel Carson

Nap Time Anyone?

Today is the day I change the sheets , they need to be washed & dried and the bed made new. Blizzard, our cat ( still a kitten) does not care about clean sheets. He is comfortable. He was oblivious to me taking them off the bed around him and settled himself right back down for a long nap. Today is also sewing day with one of my granddaughters. Here she is sewing two pairs of pajama pants. One pair for her little brother and one pair for her little cousin.She has already sewn pajama pants for her sister, older brother, herself, and her doll. Blizzard thinks every day is a great day for a nap. I hope today is a great day for you, and no matter what you have planned, a nap doesn't hurt, and might even be just what you need.

Now I Love This Room, It Works For Me! ( craft room update)

This is what beckons me in as I pass it from the bedroom to go downstairs and get my first cup of coffee. " Hurry back Kathy, you have so much fun and inspiration awaiting you here...". This is one of many pictures before I started making this room a place I wanted to be.(Click here * to see previous post on this room ) This room was quickly becoming the room I avoided , it was full of bins of fabric and projects I wanted to finish but moving bins and boxes to do simple tasks made it a dreadful room to be in. I knew that if I did not get this room in order and make it a place I wanted to be in , well, it would fill up with things that would turn out to be clutter and also useless, fit only for landfill. Before(above )... ...after.My precious husband was quick to be upstairs measuring and figuring out how we could use the space efficiently. Our first plans fell aside because the store we chose to supply the storage needs was out of our choices. We shopped around and although this is not as pretty as our first choice, it was perfect for my needs and saved us at least $100.00 or more. Before...this space was truly ugly and hard to use for many reasons. It is also one of the spaces I tend to use most frequently, making this room a place I dreaded using, but NEEDED.What to do, what to do? Well, again, our original plans fell through, but my husband came up with this.... ...look , my fabric fits here, no more stacked bins!There is also a place between the units where I can store long narrow items, canvas I need for locker-hooking, the type of canvas that will not fit into little cubicles.This space also allows me to store loom accessories that are long and narrow . I can see what I have and store it in a way that makes it all accessible and to me. I love seeing fabric folded, rolled, stacked, and waiting for me to choose just which one or two will be perfect for my next project. The basket was purchased from Goodwill for $3.00 and holds all my laces, trims, and brick-a-bracks for fabric embellishing. The boxes are free from the grocery store and hold my Wee Little Sheep, all wrapped in tissue paper and ready for adornment and carting off to bazaars. Maybe not as tidy and picturesque as a magazine spread on craft-rooms and studios would show, but this room is organized, comfortable, warm,affordable, and works very well for me. It beckons me , I want to be in this room. I put my music on, or watch recorded programs that inspire me here. I teach my granddaughters how to sew here, and give them a place to use the assembled art products such as beautiful paper, glitter, glue, paint, beads,fabric & trims ...embellishments and many other things they choose to use. The last place left to get in order is the sewing area. The place to the left of the sewing machine holds projects I and my granddaughters are actually working on. This means these projects will be finished and the wire baskets will quickly be re-filled with new projects. So much more organized and efficient for me. The sewing machine pictured here was retired just this month, replaced by a new /old Singer sewing machine from a friend, and an industrial Singer sewing machine I bought brand new. I wore this Kenmore sewing machine out. Although the motor is fine, most of the stainless steel attachments have worn out and broken off. I was having to put bits and bobs here and there to make things work and breaking at least 3 needles for every purse made of handwoven fabric. Time to make the sentimental give way to the practical. I am keeping my old Kenmore, gift from my Grandmother via my mother, but moving on to new things here. I have been getting things in order around our home and am currently going through paper-work and re-organizing our study & filing system.Within the next week I should be done, the shredder will have made much more nesting material for our chickens and helped us free more space to use for LIVING. After the craft room & study are done I will breathe a sigh of relief and feel more free to again be involved outside our home and in the blog-o-sphere. The new year around here is one of purging and expectation, how is your new year coming along?

Christmas & Traditions

Since my husband and I were first married in 1973, I have made lefse for our Christmas breakfast. This means I am usually up very late , or very early making lefse. I suppose this means it is a tradition for our family. Opening our presents on Christmas morning, with fresh brewed coffee at hand, a plate of lefse near-by, and plenty of butter and cinnamon & sugar to cover each piece of this very Norwegian food just adds to all we enjoy on Christmas morning. Continuing many family traditions is a way of reminding ourselves of all that is important within a family, within a culture, within a history we deem important and well worth reminding our children and grandchildren of. Of all my husband and I hold dear, the one thing we would hope and pray is for our family, and especially our children and their children on down to many generations...remember, "..for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find the baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." Luke 2:11,12 ( art by our granddaughter KN)

Frogs & Fairies ?

Cedar Pond is a small pond, but big enough to have a tiny island in the middle. This little island is rarely visited by us and requires a boat ( albeit a very small boat ) ride. The grandchildren all covet that special ride to the island and when on the island , they have to explore thoroughly. You never know what you might find there, a frog or a fairy, and adventure is always there for anyone with imagination. Poppa came home early on sewing day. KN was almost finished with her sewing project and she said excitedly "Maybe he will take me on a boat ride around the pond!" The sun was shining and warming Cedar Pond after weeks of non-stop rain. How could he not celebrate such good weather with his granddaughter? We drained the little boat of many inches of rain water and Poppa and KN paddled around the island in the pond. Poppa chose this time to plant some little trees on the island. KN tied the boat to a tree while she and Poppa explored the tiny island. KN was thinking about fairies and looking for frogs.

Could there be fairies here? Such a miniature and complete little world, just on the other side of the island.Often overlooked, rarely disturbed, perfect.

There are holes and little doors all 'round this stump. Fairies and frogs would rejoice in such a shelter, don't you think? Ferns to shade and hide a secret entrance, the pond at the door , the sun on the side . Rarely trod by human feet. Places to float a fairy boat, especially one made of fir cones and feathers. Safe harbors in the miniature coves formed by water-sodden moss covered logs framed by Lily of the Valley and ferns.

"Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature." Kally Scheaffer "The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful." e.e.cummings "Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14

* This past week I have been having trouble with our internet provider , the service has been down, missing, AWOL, zilch, when I have attempted to post or comment. This coming week I have family responsibilities to attend to, but will hopefully be able to read and comment on many of my favorite blogs nevertheless. Thank-you again for taking a moment of your precious time to read musings on our little spot here on Cedar Pond.

Cedar Pond Explored

This week we were privileged to have our daughter's two daughters for two nights and three days as a special birthday request from our #5 granddaughter (MN), and she asked that her sister, #2 granddaughter (KN), spend this time with her. Of course! We're delighted to be considered a treat for them, we know that just as our children grew up so quickly, so will these precious ones and time with them is not to be put off "for later". The grandchildren, just as their parents, love to spend time around the pond. Paddling the boat with Poppa, throwing rocks into the pond, swirling sticks to see what floats up...or simply enjoying the woods around the pond and catching glimpses of frogs, birds, ducks, and who knows what other amazing things. Ah! I get a smile out of her as I walk toward her with a camera. She is usually camera shy and I was prepared for a scowl, but look! She is happy and loving her time around the pond. KN has run outside by herself frequently today to wander the property , follow my ducks around, and explore the pond's edge. " A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision ,that true instinct for what is beautiful, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood." Rachel Carson Little sister MN follows her big sister around the pond's edge and after their pleading for me to come with them how could I not? This area of the pond has much more treacherous footing than it looks from this picture, but with sturdy mud boots and small trees to grasp we do just fine as we explore. "Children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them." Audubon Nature Preschool The sisters find one of their mothers' childhood secret places. It is hard to get into this place under some very large cedar trees. You could sit under them in pouring rain and the cedars would keep you dry. "Children learn best through their everyday experiences with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun. And the best places for these experiences is outdoors, in the natural world." KN was truly in her glory and delight today, I think she is happy her little sister requests her presence for all things that make her ( little sister) happy. I am glad too. "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.." And I believe this last quote to be true because one cannot truly contemplate this vast and awesome creation without contemplating the Source of it....God! "O Lord, how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou has made them all; the earth is full of Thy possessions. " Psalm 104:24 , and "Every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine." Psalm 50:10,11

Chicks!

My chicks came in the mail. I ordered bantams this time. Bantams are the small chickens. I ordered Silkies, white and barred cochins, and red and white frizzles. Aren't they cute?

Two of our granddaughters spent the night and are playing with me all day today. They very happily helped me clean the chick box by holding the chicks while I cleaned the box.

KN holds a little barred cochin bantam chick.

Look at how tiny it is.

MN holds a little Silkie chick. Look at how much fun I have, I get to spend the days ( and some nights) with little granddaughters and baby chickens. Blessings abundant!

Just Crafty, Or- What to Do With An Old Sweater

I had this pink angora / lambs wool sweater I had not worn for quite awhile. There was nothing wrong with it, I just did not wear it anymore. Since I have been learning a lot about wool, felting, and the amazing character of wool which allows for so many creative options I decided to offer my granddaughter the chance to create her own sweater. She is much , much smaller than I so I washed this sweater in a hot wash / cold rinse in the washing machine TWICE! There was the chance it would shrink to a teeny size and then it could be a doll sweater, but it did not shrink too much. I got out a selection of pretty and colorful buttons and trim, needles and thread, and invited her over. She seemed delighted. She chose her buttons and also turned up the cuffs and placed tiny daisy buttons on them. I think she showed restraint with embellishments. I also think the sweater looks much better on her than it did on me.

Then she asked if she could go outside and rake leaves! And she did.

How did my bazaar go you might, or might NOT ask? Well I will tell you, I think it was great! I sold quite a few of my wool felted balls. ( above) I sold several miscellaneous items, weaving, locker-hooking supplies, fiber.

I sold some of my hand~spun yarn.

And I sold a LOT of these!

We did get off to a rough start because the first morning of the bazaar I awoke to discover my car battery was dead. My husband had bought a new battery the night before which he had to install before I went off to Lake Lawrence and he went off to work. The second day of the bazaar my husband informed me our well pump had gone out, we had no water. Oh well, that has now been remedied. All that was needed is time and money! Now we're expecting a very big storm...I am off to fill water bottles and make sure I have the candles, matches, batteries and firewood ready! Oh, and turn my computer off at the first sign of flickering lights.