turkey feathers

Good Day Sunshine

Just because. 

African Violets

 

It's been a long wait. So happy to find these have bloomed at long last.

Strawberry Jam Season

It's that time again...yum! 

Playing Hooky

The predicted thunderstorm never arrived, but the hot weather did.  Off we went to our hidden oasis.  Getting back to work now . . . but with this image still lingering in my mind.  Must try and stay focused.

Just For Fun

This is what happens sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.  By morning, I have all the details worked out and I hit the floor running.  Such a lovely morning it was too.  I spent a ridiculous amount of time designing, cutting, and stitching.  And before the day was through, Sweet Pea had arrived.  Weighing barely a whisper and just 5" long.  I *love* her.  Doesn't she look peaceful?  Oh, those baby days were such precious times. 

Yawn . . . 

Now I need a nap. 

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit!

 

Colors of the Spirit

The daybreak sound of June wakes me in the morning with her birdsong and gentle breeze, as it drifts through open windows.  Golden shards of sunshine through gauzy curtains make her arrival more welcome still.  It's a special month.  The halfway point in the year.  We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries (our 37th!) and Father's Day.  For the turkeyfeathers blog, June marks a 13-year blogaversary as well.  Gosh, that went fast!  Or so it seems now, as I look back.  Remembering the first blog post--making strawberry jam, accompanied by my two youngest (homeschooled) daughters who were about 13 and 8 at the time.  "The Blog" became our special little project.  We couldn't have guessed then, all the paths it would take us down.  The amazing things we would discover, the kindred spirits we would find and the dear blog pals we would make.  Or that dollhouse cakes and donuts would become a thing and lead to a crafty swap club and etsy. 

It seems that, when like-minded creative peeps get together--anything is possible. 

I was thinking about this today after visiting the Albany Carousel, which had it's grand opening in August last year. This was a 15-year community project that started with absolutely nothing but a dream.  A desire to bring love and light and charm to a time-worn downtown area by the residents who lived here and who followed the call of their "inner child" to make it happen.  I was told, that there really wasn't a grand plan--no budget whatsoever.  But whenever there was a need, someone from the community would step forward and fill it.  Faith in goodness itself.   "If you build it, they will come." 

Here is the fruition of that dream, housed inside this new beautiful building that replaced a dilapidated warehouse on the edge of town. 

We first heard about this project back in April of 2006, through a friend who lived in the area.  Nancy, being an artist herself, was quite excited about it and took us around to meet the folks in one of the downtown storefronts where the vision of their dream (dubbed the 'Brass Ring Carousel' at the time), was displayed with historical models and early turn-of-the-century artifacts to drum up interest and funding.  Later, we stepped into the original workshop (this was to change locations many times throughout the years), where the animals were carved and painted by local volunteers.  

2006:  Ginger was given permission to test out the saddle on this dog mount.  (We were pleased to see it today, completed and in action on the carousel.)

Each animal is personal and has a story behind it.  In fact, the entire project is an incredible story--all fueled by a shared desire to bring the dream alive.

There are still a few dozen or so animals being constructed in the current workshop, which is now in the basement of the new building.  Free tours are given by volunteers.  We learned a lot!

I was particularly smitten with this little horse--still a work in progress and bearing my name!

Peter Daulton made a fantastic PBS documentary about the Albany Carousel called RIDE.  You can request it from your own PBS/OPB station if you want to learn more about it and be inspired.

And if you're in the area, buy a token or two (for your inner child), climb aboard and share in this real-life dream come true. 

 

Tea Time for Cottontail

Love this!  Back in April, Grace was out in the backyard setting up a display of her miniature dollhouse food (to photograph for her blog) and had a curious visitor drop in.  Pretty much the spitting image of Peter Rabbit with all the bravado.  Going places he shouldn't.  All that was missing was the blue jacket with the brass buttons...but then, we know what happened to those.  Click on the image to see lots of eye candy and more of the story.