a number of things

a weekend walk

We have a small 3 acre area at the very back of our property that, once upon a time, was part of a tree farm. The result is a bizarre type of little forest with all of the trees in rows according to type. The first three rows are giant river birch, then pine, oaks etc. The very last 6 or so rows are ligustrum, a large evergreen shrub. Over time, these have grown up to create an amazing little world of their own and a space beneath them that is quite enchanting.

Hoping your weekend was a lovely one!

 

wordless Wednesday :: late afternoon shadows

 

January morning table

She likes to get up early, no matter how late she goes to sleep... so I get up with her. :)

(...And I am just noticing that she has on a pink onesie in nearly every post lately. She has several and they are her favorite, but good grief, that is ridiculous!)

 

where the tall grass grows

A late afternoon walk in our back field at the end of such a very beautiful day. Hope you are all having a lovely late autumn. Christmas crafting has begun in earnest here and there is a rumor in the house, that there just may be a 2012 calendar after all. A collaborative effort between Anna and I (with Anna doing the bulk of the drawing). We shall see...

Have a fantastic weekend!

 

every woman her own clothes doctor

(The 16yo before he left for work in the morning.)

 

(The 7 year old. The empty leather knife sheath a prized gift from her biggest brother.)

 

  (Chip's shorts.)

(The 9 year old gets the double knee treatment.)

 

I have always enjoyed patching things. I think I get some sort of secret thrill from making something last a bit longer. Lately though, I have been patching and mending with renewed enthusiasm. I recently came across the little book you see above and it has me thinking of all sorts of ways to extend the life of our fabric things. Add to that the fact that patches are evidently "in", and I've even got the teenagers on board (Anna does her own patching with my old sewing machine that lives in her room.).

For some reason my kids (the boys, especially) seem to wear out the right knee on their jeans long before the left. (They tell me that is the one they "slide into base" on. Hmmm...) On Noah's (2nd picture) pair that you see above, the hole was so large, his knee went all the way through it when he sat down. I actually used two iron on patches (one inside & one out) on that one. I really am not fond of iron-on patches, but I have a small supply that someone gave me a while back, so I thought I would use a few up. I like to use a method very similar to the one in this video for most jean repairs.

I am also really loving the beautifully hand done (yet totally practical) patching that seems to be catching on. I would love to take more time with intricate hand stitching for my repairs, but it always seems the owner of the item being repaired has no time to wait for such details. So does anyone else do any patching?

 

my helper

Lilly is one of those children that kind hearted people stare at, smile and say, "Wow. She sure is a busy one!" Ha.

The more I think about it, the more "busy" really does seem to be the right word (and so much nicer than a few others that might apply). She gets into positively everything, and keeping her "busy" is sometimes the only way we can all stay remotely sane.

This morning she helped me make a couple of the herbal infusions that we like to keep in the fridge. (We basically use this method.)

We made a nettle & rose-hip blend (with a pinch of peppermint) and a lemon balm, elderflower & rose-hip concoction which tastes wonderful and is a great immunity booster.

Lilly has always liked teas of all sorts. Now that I think about it, she has somewhat strange tastes for a two year old. Two of her favorite things are salad and salsa. Go figure.

She has a hard time waiting the four long hours that we let these steep... She asks every few minutes if "the tea is ready now?" It helps that nap time will fall during that four hour stretch. :)
 
(Linked to Simple Lives Thursday.)

 

wordless Wednesday :: snack time

 

Farm Anatomy

 

Ok, this book is probably not for everyone, but if you are into art / illustration as well as all things farm-ish, then you will love it. (Um, I've had it preordered since July.)

It is filled to the brim with Julia Rothman's awesome illustrations detailing nearly every imaginable aspect of farm work and life.

From gardening, to animals, to handy and helpful tips, tricks, recipes and how-to's...

...I am relishing every bit of it.

(P.S. ~ You can see even more of Farm Anatomy here!)

 

the calendar question

Lemon balm drying for tea.

I have begun getting regular emails lately (from very kind folks indeed), asking if I will be doing a 2012 calendar similar to the 2010 and 2011 ones. As much as I would like to, I honestly just don't see it happening this year.

Caleb's turns 12.

This has been such a busy and wonderfully full year, that I simply have not had much time to sit down and do much drawing / painting. Well, I don't know if that is entirely true. I suppose I could have found the time somewhere. I should say, I have have chosen to spend more time in the gardens, running my little business, doing school, working on Chip's office, and using my creative moments to "make" for my home and family. (I find that we thrive so much more as a family when Mom is not taking too much on.)

The luffa are a success!

We are also planning to make even more of the Christmas gifts for this year than last, which will take much time and creative energy. And as far as my art is concerned, I seem to be filling my sketchbooks with fun and relaxing little bits of this and that but none of it very calendar worthy. I am enjoying the freedom of not drawing and painting for anyone but myself, selfish as it sounds.

Collin rockin' with his current mohawk do.

 
So all this is to say that, there will most likely be no 2012 calendar from me. I am sorry to disappoint those of you who were looking forward to one. I have really enjoyed making the calendars and would love to make more in the future along with other fun printable things. :)

Have a beautiful day!

 

so summer

Oh, these hot (so very hot) days of summer. I find myself dreaming (longing) for autumn more often than not once we reach mid August or so. I also question our sanity in moving down from the relative cool of the mountains of East Tennessee (some 13 years ago) down to the very South of Louisiana. The pitiful garden is producing little more than zinnias (um, and more cantaloupe) but they seem to brighten up the whole house with their cheery persistence.

The elderberries are rockin' right along also, and we are picking as many as we can to freeze for winter syrup. When it is 102 outside, it is so hard to believe that it will one day be cold again.

Hope you are finding ways to keep cool!

 

wordless Wednesday :: new additions

 

a peek inside the office

The little cabinet was found at the thrift store for $15 and given a bit of a face-lift and new hardware. The chairs are from around our dining room table because we have yet to locate just the right (and rightly priced) client chairs. (The prints are Rick Beerhorst wood cut prints.)

Chip's desk / work table was built following these wonderful directions with the only difference being we added additional 2" flanges to the base of the legs. We love it! The flooring is simple 6" wide tongue-in-groove pine boards finished clear.

The interior is not quite totally finished and the exterior is a loooong way from done, but he is moved in and settled and that is what matters.

Happy Tuesday!