WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

"I see skies of blue, clouds of white, bright blessed day, dark sacred nights, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.  The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces of people going by.   I see friends shaking hands, sayin how do you do.  There really sayin...I love you."

~ Louis Armstrong

Monday marked the one year anniversary of my precious Papa's death.  This year our family has felt many losses.  Working through grief is a long journey.  On this melancholy journey, you navigate many emotions.    I think that you eventually have to reach deep within, find strength, hang on, and the fog begins to lift.  You can breathe a little better.  You begin to awaken. 

My Papa was such an amazing human being.  Loved by all who knew him.  My Grandmother has shared with us that sometimes he would stop and announce " Isn't this a wonderful world!" 

This world is wonderful because he was a part of it.  I am so thankful to him for the example that he set for those around him.

On Monday I needed to do something to honor him. We gathered supplies.  Paint, markers, ribbon, fabric, and sunflower seeds.

Papa loved sunflowers.  I walked around the farm, tucking seeds into the earth.  Then Violet and I , along with my nieces painted.  We sat around talking about him and I shared with them stories about the things he loved.  We were inspired and produced a beautiful strand of blessing flags.  The girls helped me hang them in my garden.

The Tibetans believe that the wind will carry the blessings into the universe.  I love what Wikipedia has to say....

"By hanging flags in high places the Lung ta will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the Mantras.

The prayers of a flag become a permanent part of the universe as the images fade from exposure to the elements. Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, Tibetans renew their hopes for the world by continually mounting new flags alongside the old. This act symbolizes a welcoming of life's changes and an acknowledgment that all beings are part of a greater ongoing cycle."

In knowing this the healing continues.

DiY DRESS UP WiTH SiSTERS

"In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips."

~Author Unknown

I have been taking this awesome on-line sewing course from Red Velvet.  This inventive business offers clothing in their online shop and super cute store in Springfield, Missouri.  How convenient you say, I living in the Arkansas Ozarks, am really just a hop skip and jump away.  I plan to make a mecca to their awesome store (hopefully with my sister) where they provide baked goods and vintage clothing.  What is so cool about Red Velvet is that it is run by two talented sisters.  Emma who makes the baked goods and bubble tea, and Elsie who designs the clothing.  They are quite the inspiring pair.  You can check out their lovely blogs which are among my favorites...A Beautiful Mess...and...Food Coma.

What makes this class even more exciting, is that my sister Liz and I are doing it together, across the state line.  It has been a fun way to connect because as it turns out we have been working on our projects at exactly the same time!!  At one point when I checked in, she was picking our her fabric at the very same moment I was doing the same.  It is the simple things in life that are such a pleasure.  Right??

 Anyway to catch you up here are projects #1 and #2.  Sorry about the shoddy photog for #1 but I was working with terrible lighting.

PROJECT #1 BOW

This project was to  practice

the art of top stitching

PROJECT #2 MAGAZiNE AND KNiTTING TOTE

For this project I channeled Fraulein Maria and used an old vintage curtain I have been saving for years. I looovvve tote bags (it seems I am always lugging a ton of stuff around), so I was happy with the way this came out.  Also see that magazine poking out (it just so happens that magazines are one of my other passions), it is Mollie Makes, a super cute magazine chock-o-block full of crafty stuff. It also coincidentally has a nice article about the Red Velvet gals. Oh and the knitting needles are some that my husband made for me.

Stay tuned for project #3 a make-up bag with vinyl lining.  Smart!!

Til next time...

HAPPY THiNGS

Make-up Case Garden

 Progress

Awesome Workbook from GoddessGuidebook.com Great for inspiration, setting goals, and getting organized!

 Ode to Cold Press always ready to go in the fridge.  I use this recipe

Lovely E-Course I am taking along with my sister, from these sisters...Elsie and Emma. Hoping to learn more about clothes construction...a goal for 2012!!

Cups of Yogi Tea.

Spring Daffodils

CHRONiCLES FROM THE MAGiC SCHOOL HOUSE: CREATiVE WRiTING

"I hear, and I know. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand."

~ Confucius

Greetings!!  It has been many moons since I have been here at this space.  I have to say I quite missed it.  I have been in a far away Internet challenged land.  My sweet husband gifted me a bit of technology this Christmas and I am back into the 21 century.  Well almost.  Still working on a few other projects but getting closer!!  Will show a bit of this progress on a later post.  I thought I'd share a creative writing project from the Magic School House today.

We used Emily Martin's cleaver Black Apple Paper Doll Primer: Activities and Amusements for the Curious Paper Artist as the inspiration for our assignment.  This book is truly magical. She provides templates in the back for you to create your own dolls, complete with clothing, accessories, and sets.

I started by writing a list of words on the board.

Then I asked Violet to choose three words, and create a character using the words as a springboard. 

She chose smart, creative, and loving. 

After selecting the words, I instructed Violet to write a short paragraph describing where her person lived , and what they liked to do.  Then, make a list of things her character likes and a separate list of dislikes.

As a finishing touch she could draw a picture of her imagined character. Violet liked this idea and decided that after school she would make a paper doll of her character.

It made a nice project for a Friday afternoon!

Also, I recently dug out my copy of Games for Learning by Peggy Kaye.  I can't say enough good things about her books.  The are choc-o-block full of lovely fun ways to practice the fundamentals.  Violet is needing some extra practice with her math facts and the games in the book provide the repetition and practice without the monotony of flash cards.  We played an activity from this book called Math War.  It is played just like the old school version except each player lays down two cards and adds them together.  The player with the highest sum  gets to keep the cards.  This game has the tendency to be rather long.  She suggests playing it 10 minutes or so at a time.  Then separating each players cards with a rubber band so that you can pick it up when you have time again.  We had fun with this one, it alleviated that glazed over "I'm bored look" that I get when we use the flash cards.  I can't say that I blame her!

Have a wonderful weekend!

iN THE MOMENT

MERRiMENT

" The mother is the one supreme asset of national life; she is more important by far than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist, or scientist."

~Theodore Roosevelt

Mama and I has a spontaneous wine and cheese party for two the other night.  It was quite a lot of fun.  I am so lucky to have a Mama that I can also call a friend. 

Our party included...

Pink Truck Wine:. I had never tried this before but I gravitated towards it because Mama loves pink.  It was really yummy~

Fresh Mozzarella Balls:.I picked up a container of these in the specialty cheese department.  I drained off the brine liquid,  sliced them, and sprinkled them with salt and Herbs de Provence (oh how I love to eat anything with lavender!!).  Then I drizzled a bit of extra virgin olive oil over the top and tossed the mixture together. Delich!!

and Ferro Rocher Hazelnut Chocolate.

This week I am on my own with out Kalin or Violet.  The adjustment has been a bit difficult. It is very hard to change gears from Mama duties.  What do you want to eat?  Have you brushed your teeth? Flossed? Mouth-washed?   It is time for bed.

The rewards of motherhood and having family far surpass the daily grind of it all.  But, a little peace and quiet has been nice.

My  little one-on-one visit with my Mama was such a rare and special visit that I will always treasure.

HAPPY THiNGS

Romaine growing in my garden.

Productive Chickens.

Harvesting spring radishes

Wildflowers growing on the trail to our house:

Cranesbill Geranium

and Wild Violets.

Spring Peepers. (aka tree frogs)

Packages from the Black Apple!!!

Progress.

TACOS AND PHOTOS

spon·ta·ne·ous 

coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency;without effort or                 premeditation; natural and unconstrained;unplanned                
One of our FAVORITE eateries we have discovered in all of our travels is Dos Amigos in Waxahachie, TX.  We always frequent it when we are in town.  The dining area is very small so we usually get our orders to go.     YUM!!  Our favorite are the soft tacos that are wrapped in delicious tortillas crafted on the spot.

What is one to do while waiting on an order of fabulous tacos?  Well, take some pictures with your new camera of course.  Downtown Waxahachie has some really cool spaces.


Violet and I loved this railing.............

This wall..........

And these wings....................

Well, famished after our spontaneous photo shoot, we dug into our tacos without taking any pictures.  But I can assure you they were.....FANTASTIC!

SURPRiSE TEA

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the  pleasures of company." 

 ~Author Unknown

Violet and I decided that a surprise tea party was in order while we were staying with Mimi.  We picked up some delicious sandwiches at the Black Rooter Bakery.  The sandwiches are served on their homemade baguettes and come wrapped in the cutest packaging.  We also picked up a couple of brown butter lemon bars. My favorite thing was the goat cheese, kalamata olive tapenade, and sun-dried tomato sandwich. YUM!

When we arrived back at Mimi's house we set the table with items found her her extensive collection of things for entertaining.  I could not find place mats that fit the color scheme so I used some brown wrapping paper I knew was hiding in the closet.  

We had so much fun putting this together as a surprise for Mimi on her lunch break.  It was a lovely time.

HAPPY THiNGS

:. Beans.  I love the way they sparkle when you wash them.  They are so satisfying to watch evolve from dry to delicious.  I recently had a bean making lesson with my Grandmother who taught me the way her Mama made them.  It is magic.

:. This cool soda bottle idea.  I saw this on a site that my sister found.  What a fun idea for a eco friendly project.    This will be great for Earth Day

:. The Cowtown Farmers Market.  If you live in Fort Worth you have to check out this market.  You will find friendly faces and great grub.  I am especially in love with the goat cheese made by Latte Da Dairy.  It is truly spectacular and comes from very happy goats.

:. Family Gatherings.  Over the weekend the family gathered together packing loads of food for a feast.  Good Times were had by all!

:.Home.  This song is one of my favorites even though I can never remember the title of the band.  This makes me feel a bit old.  Anyway they are called Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.  I had to look this up.  Thank you to my sister for introducing me to them.
While trying to find a link to these crazy cats   I found this totally precious cover.  You have to check it out!!!!

:. Tiny pullet eggs. These are eggs that are the first eggs that are laid by young chickens.  They are so cute and Violet looooooveeees them.  This one was produced by an Araucana Hen.

:.Family Garden Journal.  I found this tutorial on the Rhythm of the Home site.  We will definitely be doing this project this year.  I love this site.  So many wonderful ideas.

This aromatic Joseph's Coat Rose growing beside our booth at Scarborough Faire.

:.These pecan trees also growing around our booth.  They are just starting to leaf out but in a month or so they will provide a lovely canopy to find refuge.  They are especially wonderful for sitting under while enjoying a pcinic with you daughter and Grandmother.