My Heartstring

The Runt

2012-01-30T08:58:00.000-08:00

I know you have been anxiously awaiting some more puppy pictures, right?

This is the runt of the litter, weighing in at nearly a pound less than the rest of his siblings, but with no less energy or will to live.

One family on our litter list is completely smitten with him asked for a few extra photos, to which I happily complied.

But I just couldn't keep them in a folder on my desktop. They had to be shared with you all too. Even (and especially) this quite blurry YAWN.

Which was almost immediately followed by a vicious growl and bark aimed at the giant hand that was holding him.

I think I would bark if I was being held by a giant hand too.

NEW Friendship Pin Pillow and Needle Book

2012-01-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well, my dears, this design was originally intended to be ready at the beginning of the month, to give you plenty of time to stitch it up for Valentine's Day. But then it was the stomach flu, followed by a birthday, puppies, snow, power outage, and you know... I just couldn't get it done!

The great thing is that it is super easily adaptable to whatever occasion suits you.

This design began, of all places, while sitting in the dentist’s chair. Prompted by the sometimes-distance found between my home and some of my favorite women. Two houses, representing us, a sweet little phrase, a peacock for longevity (their flesh was thought to not decay), with room for initials and a heart. I stitched it up with three color schemes and finished it three ways, as a pin cushion, needle book, and hem-edged sampler.

Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, or Just Because.

This pattern will come with charts for two different versions, with two additional phrases, should you choose to further customize it, color photograph, an alphabet, basic instructions for making a needle book, and my recommendations for floss and fabric. It will arrive in a plastic zip-close envelope for safe keeping.

I will also make available to anyone purchasing this pattern a free downloadable PDF tutorial for finishing the sampler into a pinkeep just like the model; in the tutorial I will have step-by-step instructions with color photographs.

Stitch Count: 101 x 85

Pincushion model stitched on Northern Cross 40ct Cream
Using thread from The Gentle Art: 0920 Tropical Ocean, 7004 Brethren Blue, 7019 Pomegranate, 7060 Picnic Basket, 7080 Endive
And thread from Weeks Dye Works: 2219 Whiskey, 3500 Sand

Needle Book model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 40ct Straw
Using thread from Weeks Dye Works: 2259 Cayenne

Sampler model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 30ct Red Pear
Using thread from The Gentle Art: 7049 Lambswool
And thread from Weeks Dye Works: 1236 Mocha, 1268 Molasses, 1336 Raspberry

This design is now available in my etsy shop and will be going out to my distributors soon. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: heartstringsamplery@hughes.net

I Need More Hellos.

2012-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. ~Charles M. Schulz

Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes. ~Henry David Thoreau

You all have been a balm to my heart this week.
You make this world feel spacious and full of Hellos.

** You know, I had a feeling you were going to ask, and forgot to put a note in here about the photo. It was taken from our bridge down in the woods. Looking upstream toward where our Beaver family are building their habitat. Bear Creek is a year-round stream, and home to trout, water skippers, crawdads, wood ducks, and plenty of other yet-to-be-seen creatures.

Thank You

2012-01-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you all so much for taking the time to pop in and send a message yesterday. Your words felt like big hugs from across the miles.

I feel like there are a million things I have been waiting to show you and write about, but they will still be there in a few days, as I regain my footing and get daily life feeling a bit more normal. It becomes a new normal each time life throws a curveball, doesn't it?

My Mother in Law joined us for a dinner of French Toast last night, and the evening was spent looking at old, old photos and talking about old stories. It was good. We decided that we need to add a standing appointment weekly for her to join us for dinner.

I finished a big sampler last night after the kids were in bed. Really big. I've been stitching on it for a long time, setting it down to get smaller designs finished, then picking it up again. Now to steam it and get a frame ordered. I think she just might be April's calendar girl.

Its raining buckets out there today. Lots of flooding down in the valleys, and our little creek is so swollen we can hear it gushing as soon as we open the door.

The kids are playing ping pong on the wii right now, and their giggles from the other room are a delight to hear.

There are nine roly-poly puppies out in the kennel, growing like crazy and keeping us busy. This coming weekend will be the first chance for their future families to come take a peek. We always enjoy getting to know a new group of Labrador people.

I appreciate you all so very much.

Rescued

2012-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last three days mentally composing and deleting and editing this post. I am not usually at a complete loss for words, but this time, every phrase has felt inadequate and incomplete. I know that many, if not all of you will understand though, so here it is…

It was November 13, 1998, the day I first met the man who would become my Father in Law. I don’t recall any words that he spoke to me that night, but I do remember his quiet presence across the table, and the way his eyes carefully watched and appraised this Girl who was with his Son. He must have liked what he saw though, because I was welcomed into his family with open arms.

Always an optimist, and quite a free spirit, there wasn’t much about him that was conventional and expected. One of the most resourceful and innovative people I have ever known, he one winter found himself just days before Christmas, being told that the house he was renting for his family had been sold and he had to get out. Most people would panic in that situation, and perhaps he did a little, but within days, he had secured property, bought a travel trailer and a generator, and was able to keep his family warm and dry until Spring, when he could build a structure for them to live in.

He had a way of seeing what was in a person before they themselves did, I think. And he had a way of encouraging and speaking to those qualities until they became obvious to that person. It was that way with my art. There is not one person on the face of the earth who has encouraged and cheered and added ideas to my artistic endeavors more than he. Always asking what I was up to next, and being truly thrilled with each success.

He himself was an artist, sometimes caught up by life circumstances and a practical nature, but always seeing with an eye that noticed lines and curves, color and contrast, in the beauty of our world. He learned to capture that beauty with his camera and with a hammer and with his words, often weaving stories that captivated the attention of everyone in the room.

Over the years, I have watched him in his relationship with my Farmboy, and enjoyed listening to their conversations, as they spent hours troubleshooting and fixing or building something. Fences, wells, bulldozers, houses, barns, cupboards, ponds, birdhouses, rock walls; you name it, they could together figure it out and build it better than ever before. The mutual respect and admiration that they had for each other was easily apparent to anyone who saw their interactions.

But what I appreciated about him the best, was his unwavering faith. Having experienced more than his share of heartache and difficulty in life, he remained grounded and secure in his relationship with his Heavenly Father. He knew, and demonstrated with his life, that people and situations would let him down, but that his Creator would always remain faithful. After struggling with illness for a very long time, that Creator came and rescued him from his broken body on Thursday evening.

I can’t claim to have known him best or longest or anywhere near the depth of those who have walked beside him for many more years. But I know that he loved me, and was proud to have me as Daughter by marriage. I never once doubted how he felt about the addition I made to the family. And for that I am very grateful.

I will miss him dearly for the rest of my days on earth, miss the place he held in my Farmboy's life, and regret the Grandpa-shaped hole in my Children's future. But together, with his brother and sisters, wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and countless friends, we will keep his life story vibrant and part of our verbal history. And together, we will remember the time coming when we will be reunited for eternity.

Joel Kevin Twist
August 11, 1942 - January 19, 2012

Well Hello There...

2012-01-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

Is the real world still in place?

This post is brought to you by determination, grit, and a 5000 watt generator.

Since I last posted, we went from this...

to this...

That is greenhouse you see in the background, housing our generator, with the spotlight shining from the front of the kennel. If you look closely, under the weighed down branches of our Anniversary Tree, you can see the two foot deep deep pathway trampled by a thousand treks.

Is it any wonder a giant Douglas Fir tree snapped in half and took out a whole section of power lines and poles?

We have been on around-the-clock gas-up-the-generator-every-two-hours shifts to keep the puppies warm and alive.

We have extension cords snaked all over this house, and have to take turns plugging in the electrical devices that need to be used.

It now looks like this out there...

Roads are clear, rain is quickly melting away the two feet of snow that accumulated.

The power company got an earful this morning, due to the fact that their crew made a small repair yesterday afternoon at the end of the road, then apparently went home, leaving the majority of the damage untouched. They could give us no indication as to just how much longer we will have to wait, but from our appraisal of the damage, it might be quite a while. Big sigh.

It has been nearly two days of interrupted sleep, dirty bodies, dirty dishes, and general inconvenience. We are all learning to be very grateful for the blessing of electricity.

The romance and excitement of being snowed in and having the power go out was immediately erased by the stress and concern of keeping those puppies warm and alive. We are more than ready for normalcy to return.

And I can't stop thinking about how good a hot shower is going to feel.

Meanwhile

2012-01-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

We got a little snow over the weekend.

And then we got a whole lot more last night.

(Someone, please tell me I'm not the only one with a dead Christmas tree still laying on the back deck?)

Grand total of about 8 inches right now and still blizzarding.

Its pretty out there.

And wild.

The Littles thought that making tracks in the four inches we had yesterday was fun.

Just wait until they get a chance to go out and play later today.

The school district is only on a 2 hour delay, but we are quite a bit higher in elevation than most of the district, and there is no way we are braving those roads for a measly 3 hour day of learning the alphabet. This kid can already read like a ten year old. Don't you think he deserves a snow day?

Oh, and did I mention... newborn puppies are trying to stay warm out in the kennel right now. Born throughout Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.

Lucie was definitely an overachiever and gave birth to 13. A few of them were very small and weak. We are now down to 10 puppies (ten is still a big litter!), and making hourly trips to make sure everyone is cozy and dry.

It is hard work, and possibly more exhausting emotionally than physically. Those little pups are so weak and defenseless. Its hard to not feel like we should be out there guarding them like Mother hens every second. But with kids and jobs and chores, it just isn't feasable to drop everything. So we trek, back and forth, day and night, wishing the days away until they are older and stronger.

Finally Four

2012-01-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

To the sweetest Girl I have ever known...

You drew breathe for the first time on a cold January day four years ago... our lives are better in every way, having shared this space with you.

I am continually amazed as I watch you grow and change.

You are sweet and salty. Girly and tough. Cuddly and sassy.

We love you beyond reason.

Macaroni Sunset

2012-01-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

It was another one of those days. With a belly still sensitive to real food, and a little girl who felt the same, we decided together that a bowl of plain pasta sounded do-able for our supper.

Twelve minutes later, as I glanced up from dishing our pathetic meal, I saw that it was all going to be better soon.

For that was when God prompted me to notice my pasta steamed windows, just as the sun was going down.

Truly, I remembered, in all circumstances, there can be found beauty.

Me and my girl, enduring together, then enjoying together.

What beauty have you seen lately, in the midst of no-good, pathetic, unfair-ness?

Holiday Hand-dids

2012-01-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Now that the family Christmas celebrations are over, I can finally share with you a glimpse of what has been keeping me really, really busy the last few months...

There were 5 different pincushions made for the sewing women in my family. Each quite different from the other, and I only took pictures of one... I think I had intentions of photographing them all together when they were finished, but well...

I made 36 mini bags of Peppermint-scented rice and flax for the nieces, nephews and classmates, and 12 adult-sized bags of the same. My kids love to keep theirs in the refrigerator, so that they are cool at all times and ready to soothe bumps and bruises. I heat mine up most evenings to help my chilly bones get warm.

There were 7 tents made for little ones to play in, and 1 crocheted blanket for the Grandma whose own hands have crocheted many, many blankets for Kids and Grandkids over the years. My sister made sleeping bags for each of the kids to go with their tents.

I hand-quilted 2 play mats for baby boys to roll around on,

and bottled 5 containers of my home-brew.

Along with several jars of my Green Tomato Chutney.

And last, but certainly not least, 1 personalized My-First-Sampler kit for an almost-9-year-old niece. Complete with a design made just for her, hoops, needles, a pincushion, fabric, thread, and enclosed in a vintage sewing basket. Here's hoping she likes this new stitching experience!

What She Doesn't Know

2012-01-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

She has no clue that yesterday was her 4th birthday. We chose to delay any mention and celebration of her day until she can manage to eat her chosen birthday meal with true enjoyment.

Who can celebrate on a day when you are so wiped out that you fall asleep on the couch at ten o'clock in the morning?

After spending the weekend celebrating two postponed family Christmases, the Girl and I both came down with the stomach flu and have been in bed for the last two days recovering. We are on the mend, but taking it easy.

And looking forward to that elusive 4th birthday celebration. And coffee.

Frog Forest

2012-01-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

Normally taken out of storage only once a year, to help display Christmas cards, I found myself reluctant to pack my flower frogs away last week.

I played with them for much longer than I care to admit, stacking them, arranging this way, then that way.

Putting them here, then there.

Creating a mini forest of rusty, crooked, sharp, and chipped pieces of metal.

Taking a billion pictures of the mini forest, looking over my shoulder every so often to make sure no one had noticed yet just how I was wasting my time.

I ended up with the fabulous idea of leaving the arrangement out, just so, on a bread board, on a coffee bag, on the trunk which had previously held our Christmas tree.

A brilliant idea, indeed! Leaving them out where I could arrange and re-arrange them every so often, when in need of serious therapy.

And what was the first thing out of my Farmboy's mouth when he saw my brilliant arrangement?

"That looks DANGEROUS!"

Right.

So right.

What on earth was I thinking?

My frog forest now lives about four feet higher. I refuse to pack it away, and if anyone impales themselves on a spike, its their own fault for climbing on top of the piano.

If You Haven't Got a Penny

2012-01-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

Puppies are coming,

the Lucie's getting fat.

Please put a penny in their old dad's hat.

In 2 days we celebrate Newmas (a New-year Christmas) with my family.
In 5 days my Baby Girl turns 4. FOUR!
In 10 days the Puppies are due.
Also in 10 days our new puppy-girl- Pepper -will be ready to come home.

How much anticipation can one family handle?

Weird-Bird

2012-01-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

by Shel Silverstein

Birds are flyin' south for winter.

Here's the Weird-Bird headin' north,

Wings a-flappin', beak a-chatterin',

Cold head bobbin' back 'n' forth.

He says, "It's not that I like ice

Or freezin' winds and snowy ground.

It's just sometimes it's kind of nice

To be the only bird in town."

Curious

2012-01-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

This Christmas gift came to me all the way from Maine.

It was dug out from the bottom of a basket full of letter balls found at an antique store.

Another T for my collection.

But we are all stumped, including the lovely that spent time digging until she found a T!

Does anyone out there have an idea what its original purpose might have been?

UPDATE: I think we may have our answer. My first hunch, based on the weight and feel and the chips on one side, was that it was some sort of a game or lottery ball. Then Debbie left a comment telling us that she is sure that it is a "Carpet Bowl". I have done some searching online, and have yet to find a carpet bowl with letters on it, but everything else about it seems to fit the description. So, for now, I am the proud owner of a "Letter T Carpet Bowl". If anyone else finds more information, please let me know!

UPDATE UPDATE: Well, now it is growing clear... my beloved "Letter T Carpet Bowl" appears to be a reproduction, possibly made by Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn, or Coldwater Creek. All three had sets for sale a few years ago. They look fabulous all gathered together. But I think I'll keep mine just the way it is. Regardless of whether mine is original or a copy, I love having it as part of my mantle arrangement.

What Happens Next

2012-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love the feeling of a fresh new year. Especially a new year that is greeted with freshly cleaned and organized closets.

There is still a pile by the door, waiting to be donated. And a few corners that need dusting. And one closet full of stash and crafting supplies that will have to wait for another day.

But otherwise, I have a clean and re-adorned house.

I love that part.

The one time a year that I swap out my regular decor for seasonal is Christmas. The day all of the festive decor comes down, I get a fresh look at all of my usual knick knacks, and re-arrange and tweak them to my heart's delight. Who needs a zen garden when they have things to arrange?

I wandered about outside for awhile yesterday morning, just taking it all in. My yard and gardens still need a good cleaning, but I like them that way. Poised on the edge between old life and the promise of new.

Just like the start of a new calendar year.

And it is going to be a good year, dear readers. I anticipate both sorrows and joys for all of us, but it will be good anyway. Life is beautiful. The Author of life is even more. And this tapestry, woven out of our story lines is intricate and complex and stunning.

I'm ready to see what happens next, are you?

New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T23:30:00.000-08:00

Yeah. We sure know how to party.

Ginger cookies, peppermint tea, Burt's Bees, lots of lamp-light, and a good puzzle.

A Free Chart for the New Year

2011-12-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

As I have been busily overhauling my closets this week, I have found myself thinking of the upcoming year and all that it may hold. I am not one for making resolutions, but I do find that a fresh new year always inspires me to reflect and re-focus.

My heart has been both heavy and light, as I think about the ones I love and the trials and joys that they are experiencing right now. They are spread both far and near to me, family and friends that hold a special place in my heart. I love to reflect on the happy times that we have spent together.

Truly, the classic New Year song is fitting this year more than any other year for me. Have you ever read the words or discovered the roots of the song? Do it!

And so, I give to you, as my gift for the New Year, an "Auld Lang Syne" sampler:

Click on the image to be redirected to a downloadable PDF file.

I utilized some lovely new colors in my chart, but please interpret it however you wish. The row of initials at the bottom are representative of some of my friends... replace them with your own meaningful initials. And when you are finished, will you please share a photo with me? Feel free to stitch it for yourself or to give to another, or even a limited number may be stitched for sale, but as always, please respect my gift and give credit to me as the designer.

Wishing you a year that includes meaningful time spent with those you love, both near and far.

Cleaning Up

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

This time of year, I almost always do a major clean-out of closets, wardrobes, toy baskets. Wanting to start the New Year with a fresh, clean slate, I suppose.

Yesterday it was the Pantry. Today it will be the Hall Closet and perhaps one of the bedrooms upstairs.

I have no pictures of this cleaning-out project. You don't really want to see, do you?

I do, however, have before and after photos of a certain Someone being Cleaned Up.

I hope to return tomorrow feeling much fresher, saner, and cleaner.

New Let It Snow

2011-12-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

How about one more design for 2011? I was originally planning to release this in January, but I just can't help myself.

We are all super ready for SNOW to come again, so why wait? Get the word out! Let it Snow!

Inspired by the graphic appeal of woven antique coverlets from the beginning of the 1800’s, with Pinetree and Snowball patterns.

This is my own interpretation, combining elements from coverlets by different makers, and with the addition of those irresistible lyrics from one of my favorite Winter songs.

Let It Snow!, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne in 1945…

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Stitch Count: 135 x 121

Model stitched on Northern Cross 40ct Cream linen that was tea-stained prior to stitching.

Using thread from The Gentle Art: 7055 Uniform Blue

The lovely frame is an antique.

My Shadow is now available in my etsy shop and will be going out to my distributors soon. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: heartstringsamplery@hughes.net

Christmas Redux

2011-12-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Stocking-unloading on Christmas Eve,

the Flashlights being the biggest hit.

The presents have been under the tree for days,

but now, finally... OPEN TIME!

And PLAY TIME!

Followed by Waffles My-Way (Almond Butter and Maple Syrup),

and Waffles Your-Way (Blueberry Compote and Whipped Cream),

and yes, even Your-Way (Sausages, Maple Syrup, Raspberry Jam, and Whipped Cream).

Then... MORE presents.

And... MORE play.

Evacuate for lunch (Cheese, Crackers, Veggies)...

Play some more.

Leaving PJs on all day long.

Cook and eat dinner.

Eat dessert (Peppermint Ice Cream and Brownies) as close to the new toys as possible.

The End.

"Mama, is it going to be Cwistmas again tomowow?"

Smile.

Paella for Christmas

2011-12-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Farmboy and I have watched and re-watched this segment of a Rick Steves' Europe episode many times (start at 2:19).

I decided to surprise him with an 18 inch Paella pan for Christmas, complete with all the ingredients and a bag of briquettes so that we could cook it on our charcoal grill.

So excited about my plan, Paella was certainly on my brain. Which, along with the depth of understanding that comes from 12 years of being happily married, it only took a couple of hints for me to realize that he was also planning to get a Paella pan for ME for Christmas.

Sadly, I had to let the cat out of the bag in advance, or else one of us would have had to deal with shipping a giant pan back to its place of origin.

He was still rather excited, and started our very first batch yesterday evening. There are a bajillion recipes out in cyber space. We took them as suggestions, and created our own version.

First, we got a big pile of coals really hot. We put our Paella pan on the grill. Once it was hot, we added some olive oil and 1 1/2 pounds of chicken tenders.

The chicken was browned on both sides, then a little more oil was added, along with a pile of chopped fresh veggies (one large sweet onion, two red peppers, one green pepper, and about a cup of halved cherry tomatoes).

We let the veggies cook until they were soft, then added a very large pinch of saffron, salt and pepper, and 2 1/2 cups of brown rice. We stirred the rice and seasoning just until it was all moist, then added 5 cups of vegetable broth, which had been brought to a boil on the stove.

At this point, we let the Paella simmer away for 8-10 minutes at a time, adding more hot broth whenever the liquids had evaporated away or been absorbed. All told, we added another 2 cartons (32 oz.) of broth, and then, since I had no more broth, about 4 more cups of boiling water at the end, and it took about 50 minutes for the rice to be ready.

When we thought there was about 5 minutes left for the rice, we threw in 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp.

Done!

Amazingly yummy, but we will tweak the ingredients next time. Because that's what we do.

More chicken? More saffron? Less pepper? Chicken broth instead of Vegetable? Add pumpkin or Butternut Squash? I'll let you know.

This dish can be intimidating, since it is traditionally made in such large batches, but don't be afraid to try it. I found many recipes online that tell you how to make it on your stovetop in a regular pan. If we have inspired you to give Paella a try, be sure to let me know!

Oh Glorious Day!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Glorious Day (living He Loved Me) lyrics
Songwriters: John Mark Hall;Michael Jr Bleecker

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a Virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He

Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He

Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

'Cause living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore

Death could not hold Him
The grave could not keep Him from rising again

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day
Glorious day

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day
Glorious day, oh, glorious day

We Woof You a Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today, I pray that you will find yourself surrounded by Love.

Enjoy this wallpaper by left-clicking to open, then right-clicking to save to your computer.

Countdown

2011-12-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;

Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev'ry store

But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;

There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,

And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

Winners!

2011-12-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

Random Generator #1 and Random Generator #2 had great fun this morning, picking from my giant bowl of contestants.

Each comment was printed, cut apart and crimped, then mixed together with the others. Like a big bowl of spaghetti seasoned with kindness.

The following SEVEN winners, please contact me via email: heartstringsamplery@hughes.net with your mailing address and your choice of one of my available designs (as seen here), which I will send off in next week's mail.

AnneMarie, : Congratulations on 1,000 posts! I look forward to reading 1,000 more! I always look forward to reading your posts and seeing your pictures. Not to mention your beautiful needlework. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Joy, who said: Beth, I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your blog. Your photos are always beautiful and inspiring. I look forward to seeing the children and what they are doing. Happy Holidays and congrats!!
Paula, who said: Beth, I enjoy making your sweet blog a part of my day. It is part of my "me" time. I especially enjoy your photos. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!
Catherine, who said: Wow! That's a lot of posts! Congratulations!! I finished Sing We Merrily and an waiting on the frame to arrive! Might be starting Humility tonite!! Love your posts, pictures and designs!!
Debbie, who said: Beth, you have given me so much to think about each day, and your photo's are so spectacular. Because this is your 1000,00 post, I am going to send you two of my Grandfather's photo's. I'll have Colleen go thru them and pick out some farm scenes. The Chicago Hystirical has all of his glass negatives, and a book was written called Chicago Under Glass. I know you will loves these, and I would be honored for you to have them. You Beth are very special. Merry Christmas to All at The Twist Farm.
Diane, who said: Congratulations on your 1,000 posts. I enjoy your blog. Your cakes are amazing that you make for your children - always love when it's their birthdays. Wishing you and your family happy holidays from Pennsylvania.
Juels, who said: Congratulations! I enjoyed the pictures from the post above this one. Thank you!

The following SEVEN winners, please contact me via email: heartstringsamplery@hughes.net with your email address and your choice of one of my available designs (as seen here), which I will send to you as a PDF pattern next week.

Belinda, who said: Dear Beth, I am thankful for your blog because it is inspiring, beautiful, and thoughtful. I will be returning to New Zealand to live in about one month's time and will follow you from there. I am loving your patterns. I am currently working on your Victorian pincushion. Merry Christmas to your family.
Diana, who said: Congratulations on your 1000th post! I enjoy hearing about your family's life. I look forward to many more posts
Darlene N, who said: congrads! I love your corner of earth!! I read you daily I adore your family and your dogs and your pictures and your cam pictures and your beavers and the tree you planted when you moved there and your chickens and and and!!! You are a joy to read Thank You!! Have a wonderful holiday. Thanks for the chance
Deborah, who said: Congrats on 1000 posts! I look forward to next 1000. Have a wonderful holiday!
Donna G, who said: Thanks for sharing your pictures, thoughts and beautiful patterns. I always enjoy checking in on your blog.
Jessica, who said: Congratulations on 1,000 posts! I think I may have missed the first few hundred, but I've loved the last few hundred, even though I have never posted before. Please, keep up the lovely work!
Mouse, who said: well i think that yahoo has eaten my last comment ... said wow you talk more than me heheheh and just love your photos especially with the droplets and the spiders strand :) hope you have a fab christmas and a merry new year :) love mouse xxx

Congratulations to all of you!

Thousandieth Post Giveaway

2011-12-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

Wow, you all sure know how to warm this girl's heart. I read and re-read your notes yesterday, and couldn't keep the smile off of my face. They like me! They really like me!

Writing this blog is super fun for me, and has become almost as natural as breathing. I told my sister recently that I think my operational frame of reference is now permanently set to "Blog". It doesn't matter what I am doing, there is an automatic sensor that chimes in my head if an action I take or an image I see falls into the "Of Interest to My Blog Readers" or "Post This One for your Family's Memory Bank" category.

Very rarely do I labor over what to write about. It just comes out automatically, dripping from my fingertips. But often those tidbits that I share seem so normal to my life that I question my sanity for bothering to put it into words.

Then I go check my Analytics chart and see the numbers. There you are, checking in, two... sometimes three-hundred of you, each time I post. I am humbled and blessed.

I will leave the comments open on yesterday's post for one more day, then will draw several of your names tomorrow morning. Comments are closed on this post to avoid confusion.

Now, to avoid a photo-less offering, I am now going to share a group of rather spectacular photos with you.

Ready?

I know that you have been dying to see my Chickens, foraging in the mist, haven't you? Well, here they are...

Oh, and who isn't charmed by Dogs in the mist?

Lucie, the second from the left, is starting to show a growing belly. We are still in wait-and-see mode though, because she has fooled us in the past. If she is indeed pregnant, her pups will be born the middle of next month.

Thousandieth

2011-12-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Yes, my friends, this here post puts me into four digits.

Its a little hard to believe that my ramblings are still interesting enough to keep you coming back after one thousand posts.

But here I am, and there you are.

Leave a comment on this post, even if you have never, ever left a comment before.

I was going to do one giant give away, but there is so little time to be spared these days to pull it together. So, how about if, instead of one person winning a pile of prizes, a pile of you each win one prize?

Several of you will win a free pattern... your choice from my entire list of published designs. Call it a free stash enhancement to get you started on the new year... a thank you from me, for the time spent hanging out in my corner of the woods.

**Comments are now closed for this contest. Thank you all so much for chiming in. Your responses have been a huge encouragement!**

The Birthday Cake

2011-12-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

If you have been reading this blog for long, you know that I have dabbled in cake decorating for many years, albeit reluctantly. The times I have truly enjoyed playing with frosting have been for my kids' birthdays.

Every year, I walk the line, trying to make the most captivating cake with as little effort as possible.

I will never be one to enjoy hand-crafting every detail from sugar. I will, however, find ways to get the same feel, using items that I can easily find around the house or in town.

Case in point:

He wanted a Mario Kart cake with Luigi and Mushroom Gorge. I complied.

And threw in a bunch of other characters to keep it interesting.

All of the M&M details were inspired by the Daddy, who also enjoys racing on the Wii.

The bonus is that the characters in their race cars are all pull-back toys that now can be played with.

Yum. I think it was another winner.

Happy Birthday

2011-12-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

To the sweetest Boy I have ever known...

You drew breathe for the first time exactly 6 years and 12 minutes ago.

Our lives are better in every way, having shared this space with you.

I hope today exceeds your expectations as we celebrate your life.

We love you beyond reason.

My Parents

2011-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

Happy 40th Anniversary to two of the best people I have ever known.

Your loving example of a committed marriage has been an inspiration to me for as long as I can remember.

I love you both so very much.

Ode to Trees

2011-12-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

Looking out, the little tree saw them,

Standing proud and tall,

Bathed in the light of a setting sun.

Oh! to stand in such a way,

Tall and straight and wild,

With moss and owl and squirrel as ornament.

Looking in, they saw the little tree,

Standing sweet and pure,

Resplendant in memories and lights.

Oh! to stand in such a way,

Small and bright and true,

With glass and tin and love as ornament.

Looking on, she saw them all,

Standing in such different ways,

Bathed in light and memories.

Together, reflecting each other,

A forest spanning glass,

Different, the same, ornaments of her story.

Artist's Hair

2011-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago, my little one drew her first recognizable person.

Once recently, she made "Begetable Soup" with her water colors.

But usually she just draws lots of sunshines. Big, GIANT, fill-the-whole-page sunshines with smiley faces and round pig noses.

But she has yet to attempt a body figure. Until now.

When she brought it to me, it was bald. I asked her where its hair was. She told me, "Maaaamaaa! Dat's Me! I have to dwaw my wooooong hair."

And then she drew her loooooong hair.

I desperately hope it is not a sign of hairstyles to come.

Taking Pictures

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

The camera that I have been shooting with for the last five years is a Canon EOS Rebel XT (previous to that, I used a Canon Rebel film camera). At 8 megapixels, it delivers large, clear shots and gives me plenty of opportunity to play with settings to achieve my desired outcome.

But every year, when the winter months roll in, my struggles to get well-lit photos that are sharp and clear become monumental. I often go for days without picking up my camera, because I know that I will just become frustrated.

It does have a built-in flash, but in general, I tend to avoid using it, because I don't like the harshness that is inevitably present when flash is used.

For the past year I have been saving money to get a new camera body. My ultimate wish was for a new Canon in the D series, but after a year of squirreling my pennies away, I wasn't even a third of the way toward the sticker price.

After doing more research, and reading hundreds of positive reviews online, I decided to stay loyal to the Rebel line, and bought an EOS Rebel T2i.

Just the body for now, since all of my lenses are interchangeable.

The photos you have been looking at are a representation of how much better this new camera handles low-lighting. I used the same exact settings, and only slightly different lenses to capture the same shot with each camera.

I am so pleased and excited each time I take a low-lighting photo with my new camera. It is almost effortless to capture what I have imagined in my mind, and the time spent editing my photos has dwindled down to almost nothing.

More play, less work... bringing back the joy of taking pictures... happy, happy me!

Lately

2011-12-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

A lovely pattern has ensnared our world.

Frost,

frost,

fog,

killer sunset,

frost,

fog,

killer sunset,

repeat.

Random, the Christmas Edition

2011-12-09T09:02:00.001-08:00

Hi there... its just me again.

Showing you a few festive things I have scattered about... like this old ornament I recently found. A pink flower with a giant beetle on it. Those Victorians sure had interesting taste.

I like to scoop up old silver-plate compotes when I find them at the thrift store. Stacked together, they resemble a shiny fountain, long gone dry, but with lovely patina.

This charming old postcard was sent to my Great-Grandparents in 1913. The woman who sent it wrote all in Danish, and has the most beautiful penmanship.

My cozy living room with its tiny tree.

A Victorian cookie tin, silver-plate platter and footed oil lamp.

An old and tattered sampler done all in red and green.

Appliqued angel announcing the birth of the Savior of the world.

Old mirror, concrete pheasant, pewter plate, swift.

Frog tree.

Let Us Be Truly Thankful, the Winter Edition.

Vintage Christmas books that belonged to my Grandmother.

NOEL 1705... from the Tidings of Comfort and Joy booklet.

Now Christmas is Come.

And my most favorite decorations of all...

Reading Christmas books, no less.

Trimming the Trees

2011-12-08T09:14:00.001-08:00

Each of the kids have their own festive container that holds their growing collection of Christmas ornaments.

Because of the small-ness of our family tree this year, they were only able to choose 2 ornaments each to put on it.

The remainder of their collections were left to pile on their tiny fake tree that lives on the landing outside their bedroom doors.

Usually this tree holds lights and a few extra ornaments, but this year, it is bedecked within an inch of its life.

Which makes everyone in this house pretty happy.

No kid ornaments (except my childhood treasures *ahem*) on my pretty tree, and who doesn't love a tree that has been bedecked within an inch of its life?

After decorating their tree, the kids got to *watch* as Daddy and Mama carefully chose from our collection, which ornaments made the cut for the year.

And really, we were able to put most of our special ones out, skipping over the filler ornaments, and a few of the larger, more heavy glass ones.

After all that hard work, we sat down to a nutritious dinner of popcorn, hot cocoa, and The Polar Express.

Is there any other way to end Christmas Tree Day?

NEW My Shadow

2011-12-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

Her origins began on a cold December evening in 2008, as I was decorating for Christmas. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen, I created a papercutting titled, “NOEL 1887”.

A full year later, I was taking a slightly different direction in my business, moving away from finished goods and fully embracing my sampler designing work. A flash of inspiration, and the original shape of my dancers became the logo that I now use to represent me. I first introduced her on January 15, 2010, saying:

Meet my shadow, formed from paper

with scissors and knife,

born from a seed of inspiration

that was certainly planted by God.

She represents the feeling I truly want to convey, that the designs I present to the world, are all creations that spring forth from my heart. I am strongly convicted to never, ever offer a design that is not meaningful in some way to me. I will not offer designs that were made just to generate money, but rather to generate an emotional response, a resonation in the hearts of my customers.

And so, she has come full-circle, My Shadow, now depicted not with paper, but with needle and thread, and a motto that hopefully will resonate with you as much as it does with me:

With only a silver needle

and a string from the depths of my heart

I will stitch love and beauty

into the warp and weft of the world.

Warp and Weft: Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric. The longitudinal threads are called the Warp and the lateral threads are the Weft.

My Shadow would still be waiting in a “designs to be stitched” folder if it wasn’t for the generous and patient Donna Gabbard, who willingly took on a project calling for Black, Black, and more Black. With an extra skein of Black thrown in for good measure! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your time and the result of your skill is a gift that I will cherish for all of my days.

Stitch Count: 191 x 292

Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 40ct. Linen

Using Weeks Dye Works 1094 Linen and 3900 Kohl (5 skeins)

When I set out to find a frame for this design, I had something in particular in mind, and was super excited to find Homecraft Framing on etsy. Dona has been making frames for a very long time, and understands the world of cross-stitch. I highly recommend that you check out her shop the next time you are looking for a painted frame for one of your pieces.

My Shadow is now available in my etsy shop and will be going out to my distributors soon. If you prefer to order directly through me, you can send me an email: heartstringsamplery@hughes.net

Where I Come From

2011-12-06T09:03:00.001-08:00

Its Christmas Tree Country out here in the foothills of the Oregon Cascades. My commute to and from school each day is exactly 4.5 miles of backroads. Within that short span, I pass signs for 4 different places selling Christmas trees.

If I were to go another tenth of a mile further in any direction, I would come across a few more.

And that doesn't count the fields of not-big-enough, and so-overgrown-they-look-like-a-forest Christmas trees.

As I was driving the roads taking photos of these signs for you, I crossed paths with a giant flatbed loaded with Christmas trees doomed for a tree lot in town.

The point being that it is amazingly easy to acquire a tree for our holiday decorating. And super inexpensive too. If I was a Veteran, I could get my tree for free.

But several years ago there was a shortage of our favorite variety, the Noble Fir. So we bought a pallet of baby trees and planted them along our upper fence line.

It was February of 2005, and we had no idea that the spark of our Firstborn's life was to be lit in a few short months.

And we had no idea that when he was just 5 1/2 years old, we would decide to forego all trees grown and cultivated by others, ignore the neighbor across the street selling trees from his field, avert our eyes from the small-ness of our own trees, and go for it.

I like big Christmas trees. I dream of the day when I can have a tree so tall it brushes the rafters of a vaulted ceiling.

But our living room is really small, and every year the added pressure of a full-sized tree literally has us tripping over furniture.

This year, happily, we didn't have to re-arrange anything.

We dragged in a tool trunk from the shop, layered it with one of our burlap coffee bags, and PRESTO!

Teeny-tiny tree at least gives the impression of being taller. And we are satisfied.

To be continued...

Around Here

2011-12-05T09:09:00.001-08:00

T is for Turkey and Twist

2011-12-02T08:40:00.001-08:00

Imagine my delight, when, shortly after declaring my love for Turkeys, I received this amazing creation in the mail.

I proudly wore him on my clothes all Thanksgiving week long.

I'm pretty tempted to keep wearing him all through the Christmas season too. Turkeys are timeless, right?

In addition to her hand-crafted token, the talented Patti also included the Christmas issue of FOLK magazine (never heard of it? Its a brand-new publication.).

Want to know why? LOOK!

Happy dance in the middle of the Post Office!

Have You Ever... ???

2011-12-02T08:32:00.001-08:00

In all you live-long life, have you ever seen something like this?

I am completely baffled by this old pincushion.

She appears to be made of horsehair-stuffed silk. And I think she used to have a ruff of some kind around her neck.

Her head has a big hole in the top, presumably where her hair was once attached.

Otherwise, all I can say is, "What in the world!", shake my head and smile.

And speaking of old pincushions, do you like her pillow?

Its an oldie too, given to me by my Sis-in-Law for my birthday.

Methinks I might be a bonified pincushion collector pretty soon.

I Have No Words

2011-12-02T07:06:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon...

2011-12-01T08:27:00.001-08:00

Just as soon as I develop the cover and get a good photo, I will be ready to release a charted version of my logo that many of you have asked after.

Featuring a gorgeous surround by a new-to-me framer that I found on etsy.

Tuesday? Wednesday? Not sure yet... but soon!

Motivation

2011-11-30T08:25:00.001-08:00

Since shortly into the school year, my Littlest has been asking when SHE gets to start Kindergarten. I expected this question to a certain degree, but what I didn't expect was this:

As soon as she learned that Kindergarteners know how to write their own name, she was ON IT. Previously she was just mildly interested in letters at best, but she is now obsessed, and practices writing her name and forming the other letters almost daily.

Goal-oriented much?

Autumn Birds

2011-11-29T07:51:00.001-08:00

Outside my kitchen window they come, every Autumn.

Finished eating the bounty of Summer, they turn to my un-trimmed flower beds and ready store of human-provided seeds.

Junco and Towhee today. Who will it be tomorrow?

Wow

2011-11-28T09:10:00.001-08:00

You all knocked my socks off with your response to my Sis-in-Law's candles. She didn't anticipate the positive response, and completely sold out in the first day. She is absolutely thrilled, of course, and is working on filling requests, and hopes to have more listed soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

As a thank-you to ME for telling you about them, she brought a candle out to me, and I am loving it, up there on my mantle. If you have been on the fence, wondering if you should get one or not, stop wondering and get one! You won't regret it.

The other WOW, the one that still has me shaking my head, is what my Farmboy gave to me for my birthday.

I can't tell you just how long I have been wanting a laptop computer, but never felt that my want justified the expense. Well, he has once again delivered, giving me a gift that I am super excited about. I can listen to music in the kitchen! Design samplers under a shade tree in the Summer! Stop hogging the family computer for work so the kids can play on PBS Kids once in a while! Write my blog while sitting in a cozy chair by the woodstove! How many other silly, frivolous things can I think of? Lots. Happy me.

I'll be spending my day trying to get the color balance and lighting just right, loading my design software, simmering one very large turkey carcass down to broth, catching up on housework, and perhaps digging into the Christmas decorations. What will you do today?

Thur-tee-sev-un

2011-11-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

How did that happen?

37.

Still young, you say.

I know.

But oh, so close to forty and officially-probably-not-a-kid-anymore.

I don't feel a day over 28.

I hope I can still say the same in another decade.

I'm taking the day off from computer stuff, but don't forget that this is your last day to get in on my birthday sale!

I am Thankful for You

2011-11-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

May your day be full of reminders of the blessings you have received in life.

This wallpaper is just a small token of my appreciation for all of your support and friendship.

Left-click the image, then Right-click to save to your computer.

How Many Pecks of Peppers?

2011-11-23T08:38:00.001-08:00

Tall, Rugged, and Handsome has been tending his pepper plants all season long out in the greenhouse.

Despite the frost and snow, they continue to grow and thrive.

He came in the door on Sunday with a bucketfull and asked me how to go about canning them.

I chimed in here and there, but otherwise this brave Farmboy did it all himself.

He can now cross "Can a Peck of Pickled Peppers" off of his bucket list.

A Great Idea

2011-11-22T08:15:00.001-08:00

My Sis-in-Law Jen has been selling antiques on ebay for a very long time.

She has dabbled in hand-dids now and again,(you may recall the sampler that she designed and released under my business name) but has only just recently opened an etsy shop.

Where she just listed these fabulous battery-operated candles which she embellished with a print from an antique sampler that she owns.

And her price point is just about right, in my opinion. Perfect for holiday giving.

You know you want one! Click here to visit her shop.

Snow

2011-11-21T09:10:00.001-08:00

Our snow is under attack.

It is raining cats and dogs outside my window this morning.

All of my brightness is melting away.

It never really amounted to enough to DO anything with, other than make tracks.

The Littles did plenty of stomping, piling up, and eating the snow.
Wishing they could make an igloo or snowman, but it was first too wet, then too frozen.

I am sure that there will be more to come.

There had better be. We love snow.

I'm Having a Birthday Sale!

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm running a special sale, just for my blog readers!

Check out my groovy little graphic to read the details.(That's a 26% discount, in case you don't care to do the math). My shop is here.

And yes, the sale price will also apply to any item that you wish to purchase from my newly re-opened On Sale blog page. Which may or may not have something to do with the paper cuttings I have been working on.

Which may or may not look a little something like this:

First Snow!

2011-11-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

This is the world we awoke to this morning:

Hooray for the first snow of the season!

What I've Been Working On

2011-11-17T10:09:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned for a handful of Christmas-y Papercut offerings.

It has been quite awhile since I pulled my scherenschnitte tools out, and I am having fun!

Beaver Believer

2011-11-16T08:30:00.001-08:00

We got video! We got video!

The Mister walked down in the dark last night to retrieve the video card. He had placed the camera, pointed directly at the top of the downed tree, where he knew there would be activity. We had a great time watching through the 18 minutes or so of various clips last evening. I hope you enjoy the few I chose for you to watch.

Not exactly creatures of grace on land, eh?

But persistent as can be.

Take a Look, Its in a Book

2011-11-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Fallon as The Doors singing the "Reading Rainbow" theme song?

Thank you Colleen, for directing me to this little bit of brilliance.

Since I can't keep my eyelids open past 10:45pm, I rely on people like you to keep me clued in.

For the Record

2011-11-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

I much prefer this:

to this:

Just sayin'.

How the Tree Fell

2011-11-14T09:18:00.001-08:00

We tried to get some exciting video footage for you of the Beavers at work and/or of the tree falling.

With the camera zoomed in right on the tree, and with a wind storm coming, we were sure that we would get something worth showing.

And we did. Just not one of the somethings we were hoping for...

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

The sad part of the story is that the tree did indeed fall in that windstorm, and the camera didn't capture it. We noticed first thing yesterday morning that the view was slightly altered. The tree that the Beavers ate through wasn't the one we thought, but was tucked farther off to the side of our view.

A little hard to tell, I know, but perhaps that means we are wrong about my lovely favorite tree being nibbled on. Its pretty hard to get perspective of where you are standing from down below, with how thick the underbrush is in places. Time will tell.

The Boys went down yesterday afternoon with my camera to catch some snapshots of the downed tree. Apparently the Beavers have already started to nibble away at the top branches.

As they hiked in, the Boys first saw the top of the tree...

the middle of the tree...

and the base of the tree...

Did they plan for it to fall that way, getting high-centered on an old-growth log? Will all of that tree trunk simply go to waste, or do they have plans to harvest the bark and moss? I am so curious I can hardly stand it!

We have the trail cam pointed at a place where we think they will be working next. Keep your fingers crossed for some glimpses of our clever critters!

Picture of the Week

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Blogging About Beavers

2011-11-11T10:47:00.001-08:00

Not exactly the typical post topic found on the web these days, I know! And for readers of a blog about stitching, cooking, gardening and puppies, it is perhaps a bit on the boring side. But I am not going to make any apologies, because I am completely and utterly fascinated by our Beaver family and the amazing work that they continue to do in our creek bottom.

They have been working their way downstream, making it easier and easier for us to walk in and view their dams. The Mister has counted at least 6 separate dam locations, some smaller, some really big.

They are clever creatures, I tell you.

This is the most astonishing sight we found.

I wouldn't be able to touch fingers around this tree.

It is well over 7 feet in diameter, and stands tall enough that it can be seen from our house. Sadly, that other, taller, Cottonwood tree in the photo has some bites taken out of it too... and it is one of my favorites to watch throughout the year.

Most often, the trees the Beavers take down are rather small.

I imagine these trees will be taken eventually, either by the Beavers or by drowning.

It feels like a dream, sometimes, owning this land.

Tending our trails and roads. Finding evidence of people who walked here long before us. Old pump in the creek, a rusty wheelbarrow, fire rings in the soil, logging spikes in old-growth stumps, a stray arrowhead.

Realizing that our time here is a miniscule sliver. We are caretakers in a string of caretakers.

Watching Beavers build dams where perhaps other Beavers built dams that have long since washed away.

Its a dream I want to live in for a very, very long time.

NEW Humility Sampler

2011-11-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

My inspiration for this design was a wonky border on an old sampler, a basket of fruit on another, a sweet old saying, and the color blue.

This little design started one morning as a need to get that border out of my brain, and kept growing until it was finished being designed a mere few hours later. It was a fun and quick stitch, and may possibly be one of my very favorites to date.

Stitch Count: 179 x 90

Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 35ct. Straw linen

Using flosses from The Gentle Art:
0930 Deep sea, 1110 Sable, 7007 Cidermill Brown, 7077 Cucumber, 7080 Endive

Frame by Valley House Primitives (isn't that the best Picket design you ever saw?).

This chart is now available for purchase in my etsy shop or directly through me via email, and may soon be available in a needlework shop near you.

NEW A Bird of Courage Wool Applique Pattern

2011-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

There is just something about Turkeys that make them fascinating, don't you think?

Ben Franklin wrote, after seeing a new national emblem depicting a poorly-rendered Bald Eagle,

I am on this account, not displeas'd that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turk'y. For in Truth the Turk'y is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.... He is, (though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards, who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

I wanted to add a little more to the design, by way of a natural element, so I did some searching and found that the Oak Leaf represents Bravery. Having spent a good portion of my young years in Southern Oregon where wild Turkeys and Oak trees abound, I thought it a very fitting combination.

I hope you enjoy stitching this design as much as I did!

Included in this pattern booklet are full-size, ready to cut out template pieces, a line drawing to help you with piece placement, and some basic instructions.

For now, this pattern will only be available through my etsy shop, or by contacting me directly.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

2011-11-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

So long old friend... for the last 11 years you have taken us on road trips, errand trips, and Calamity Jane's take-out trips.

You brought both of our children home from the hospital, helped us deliver Christmas presents, and kept us dry on the long, rainy drive to more than one funeral.

You toughed your way out our snow-filled driveway, and even drove us down into our wild woods on a few occasions.

But with 192,000 miles, a cracked windshield, broken CD player, creepy gurgling noises from the dashboard, cracked console cover, and door handles that no longer work properly (not to mention balding tires), it is time to trade you in.

Your replacement won't be new, but will be new-er. Different color, but same make and model.

I can only hope that it will be as faithful as you have been.

Please don't be too sad about our parting. We weren't your first owners, and surely won't be your last. Take good care of your new family and perhaps they will wax poetical about you at your future parting.

And thats a Wrap

2011-11-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

The last little puppy went to his new home on Saturday. I was calling him Tiger for lack of a better name, but we learned that his name is actually Gus. We had been wondering why in the world he went un-claimed for nearly a week, but his new owner had no such questions. "Its because he was meant for me". We really love that part of this business of raising puppies. A person does get a little attached to the cuties, but seeing them interact with their new families, and to see the real joy in people's faces as they carry their new baby away from the kennel. That is good medicine for the heart, I tell you.

Here is our Lucie, being very curious about that puppy Gus. And he of her...

We are very hopeful that she will be our next Mama to have a litter. It has been 2 years since she had puppies, and there is quite a line-up of families that are waiting for some good news.

One Word

2011-11-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

Drip.

Playful.

Depth.

Long.

Mist.

Warm.

Fierce.

Suspenders.

Float.

Home.

Lets Talk Turkey

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

I think I want a pet turkey.

Just so I can look him in the eye and have a gobble-off every so often.

Turkeys are strange, clumsy, and somehow super-cool looking all at the same time.
Sort of like me. Or like Josh Krajcik on the XFactor, who has perhaps my new most-favorite-voice-of-all-time, but who looks like the burrito maker that he was in his former life.

But I digress.

I like turkeys. A lot. Possibly because I was born in November, and every several years celebrate my birthday on Thanksgiving.

I don't have a collection, unless the combined grouping of a cookie cutter, sampler, table runner, and mug count as a collection.

I decided last year that I need a Turkey to hang on my kitchen wall during the Thanksgiving season, and have been letting the idea simmer in my head ever since. But with the season now upon me, all of the lingering pieces have come together, and I am in the midst of stitching up a turkey out of wool pieces.

I absolutely adore wool applique work. In between projects I forget just how much I love it.

This fellow will be revealed in all his completed splendor very soon.

Three Left

2011-11-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Puppies have been going home in flocks these last few days. We had 17 left on Friday evening, and now we are down to 3.

It is so quiet around here, and mealtimes are much less complicated.

2 of these pups will go home later this week.

But this little guy's landlord told him he couldn't go live at his new home.

He is so sad. He needs a new family. He needs a name.

I keep calling him Tiger, because I think it suits him. If no one claims him in the next week, we will start training him and will sell him when he is a little older as a trained dog. So it isn't all gloom and doom for him. But, 7 weeks of age is really the prime time for Labradors to bond with a family, and it would be much easier for him AND his new family if he got moved in soon.

I know, I know... if you lived closer, you'd buy him in a heartbeat, right? So move closer already!

This Land

2011-11-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

It was thirteen years ago yesterday, the day I first stepped foot on this bit of soil.

It was dark outside, the house was sub-floor and sheetrock, surrounded by mud.

A tall, skinny boy held my hand as he proudly guided me through the construction debris and to the door.

I had only the teensiest glimmer of a thought that I might one day call this land home.

A momentous occasion, that night.
Strange to think that it passed without trumpets and fanfare.

Sir Topham Hatt and a Ladybug

2011-10-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

If you were to ask my kids what they were going to be for Halloween, they would most likely tell you, "we don't celebrate Halloween!" And they are mostly right. We don't participate in going door-to-door for candy. We live out in the woods where almost everyone has a long dark driveway and most likely a shotgun hanging over the door. I also don't happen to be a fan of the holiday, for various reasons, but that is another story for another day.

However, we did go to a Harvest Party on Saturday night, and there will be another party today at school, so costumes and candy have become a part of our season.

The Ladybug suit was super easy... I found it for $4.99 at Goodwill.

Sir Topham Hatt was a bit more of an adventure. I thought to myself, as I set out to find the ingredients, "Piece of cake! Go to Goodwill, pick up a yellow vest, grey pants, suit jacket, white shirt, and top hat... easy!"

Two hours and two Goodwill stores later, all I had was a black vest. No top hat. No grey pants or black suit jacket. Not even a measly button-up white shirt.

But on the drive home I hatched a plan.

The next day involved several hours of cutting, taping, glueing, machine, and hand-sewing.

The end result was pretty dashing, if you ask me. Look at that face... he was so proud of his costume, and didn't seem to mind that next to no one at the first Harvest Party knew who in the world Sir Topham Hatt is.

Hopefully some of his fellow Kindergarteners at the party today will also be fans of the Island of Sodor, and will give the recognition ~~his Mother~~ he is due.

Visit

2011-10-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

A flock of migrating birds visited us recently.

Chirping, swooping, constantly trading places on the bench, the fence, the tree.

It was like some kind of wild ballet, with no perceivable rhythm, yet lovely and melodic all the same.

Wary little things, I wasn't able to sneak up close enough to get their identity.

But the four of us were entertained for several long minutes as they bathed in the fishpond waterfall, snacked on seeds from the Mountain Ash tree, played in the tippy-tops of a few Douglas Fir trees, then... gone.

Checkers

2011-10-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Personally, I've never been drawn to the game.

But the last few days, this classic has trumped even Mario Kart Wii.

I'm pretty sure that all of the strategy is coming from the almost-6 year old, and I'm also pretty sure that he hasn't figured out yet that he could tell her all the wrong moves so that he wins every time.

She keeps trying to impart personalities into her pieces and plays them like characters tromping all over the board. In turn, of course.

Its all pretty adorable and silly.

Around Here

2011-10-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

This last one is a wallpaper from me to you... to grace your computer screen. Left click to enlarge, then Right click to save. For your personal use only, please.

First Frost

2011-10-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Brrrr... it is chilly out there this morning! The first frost of the year has come to visit, and transformed our landscape.

A certain little Girl, who usually adores tagging along with her Daddy while he does his morning chores, opted to stay in today, because, "I don't want to step on the fwosty gwass!"

That is, until I informed her that when little girls step on frosty grass, it goes Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! This was information that simply could not be ignored.

And with cozy fleece jammies already on, all that needed to be done was slip on a pair of boots...

A girl after her Mama's heart.

Anniversary Tree 2011

2011-10-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Previous Anniversary Tree posts can be seen here.

What's in a Name?

2011-10-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

After weeks of living nameless lives, it is such fun to have names for the furry bundles that are nearing their go-home day.

A few names are still undecided, some pups with names have yet to meet their owners, and two very sweet little black females are still waiting to be claimed. But these we know for sure...

Charlie...

Grady...

Luna & Robbie...

Raleigh...

Addy...

Tyee & Penny...

Juno...

I love catching a puppy in the midst of a misdemeanor, and being able to reach down, take one look at their tag, and translate their ID number into a name and owner. It makes the lectures about good behavior so much more effective when a person can use their full name.

Delightful

2011-10-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Picture(s) of the Week

2011-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

At Week's End

2011-10-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Play-Doh Poker...

the Butterfly-Hands Boy...

and the Coffee Lover...

wish you a Happy Friday.

Smouldering Green Tomato Chutney

2011-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who makes a mean Tomato Chutney.

If you have an abundance of Red Tomatoes, then A.) consider yourself Blessed, and B.) ignore my recipe and instead, go make Colleen's version.

I didn't make massive changes, unless you consider using unripe green blobs instead of gorgeous Scarlett-hued beauties to be a massive change.

But amazingly, if simmered long enough, and with the proper seasonings, green tomatoes can be transformed into pure perfection.

I dubbed the recipe Smouldering Green Tomato Chutney because it isn't just spicy, it is full of a warm heat. The kind of warm heat that makes your whole belly cozy, and lingers in a "Mmmmm, I just ate something so good I don't want to brush my teeth" kind of way.

But don't take my word for it.

Smouldering Green Tomato Chutney

8 pounds green (unripe) tomatoes
2 pounds dried apricots
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups "other" vinegar (the first batch I used Malt, the second I used Balsamic- both were good)
4 cups sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
2 heaping tablespoons cayenne pepper
12 cloves garlic
4 to 6 inches of ginger root, depending on how thick it is and how much you like ginger

Remove stems and any blemishes from clean tomatoes. Cut into quarters. Using a food processor, pulse the green tomatoes in batches until they are reduced to pieces more or less the size of peas or sunflower seeds. Dump into a deep stockpot with a thick, insulated bottom (or else it will want to burn).

Peel the ginger, then cut into 1/8 inch cubes. Put it into the processor.
Peel the garlic, then toss whole cloves into the processor with the ginger.
Toss the apricots into your food processor with the garlic and ginger and pulse until roughly the same size dice as the tomatoes. Toss into your pot.

Add sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, and vinegars. Stir together, over medium heat. Bring to a low simmer, uncovered, and cook for 3-6 hours, stirring often, until it is very thick and about half its original volume.

Put into warm, sterilized jars, seal, and finish in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Eat it on fried egg sandwiches, on crackers with cream cheese, warmed and poured over grilled pork chops, or as a garnish for tomato soup. I have so many jars in my pantry that I will most likely give a few away as Christmas gifts. Shhhh...

NEW Church Doll Sampler Roll

2011-10-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing about and seeing sweet primitive versions of Church Dolls for several years now. Called Church Dolls because of their soft and simple design, perfect for quietly entertaining little ones during long church services, they are often made of cleverly folded handkerchiefs.

Many are made to look grungy and old, some are cute and fluffy. None have been particularly perfect to make as a toy for my Little Miss. So I set to work nearly two years ago, fashioning a doll and accompanying sampler roll that would be appealing to her bubbly nature, as well as my own design style.

I hope that you find my efforts equally appealing.

Although it may seem a bit intimidating for any but accomplished finishers, I assure you that with time and a little patience, anyone that has learned to use a needle… and I do mean anyone can successfully complete this project.

It didn’t take much arm twisting for me to convince Beccijo of The Enchanted Cupboard to create a tea-set-for-one in a proper size for my little doll. Styled after the Yellowware that we all love, the set is solid wood, and hand-painted. You can browse her shop here. Don’t be afraid to put in a special request for the Heartstring Samplery Tea Set for One. My Little Miss absolutely adores playing with it, and I know that your chosen recipient will too.

I thought that it would be really fun to have an alternate version of this design stitched up like a faded old sampler. Many thanks to the gifted fingers and needle of Christie Mock, my wishes were granted. Look again at the photo at the top of this post to see the "faded" sampler behind the Doll.

Stitch Count: 123 x 210

“Faded” Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 40ct. Confederate Gray linen

Using the following flosses:

The Gentle Arts 7000 Harvest Basket,7049 Lambswool

Weeks Dye Works 1108 Honeysuckle, 1171 Dove, 1193 Guacamole

Sampler Roll Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 35ct. Cappuccino linen.

Using the following flosses:

Weeks Dye Works 1121 Straw, 1230 Havana, 1330 Baked Apple,

2201 Moss, 3960 Teal Frost

Recommended Additional Materials:

Assorted printed Cotton Fabrics for Lining, Pockets, and Flaps of Sampler Roll

4 feet of 1 1/2 inch Bias Trim

Felted Wool piece for a Pocket Flap

a Button

1 yard of good quality Satin Ribbon

Plain Muslin Fabric for Doll Body, Arms & Legs

Printed Cotton and desired Trims for Doll Dress

Acrylic Paints in chosen colors for Doll Hair, Boots, Face

4 lengths of Pipe Cleaner, at least 6 inches long

I made up way too much of the bias trim, so if you plan to use similar colors and want to save yourself the time, I'll make little packets of trim available in my shop, and I'll also throw in a piece of that vintage lace for embellishing the bottom pocket.

As usual, you can find the listing for this, my newest release, in my etsy shop. You can also contact me directly via email if you prefer to bypass PayPal.

Shhhhhh...

2011-10-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Would someone please come take these squirrely kids away?
I'd like to sit right here for a few more hours at least, ignoring responsibility.

Puppy Mug Shots

2011-10-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to release a new pattern today, but with all the crazy-buzy-ness going on around here these days, I have given myself an extension. To help you hold out until next week, I'll be leaving you with some Four Week Old Puppy litter Mug Shot sheets.

Trust me. Their little faces might look innocent enough, but the shenanigans they pull on each other are completely out of line and inappropriate.

Full-on body tackles? Check.
Sneak tail attacks? Check.
Pooping in the food dish? Check.
Stealing milk from one another? Check.
Raucous brawling? Check.
Contaminating the water dish with sawdust? Check.
Menacing growls and rrrrr-ruffs? Check.

I think its about time someone decide to enforce the rules around here. Where are those Puppy Owners when I need them most?

Perhaps the bad behaviour is in part because they are being weaned. Solid food does have a way of making a creature feel strong and full of itself.

Around my House

2011-10-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

A bit of Whimsy.

A little Homespun.

Elements of Nature.

A dash of Fun.

Homegrown.

Rustic Farmhouse.

Woodsy.

Folky.

Tattered.

Tarnished.

A bit of Anthropologie meets Antique Mall meets Eddie Bauer Home meets Circa Home Living meets Goodwill.

Not enough rhyme or reason to feature in a magazine, but our home suits us to a T. It was stark and bare when we married 12 years ago, with barely enough furniture to make it look lived in. We have added to our rooms as we have been able, finding cupboards and chairs while out thrifting and bargain hunting. Our home now looks very lived in and loved, each item telling a story. I doubt I will ever make a concerted effort to bring all the bits and pieces together into a cohesive magazine style. Erasing history has never set well with my heart.

Wild Currant

2011-10-12T08:03:00.001-07:00

Just a bit of Oregon Autumn to grace your computer screen.

Left click to open in a larger format, then right click to save to your computer. As always, this is for your personal use only please!

What do you do?

2011-10-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

When its October and the rains have set in, and you get this many green tomatoes off of 4 bushes, knowing that you easily have 40 more bushes to harvest?

Well, you roll up your sleeves and start chopping.

Throw a huge pile into your stockpot with onions, minced peppers (which fared far better because they lived out their lives in the greenhouse), and spices.

Simmer for a few hours until you have a canner full of Green Tomato Salsa.

You will, of course, still have this many tomatoes left (not to mention the previously mentioned horde of bushes left to be harvested)...

So you will find a page like this, and set to work devising a plan to cook up as many variations as possible.

The Other 9

2011-10-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Those little black puppies are incredibly hard to photograph! I had to re-take every single one of their photos by daylight after attempting to do their photo shoot by shop-light. They looked like chocolate brown blobs of blurry fur. I still wasn't thrilled with the outcome, but by george, I wasn't about to go through that ordeal again. Anyone who thinks children are difficult to photograph, come on over and be my assistant one of these days!

S-2-1: Female: 3.1 pounds

S-2-2: Male: 3.3 pounds

S-2-3: Female: 3.8 pounds

S-2-4: Male: 4.2 pounds

S-2-5: Female: 3.6 pounds

S-2-6: Male: 3.5 pounds

S-2-7: Female: 4.1 pounds

S-2-8: Female: 3.1 pounds

S-2-9: Male: 3.9 pounds

Confession #1

2011-10-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am a total Muppet Show nerd. Growing up in the 70's, it was a staple of our Sunday evenings.

A year ago or so, we bought Season One on DVD, and have regular fun sharing laughs with the kids (three cheers for introducing a new generation to an old classic!) Those episodes still get me giggling, sometimes uncontrollably.

Yep. Nerd.

Want to re-experience (or discover for the first time) some of my favorites? Here you go...

Matching Threads

2011-10-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

I purchased this old sampler quite a long time ago, along with two others. I have been planning to chart it all along, but for whatever reason have been putting it off. Well, my friend Merrie has once again volunteered her services to stitch for me, so off I go, to my thread stash.

I am really loving the color combination, and as I discovered with the other three antiques I have charted, it is delightful to examine an old sampler on such an intimate level. Seeing the tiny mistakes on a sampler that looks rather symmetrical and perfect from a distance is a reminder of the authenticity of this girl's life.

Gaining an Identity

2011-10-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

We tagged and weighed Jazzi's litter of white puppies last night so that the families on their list can start forming an idea of which one to choose (how on earth can a person choose between so many sweet faces?).

At 3 weeks and 1 day old, they are...

J-1-1: Female: 2.6 pounds

J-1-2: Male: 2.8 pounds

J-1-3: Female: 3.1 pounds

J-1-4: Female: 3.7 pounds

J-1-5: Female: 3.4 pounds

J-1-6: Male: 3.6 pounds

J-1-7: Male: 3.6 pounds

J-1-8: Female: 3.5 pounds

J-1-9: Male: 4.1 pounds

So tell me, which would you pick?

Feeling Saucy?

2011-10-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Come on over and join the fun!

I scavenged fruit from my Mother-in-law's Applesauce Tree a few days ago, and these babies are going in the pot today.

My goal: 12 quarts apple butter, 24 quarts applesauce.
Only time will tell if two landscaping tubs full of fruit will be enough.

Blackeyed Susan

2011-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Blackeyed Susan, bright flower

in the sun, yellow petals

of late summer and your dark

heart of winter to come, you

bow ever so gracefully

over the edge of the trim,

newly cut grass, and let go,

in the breeze, your wild seed so

that, next year, there will be more

of you, and yet when you first

blossom we come to know the

dusk, how it settles in a

bit sooner each day, and how

you glow in the light you seem

to have stolen from the moon.

by Burt Kimmelman

Picture of the Week

2011-10-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

Rrrrrrrr-uff!

2011-09-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Jazzi's all-White litter of pups are now wobbling around on four legs.

Sometimes one of them will let out such a fierce Rrrrrrrr-uff! that they knock themselves right over.

Their eyes have been open for several days now.

They are starting to play and try to pounce.

And are already exhibiting some shockingly grown-up-dog behaviours, such as the one I unknowingly captured in this group shot.

Sierra's Oreo litter is just a few days behind, and still does more sleeping than playing.

But their eyes are beginning to open.

Which means the walking and Rrrrrrrr-uff! ing is just around the corner.

We will be having the first of our Puppy Visitation Days this weekend. I already know that there are some pretty excited people out there, anxiously awaiting their chance to get a first peek at their future family member.

A Day in the Life

2011-09-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Some days turn into a vortex of activities.

My life is normally pretty sane, but yesterday? Not so much.

It started with a run to the vet to drop of two of our dogs for checkups.

Did I mention that we dropped them of at 7:30?
And that I don't usually roll out of bed until 7:15?
85 pounds of sheer energy-on-a-leash. Times 2.

At least I was only responsible for the one that wanted to mark every bush, rock, twig, and piece of furniture in sight.

The Mister got the one that wanted to jump vertically 5 feet off the ground to see who was behind the counter, to assess whether to add them the long list of people that she can paw at and beg to get love and cuddles from.

It was early, but I love early mornings, especially in the Autumn.

Thats the mouth of our driveway there on the left.
This was our return trip home to scarf down a bowl of cereal.

Because we had to leave again to get the Kindergartner to school for his Jog-a-Thon at 8:50.

Did I mention that he doesn't usually go to school until 12:50?

At 8:30, the neighbor's cows are still grazing in mist.

The entire school was out in force for the Jog-a-Thon. There were kids everywhere.
I could never be an elementary school teacher. I have so much admiration for those who can.

Despite the occasional slow lap with Little Sister tagging along, He ran TWENTY-TWO eighth-mile laps. That's over 2 miles.

I got to hang out at the Kindergarten corner with two Moms that I like very much. The three of us cross paths nearly every day at drop-off and pick-up time.

We marked lap cards, and occasionally got a chance to speak.

My favorite comment of the day came from a passing First Grader, who, in between gasps for air, looked right at us and said, "I shoulda brought my Nikes".

Back at home, I took care of my mid-day Kennel duties, then baked zucchini bread.

My bushes are feeling very generous this year.

I also made a family-sized batch of meatballs to round out a spaghetti dinner for friends who just had baby number 5.

This is exactly the time I forgot that I wanted to document the day with photographs.

I finished a pincushion while the meatballs baked

I then loaded the kids up, dropped off the meal, picked up mail at the Post Office, and got to the Dentist's office in time for our 4:00 appointment.

I actually got to sit still and crochet for 30 minutes while the Kindergartner got his teeth cleaned, and Little Sister played with a basket of toys.

Then it was off to fill up the gas tank, pick up a pizza for dinner (woo hoo!), pick up two loopy dogs from the vet, and finally go home for good.

Today? Today I will remain as still as possible. Just as soon as I get some laundry going, clean the kitchen, give the kids their baths, make a couple of school runs, pick green beans and raspberries and vacuum my dirty floors.

Its Boot Season!

2011-09-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

I wish these were in my size...

(click any of the pictures to be taken directly to its home page)

Or these...

But its pretty rare for me to find vintage boots in my size that I like. I did find a good deal last year, but they aren't very warm, and I'll be walking back and forth to my Kiddo's classroom a couple times a day, so I need not only warm, but also waterproof. It is Oregon, after all.

So I'm looking at these...

And these...

And even these...

But I'll probably be practical and go with these, since I also need Kennel boots...

Sometimes it really hurts, this being practical.

My Heartstring

The Runt

*NEW* Friendship Pin Pillow and Needle Book

I Need More Hellos.

Thank You

Rescued

Well Hello There...

Meanwhile

Finally Four

Macaroni Sunset

Holiday Hand-dids

What She Doesn't Know

Frog Forest

If You Haven't Got a Penny

Weird-Bird

Curious

What Happens Next

New Year's Eve

A Free Chart for the New Year

Cleaning Up

*New* Let It Snow

Christmas Redux

Paella for Christmas

Oh Glorious Day!

We Woof You a Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Countdown

Winners!

Thousandieth Post Giveaway

Thousandieth

The Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday

My Parents

Ode to Trees

Artist's Hair

Taking Pictures

Lately

Random, the Christmas Edition

Trimming the Trees

*NEW* My Shadow

Where I Come From

Around Here

T is for Turkey and Twist

Have You Ever... ???

I Have No Words

Coming Soon...

Motivation

Autumn Birds

Wow

Thur-tee-sev-un

I am Thankful for You

How Many Pecks of Peppers?

A Great Idea

Snow

I'm Having a Birthday Sale!

First Snow!

What I've Been Working On

Beaver Believer

Take a Look, Its in a Book

For the Record

How the Tree Fell

Picture of the Week

Blogging About Beavers

*NEW* Humility Sampler

*NEW* A Bird of Courage Wool Applique Pattern

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

And thats a Wrap

One Word

Lets Talk Turkey

Three Left

This Land

Sir Topham Hatt and a Ladybug

Visit

Checkers

Around Here

First Frost

Anniversary Tree 2011

What's in a Name?

Delightful

Picture(s) of the Week

NEW Friendship Pin Pillow and Needle Book

New Let It Snow

NEW My Shadow

NEW Humility Sampler

NEW A Bird of Courage Wool Applique Pattern

NEW Church Doll Sampler Roll