turkey feathers

Happy Indie Day

Yesterday, just for kicks, we took a ride on the Santa Maria Steam Train.   We sat in the big open car behind the engine with most of the other passengers--my ears are still ringing from the deafening blasts of the whistle.  Babies and small children quickly retreated to the inside cars after the first one!  I admit, it was a bit jarring.  Those whistle blasts can be heard for miles.  The train took us north, just past Cheadle Lake and through open fields bordered with woodlands on one side.  It was a lovely morning excursion under an overcast sky, just clickety-clacking along the old tracks, hair whipping in the wind.  A fun experience. 

Back at the home front, we've been watching LIV Golf and loving it.  It's a new dynamic golf sport (and apparently controversial by PGA standards), with a team concept that had its debut last month in London.  The teams gathered in Portland, Oregon this weekend at Pumpkin Ridge golf course for a 3-day competition that ended yesterday.  It's really great to see folks getting out and participating in all sorts of activities again. 

And speaking of that, it's time to get started on our July 4th BBQ.  

But first, I want to share my delicious VEGAN potato salad dressing recipe.  After trying a bunch of different dressings (made without dairy or eggs) I  discovered Tahini Garlic Sauce works great!  It doesn't soak into the potatoes like other substitutions tend to do.  Tahini  has about the same caloric count as mayo, so it's not necessarily low-fat, but it's delicious and creamy.  I mix in prepared mustard, onion powder, celery salt, garlic powder and about a tablespoon of dill pickle juice (vinegar) from the jar.  A few dollops is all you need, just enough to coat the potatoes.  You can also make your own tahini sauce, there are a number of recipes online--but this is the brand I buy from the store. 

Enjoy! 

Waking up in Wonderland

The beautiful view from my front door this morning!

On the heels of a wonderful Christmas, the first snow of the season has arrived!  As we anticipated.  Keeping our fingers crossed that it remains a lovely event and will not cause too much trouble for anyone.

Time to venture out today....

Barrel of Bunnies

We are still trying to figure out just how three adorable baby bunnies got into this flower barrel inside the enclosed garden.  There's not much room in there and a mini sprinkler sprays regularly.  It's also a pretty big hop into this old wooden whiskey barrel from the ground.  These wee bunnies, barely a handful, maybe 4-inches long, were discovered only days ago hunkered down beneath the flowers, silently resting and staying put even with us poking at them to see if they were alive.  How long they've been sleeping in there and how we missed discovering them sooner, no one can tell. We're often watering, weeding--and now, picking beans, tomatoes and an abundance of cucumbers.  In other words, making noise and wandering in and out a lot.  Of all places for rabbits to burrow, the flower barrel is not a likely spot.  But there they were.

Grace was successful where the rest of us failed and got this one picture, as they would sense our presence and move deeper under cover.  See how cute?

To satisfy our curiosity, a yard-cam was set up and before long we caught Mama Bunny making her rounds which assured us that the wee bunnies were not orphans and so we left them alone.  And this morning--they were gone (assuming their Mama moved them due to our interest around the barrel.)  Still don't know how she's getting inside the fence or how she got them out or where she took them.  I tell ya, it's a mystery!

Thanksgiving Joy

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all doing well, keeping busy and staying healthy and strong.  Well, here it is Thanksgiving week and we are still dealing with yet another lock-down; now being called a "freeze" which sounds even worse somehow.  IF that's even possible.  Sigh.  But to keep from sinking into despair under these trying times and circumstances I refuse to dwell on that. 

Instead, comedy (and irony) abounds.  It's turkey hunting season in the northwest woods and as happens every year, wild turkeys take refuge in town.  I passed a flock of them in a deserted playground yesterday and another pack walking along side the road heading in that same direction. Turkeys roosting on your roof, as they are sometimes known to do, is no laughing matter I assure you, but still I can't help but laugh.

Thankfully, we don't have turkey's roosting on our roof, but our house has been taken over by a happy flurry of arts and crafts.  My needle has been flying!  My fingers are often sticky with glue or paint or sparkling with glitter.  I have a zillion ideas of things to make and do.  The longer I stay at home and ponder, the longer the list becomes.  My etsy shop is filling up with lots of little things.  And I have started another room-box project! 

The boxes keep getting BIGGER. . .

It all started when the new microwave-oven arrived to replace the old one that broke.  I don't actually use it to cook in, but rather to warm up my neck wraps.  I really wish they would make a shoe-box size one just for that purpose so I wouldn't have to have this thing taking up space on my counter.  But the box came in handy.  I realized it was just the right size for my next project!  Got to work on it right away utilizing some vintage Laura Ashley wallpaper I had stashed away.  It was perfect and set the tone.  I'll show you the finished box in the next post.  Still waiting for paint to dry....

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner wherever that is and with whomever you're with this year.  Make the most of it and don't forget to enjoy the absurd humor along the path of these crazy times we find ourselves in. 

Diversions

Just checking in here.  We have entered day four of "operation roof replacement".  Oh it's been fun.  I try not to look.  Not the first rodeo, but a bigger one, requiring more man and machine power this time around.  The roofers arrive about 6 am and work non-stop all day.  God Bless each one.  Fortunately for them it's been under cloudy skies and not the searing heat of the summer sun.  The noise, of coarse, is the main issue.  I think everyone (including the surrounding neighborhood) will be relieved when this roof business is over. When it all gets to be too much I can leave the house, and I do. But it's still early and I haven't lost my mind (yet) so carry on, I shall. A test of endurance.  

So, despite a power generator fifteen feet from where I'm sitting and another one behind me on another side of the house, both blasting away for all they're worth along with a transistor radio blaring Mariachi music above the din, sometimes accompanied by robust heartfelt crooning, I found a few diversions.

First I took an unexpected journey down memory lane with Country Living magazine.  I ran out of shelf space and decided to weed out some "older" magazines to make room for the new ones stacking up, and was surprised to discover some dating back to the 1990's.  I sat down right there on the floor and started flipping through them. Ah, the good old days, when 'everything old was new again' and furnishings were colorful and bright.

"Country" style today means different things to different folks, but I still find many aspects of it from it's hay-day charming and appealing. 

The old issues are substantial; chock full of articles, recipes and beautiful photos.  I've scanned and archived what I wanted to save, but I'm a bit reluctant to just toss them into the recycle bin.  Because now they are considered "vintage". 

I refuse to think on that too long.  (sigh)

More merch for the Etsy shop I guess.

Another diversion; off to the local farm stand for marionberries! Oh how we tarried in the solitude of that peaceful farm community let me tell you. Then back home with our bounty to make jam.  I think the pantry shelves have been sufficiently stocked with enough jammy goodness to get us through winter.  Next will be pickles once the dill is ready to gather up.

It's growing so much better this year compared to last season.  Overcast skies and humidity and summer rain has helped it flourish. 

The garden is a nice respite and another diversion from the commotion when the workmen take their break.  I sit out here and relish the quiet and feel restored.

If only for a moment or two.  Yikes.

In the meantime, there's been some embroidery diversion as well!  I finished this set of four Scottie tea towels last night and am very pleased with how they turned out.  Will be adding them to my Etsy shop soon.

That's all for now...gotta run!!

 

Snow Holiday

We had an unexpected snow storm overnight.  Nothing major, just enough to halt regular activities--like driving to the post office.  My shops will be closed until next week.  Hopefully, a quick thaw will follow and business will resume.  In the meantime, I'm getting a lot of housework accomplished!  I'll also be taking some time to work on a few of my miniature and stitching projects.  It's always so peaceful and quiet without road noise.  Just the sound of tweeters at the feeders.  Love it! 

Happy Go Lucky

After hiking a bit up a dusty narrow path, winding through pines and forest fauna, we find a respite!  Oh, land of enchantment.  This scene reminds me of when I was a child, and summer seemed to go on forever.  My generation didn't have access to computers, gadgets, or high-tech games.  The great outdoors was our play station.  Sometimes we got bored, but never for long because our imagination would lead us into wonderful make-believe adventures.  

One time, we "built a train" and rode into the land of enchantment.  Nobody remarked that our train was only a row of mismatched kitchen chairs sitting in a weedy patch of side-yard.  Someone rang a bell and we all jumped aboard, chugging over mountains and across valleys, bell ringing (to warn off any cows that might be straggling along the tracks), until we reached our destination.  Once there, we splashed into the pool, which we pretended was the ocean or a secret lake.  Later, we might stretch out on the sidewalk to warm ourselves or lie in the grass and watch clouds drift overhead.  

Drifting is good sometimes.  

Although this time away seemed aimless, it has renewed me somehow.  

Happy 4th!

Revisiting: My recipe for fun.

Be Free

Goodness.  It seems that, only a few posts back I was introducing June.  It really went by fast in a flurry of activity.  So happy to be settling into the summer season. 

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.

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. 

 

Springing Into Action

It's daffodil time again!  As I look from my window this morning, I see signs of spring winging its way in, little by little.  Flocks of robins have returned from their short migration and are scattered across the lawn foraging.  There are the usual suspects at the feeders; chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, goldfinches, wrens, spotted towhees and flashy flickers feasting on the suet cupcakes that Grace makes up special just for them.  Some birds are already nesting in the birdhouses.  Cute cottontails have been venturing out from their hiding places beneath the shrubbery to nibble the tall tender grass, always keeping a watchful eye.  And it's a good thing too. We happened to see a young bobcat early in the morning, and although these are beautiful and useful creatures, especially where we live--with moles, voles and gophers living among us, it's still a bit alarming, as I often see our neighborhood cats roaming around here unaware.  It's a jungle out there I tell ya! 

See what I mean?  Anything could be lurking . . .

But usually, it's nothing too scary.  Unless of course, the roses are in bloom.  And then, oh how I worry!  Ha ha.  But we have a few months before we need to arm ourselves with the concoction. 

It's still a little chilly here, but ever hopeful, the Mister planted Snow Peas last weekend.  We're keeping our fingers crossed.  Anything can happen, and usually does.  Never any guarantee against late frosts or tiny critters making off with the seeds.  Still we dream . . .

Well, friends . . . that's all the backyard news for now. 

Because it's time to start my spring cleaning!

In case you're looking at lots of snow and still awaiting spring, embroidery (and humor) can help. 

Sweet 1940's kitchen towel embroidery pattern found here: 

Bluebird Couple #238

Happy Stitching!

  

Autumnal Antics

Well now, look who's back!  It's the old gobbler hen.  I turned around and there she was, lurking at the window and peeping in with that beady little eye.  Scared the heck out of me--she just seemed to loom up out of nowhere.  Boo! Gobble Gobble. . . 

I was busy straining the cold brew.  Our new obsession.  If you haven't tried it yet, you don't know what you've been missing.  Besides the convenience, the taste is amazingly smooth and rich.  All you need is a mason jar and your favorite fresh ground beans.  (The coffee-maker is off the counter and put away).  Steep overnight in the fridge, strain, add hot water to about 1/4 cup brew to your coffee mug.  So much better than instant when you just want one cup.  The particulars are easily found by searching online for 'cold brew coffee'.

Stepping outside, I greet another visitor who is caught nibbling the pineapple mint.  Since most mint always needs trimming I welcome this, but I've never known deer to like it much.  You just never know with them.  Like people, they do seem to have individual tastes.  His friends were on the other side of the fence eating comfrey and weeds.  That made me happy too. I guess I shan't shoo them away today.

Besides they are so lovely to gaze upon.

It was 34 degrees this morning--yes indeed, the frost is on the pumpkin. The fall colors are just beautiful this year.  This area out front has filled in nicely.  From left to right we have a pair of chase trees, spirea shrubs, and a redbud tree, called 'forest pansy', which has dark purple heart-shaped leaves all summer.  It's quite a dramatic transformation.

And look what I found while rummaging through some boxes.  Some of you may remember this little project.  Blogged here in 2005.  Now that's going back a ways in the turkey feathers archives.  Have I been here that long?  Oh my.  How many years is that anyway?  Never mind.  Let's not go there.  

So with that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Mister and "the girls" (now grown young ladies) accompanied me to a local doll show recently. (Nothing like lovely little dollies to make a gal feel young again!)  And thankfully, I was not alone in that.  We met so many enthusiastic ladies of all ages and chatted a good bit about the things we love.  Most of the dolls were of the older variety, collectibles and antique types.  However, not one rare (1972) Blythe doll anywhere to be seen, which was slightly disappointing. 

But . . . we soon got over it when the Mister won a doll! 

It was so funny.  When the door prize numbers were called, the girls and I were checking our tickets, noticing that ours were only a number or so off and prompted him to check his ticket.  He finally pulled it out of his pocket and when he realized that he was the winner--he quickly shoved the ticket into my hand! 

Once we got over our hysterics, we were then directed to a table with about a dozen dolls to choose from and I chose this lovely little 8" doll, mostly because of those adorable red boots.  She has a soft body with porcelain appendages, and the marking T.C. 1997 across her back.  And that's all I can tell you about her.  I am not an avid collector of dolls in general, but this was a nice surprise.

Especially the red boots!  So cute. 

Right now she is keeping an eye on things in the workshop.  And there has been a bit of activity happening in there.  I know I keep promising to show you something I'm working on, but I have been up to my eyeballs in tomatoes that needed my prompt attention.  It was cucumbers before that, and pickles!

It was a great year for these however, and we filled quart jars with stewed tomatoes and made marinara sauce with others.  Some were dried.  Actually, a lot were dried.  Those will be nice additions to pasta dishes later.

As the last tomatoes on the vines were picked, my kitchen sills pretty much looked like this all month. 

With lots of animal watching while they ripened.

Here she is again . . . gobble gobble.

Sweetness.

And now all this apple goodness is upon us.

Just so no one gets the wrong idea that we eat apple pie every day, we do have our healthier moments.  Proof: my lunch yesterday.  French lentils are my new favorite.  This vegan dish has a base of rich Miso stock.  Delish.  So.  Got everything ready, sat down at the table with a stack of new fall catalogs to peruse and shock...Country Curtains is going out of business?  Wha?  My brain just won't accept it.  The upside is they're having a HUGE sale.   

With that, November is nigh--with some fun crafty stitching to look forward to.  Don't forget to check out the November Bonus Transfer.  Um. Yes, there is another squirrel.  Thinking about it now though, it should have probably been a turkey in an apron.  So there you go.  Enjoy!

FREE Turkey_embroidery_pattern

To see more animals in aprons visit the PatternBee website here.

Fufu was Foolin'

And what is this?  A surprise!  That's what.  Snuck in overnight.  Still more coming down, but the thaw should follow soon.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.  Happy Monday everyone!

Caught In the Act

Boo Hoo . .Christmas is over.  I know.  It's been over for awhile, but I'm just a little slow reconciling it.  I've been cleaning up and putting away the decorations and the trimmings.   There's been a consensus though, that twinkle lights and candles be left as they are a bit longer.  At least through winter.  And snow fox, a handmade gift by one sister for the other, for cute company.  (Pattern from Mollie Makes.)

 
Speaking of critters, we finally solved the mystery of the disappearing suet cake.  Not a clue or a crumb had been left behind.  The poor birdies were robbed twice before we finally caught the culprits on our spy cam this morning.  They made off with the whole lock, stock and barrel.  

The evidence does not lie.  Not one, but two little raccoons did we spy!  Even with all the wiring and rigging they somehow managed to remove the whole thing from the tree.  We found the empty feeder in the shrubs with the metal hanger still attached.  I wish I knew where these two marauders scampered off to.  The birds are not happy about this situation either.  They keep eyeing us through the kitchen window.  Fortunately, the snow has melted and they can eat bugs again for awhile until I can get to town to buy another seed cake.  From now on, will have to remember to bring it inside come sundown. 

In the meantime, I made these again.  So yummy! 

    

Springtime

I say, it really is about time we welcome in Spring with an updated banner on this blog!  Every time I remembered that this needed to be done, I was not at my computer.  Then when I was, I would get so absorbed by other things that I would completely forget.  But it's up now and Spring it is. 

The weather has been a mixed bag of light and dark, warm and cold.  Blinding sunshine one minute, then a drenching downpour the next.  Birds are nesting, hatchlings are fluttering about in the branches.  Baby cottontails are nibbling at the soft green grass.  And flower buds are already blooming here and there. 

Worn and forlorn-looking though it is at the moment, I love this old greenhouse at the tulip farm.  Everything around it has begun to awaken and bloom.

Lots of lovely moss and lichen around here.  Our Golden Chain needs a trim as the branches have literally reached the ground.  Clearly, we have some work to do.

But I don't have to worry about any of that now.  I have lots to do right here on my worktable; so many wonderful new/old patterns to restore and share with you.  April is right around the corner and I will be adding five new patterns next month to the PatternBee website, including the 2015 Bonus Collection.  Oh, I am really excited about this "Perennial Garden Quilt" too!  There are 24 large (8" x 8") blocks with lots of gorgeous flora, acorns, leaves and even mushrooms (see that stack up there in the top left corner).  Plus other fun stuff I know you will love.  And as always, a new BONUS for April--also with mushrooms.  Do we love mushrooms?  Why yes, we do.

That's all for now.  Time to go gather up some goodies and kick up our heels.

Good Company

Hello everyone!

A few days ago, I opened my backdoor and saw these two chocolate brown eyes peering over the rose bushes at me, just happily munching away without a clue that my heart was breaking with every bite--oh the drama!  I knew then it was time to mix up the magic concoction.  

Now that the flowers have been sprayed and the deer are finding the weeds much more enticing, a fantastic side benefit, I can once again breath a sigh of relief.

And so can the roses.  They never looked more scrumptious.

I had been on my way to photograph the garden in all its current glory.  I thought you'd like to see the progress we've made.  These rock paths that we started laying down in early spring are finally finished.  Hurrah!  In the end, my son stepped in and got the job done.  Moving so many tons of river rock with a wheel barrow is a bit of a chore let me tell you.  Even for him.  We are so grateful for his help and are paying him back with good eats and treats from the garden.

 

More bundles of lemon thyme ready for the drying rack.

The leaves are quite prickly when dry though, so I use my rolling pin to loosen them.  I usually make a huge mess.  But it gets the job done. 

Then into tiny jam jars they go! 

And speaking of jam . . . it's that time again.  Berry season.  Just another of the many reasons I have been MIA from the blog.  In case you wondered.

Yes, we are busy as bees around here. 

The girls and I went strawberry picking and then made big pots of jammy goodness.  The pantry shelves are filling up again.  YUM.

Oh and Blackberry Junction came to town.  It's kind of a traveling flea market bringing old and new, handmade and repurposed, and all beautifully displayed.  Very fun.  I missed the last few events, so had to stop, drop everything, and roll on over before they packed it up.   

While there, these adorable summer sun hats caught my eye.  They are made from vintage embroidered dresser cloths and linens.  Love that. 

And that reminds me . . . the PatternBee website is celebrating its tenth year this month!  Time it had an upgrade I should think.  So, my talented "tech team" has been hard at work on it for many months now.  It will basically look the same, with a few new features and tweaks, but the best part (for me) is it will have a data base that will make managing the site much easier as it grows to include more vintage patterns.  When I started this venture (long before the website) in 1998, I had no idea there were so many!  :o) 

UPDATE STATE FLOWER QUILT NEWS:  I've just added a new link in the side bar for a FREE PDF download of all 50 State Flower Quilt blocks.  Along with the original directions.  So if you are still wanting those it will be much easier to access and print them out now. 

For reference, the finished blocks can still be viewed here in my flickr album AND all in alphabetical order. 

OK.  I think that's all for now--take good care until next time!

Scents of Spring

We are are enjoying a break between storms this week and have been filling flower vases with cuttings of daffodils and flowering branches of various types and placing them throughout the house.  The scent of fresh flowers is always uplifting and appreciated, especially at winter's end.  But even more so after our "skunk encounter" last week.  It happens every spring as female skunks seek shelters to nest in and burrow under the backyard deck.  I did some research and found this is a common problem, then nearly fainted when I read the average litter size is like nine pups who are prone to frighten easily and are as potent as a full-grown skunk!  Time for action.

Discouraging the skunk from returning was relatively easy though, with electronic sonar devices and ammonia dribbled near entry points, but it took a week to rid the house of the stink.  We burned incense mostly, and when the weather warmed a bit this week, it was nice to throw open the windows and let in a more appealing scent of spring. 

As the garden wakes up, I am also quite happy to note, that the snow and cold temperatures have not adversely affected any of the trees and shrubs.  Unfortunately, the same can be said about this insidious lichen, which grows on almost everything here.  Useful perhaps, but certainly NOT attractive. 

We keep adding more flowering bulbs to the front bed.  The deer don't eat these (or the lavender that blooms in the summer).  If you don't have daffy-down-dillies in bloom yet, you can enjoy mine.

Or stitch some!  Click HERE for my FREE "Spring Flowers" PDF.  This is just one of the projects, with a spring theme, that I've been working on. 

Another one, Animal Flower Pots, from 1946, is now available as a new iron-on reprint too. 

In order to accommodate the various levels of stitching know-how, I modified each of the six designs so they can now be worked entirely in embroidery or done with the included applique patches.  Your choice! 

I have always loved these old fashioned animal planters and had to show you one of my favorites:  Miss Yellow Kitty, who is probably about as old as that pattern!  Found her at a swap meet down in California many many years ago.  I do believe that Miss Yellow Kitty needs a little garden of African Violets or Fairy Fern, but no time to do that just now with spring cleaning in full swing.  Hope to get to that after the dust settles.

Time Marches On

..and Spring inches closer!  The air feels lighter and the pale sun plays peek-a-boo in a sky of drifting clouds.  From the window I am excited to see Western Bluebirds and English Sparrows inspecting the birdhouses.  And I wonder, who will make the first move--as bluebirds are most particular, and thus take longer to make up their minds, so that when they finally do, the sparrows have already moved in.  Someone needs to tell them, "the early bird catches the worm".   

We've brought in primrose, a free gift from our local nursery, to enjoy a bit before it goes back outside into the ground.  It adds a cheerful note behind the sink and stirs up enthusiasm.  The girls have been sorting out seed packets and making plans.  On such a day as this, with birdsong in the bower, I'm tempted to run outside and grab my garden tools, but I know better, and have to remind myself to slow down and allow my shoulder to heal a little longer; this the result of shoveling way too much snow (with a garden spade), a few weeks ago.  Lesson learned. (Note to self: be prepared--find a snow plow.)

However, some tools can be used for other things with delightful results and here we have proof.  Peanut Butter cookies with waffle tops.  I've always just used a fork to make the traditional criss-cross on the cookie top, but how about a meat mallet?  (Thoroughly sanitized, of course). Credit goes to my daughter for this idea.  For the cookies too, which were delicious btw.  Not a crumb was spared.

Speaking of crumbs, I've been busy with lots of yummy little things these past few weeks.  New patterns from old patterns; updated sewing projects soon to be added to my Vintage Stitch Shop on Etsy, along with the monthly BONUS motifs for PatternBee; all drawing on seasonal inspiration wherever I could find it.  Here's a sneak peek of coming attractions.  The new "Welcome Spring" designs will be up March 1st, which is tomorrow by this posting. The image link (left) will upload the new designs then and they'll be available (with purchase) until the end of the month.  I'm working on more free stuff too, will let you know when and where in coming weeks. 

Grilling and Chilling

Snowmen and sledding are once again the order of the day!  We've had another "snow burst" here and have been hunkered down inside the house since Thursday morning.  Kind of a deja vous since the last time.  I think when all was said and done, the official count was 18" of snowfall over a 24 hour period.  Then yesterday, freezing rain on top of that = double trouble.  Apparently, according to county records, the last time anything like this happened was about a hundred years ago. 

 Here's the cat's eye view from the front porch. I had my slippers on and couldn't venture further with the camera, and it's chilly, hovering around the freezing point.  B-r-r-.  Roads, shops, services and schools have been closed for days.  Some neighborhoods (and towns) are still without electricity due to damaged power lines that falling tree branches took down.  Our car and driveway still looks like this.  Meaning: Not going anywhere anytime soon.

Everyone here is cozy and safe though.  Sometimes knitting, sometimes baking.  I've got the crockpot going and the Mister, despite this hilarious snow-drift on top his BBQ, fired up the grill without skipping a beat.  We kept looking out the window there, and seeing this enormous mound growing by the hour.  Pretty funny.

And there was this. What looked like a gigantic sugar cake.  No one dared breathe on it for fear of upsetting its magnificent form.  I think it needs a bright candle set right there in the middle where that hole is.

This morning, we woke to the sound of water dripping and ice cracking outside--all very dramatic and exciting!  The backyard birds were chirping like mad and squawking with relief.  And so were we.  Keeping our fingers crossed that the thaw is on the way. 

In the meantime, I've been a busy bee working and printing lots of patterns.  Sometimes the printers get cranky if I overwork them and two of them decided they were not going to cooperate no matter how kindly I patted and sweet-talked.  Fortunately, with the Mister unable to get to work I can keep him busy fixing things around here.  He gave them the business and cheerfully kept everything up and running.  Unfortunately though, there's been no mail service since Wednesday afternoon.  So despite our best efforts there will be a delay. 

Just wanted to let you know so you don't worry.  

I am holding out hope that the mail truck will be chained-up and ready to roll tomorrow.  There is still quite a lot of snow to be moved off the roads though so we shall just have to wait and see.  We are on the rural route and usually the last to see a snow-plow.

Speaking of snow-plows, I heard that the berms pushed to the side of the road were twelve feet high in some places!  That is a lot of snow.  Cars have been getting stranded here at the bottom of the mountain.  They somehow make it down, but can't get the traction to get back up.  We are learning things!  Yes we are.

Good Tidings

 

The Christmas crunch.  It's here.  And there's no time to waste.  All that lovely epic snow disappeared and I finally got out of the house last weekend and haven't stopped running since.  Normally I don't mind being "snowed in" just as long as it happens at a nice convenient time and I don't have to take the car out.  I don't ask for much, do I?  Nah....  Oh, that week seemed way too long for some poor folks.  When it was all over we heard stories of truly harrowing experiences and counted ourselves lucky.  Most of the kids were thrilled to be out of school, but shopkeepers were grumpy.  It was finals week at the University.  Not the best timing for them either. 

 

I'm happy because all the shopping is done!  The Christmas cards went out this morning.  Fun gift wrapping is underway.  I didn't have a color/theme in mind, but when I gathered everything together it looked perfectly coordinated.  Which is funny because, I just sort of picked things up at random here and there over the past few months.  (The animal tags are from Molly & Rex.  'From Me To You' tags from C.R. Gibson).  I love hang tags and just discovered that Avery makes these, similar to the business cards that can be printed out at home.  I was poking around the web and found these sweet designs specifically designed for them.  (Thanks Jessica!  She includes an excellent tutorial and a downloadable PDF too.)

Now I think it's time to bake something . . .

 

Slow Thaw

Just popping in for another update.  I wanted to share this GORGEOUS view from our kitchen window.  It was a nippy, teeth-chattering 12 degrees early this morning when I snapped this picture from the warmth and comfort of my house.  At any rate, much too cold to go out in one's slippers and jammies, as I found out.   

Almost everything (business and school) is still shut down in our little corner of the world.  Even the local newspaper is being delivered electronically--by way of PDF.  Oh, you gotta love technology!  We've actually been house-bound since Friday morning.  Because as pretty as it looks, there's a layer of slick ice underneath all this lovliness and driving a car on an ice sheet rivals Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  And not in a fun way. 

Living here, in this normally temperate climate, we're not expecting or prepared for this kind of weather and stud-tires and chains are not our usual mode of winter operendi.  Maybe it should be.  The snow-plows have been working around-the-clock clearing the highways and haven't made it out to the local roads and rural areas yet.  In the meantime, everyone's just waiting for the roads to defrost.  And it doesn't look like that is going to happen any time soon as it is still below freezing with a possibility of more snow on the way.  We are already dipping into our winter pantry stores, making crockpot soup and chili from dried peas and beans.  We're running low on fresh produce and eggs, but can make do.  I made my chocolate chip banana bread on Sunday.  Very good warm out of the oven with French roast.  Yum!  Being snowed-in isn't all bad.

 

Surprise Snowfall

Waking up this morning, we were all stunned to find nearly six inches of snow had fallen overnight here in the valley, and was still falling, with bone-chilling winds whipping up drifts throughout the day.  Enough to make some of the windows frosty around the edges, and looking out, like a holiday picture postcard.  By the end of the day the snowfall here had reached nearly a foot.  Quite a surprise!  The weather forcasters apparently never saw it coming either because no warnings had been issued, which might explain why the snowplows weren't running and the roads were so trecherous.  (A few cars passing through our neighborhood ended up in the ditch).  The Mister attempted to drive to work, but gave up after a truck jack-knifed on the highway backing up traffic for miles.  It really was not safe to be driving and I was relieved when he turned back around and came home.  Schools and roads were closed, and the company Christmas dinner we were planning to attend tonight was also cancelled, so we are just hunkering down here with our quilts and hot cocoa.  Brrr...  It is supposed to drop down to 9 degrees tomorrow night with predictions of staying fridgidly cold until Monday.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that our pipes don't freeze.  In the meantime, this storm is said to be moving north.  Hopefully, our Portland and Seattle friends will fare better.  Stay safe everyone! 

Above & Beyond

Up close and far away, the transformation from summer to fall is incredible here in my little corner of the world; the last hurrah before the bleakness of winter sets in.  This was the amazing view from our front porch this morning just as the fog began to lift.  Typical autumn mornings are cold here and often shrouded in a heavy mist that usually obscures all visibility.  Eventually, as it melts away, it reveals so much color drama that one is quite willing to stand outside shivering--as I sometimes do--waiting for that golden moment when the sun breaks through and highlights the landscape.  It's really quite thrilling.

Calm After the Storm

 

Little Miss African Violet decided to make an appearance.  It is a rather rare event when she does so.  She takes her time and we wait ever so patiently for her.  Maybe she wanted to see what all the commotion was about.

Because, when last I wrote, I was calmly anticipating an upcoming shower and saying, "a summer rain is the very best kind of rain" (and it usually is), but little did I know that we would have a deluge of nearly three inches of rain in less than four hours, topping all previous records, with thunder that shook the house, rattled the windows in their frames and made our teeth chatter.

And that lightening strikes would split trees and sizzle electrical panels cutting power to thousands of people in the surrounding areas.  Or that storm drains would overflow and streets would flood, that sewage would spill into creeks and rivers causing contamination warnings.  Oh dear.

I was not expecting that. 

In fact, we were just carrying on as usual here, not even realizing how bad things were getting and about to drive up to the barn for Ginger's riding lesson, when all of a sudden a tremendous crack exploded in the sky, forcing us to stop in our tracks and rethink that plan. 

Once I'd gathered my wits about me and unpried both hands (which were clinging for dear life to the wooden stairposts), I went to check on the local 'emergency broadcast warning system' for storm updates.  Hmmm.  Didn't seem to be any, so we climbed into the car and began driving up the narrow, twisting well-worn mountain road; rain beating down, windshield wipers slapping, lightening flashes and rumbles of thunder in the distance. 

By the time we arrived at the barn though, the horses were freaked out and restless and in no mood for fun and games.  Who could blame them?  Animals know.  We decided to follow their lead, and went back to the safety of our home.  And not a moment too soon.

The sky went dark and started popping and cracking like the fourth of July.  Barrels of rain poured down, our "creek" went from zero to warp speed in seconds as water cascaded down the road like white water rapids (our house is at the low end of the hill).  Neighbors got out their sandbags.  The roar of rain on the roof was all we could hear.  Tremendous rain.  The lights kept flickering on and off. Forunately, we never lost power, but some did. The girls and I huddled in the library with our books, but could only stare out the windows in wonder.   And then it was over as quickly as it had begun. That thunderous brute of a storm lumbered east, leaving behind it a steady rain that fell til the next morning.  

Later, we read in the paper, that a dramatic flash of lightening hit the old Call-A-Ride antenna on top of the Senior Center, "peeling the end of it like a banana" (a quote from the park operations supervisor).  Apparently bolts of lightening "danced" around a small Community Library, rattling employees and patrons.  Someone reported seeing a fireball come down in the parking lot. Neighboring towns had to evacuate schools and businesses due to flooding and power loss; lightening strikes set off alarm systems in hotels. And on and on it went.

I will never underestimate a summer storm again! 

All that happened last Thursday.  Today the sky is clear, the sun is shining and it's hot.  Maybe climbing into the 90 degree range, more of the same tomorrow, and then a cooling down.  That's what the forcaster says anyway.  We shall see.   

Milestones & Memories

That old saying, "time flies when you're having fun" certainly applies when I think about my blogging journey.  I find it sort of amazing, and a bit hard to believe really, that I've been publishing turkey feathers since June of 2005.  I've just come full circle with an eight-year anniversary and this post, number 844.  That averages out to about one hundred posts per year.  Or two posts per week.  I think the numbers were much higher at the start.  I seem to have hit my stride since then and upload less often now.  Of course, that number is not entirely accurate as I've deleted dozens of posts over the years as content no longer seemed relevant.  Editing is good and necessary sometimes.  I do not believe a blog is sacred.  However, I do back it up regularly...just in case.  (smile)

Throughout the week I've been working on these photo collages.  I went back into my archives and tried to select a few highlights to represent each year.  

 


My first blog post was on making jam.  Mostly because June kicks off jam season in my kitchen and it seemed like the most logical place to start:  in the moment, picking berries, stirring the pot, filling jars and lining our pantry shelves with sweet homemade goodness.  That and other simple pleasures seemed to set a course for my blog.  And here we are today, still making jam, and still celebrating home, craft and everyday adventures.   (I chose the name 'turkey feathers' out of the blue.  No rhyme or reason). 

I truly hope that as you visit with me here, you'll enjoy the scenery as you pass through.  Discover things along the way.  Find small treasures to tuck into your pocket.  And take time to stop and smell the flowers. 

Time Out for Tulips

Last week, we dropped everything we were doing (honeycomb quilt projects included), and headed out for our annual tip-toe through the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.   I'm always a bit surprised by the growing popularity of this place and how much things have changed since we first visited it over twenty years ago.  At that time the farm was more or less just a nursery and somewhat struggling financially, but all that changed when the tulip fields were opened to the public and word got out.  Currently, about 3,000 people (worldwide), visit the farm daily during the tulip season.  That number may double on the weekends, especially if it's a sunny one.  There are outdoor food courts, grassy areas with picnic tables, kiddy swings, artisan booths, duckie races, a cow train made out of painted barrels and pulled by a tractor (Oregon style), a tube slide, a rock wall and zip line, among other attractions, and a well-stocked indoor gift shop.  Nice for families and something for everyone. 

But, the tulips are still the main attraction and the reason we drive all the way out here, along winding country roads, criss-crossing rivers and farms; a beautiful drive, and one that we always enjoy and look forward to.  Since tulips have a short season of bloom, only lasting about a month or so, we mark our calender and keep our fingers crossed that the day we visit is an overcast one for the best photographs. There's been a lot of wild storms here lately, but luckily we arrived on a "good day" under cloudy skies, between the downpours. 

 

Just acres and acres of gorgeous tulips!  I managed to take over three hundered photos in about an hour.  And I wasn't the only one.  More pictures from Ginger; she even included the names of the flowers.  Bless her heart.  Yes, it was a very good day.  (Bulbs are available on the website.)

For all lovely stitchers, my tea towel "two lips" pattern is here.

 

Retreat

Smooth Sailing

Just two weeks ago we were heading down river on the Portland Spirit. Here she is waiting at the dock.  It was a three-hour chartered cruise with the Mister's co-workers, and included a buffet style luncheon and amazing little chocolates and other treats brought around on trays later, for dessert.  The weather was perfect and the views were spectacular.  Just the respite we all needed.  

It's another quiet day here, except for an occasional gust of cool wind brushing up against the side of the house and rustling the trees.  Autumn is in the air.

 

Daisy Daze

Grace was out wandering around on the mountain yesterday and took these pictures. We've walked this path dozens of times, through the changing seasons and through all kinds of weather, but have never had the pleasure of seeing the path lined with wild field daisies as it is now.  This wonderful, beckoning daisy border continued on for at least a quarter of a mile like this, she said.  I'm going up today to experience this natural wonder for myself.  That is, if the sky doesn't open up and pour cats and dogs.  But even then, I may just don a parka and grab my umbrella.  If I waited for the rain to stop or the weather to cooperate,  I'd never get out of the house!

Anyway, for the past forty-five minutes, I've been sitting at my desk writing.  From time to time, I've looked up to see a small wild hare streak across the lawn followed by one of the neighborhood cats in playful pursuit.  There are several cats out and about today, giddy it seems, aroused by birdsong, sunshine and shadow, and the heady scent of springtime in the air.  I watch them as they lie in wait in the tall grass that borders the creek.  Suddenly one will pounce and the chase begins.  Usually nothing much ever comes of it.  More of a game of "cat and mouse" as these felines are well-fed and somewhat lazy, having spent most of the winter months lounging in front of wood stoves and coiled in cozy corners. 

The rabbits, on the other hand,  are much quicker and alert and know all the best hiding places.  

Afterglow

Well, another Christmas has come and gone and I can confidently say that we did our best to make some happy and lasting memories.  Everyone had a fine time.  We missed our little love, Lily, curled up under the tree though.  It was quite sad to not see her there.  Or napping in the wrapping.  As she loved to do.  And, I didn't mention this before but Marshy, our dear little hampster pal died two months ago of "old age", which is not very long in people years.  What's funny is, last Christmas, when both pets were still with us, the Mister and I went to a vintage mall in the next town to poke around and we found these two adorable ornaments.  Both handmade, and old.  I immediately thought of Lily, when I saw the white kitty on a cloud.  On closer inspection, I realized she was made out of a painted walnut and a chestnut!  We brought them home, wrapped them up and gave them to the girls to remember their pets by.  Little did we know then that they would lose both pets this year, and how special these little ornaments would become.  To all of us.   

 

 

There was also baking! 

 

All this and more...

. . .went into decorated cookie boxes tied up with peppermint bows for special friends and family.  

These are some of the candies the girls made for their dad. They counted 96 candies when all was said and done.  Enough to last 'til his birthday in April.  But I wouldn't count on it.  They are really GOOD!

There was a lot of crafting and paper rustling going on behind closed doors these past weeks.  These two colorful gifts were for my granddaughters from their Aunties.  Grace knitted sweet little hats for both her neices; Ginger made the cute flower hair clips.  Not only are they wearable, but make pretty package toppers too. 

 Time out for cookies and coffee.

That's it in a nutshell for another year! 

Pumpkin Hollow

Saturday, the Mister and I stepped out and stepped back in time, or so it seemed, as we found ourselves here at this charming little home-run shop--that was recently built behind the owner's Colonial saltbox home.  Pumpkin Hollow is open on a limited basis and by appointment, but the doors were open this weekend, so we took the opportunity and the old scenic route and paid a visit for the first time.  We were not disappointed!  Every detail was perfection.  Truly a labor of love here.

This is the view looking out from the stone porch.  See that tree stump in the far left corner?  Instead of taking the tree completely out, half the stump was left standing and expertly carved into a big glorious pumpkin.  The "hollow" is lower down in the trunk.

Here's a close-up of it.  It's really quite large.  Anyway, that was just one of the extraordinary things we found here.

The "water wheel" is an actual working grist mill that's turned by water.  Neat, huh?  OK, so let me take you inside.

I love primitive folk art.  At one time, back in the 1980's, I started a little home-based craft business called, Hearts & Hands.  It was just a hobby-biz, consisting of myself and a few creative friends who also liked to make things.  None of us had much money for crafting in those days, so selling a few things helped us buy the supplies we needed to pursue our interests. 

Over the years, I put together a few humble little catalogs with our vintage-style crafts, handmade dolls, quilts, and wooden folk art and sold them by mail-order.  These catalogs were super fun to make.  However, no computer graphics programs back then, or digital cameras for that matter.  So the photographic quality wasn't that great having used developed black-and-white film prints, and an electric typewriter for the print.  Everything was layed out and pasted-up the old-fashioned way; with a T-square, a ruler, and brushed-on glue gum.  Then, off to the printer it would go, who did his best with it.  (click on catalogs for enlarged view).  Once a year, I would open up my house and have a "holiday boutique".  This was really the thing we had the most fun doing.  I will never forget our annual holiday boutiques!  We planned for them all year.  Mostly, we just invited our family, neighbors, and friends, and they invited theirs.  Just word-of-mouth, that sort of thing.  One all-day girl party!  This went on for several years, and as word got out our customer base grew.  GOOD times. . .GOOD memories.

. . . those were just some of the memories that stirred when I stepped inside.  And then I saw these!  These were actual gingerbread cookies (of some kind) dipped in wax to preserve them as decorations.  The shiny wax looks just like icing. Sweet!

A cozy nook.  Did you know that in Colonial times, the pineapple was a symbol of "good luck"?  Well, now ya do!

This big stuffed deer had branches for horns and wrapped sticks for legs!  Love that.  The adorable little mouse standing behind it came home with us.  For old-times sake. 

(More details about Pumpkin Hollow Mill in this newspaper article.)  

 But getting back to the shop . . . 

Peace & Plenty

Driving back home from town this morning, with my bundle of packages and a bag of croissants from the bakery, I turned onto our street--and the sight of rows of flaming maples lining the road nearly took my breath away.  I can't remember a lovelier autumn than this one.  It's just been incredible.  The trees we planted a few years ago are coming into their own now and adding different shades of color, complimenting others that were here already.  They seem particularly vivid against a backdrop of evergreens shrouded in fog.  Amazing, is all I can say, and I wish it would last a bit longer.   

Because very soon, this is about to change.  A storm is on the rise.  And so, before the autumn splendor gets entirely stripped away by wind and rain, and possibly snow later in the week, I grab a camera and head back out the door.  The air is as crisp as a green apple.  A hint of woodsmoke drifts by from a neighborhood chimney.  Everything is still.  Just the sound of leaves floating down around me.  I turn, take a few steps, set up my shot, then sense something--watching. 

   

Sometimes happiness is the simple realization that a still, small moment is special, and you thank the Heavenly Father for His provision of peace.

Winding Through Autumn

We have been busy as bees here, but thankfully, November arrives with it's own quiet rhythm offering us balance and a little time to breathe, before we are swept along into the next mad rush.  The hiking trails near my house are now carpeted with gold.  The ancient tree trunks are flocked with damp, velvety moss, some of them sprouting gigantic mushrooms over our heads.  (This one was the size of a dinner plate!)  I love the woods.  There's a hushed silence that follows at our heels as we walk along.  Occasionally, a small creature will shuffle through the leaves, ducking for cover at our approach.  We stop to look, but never do see anything in the dense underbrush. 

A woodland jay calls out an alarm as it sweeps from tree to tree, watching us, until we are out of it's range.   We take the old horse trail that winds deep into the mountainside wilderness.  A haze of shimmering light filters down through the tall, lacy canopy, sheltering our path.  Overhead, dark clouds coast silently and then part momentarily, allowing a single golden ray of sunshine to illuminate a small patch ahead. 

It's magical--a sliver of heaven, I say.  My camera captures the moment.  Lovely.

Treasure Hunt

 

 
I was up in British Columbia a while back, and stopped in the charming little town of Fort Langley.  There is a wonderful Vintage Mall there, where these pictures were taken.  What's funny is, when I was going through them today I noticed this BOWTIE quilt.  I saw it, but the pattern didn't register at the time.  It "ties" in well (pun intended), with my last blog post don't ya think?

More nooks and crannies. . . and peeks into the past.

Glass coffee and tea pots!  Something else you don't see anymore. 

  
After that I wandered down the street and came upon another treasure: The Little White House.  It was filled with beautiful French-inspired furnishings, accessories and clothing.  At one end (left), was a teeny-tiny Cafe Salon designed for a leisurely nibble.  Quite enchanting! If you find yourself in the area, you must stop by.

Magical Places

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five years ago, I discovered an enchanting woodland hideaway called, The Vintage Roost.  (I first blogged about it here, and again, in 2009 here.  It's changed a little over the years.)  But, needless to day, we still experience a thrill when the gate opens and the handwritten welcome sign appears.  Such times are much anticipated seasonal events around here, because it's only held several times a year; hosted by the ever-gracious Debbie Williams (and friends), who adorn the "shop" with amazing handmade items, vintage finds, and scrumptious pies and treats.  The offerings and adorable vignettes change with the seasons, so there is always something new and inspiring to see.  The main building is basically a small, converted shed that is filled to the rafters with glee, glitter and goodness.  These photos were taken outside around the back of the building, where, as you can see, a wonderful surprise awaited around every corner.  That adorable pair of vintage pillows caught my eye.  Fishing anyone? 

That reminds me, and you'll understand why, when you see the new August bonus transfers.  (Occasionally, I'll get requests for BOY themed designs--so, there ya go.)

Look Who's Here

 

Wildlife Refuge

 
Here's another picture from the Oregon coast--this estuary is a natural habitat, and wonderfully alive in the spring with nesting birds and bullfrogs providing *morning song* (tweet-tweet) and *night music* (ribbet-ribbet).  It's completely closed off to foot traffic, I was standing on the edge of the road looking in.

  
And this photo...taken from the opposite end--facing toward the sea. 
The sound of the ocean at low tide is but a whisper on the wind. . . . .  
Yesterday, we were just sitting down to lunch, when a young male bobcat hopped up on our backyard deck and casually strolled by. We fell over ourselves trying to get to the windows to watch him.  This is of course, a thrill as well as a concern living on the edge of a vast wilderness. 

Rainy days are here again...but at least we have rainbows!

 

Marshmallow Kitty Christmas

 
I've never seen a cat that loves Christmas as much as Miss Lily here.  As soon as any tree goes up, fresh or faux--she's immediately underneath it, curled up and cat-napping.  After hanging a few ornaments and trying not to step on her tail because she is literally under foot and will not budge, we paused for hot cocoa, joining Dean Martin crooning, "It's a marshmallow world at Christmas, when the snow comes to cover the ground"  . . . for the umteenth time.  And I sat down across the room with my feet up, warm cup in hand, to admire our pretty scene--and I caught Lily gazing up from her vantage point underneath the tree, like a small child in awesome wonder.  It was so cute.  I grabbed my camera, but by then she had stretched back out and was lost in dreamland.  With candy canes and sugar plums dancing in her head.  Naturally!

Parting is such Sweet Sorrow

 
We had to say goodbye to another tree. A boxwood elder this time.  Not the most charming of trees, I know, but a tree that provided habitat for birds, shelter and shade for people, and through the years became a visual anchor within its surroundings.  For years now, we have been waffling about this tree (and another one exactly like it on the other side of the deck), always with mixed feelings.  Because we love our trees.  We really do. 

Unfortunately, this tree was planted too close to the house decades ago (by someone else), and no amount of trimming could tame it.  Plus there were other issues that created problems not easy to live with.  Even so, given all that, it's still hard when you have to make the decision to cut any tree down.  That part was done months ago.  Giving us time to get used to the idea.  Facing that decision yesterday was sobering.  

Lately we've been having lots of tree issues, and not just with this one.  Some appear to have bore-beetle infestations, and sap sucker damage; one gorgeous maple suddenly died without any sign of trouble.  The arborists come and go, like good doctors making house calls. But trees are a funny lot.  It's hard to decipher the signs and symptoms, and they are hard to treat.  Eventually, we have to do what's best. 

 
Looking on the bright side, and I am looking for the bright side...I just noticed that even on this gray November day, I have much more natural light in my sewing room.  That's certainly a nice benefit.  Would you look at that.  I really can't believe that great big tree was growing out of that small planter, can you?   From this angle, it's almost as if a tree was never there at all.  But I know something is missing.  And it is missed.

 
This photo taken last month, for the record.  R.I.P. dear/terrible tree. 

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Moving on then...two brighter and happier things: 

 
The cute cake Grace made for her sister's 13th birthday.  No, I don't know why there are only ten candles. I guess that's all we had.  Sometimes details get lost in the enthusiasm of a moment!   No matter--it was still a party.  

 
This is making me happy today...more details tomorrow.  

 

oh dear, what can the matter be?

 
OK.  I think I am finally done fiddling with my blog.  If it still looks weird keep refreshing the page until it loads correctly.  What happened was, in an attempt to reduce the size of the text in the navigation bar (that was once across the top of the post), ALL my content got dumped into the center column. Oops.  Maybe you saw that and wondered what was up.  Some people actually mentioned it to me and I was surprised because nothing looked amiss on my screen.  It wasn't until I looked at a few other monitors that I realized there was a problem.  Fortunately, the blog and I have both recovered now...and as a result, I have some 'new and improved' links in the sidebar under each of my books for the flickr photo pools--which I think is a good place for them.  I hope to add the other lost links when I have more time to figure out where to put them.  Do you like my new look?  I'm basking in the warm background = sunshine in November.  And (finally), a new banner for turkey feathers.  She really needed a new "hat".  (Sorry about the title...I hope nobody gets stuck singing that song in their head all day!) 

Over the hills and far away . . .

"Some long, dreamy summer afternoons a few close friends sat on the porch and snapped their embroidery hoops over their handiwork or knitted, ivory needles clicking happily."

~Gladys Taber

from Harvest of Yesterdays 1976

As summer drifts along, I've been drifting along with it to places near and far.  Slowing down a bit I've become attuned to the graceful passing of the days. 

 

Of course, slowing down in a cabin on a lake or walking through the woods, takes little effort.  The challenge is carrying this rhythm home and weaving it into the days ahead.  That's the plan anyway. 

Now I'm venturing back to where I left off, ready to pick up my State Flower Quilt stitching again, to accompany the long, dreamy summer afternoons, when it gets too hot to pick berries and bake pies. 

In the meantime though . . .

 . . . I've got some exciting news to share:  my new book will be out SEPTEMBER 1st!   Here's a sneak preview of the BACK.   (I'll post more about it as fall approaches.) 

Also coming this fall an Etsy shop update.   Think "thrift shop" treasures..old patterns, vintage stuff, fabric bits.  Gathering it all together now.

 

For today though, for blog readers, I have a free pattern download for my PUPPY PAL, a  little stuffie from my first book, Blanket Statement, that wasn't included.  The pattern is similar to the LAMBKIN pattern, in fact, it's made exactly the same way.   Deb made a cute one (she was my pattern tester), from the green wool blanket and added a creative twist of her own using a kid's picture book for inspiration!  Check out her Copy Cat Challenge here.

(You can add a seam allowance and make it from cloth as well.)

Download PUPPY PAL PATTERN

HAPPY SUMMER!

In the Mood for Mud

 

After a week of rain, Saturday was a perfect autumn day.  On that day the sun stayed out long enough for us to venture over to the pumpkin patch to partake in a little mud and madness.  There was quite a lot of mud actually, but it was still a nice break from all the work I've been doing on the upcoming book.  Which, I might add, is coming together quite nicely;  in its own way and on its own time table.  Because, creating a book from scratch (all by yourself) is quite a production, requiring sufficient amounts of chocolate and the occasional happy distraction to keep things moving along.   Having two incredibly creative daughters around also keeps me motivated.  I'm collaborating with them on a couple of other projects.  These projects are basically their idea.  I'm just like the consultant-mom-cheerleader-project manager-person behind the scenes, who on occasion provides assistance when they ask.  Or points them in the right direction when they need a compass.  We hope to reveal more soon, but for now, it's all very hush-hush.  Oh we do love a bit of mystery. 

Other unrelated sweetness that is making me smile right now:

1.   the '09 fall/winter GreenGate catalog 

2.   the first project of the copy cat challenge

3.   Grace's new Petite Patisserie dollhouse sweets collection on flickr

4.  All the funny and uplifiting comments (regarding that last post).  Thank you!  You all deserve a big slice of pie! 

 

Pink House Cafe

   

While out on a country drive Sunday morning, we found ourselves here, at the Pink House Cafe.  It reminded me a little of our own doll house bakery. 

I thought it would be fun to take you on a little tour.   Standing on the front porch.  There are little tables set up in and around the house in various places. 

 The front door greets you--like stepping inside a doll house. 

As I understand it, the house was built in the late 1800's, and moved twice in order to save it.  I wish I knew what was at the top of the stairs.

The current owner spent years restoring the house to it's former glory, then opened it as a cafe about a month ago.  It's all very warm and inviting.

 

The Mister and I chose to sit on this sunny side-porch.  (Love this darling child-size table set.)

 

The food and service was excellent--prices were also quite reasonable.  If you find yourself in the area, just taking a "country drive" or bicycling through, I highly recommend it.

The Great Outdoors

Summer is breezing along here with one little adventure after another.  We are home again after a little respit in the mountains with twenty other family members visiting from far away places.  A reunion of sorts.  It was fantasic fun, but it's good to be home. 

The air seems heavy here in the valley now.  I am still adjusting to the lower altitude, humidity, and 90+ degree heat.  Missing the cool mornings spent drowsily soaking in the hot tub, while watching the sunrise through the ponderosas.  Missing the star gazing from same hot tub at day's end.  On our last night, immersed in warm swirling bubbles, just dozing and gazing from the hot tub---a gigantic raccoon discovered us.  I  opened my eyes just in time to see him stealthily and quite rapidly creeping along the top of the fence.  And then crouching like a coiled spring ready to launch himself at us.   I hate to think of what might've happened if I hadn't of squawked like a crazed banshee and scared him out of his poor wits (and mine too), sending him scurrying back into the woods. 

I love the wildlife, but that was just a little too close for comfort! 

Not All Here

Well, I declare.  It's July already!  Did it creep up on you too?  Time to flip another page on the calendar and slip into summertime bliss.  I'm working on that, because I've been much, much too busy lately.  I did finally get around to planting these matching flower boxes over the weekend though, which are now hanging off the front porch and looking oh-so love-a-lee, and reminding me to dial down.  "Dialing down", is my new catch phrase this summer.  That's the kind of lingo one picks up from watching way too much TV golf.   

 

Quaint February Morning

 

My favorite way to start the day. . .

Pumpkin Time

The glow of autumn always puts me in a sunny frame of mind. 

And brings on a sudden desire to visit the pumpkin patch.

All Aboard!

Patchwork Post in a Clam Shell

    

 

 

 

This morning, I feel these two-tone eyes on my back. 

Peek-A-Boo. 

Miss Lily is keeping an eye on me from under my desk, probably to make sure I don't sneak off again anytime soon.  One can never tell when I might make my move.  I'm so proud of her.  She killed three humongous spiders in the house while we were away!   She's normally pretty lazy, and will have nothing to do with mice, but those heart-stopping horrible spiders she will go after without any problem.  What a treasure.  I love that about her.

 

Those spiders just better watch their backs.

Picnic by the Sea

Hope some of you are having fun making pickles!  Shall we have a pickle party here on the blog in a few months to share our results::  good or bad?  Hopefully all GOOD!  And speaking of blog parties, there’s a Tasha Tudor Birthday celebration coming up on the 28th hosted by Clarice at Storybook Woods.  Time to take out our fancy china cups, and take joy and peace collectively in a moment of remembrance to honor a life lived so wonderfully and creatively. 

 

Over here, we’re in the middle of another heat wave with temperatures just over a hundred degrees.  Had to get out of my kitchen, away from the pickles and the pies for awhile and cool my heels.  The Oregon coast is famous for its fickle weather, especially during the summer.  But sometimes all the elements come together just right and *magic* happens.  Yesterday, we were lucky to catch one of those days and stayed until we ran out of food and dry clothes, then reluctantly headed back home around 7 pm, to find that it had barely cooled down to 95 degrees here in the valley by the time we rolled into our driveway.

And it looks like we’re in for more of the same for the next few days.  So early this morning I went through the house and opened up all the windows and doors to let in some air and cool the house down (before closing it up again), and while I was sitting here at my desk, a tiny hummingbird flew in and hovered over my head!  All I saw out of my peripheral vision though was a black buzzing shape coming at me and I yelped and flailed---sending it right back out the door again.  Don't know who scared who!

 

Well, I'd better get outside and do some watering before things heat up again.  Have a great weekend where ever you are!