norwood walkabouts

School Boy

2012-02-01T11:34:00.001+11:00

Time goes by and by.
Oh my, I just sent my schoolboy off for his first day of SECOND grade.
We homeschooled last year....and decided that it would be lovely for our oldest boy
to have some friendship interactions with other children his age.
Such decisions we make as parents, a bit heartaching seeing him go away,
out of my sights and protection and control. I do hope he has a fantastic day.
I do hope its the right thing to do.
I do hope i can get some more knitting done today, ( it does take my mind off things so nicely)
{especially when its lace and cables, oh my. isn't it growing!!}
Nesta hopes we catch more tree frogs.
They have spawned around a thousand and four tadpoles in our swimming pool.
Yesterday was nice, sitting out in a spawney pool with my two boys, catching tadpoles.
It was just what I wanted to do....now I feel a bit restless with one gone.
I am not sure what I want to do.
I suppose I should make it fun for the 'littlest' one - who was a bit sad and confused
seeing his big brother go off for the day.
Sorry for the dribbling !!
I think i'll go shed some tears in my coffee.....
joining the yarn along with ginny.

Birds of the Kimberley

2012-01-29T22:14:00.000+11:00

" They shall see teal, blue winged, green winged, shelldrakes,
whistlers, black ducks, ospreys, and many other wild and noble sights before night,
such as they who sit in parlors never dream of . "

- Thoreau

I took my morning coffee sitting outside yesterday morning :: just watching it rain gentle and steady.
I sat out there for two hours and watched this frog mouthed owl up there on that tree branch. They usually always sit in pairs, but this time just the one.
The only time it moved was once an hour into things - a shake of the head to rid the raindrops i imagine.
I do often wonder what it would be like to escape the world, and sit and watch and wonder and write.
Did I ever tell you that I once visited Walden Pond ?
A big Thoreau fan, it was quite a moment in my life.
Here you can see and read about other birds of the Kimberley, seen where I live.

Yarn Along

2012-01-25T23:33:00.000+11:00

Hello lovelies !!
It's yarn along time again.... and I have a finished project to flaunt.
It's my chick a dee scarf - and I do love it. It's my first ( finished ) lace project.
I am also working this week on a new project - a white cable and lace cowl.
I hope to be sharing more of this test knit soon.
No reading this week - Hubby has been away in Tasmania.
Thank goodness he is home. xxx

Making Men

2012-01-20T23:51:00.002+11:00

1784 by Benjamin Franklin in Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America :

....at the Treaty of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, anno 1744, between the Government of Virginia and the Six Nations...the Commissoners from Virginia acquainted the Indians by a Speech, that there was at Williamsburg a College, with a Fund for Educating Indian youth; and that, if the Six Nations would send down half a dozen of their young Lads to that College, the Government would take care that they should be well provided for, and instructed in all the Learning of the White People. It is one of the Indian Rules of Politeness not to answer a public Proposition the same day that it is made ... they show it Respect by taking time to consider it ... They therefore deferr'd their Answer till the Day following; when their Speaker began by expressing their deep Sense of the kindness of the Virginia Government, in making them that Offer; 'For we know,' says he, 'that you highly esteem the kind of Learning taught in those Colleges, and that the Maintenance of our young Men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinc'd, therefore, that you mean to do us Good by your Proposal; and we thank you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know that different Nations have different Conceptions of things, and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our Ideas of this kind of Education happen not to be the same with yours. We have had some Experience of it ; Several of our young People were formerly brought up at the Colleges of the Northern Provinces; they were instructed in all your Sciences; but, when they came back to us, they were bad Runners, ignorant of every means of living in the Woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, knew neither how to build a Cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors, nor Counsellors; they were totally good for nothing. We are however not the less oblig'd by your kind Offer, tho' we decline accepting it; and to show our grateful Sense of it, if the Gentlemen of Virginia will send us a Dozen of their Sons, we will take great Care of their Education, instruct them in all we know, and make Men of them.'

sharing poetry at Linda's space today. x

                                                   Celtic Memory Yarns - dyed by my pal Jo.
                                                  Who can resist such yarns? I couldn't...
                                                   psst.. go away nosey stash Leprechan !

Knitting a Fool

2012-01-19T16:06:00.000+11:00

My new years resolution?

To knit like a fool.

I finished my study shawl !!!!
It is so lovely i've been wearing it round the house.
Veera has some lovely striking designs, doesn't she.
ps. Test knitting coming up soon :))
Also, do you see how my sunny day scarf is growing !?
I am so encouraged by that lace ball slowly getting smaller, smaller, smaller.
Truth be known, the only reason I am working on this one is because I am
waiting for more exciting things to arrive in the mail !
Test knitting times two :: COWLS.
With that beautiful blue MadTosh Vintage you see there..
Joining up today with Ginny's yarn along - (my word there are alot of link to get thru nowdays)
xo

New Camera

2012-01-16T13:50:00.000+11:00

Yarn Along

2012-01-11T23:29:00.000+11:00

Helloooo!
I've got some knitting to share with yoU!
I'm making HATS , AND HATS, AND HATS !

I am wearing that 70s hat , and Jack is sporting my rose red. I am casting on soon for another rose red. That's 4 hats in two weeks !@!

For this weeks yarn along ... I will show you my lace knitting progress. I warn you, it doesn't seem to look much different that my last blog post here = which was in OCTOBER !!!!

Doesn't this look gorgeous , fluffy , and adorable. Can you believe I frogged then unfrogged it.

I'm sorry little item of fluffiness - but you are slow going. Anyway, i'm persisting on. I will love wearing you little chick a dee scarf . ( thank you all for your tips on this last year, i did manage to untwist my twist )

As for our reading :: John and I both have read this book - it's beautiful.

Swimming with Crocodiles by Will Chaffey

If you are interested about Australia or the Kimberley ; this is the book to read.

This book is all about where we live right now. Derby even gets a mention.

Happy knitting and reading to you all, Blessings. x

Lace

2011-10-19T17:12:00.000+11:00

Hello lovely creatures... How are you all?

please come and visit me here soon, won't you.

xoxoxoxoxox

knitting

2011-09-19T00:14:00.000+10:00

my sweater is almost finished.... you can read more here. :)

older and wiser

2011-08-18T16:40:00.000+10:00

35 trips around the sun today for me !!!
Yah! (Read more here). xxxxxxxxx

hellooooo

2011-07-25T18:59:00.000+10:00

as you may now notice, i have moved happily over to WORDPRESS. (here)
this is the first time, in a handfull of trying, ive been able to sign in to blogger.
then when i do, they ask for my phone number. weird!
i switched over for many reasons, mostly because blogger was unreliable and just
not working since we moved to remote Western Australia.

anyhow, i am updating now with a post just so i can keep this account active ,
for archive purposes. hope you are all well and in a warm sunny spot in this world!
xoxo

Giveaway

2011-06-13T14:06:00.000+10:00

GIVEAWAY ....... HERE~!

dottie angel revisited

2011-06-09T19:55:00.000+10:00

hi guys, i know i'm vixed and vexed.
i just cant get rid of my little blogger blog.
so i'll keep them both.
i wont post as often here, so if you do
enjoy my ramblings, i'm at the other blog.
(link over ----->there.)

anyways...you will all remember my dottie angel
debbie bliss cashmere crazy blanket beginnings
last year, right? well, it just looked terrible.
i mean, i had just learned to crochet so i
could do the dottie angel blanket. pulling it out
of the closet a few weeks ago, i unraveled most of it.
ah, the joys.
but ! look at it NOW.

I do love it. Soft, cuddly, comforting. Two years into.....gosh blankets are certainly an undertaking.

2011-06-02T10:05:00.000+10:00

back in time..

sometimes your feet need not move
it is your mind that needs
to go walkabout
let it

beach camping at kooljaman

2011-05-05T12:59:00.000+10:00

                               Beach Camping at Kooljaman, Cape Leveque. A rather spectacular place
                               on this planet to visit. Plenty of beach relaxing, swimming, crab catching,
                               frisbie playing, eagle spotting, trochus shell gathering, lighthouse admiring,
                               star gazing, campfire cooking, marshmallow toasting, rocky road riding fun.

                               Visited the Ardyaloon Aquaculture center at One Arm Point . The trochus shells
                                easy to find on our beaches can be polished to become something amazing!
                               The children (and their parents!) really enjoyed their 'touching pool'. So many
                                amazing creatures live in the depths of the mighty sea. The beach at One Arm
                                Point
                                are still, and crystal clear. We really loved it up here.

                                So after camping out at the beach for a week, in a tent, covered in sand from morning
                                till night, cooking on a campfire, sleeping under the stars - and what do i have to say?
                                Well.........i miss it. I think the comforts of home are glorious, but what can compare
                                 with living, literally, under the stars, with the only flooring you know the natural
                                  sandy
                                 earth. Your clock becomes the sunrise and sunset, which are nothing less than a
                                 religious moment to beckon your being to relax, reflect, respect.

                                 I am ready to go camping again, YES !
                                 (DID you see the eagle in the first picture? up on the roof of the beach hut)

crochet flower square

2011-04-19T13:19:00.001+10:00

aahh..i do love it when something "clicks". for the longest i have tried to read {and follow} a crochet pattern. i realize now more of the logistics behind the craft. basically, crochet is a series of loops and pulls. going from a single crochet, to a double to a triple adds height to the stitch. also, the amount of times you do a stitch in a single hole gives you ruffles or frills or holes. {{yawn yawn says the old hookers...but these are things that i just did not understand till now..}} so, when a pattern says 3sc - it means to do a single chain three times into that one hole. eureka indeed!
this pattern was passed on by the lovely tamara {dont you just love it when bloggers share crafty links!?}
the free pattern is at the every so talented rosehip blog.
three cheers for crochet !
hip hip hooray!!!

Quilting

2011-04-03T13:07:00.000+10:00

Weekend Sewing!

My princess + frog + unicorn quilt is finally underway.

I am thrilled to pieces {ha ha get it?} ..this is so much fun. I am using a simple block pattern

with 12 inch squares (by Heather Ross) bordered with a nice brown cotton

(by Amy Butler)...this pattern is found Material Obsession.

Quilting is such a holy word.

It is such peaceful mindful meditation.

As I pin and piece and sew , my mind is clear

and reflective. I think of my quilting ladies.

They seem to be all around me.

Two (of many) beautiful quilts that my 'Thimble Game' Grandmother has made.

When I tell her I am making a quilt her eyes get such a twinkle.

She is a restful sweet lady in her 8th decade of life now, and

has made so many beautiful treasures that she has shared with us all!

My paternal grandmother was an excellent craftster as well. She dabbled in so many different things...embroidery, doillies, crochet and knitting, running her own business, and of course quilting.

As I was working on my quilt yesterday, my thoughts also went to her. She passed down to me a homemade quilt to which she named her " million dollar quilt ".

{That's it above}

It's really a one inch cathedral window quilt..but she said that's what she'd take to make another.

Funny.

Are there quilts in your life?

the thimble

2011-03-30T13:09:00.000+11:00

                                                  sit down, will you?
                                                allow me to tell you a story.

Growing up, in the southern state of Georgia, i was naturally surrounded by sewers, knitters, crocheters, and quilters.
{Not to mention accordian players, arrowhead makers, and snuff spitters...but that's another story.}

Living in the country provided us with lots of 'natural' playtime. For example, my cousins , sister and i made many a mud pie under the oak tree. We played with baby chickens and made them diapers with kleenex tissues. {poor birds you say? they loved it}
We had a pet donkey which we rode and fed hay.
We had goats, ducks, a pet turtle, {which i still say my mother murdered with cold running water under the sink one morning} ..... you get the picture.
Lots to do out in the great big world.
But when it was raining and we all had to shuffle inside.....my ingenious grandmother
created a game which was called
                                                  THE THIMBLE GAME.
Now there wasn't anything terrible hard or terribly interesting about this game.
But we loved it.
Grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren all alike.
Basically the little thimble was placed somewhere in the room and from where you were sitting you had to look round till you found it. It might be on the organ. On the bookshelf. Coffeetable. Poppy's knee. You understand.

So growing up this little metal thingy called the thimble was given utmost respect.

Now i bring you up to present time, whenst i began sewing myself.
i have tried to use the thimble.
but it seems so awkward a thing.
i can't feel what i'm doing.
you know?

                  My newest inspiration is to get back into my primitive craft frame of mind.
                  I have wanted to make a traditional rag rug { or ten } for ages.
                  Having recently landed myself on a slew pine of bias tapes at a knee-slapping
                  thrifty price, i knew i was soon on a role with this project.

                  The traditional way, as a few crafting books say, to make a rag rug
                  is to braid three strands together, then roll them round flat and sew
                  together. Problem is...the sewing was tough.
                  An argument occured between me and this needle.

                  Basically he said he was not going in.
              And i said oh yes you are buddy.
              The very next minute i was taken back to the very
              beginning of this post in a not-so-rainbowy-feeling-way.
              The needle eye has pierced right thru my index finger.
                                             OW.
               silly girl, grandma would say.
               why weren't you wearing a thimble?

        So i have heard of a 'leather thimble' and i think i might like one of those.
          as i could feel what i'm a doing. do you use a thimble? do you make rag rugs?
          perhaps i will crochet one instead i thought. what are you making now?
                                               is it painful?

a glad day

2010-09-30T08:14:00.001+10:00

              with our upcoming reunion in mind,,,,i opened up my lovely birthday present [thank you mama]
               HANDMADE HOME by Amanda Soule is the best book. Her blog is here .
               Using a thrifted wool blanket for the blocks, scrap fabrics for the lettering, and bias for the
                joining, this banner was created in no time. Seriously, this is the funnest craft i've done in
                a very long time. Every project in this book is made with reusables and is just as fun to do.
                   (beautiful mantle piece artwork done by the talented Katherine of Sleep & her Sisters.)

                                     i think it adds such a homey feel to our living space.
                                     in short, i just love it. i will be first in line for her next
                                     crafting book ! [when!??!?]

                              so ive been given some good and bad. the good is : it is nice and hot and sunny
                              and warm and friendly where we are going. the move date is possibly flexible.
                              we can buy a queensize bed [a little one is sandwiched between us currently].
                              i don't mind honestly, ive had him next to my side since the day he was born.
                              he is my dear cuddly little one..and his birth seems just like yesterday in my mind.
                                (who sees the kink?)

                                                 (banner relocated by smoky the bear)
                                   the bad is ... my beloved JAN does not appear to be coming with.
                                   packed away in storage for two months. saved for the movers.
                                   can this be happening? the separation seems bleak...would a
                                   non sighted be told no dogs allowed? a no pacemaker sign
                                   for the faint of heart? and yet this...a passionate maker deprived of
                                   the peace. i suppose i could just crochet [i did get a snazzy new crochet
                                   book from the kimberely bookshop from my hunny].
                                   i just dont know..what to do? its certainly too heavy for a carryalong.
                                   i just had a thought. perhaps perhaps i could get a smaller . lighter .
                                   portable . one of those ministhatstillwork ones . like heather ross' ?
                                         {{**welcome home john! so glad you're back !**}}

being southern [and PROUD]

2010-09-20T13:48:00.001+10:00

" It's really pretty simple. Years ago, somewhere down here, some corn farmer lost all his teeth and with them the ability to eat corn. So he just dried the corn, ground it into bits, boiled it into a soft, gummable mash, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, stirred in two tablespoons of butter, and called that 'grits'. Now, truth is, there's nothing wrong with grits. They won't hurt you. And if you don't like them, that's fine with most
Southerners. Just means more for us. "
- Wrapped in Rain ~ by Charles Martin.

            brought to you by this southern gal, who currently lives in a land far far away from her precious
            grits and who's picture is being (BADLY) taken by a little southern boy who declares
            that while all this is taking place, his icecream is melting.

my wintery cuddly make-it-all-better blankie

2010-08-31T13:24:00.003+10:00

                    ah. dont you love winter weather. it rains, it pours. i crochet.
                    not only do i crochet, but i put off anything besides.
                            { i have been quite firm with those dishes.}
                    i had the nicest little visitor yesterday,,,,and she and i both
                         decided that the three chain link joining method was the one.

                          so with no hesitation...this morning i set out to do just so.
                         if all goes well, i'll be snuggling under a finished blanket..soon.
                           look..someone loves it already..make that two.
                                             [ps. thank you mandy]

my creative space - yarns

2010-08-26T16:19:00.000+10:00

      :: my creative space abounds this week with soft deliciousness in an array of colours.
         cashmere and silk to get me thru the wintery blues. my gosh its freezing cold this week.
         but guess what....today it did not rain. aha.
     :: my kiwi cake turned out completly delicious. more on that later..
                                           [kooTOyo]

a very happy day..

2010-08-20T15:18:00.000+10:00

:: drinking the rooibos tea. it is snowing all around us in Tasmania!
a very wintery scene here this week.

:: remember i said i won a bundle of wool felt on the SEW MAMA SEW giveaway
' christmas in july '?
well...turns out they felt like sending me the book as well!
hooray for giveaways. thank you Amanda..this is the most generous gift ever.

   :: the book is such a creative delicious mix of christmas crafts .
     just look at this colorful bundle of soft silky wool felt. so so in abundance.
     i feel truly blessed.

:: jack and i looked thru each page of the book with such fondness.
   i then asked what he wanted to make.
   he picked the little woodland mushroom man!
                                  {thank you guys so much for the birthday shout outs.}
                                                           giveaway here tomorrow !!

late night

2010-08-01T01:15:00.000+10:00

its amazing how tired you can be, and yet when the notion to quilt strikes you all day and your children have entirely different plans for you so that not an ounce of that quilting itch gets scratched...you can stay up into the wee hours of the morning with the vim and vigor of a 20year old doing your quilting { i'll pay for this tomorrow }

trouble and his accomplice will be bouncing out of bed in , oh about 5 hours and some change...ready to tackle the world. will i ? { i do believe in positive thought steering so yes. i will }

                                           half of the 'web' block is finished and it is F.U.N.
                                                 I really want to stay up and
                     do more but not being 20 any more
                                                                       alas i must go to bed.

i'm totally fueled up on these and they are delicious...
~ off to dream of spiders webs ~

making a waldorf doll - the eyes & hair

2010-07-23T20:42:00.000+10:00

eyeseyeseyeseyeseyeseyeseyes

you will need:

embroidery thread in your chosen colour

long doll making needle

jerry garcia {playing}

following the instructions in your guide, or here , embroider the dolls eyes in the

places you have marked with pins.

it can be a bit tricky marking those spots.

you will put them in, take them out, say to yourself are they too close? too far apart?

in the end, you will get it just right.

{if you don't, take them out and do it again.}

practicing your intended stitching first on a scrap is a GREAT idea.....

the mouth is very simple.

thank goodnes..

just two simple stitches.

for some great inspiration look at the faces here .

hairhairhairhairhairhair

the hair is my favorite.

my book has the most amazing hair instructions.

for this doll, i have chosen hair from a goat.

a southern speaking texan angora goat.

{this must be one.gorgeous.goat.}

right. the hair.

i am taking three strands and twisting it in the middle.

take a threaded needle and begin to sew down

the dolls hair by taking the needle thru all layers where twisted to the

center of the head.

start in the front just where your head stitching begins.

going down this sewn line,

repeat this until the top of head is covered.

next step is to go down about an inch on the left side and go right

round the head with small stitches

tacking down every other bit or so of hair down to the head.

i have placed pins below to show you where to begin and end sewing.

maricristin sealey has some excellent directions for curly hair, short wispy hair, etc.

so if you were using yarn she recommends that it be cut to shoulder length

when doing this method.

since i am using animal hair, which is quite short, i am winging it with my own method.

underneath the top layer of hair, i have made two additional rows of hair.

by tacking down twisted strands of hair all the way across. i left the curly ends untacked.

repeat this until the hair looks full all around and no bald spots.

i finished with three layers :: top layer down the line, and two layers across underneath.

.:: seal of approval ::.

next ..... the clothes!!

making a waldorf doll - the head & limb joinings

2010-07-21T12:28:00.001+10:00

making the head is quite fun, as it is the beginnings of your new little friend dolly coming to life.

both the traditional and the jointed dolls have the same type of head.

depending on the size doll you have chosen to make, measure out your wool, find an old white tshirt, some thick crochet thread for tying, and make your head. i am using my book as a guide.

consequently, the silver penny has an amazing tutorial for making the head online, and its almost exactly the same as listed in my book. {she has instructions for making a nose there, too}.

so get crackin' at your heads and then come back for the rest.

* It is important to note several things about the HEADS* of these dolls.

firstly, you want your 'muff ' or the bit of wool hanging down under your dolls head (which is essentially a tight round ball of wool with thin wool wrapped around it ) to be firmly done so it is very attached to the rest of the head. this is what forms the neck and keeps the dolls head from wobbling around. you will want a good bit of wool to hang down under your head , as indicated in my picture above, this makes the neck and keeps everything firm and in place when you attach the head to the body.
secondly, you will want to pay attention and get the size of your head right in proportion to the dolls body. i am making a small 9" jointed doll, thus i need to use 50gm of wool to make the head. My head measurements should be 2.5" high and 9" in circumference. This info is listed in my book for each doll's size and should be followed as close as possible so the doll looks real. Maricristin Sealey discusses this in detail in this book, she is truly the guru of waldorf dollmaking!

apologies, this photo is dark.

after the dolls head is finished you pull a 'sock' covering over the top

tie a string round the neck {do this up high right under its 'chin' }

all of the extra wool you have hanging down goes in the bottom part which you sew up at the bottom.

IMPORTANTE :: hold your doll down at the bottom where my hand is and shake it. don't rattle its brains, just a little shake. did its head move at all separately from the whole unit? if no, congratulations.

if yes, its not right.

if you seem to be having a problem with this, send me a note and i can try and help you out.

its important to get this right, you'll be glad you took it apart and redid it later if it wobbles.

your body should be well stuffed.

wool tends to pack down over time, so stuff it to the max, and then put in

some more. make a little well with your hand down inside the middle of the dolls body

and place the muff down in the hole. (the muff of my doll went way down into the tummy, which is good).

as you go around the neck use your fingers and make it fit down inside the doll until it is even length with your string. keynote * your body stuffing should be up and all around the muff at the neck. you should not really be able to see much of the muff. *

pin the dolls head in four corners to stabilize.

take a curved doll making needle , starting and ending at the back,

begin to sew the neck to the body. make sure you are pushing down the wool as you sew bit by bit and make sure the two pieces of flesh are catching each other with the stitches.

doesn't matter what it looks like, you are going to cover it up with a band when finished. :))

i made a one inch strip ( i needed it that wide to hide some oopses)

and stitched the ends as indicated. long in back and stab in front so it doesn't show on right side.

make sure your grain is going up and down, and the most stretch is going across.

then fold it in half and place around your dolls neck with the folded edge facing UP.

pin, pull (it should stretch) and sew closed.

cut off the extra and turn the band round so the folded seam is now facing

the bottom of the neck.

joining the appendages

as i said earlier, stuff those babies stiff.

you need: buttons of a decent size ( i cut mine off a hideously ugly sweater)

a long doll making needle

thick and sturdy doll or crochet thread

a decent amount of patience and laughter

maybe some bandaids

( if you aren't bleeding already from that neck this

step is likely to getcha )

ok so the first doll i made i jointed with Maricristin Sealey's directions..but the Silver Penny

has the idea of button jointing with the button placed inside the arms and legs.

directions are here . while this took me two tries to get it right,

i love the end results.

* keynotes*

it is important to mark your placements, i used a charcoal pencil.

you want the arms even with each other and a marking spot is easiest.

you want the legs in the right spot so the doll will sit up.

on the second try i took most of the wool stuffing out of the tops

of my arms, so i could actually see the buttons (HELLO!)

and i declared myself a smartypants.

arms on , who hoo!!

now do the legs in the same way,

then restuff and sew up the holes.

good golly miss molly!

now you should have a cute little fella like this looking at you.

jackson pinned in his own eyes and mouth last night.

which i was grateful for, it helped me remember back to front

while i was sewing the doll together.

i love that he wants a smiley little doll!

good luck with your doll making everyone

next post i will bring to you the eyes and mouth and HAIR.

making a waldorf doll - the body

2010-07-18T12:56:00.001+10:00

yesterday, i cut out the pieces (one post back). i am using pale caucasion tricot from
winterwood toys. today i am sewing them together. based on the pattern i am using i am ready
to sew, following my lines inside the seam allowance. i find the tricot lovely and so slippery. for some
unbeknownst reason, my feed dog loves eating it. i set my tension high, mine is on 5. do a test run first

on some tricot scrap from where you cut. a small zigzag stitch is required. after much frustrating feed dog eating of the tricot - i decided to lower my feeddog completly. it didnt illeviate the eating of the flesh, but it certainly was easier. my lowering device is under my machine, as indicated in the photo above.

{if someone can offer a bit of advice or knowledge on this problem, wont you give a shout out. because this stuff is so difficult to sew, this step is my least favorite of the doll making process. truly. }

god save the queen.
i'm finished sewing this stuff.

when you are finished, you should end up with something looking like this.

if you have no idea what you are doing, dont worry.

neither do i.

{insert nice cuppa here}

the best part about making your own doll at home, is that the child it is intended for can

help. here is jackson carefully stuffing his doll with fluffy wool.

{no sun today = not great photos}

next i will bring you ... jointing the appendages and

THE HEAD.

a devil of a time

2010-07-10T13:04:00.000+10:00

yesterday we took a trip up to the mountain to see the snow. minor complications led us to stop briefly at the devils sanctuary and so we decided to enjoy an afternoon visit with tasmanias largest marsupial.
the tasmanian devil....
we had quite a nice time getting to know these noisy fellas up close and personal.
look, jack even got to give one a pat.
he doesn't quite look it, but i believe he was thrilled.
tasmanian devils are currently on the critical endangered species list, as their survival rate has been threatened due to a cancerous facial tumor disease which has already wiped out 80% in the wild.
visiting places like this wildlife park and getting to know little friends like these guys is important.
i got a bit choked up actually, when i touched him and realized in ten years time they might not be around.

for more information on these fascinating creatures from tasmania, or to donate, or to learn more about the sanctuary up on cradle mountain, please visit http://www.devilsatcradle.com/.
{this was a big mama with a little one in her backward pouch, so cool.}

in the bedroom

2010-07-07T19:01:00.000+10:00

ah. its night time again. my favorite...rooibos tea, kids in pjs, warm fire, home and away. books and books and books. crochet time. quiet quiet peace. lamps lit glowing glimmering resting me. frankencense can be smelled. one more week with these beautiful books, then the librarian says i have to send them on. send them on? oh. is that how the library works.

i am tossing around ideas. a winter greenhouse garden. a japanese double gauze bamboo quilt. what to make with a wool/cashmere trenchcoat that cost me a dollar. how to increase my energy and circulation. eating better. keeping a cleaner and tidier home. thinking of my father in his little foot plaster who is sitting on the sofa bored stiff he says. my 5 year old says to send him some sticker books. he says now that's entertainment for hours...

in the kitchen

2010-07-06T15:45:00.000+10:00

i made dinner napkins yesterday for our kitchen table.
this is a heather ross project from my favorite new {library} book, weekend sewing .
my mind is playing toss between sashiko placemats vs a nap beside the fire and a footrub...
i think you know who's winning.
*yawn *
its just that kindof a day.xx

My creative space - dolly

2010-07-01T11:49:00.004+10:00

SAGE- the Woodland Elf.

hat & cape made from wool felt

dyed with sunflower seeds

with ribbon recycled from naturebaby

hair embroidered with baby alpaca wool

he is nice and cozy beside the fire

on this cold winters day

my creative space

2010-06-24T09:34:00.001+10:00

week one of the hook.
i am rather excited. i feel ive overcome two obstacles. three, really.
::: my crochet ability has speeded up considerably. i started off a snail and now
i'd say i am more like a beetle with a limp. i'm on square three of this .
::: thanks to the lovely dotty i now realize that one should chain three when going fromst
row to row. well! that solves a problem. now? nice smooth edges.
::: last night in bed with the hook and billy connely i noticed if i went into the 'back' loop
i got a frontward ridge. if i went in the 'front' loop i got a ridge on the back. it was at this
moment of trying to keep it all straight that i had my eureka moment. what if . . what if
i just hooked thru both of those babies every time? would this bothersome ridge just go
away, disappear into the land of the lost? YES! no. more. ridges. strait pretty rows.
{don't make me write a crochet book..} so i'm going to continue doing this, unless someone tells me
its illegal, or somehow devestating in the long term.....yah for crochet!

i've met the nicest folks over at kirstys each week.
wont you join us?

My Creative Space

2010-06-17T12:18:00.000+10:00

Is it Thursday again?
O Boy, it seems to come around rather SnEAkiLy.....
I, decided, this week i would teach myself the ART of the hook, i.e. crochet.
Whilst it has me feeling rather GRANNILY, i looove it.
I am not sure i am doing it quite right....ive got these 'ridges' i would really like to
get rid of. I love the double chain in the double chain. Its totally mad. Its kindof like
lots of loops in one big loop, like dangling earrings?

Its freezing here this week, and i'm feeling sorry for my fruit.
Now they are all cozy... {free apple cozy pattern at this delicious crunchy place }

More creative crunchiness, or not, here.

granny love

2010-06-13T16:18:00.003+10:00

'Each day has its own proper work,' Laura's Ma used to say.
                                'Wash on Monday,
                                Iron on Tuesday,
                                Mend on Wednesday,
                               Churn on Thursday,
                              Clean on Friday,
                              Bake on Saturday,
                              Rest on Sunday.'
- LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I believe the practice of clothes washing is a feminine connection with my ancestors. As I hang out an apron of my grandmothers on the clothesline, I smile knowing she has done just the same. To see cherished items that were hers blowing in the breeze is a fine enjoyment in my life. Women all pass things down to each new generation. Many revelations can be gathered in with the washing! Three cheers for a breeze , the sun , and a cotton rope. xx

the finish line

2010-06-04T15:56:00.002+10:00

Look a here.
Just needs neck and arm bands. Whilst seeking advice from my knitting mum-in-law,, she tells a story. She was once in a 'rush' to finish a cricket jumper for John and in picking up her neckband stitches she accidentally went all the way down across and picked up one of the shoulder seams! and didnt realize till she had finished the neckband! Ha!
That is so stinking funny...
{i shouldn't laugh too much}

I have been known to totally screw up myself, on occasion.
It's great when you can just have a big ole' roaring laugh at your self.
or your mum-in-law...

emus and feathers in my view.

check out this slideshow.
now this is my kinda decorating.
what style, what flair, what personality.
all thrifted!
On Location - The New York Times > Style > Slide Show > Slide 11 of 11

frame of mind

2010-06-02T20:05:00.009+10:00

dont you just love it when something happens that changes your life.

we all have these feelings, thoughts that we often say to and about our selves that define

who we are. as of recently, things have started 'happening' to me.

lucky things.

which leave me with no other option, than to thank the universe by thinking so positive

when i enter a situation. to think and act and speak and do like

it will happen, whatever it is!

because, friends, thinking positive yields positive results. every single time.

my creative space:: exciting things with vintage postcards

link up with KootooYo.

buckets

2010-05-27T20:40:00.004+10:00

well, this was an undertaking. i'm sure there were several factors contributing. my brain was numb from the cold. i was a bit tired after running around playing in the leaves with schoolchildren this afternoon. whatever the reason, my unpicker has done some work today.

i was having a bit of trouble reading the pattern.

there was some debate between how to sew up the tube ends.

i said one way, my friend JAN insisted it was the other.

JAN was right. (know~it~all)

more unpicking.

all in all, the first bucket got unpicked a funny total of 4 times.

an argument ensues. now JAN isn't speaking to me at all.

come on, really?

finally, the buckets are finished. my old sewing friend and i are back on the mend.

she isn't that bad, she's pretty fantastic really.

just a bit of a snob, cause she's prettier than most..

{ thank you jodi for the bucket pattern ! }

soup and stuff

2010-05-27T10:12:00.000+10:00

pumpkin soup ::
cut up large pumpkin into 4 pieces and roast in oven until a knife inserts easily.
cut away skin and hard fleshy bits , chunky cut and place into large pan on oven.
add 1/2 tsp of each - cumin ground, corrainder leaves, corrainder ground, ginger, mixed spice, clove, italian spices, cajun spices. 1tsp mince garlic.
add 3 cups water, and simmer 30 min or so until bubbly. with a potatoe masher or fork roughly mash up pumpkin bits into soup making a thick texture. simmer 20 more min or so until spices fragrant. add 1 cup thick cream and reheat gently. serve with fresh buttermilk yeast rolls ( my recipe is here ).

i am sewing up my little baskets today, isn't the fabric beautiful. here's to a happy sunny sewing soup eating wintery day !

something for me

2010-05-25T18:39:00.000+10:00

i made myself a bag today.

my enthusiastic 5yearold likes it.

" cool bag, man, is it mine??"

he says.

no, its not yours.

its mine.all mine. as soon as possible, i'm gonna stick some money and a book in it, and go have a nice cappuccino. OUT.{without you kids! i didn't say the last bit, just thunk it...}

sewing is so nice. i love it. i used echino birds and heather ross tadpoles. the free pattern is here. i found it on a blog posting where 10 free bag patterns were listed in a box block with little photos. (can anybody tell me where that was?) i couldn't find it...bummer. there were several other bags i wanted to try. i've got lots of sewing projects this week and i'm so excited! it feels good to put down the knitting needles and switch gears to my machine for a bit. { i find that people who were first knitters will also sew, but there are lots of sewers who don't care for knitting. do you find that true? do you do both? which did you learn first?}
tomorrow is ric-rac's sewing baskets. i can't wait!! i've got this thing about putting things into things. what's your thing?

sweaters & friends

2010-05-23T20:15:00.002+10:00

beautiful vintage buttons
a birthday sweater knitted by his granny

Nesta has his very own George, sent by his Nana & Pops

Really feeling the birthday love , what a wonderful weekend.
Thanks so much for all the thoughtful well wishes and comments.
Children truly are worth celebrating!
:::.Such magic they bring into this world.:::

a love story

2010-05-21T21:45:00.000+10:00

you never know what they're gonna turn out like

till they get here

a new little personality

its cold out

clear frosty starlit beautiful cold night

the start of winter

this is my birth night

two years ago

my nesta

my joy

my sweet love

.::::.

sundays

2010-05-16T11:55:00.000+10:00

Tori amos & the Warhols rockin me thru the weekend.

Lots of knitting, sewing, and fun crafting going on here.

The sun is shining. Life is good.

Birthday surprises for the little one. I can't believe he'll soon be Two!!

{he's already terrible....}

Dolly is coming along. Making dolls rocks.

{Yes, I am bleeding in multiple places}

Ah, i love Sundays. Fresh market veggie/fruit stockpile. All organic, all locally grown.

What are you guys working on ?

NATURAL PLANT DYES

2010-05-02T09:22:00.000+10:00

Merino Wool kettle dyed in spectacular natural colors !
( top left )
onionskins _ rustic orange
sunflower seeds _ deep blood red
manferns _ soft earthy brown
tumeric spice_ brilliant sun yellow
red cabbage _ mauve lavender

Directions for dyeing wool here.

Trying to get green & blue..... suggestions, anyone??

{{Thanks guys, for all the lovely words on Dolly.
He is getting ready for a special ceremony!}}

DARN IT

2010-04-18T08:52:00.000+10:00

what do you do for pleasure, to relax, unwind?
i drink coffee, and i make stuff.
what do you do for mind raveling self torture?
i knit socks. (( **i try))........{{this is the entrelauc method, anybody know about it? don't compliment, this is totally not my sock. i wish, its on ravelry.}}

i have knitted them before. (well, one) but yesterday my attempt was on a child's sock. there are a few barriers which i will put forth. number one, the yarn i am working with is yes gorgeous and earthy and handdyed. it is also about the size of a thin dental floss. number two, the needles are four slippery metal size 2's which actually make very good dartspear weapons when thrown across the room. (mine stuck into the beanbag quite dangerously when it was thrown). number three, is the reason it was. i thought they were looking rather big - - when the time came to divide off and shape the heel (about 20rows into) i realized i had awesomely incurredTEN extra bonus stitches than my pattern had so kindly demanded of me. How did that happen? I asked Angela. She did not answer. She had already gone into remainsilentthrowyourneedle mood.

So with no further ado, i turned toward mothernature and went here. AH. the beach. a quiet ancient earthen place of repose. its so restful here. mind erasing. peacening. nobody throwin' needles here.

i'm gonna open up a crafts shop one day. called DARNIT. get it?

and i ain't sellin' socks.
and the next time somebody says " so in so needs socks" i'm gonna sent them to SMARTWOOL.

Life's Perspectives

2010-03-31T12:06:00.000+11:00

small & insignificant :: climbing the tallest mountain & enjoying the view

too busy & anxious :: happily working by day

one dirty speck :: an almost impeccably clean house

Sometimes, It is all how you see things.

Which way do you see them?

A hunting we wiLL GO.. THRIFTING

2010-01-30T21:36:00.000+11:00

oK WHO knows how
much fun yard sales are?
I do that's who.
They are on my Top 5 favorite things to do.
It is always so interesting to rummage thru "other people's stuff". It gives insight on how other people live; what they collect; what they like; what they no longer feel they need.
I believe the 'things' in our lives tell a big story.
If someone were to plunder thru your things, wouldn't they be able to write a pretty long summary of you, even if they didn't know you? What would it sAy?

This was a nice find for $3 - an old leather bag...love the clasps. It now contains our "HATS". wHEW. We needed it too. Hats everywhere. Now everyone knows where they go. And where to look. Instead of always asking ME.

bEAnbaG. dONtcha love a beanbag?

Old CHILDREN'S CHAIRS. Art project in mind..

Approvals!

Nice old FOWLER pottery. i LOVE old bowls. I love old things!!

Weekending

2010-01-27T09:55:00.000+11:00

Butter Cookies: recipe on www.mrmonkeysuit.typepad.com. Wow, the windows. Where is that list of mine. I just can't do it alone. Pack your bags, mama. Bring your windex too!

Nesta squeezed himself in. Kids do love BOXES. He needs an international mailing label.

Owl perched up. He has found a new hiding spot. Oh, the places they go.

So, have you heard? Bob Dylan & Blind Boys of Alabama, with others, are performing at the WHITE HOUSE !

www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/01/bob_dylan_white_house_black_hi.html

A WALK IN the PARK

2010-01-25T12:30:00.000+11:00

We had a nice weekend of family fun, as always. Took the kids up to LIFFEY FALLS , a world heritage reserve area here in TASMANIA. Picnic then walk to the falls, kids had a ball in the water. Jack climbed over the rocks, left two, and brought back two. Nesta is at home wherever he is i think. See him straight chillin in the water??

On the way back, stopped by Ashgrove cheese farm for the BEST cheese in AUSTRALIA! Man.,oh man. This cheese melts in your mouth, we love love love it. We drink their milk too; being the organic milk snobs that we are......

A bird in the bedroom. This was hilarious. At first i was trying to capture the bird and John trying TO capture it; then what became funnier was NESTA laughing at it all. He thought it was just so funny there was a bird flapping around in the house and we stopped what we were doing (which was not much let me tell you) just to laugh at him laughing at it all. Meanwhile the poor bird saw his chance and took it. Escaping from the crazy cackelling family he went back out. Which was good, I don't believe John and that BROOM was gonna cut it.

A sneak peek....ooh its pretty!!

This week on the agenda: enlist this boy into school. I've been thinking about it....and i'm sure Jack will fit right in and love spending time away doing something different. He says he wants to go. I can probably even spy on him with the binoculars if i want. ....And I want.

We can go shopping! He needs a uniform! They all look like little tiny soldiers in school here! plain shirt, special shorts (i forgot), special socks (forgot, again), and black shoes. Awww...

Off now to bake cookies. When you next see this boy, he will look a bit different!

beach fridays

2010-01-23T12:13:00.000+11:00

Beach friday at Hawley...windy & nice. Picnic lunch (chicken and sand)....and radio cricket.

Sunny week here, very nice weather we are having. If Tasmania were like this more during the year It wouldn't be half bad.

Our summer garden is coming up nicely, we should have enough to do some canning and freezing I hope. My basil is yet to appear, It would help if we put the seeds in probably.

Todays chores: WINDOW CLEANING. Because we are a small island (about the size of Jekyll maybe?) and because the birds have nothing better to do than fence sitting, well doing what birds do and with the island 'sea breeze' as i'm told to call it,,,,,,leave the windows splatterd . ahem. yuk

Tip to the wise: if you decide to stick the beach washing in the machine 'as is' instead of shaking it all out cause you just dont feel like it there will still be sand somehow on your sheets when you wash them two weeks later. God i hate it when they are right
Another tip to the wise: never do 'fence kickin in' then tell the 4year old accomplice 'not to tell'. He will run and do just the opposite.

Here Jack is 'out to sea' . . isnt that great!

Schooling and letter writing. Love that the J is sometimes backwards..these little moments of learning are memories for an admiring mother...watching them grow up is wonderful. I will call this 'toothbrush art'. I thought they sure were quiet in there.

the quilt is coming along.

i started a new knitting project (yes i know)

have a glass bottle tree on my mind from the scarecrow book.

tomorrow is a funfunfunFUN woodworking day. i cant wait. i might play with it more than the kids!

2010-01-10T08:42:00.000+11:00

Friday at Hawley Beach!

Lots of fun this weekend, it was HOT and SUNNY and very much like SUMMER! I think it's here! The kids just love time at the beach. We went back on Saturday and he wanted to stay for a picnic; so next time I told him.....

Nestas best thing to do (which is everything at the beach , really) is to scavenge the rocks for cockel shells. He sticks one on each finger (poor creatures shaking within). They smell lovely when found in the car the next week. Jack gets busy looking in the rocks, surfing the waves he says, and then playing in the sand. After my mermaid seaweed palace was on the market, Jack looks at it, then at John and says ' why didn't we think of that?'

The vacuum died last week (what a sad loss, I am unconsolable).

The water purifier is roaring madly (a sure sign of upcoming failure). We already had to replace the computer.

Mechanical things do not like to be stored for any great length of time. We are looking around wondering what is going to clink out next?

Jack is in there tinkering on the piano.

John is still asleep.

I dreamed about visiting a haunted building last night!

Time to go outside now and water this corn, we've got (ANOTHER) garden !!

Two summers in a row?

Yes, oh Yes.

butter churning & all that jazz

2009-10-30T01:32:00.000+11:00

Hi all. We have had a fun busy last few days with visiting and packing and christmas present buying. Mixed along with some bread baking, sweater knitting, and baby loving!~ Not long now, and we find ourselves sitting together as a family all talking about when we come back......its so nice to hear long term plans aloud; and discussing them somehow makes the short term separation more bearable.

Nesta here at MawMaw's yesterday churning butter. MawMaw and Barry have been dieting and cutting out bread at meals. MawMaw told Nesta yes churn her some fresh butter and she'll take a biscuit too!

Some random shots at MawMaw's yesterday, Paula and little Jeremy were there too, it was such an awesome family day. Uncle Barry cooked a deer stew for lunch and it was so comforting to all sit for a meal at the table together with children about.

MawMaw and I got an hour or so free time to go back to the sewing room to ramble thru drawers. She tells old stories of her grandparents, when she first met Poppy Jackson, and old friends and family. We look thru old quilt patterns and see hand writings from older generations gone past. Those are the moments to cherish in my mind for a long, long time.

Nesta and Jeremy are so cute together. Its great having kids the same age in

the family, they all be great little playmates to each other. We always were around our cousins growing up and it framed such good memories and times. Family is awesome!!!

I think i see trouble in these little minds........

Fresh yeast bread......recipe coming soon!

Jack standing watch; waiting for Aunt Paula to whisk him away for a spend the nite!

My new deliciousness; soon to be pack away and I just got it! Merino fingerings in such beautiful colors; bluesky organic cottons for kitchen towels; and some sock yarn in the mix. All in a felted homemade yarn bag.

Today is pack the kids christmas presents and clothes day. Bleccckkkhhharrrg. John has been busying around getting it all done 'Maurice' style for hours. And here i sit. I think there's something stuck in my ear. I could just curl up and go back to sleep. I am blogging. Motivation skills? None to speak of....its 11am, a beautiful cloudy day. Perhaps a nice walk outside to my favorite woodsy spot in the back will get me alive and kicking. I am going to dig thru my shed today until I find WALDEN POND it is going this time on the plane with me.

Good day all / over and out.

knick nacks knitting friends & vegemite

2009-10-21T23:54:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone~! Taking a few shots around this knitting frenzied house. Hoping today will allow me some spare time to finish up some projects. Nothing feels better than takin care of unfinished bidness as my friend Brent says. We did a pseudo mock pack yesterday and it appears we will have everything fit and room left over! Well...I haven't added any of my yarn, sewing stuff, clothes, shoes, books...and then there's all the christmas stuff i've bought in mama's trunk John hasn't seen yet. Good thing we get two bags each. John better be eating his wheaties.

Isn't this bag GREAT?!! It's one of my favorite new pretties; its a little felted knitting basket. The pattern is listed on this chic's blog :

http://knit4ever.blogspot.com

Last time we were in Alabama thrifting i got a massive bag of orange canadian vintage wool for $1. Like 20 skeins of orange. This pattern took 3. What else can i make that is orange!

Unfinished business #1. Debbie bliss cashmerino cabled baby socks. Lavender. I was thinking girl...but they are Nesta's size...my first cable knitting and they turned out quite nice. I just have to motivate myself to do the other one now. I love knitting with this yarn; its dreamy soft. I got it for a deal on craigslist too; half price.

Unfinished #2 project i just somehow deleted the photo; was another debbie bliss pattern cornflower panty rompers. I knitted the small size and they too fit Nesta with room for an elephant to spare. I am thinking her patterns run .....large. I am almost finished with them just have to crochet a frilly leg cuff thing. Crochet seems so strangely out of place to me; I am always looking for that other needle.

Anywho, this BOOK I AM IN LOVE WITH. It is such a stunningly cuddly vintage knit collection it will leave even the nighttime dream knitter drooling for needles and knowhow. It is almost all fingering weight; which I am new to. I just started my first project (well really my second) this week and the fingering alpaca on size 2 needles is giving me PARkinsons or some other nerve problem. No just kidding I am getting it slooowly.

This little wooly project is hand dyed merino from a local gal. Started out a vest; took it apart. Decided on cloth diaper cover from this book; alas is not fingering weight but much larger making this more suited for covering diapers for the JOLLY green GIANT instead. Stick to the patterns ANGelina. Big PROBLEM of mine.

This is my friend JOHN PAUL. He has just spooned the most massive sized sample of VEGEmite ever. Good luck old buddy.....

Jack takes time and patience to craftingly playdough Mommy lifesize. Literally.

Ok here he is. He's not talking. He's not gagging. He's not swallowing. He's thinking to himself how to courageously get this terrible s*#$ out of his mouth!!!!!!!

My little darlings at play on what was probably our last smoking of meat for this trip. We all love spending time outside here with pops. Saturdays are always filled with outdoor adventures and memories to cherish. I can't wait until the next chapter of our Georgia adventure can continue when we come back to settle down and find a little piece of country life ourselves. Ta-tah friends.

october FROLIKING

2009-10-05T22:55:00.000+11:00

A GAY AFFAIR

CUTE, ISNT HE? YES...THE LITTLE ONE. LATELY, HE HAS BEEN TEETHING AND CONSTANTLY BREASTFEEDING, UP SEVERAL TIMES AT NIGHT TO FEED ETC. LEAVING MOM FEELING...WELL.....SPENT. WHICH IS WHY LAST NIGHT I WOKE UP WHEN HIS LITTLE BUM WAS PRESSING INTO MY CHEST, AND FEELING UPWARDS HIS SHIRT WAS ALL UP ON HIS BACK UNCOVERED. PULLING DOWN HIS SHIRT, AND PATTING HIS LITTLE BACK I REACHED UP TO FIND HIS HEAD AND IT WAS STUFFED ALL UNDER JOHN'S PILLOW, I THOUGHT ...GOSH HE'LL SUFFOCATE! STILL COULDNT FIND IT, I WAS REACHING AND TUGGING AND TRYING TO FLIP HIM AROUND SO I COULD BREASTFEED HIM AND THEN I REALIZED.....IT WAS JOHN'S arm.

Nesta, sound asleep in his own bed. Laughing at myself , i went back to sleep.

These photos are from this weekend at the COTTON pikin' fair in GAYgeorgia. Yes, that is the real town name, GAY IS A HAPPY place. We went there as kids. I will post MORE PICS WHEN MY sleep deprived brain has RESted.

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!!

2009-09-23T22:21:00.000+10:00

Helloooo all. We have spent the last several weeks watching it rain....looks like it is over. Lucky for us here there was no flooding, unlike several counties in Georgia. The kids always make the best of things; making airplanes and boats out of boxes, playing trains and garage art projects. I particularly liked Jack's rainy day soup ( a collaboration of flowers, herbs, acorns, persimmons, and peppers mixed well with rainwater and then baked in the "oven"). MMM it was delicious..

John and Jack went fishing down the hill yesterday. Nesta and I went wandering thru the forest, always looking down at what we might find. With all the good rain, some beautiful forest friends have POPPED UP. Some look like underwater coral creatures! (anybody know what that is? it looks between coral and morrel mushroom, is it edible??)

John is recuperating well after a dramatic tooth extraction. Jack was concerned and helped settle the nerves by questions: " How do they cut it out ? I bet that's gonna hurt" and " Will they put it back in somewhere else or just keep it there in their office?"

Yesterday and today finishing up a sewing project for a birthday girl!!

Off this weekend to see a long missed bunch of friends in ATHENS , can't wait!

2009-09-14T23:09:00.000+10:00

LOG CABIN WASHCLOTHS

These are so much fun and knit up beautifully. I started yesterday and as i add on the squares i am thinking it would be a great bath mat, or cuddly blanket. I am using SPLENDID Italian cotton by Mondial. You can see this pattern in the book MASON DIXON KNITTING by Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne, also www.purlbee.com for free.

FIRST SIGN OF AUTUMN
I love it when these beautiful flowers 'pop' up.
Spider flowers against the pumphouse. Fall is finally here.

BABY SHAWL COLLAR SWEATER

A cashmere/merino blend sweater in progress for Nesta.

Remember PROJECT RELOCATION OAK TREES from back in the summer? Out of all the 20 something little oaks we replanted, only two have survived. Its hard work growing trees. I hope these two make it, will put in the ground soon.

a crafty fun day

2009-07-17T05:04:00.000+10:00

:OLIVER + S PAJAMAS PATTERN TOP. Completed!

: DOLL & MATTRESS TOPS; Completed!

: MY LITTLE COWBOY/TRAIN ENGINEER!

:FRESH BLUEBERRY PIE READY TO GO IN THE OVEN

: JACK ALWAYS TAKES GREAT SHOTS

A FINE SUMMER'S EVENING

2009-07-15T02:13:00.000+10:00

MAMA SAID THEY'D BE DAYS LIKE THIS

2009-06-14T07:37:00.000+10:00

bummer

MEET BONY

2009-06-12T01:21:00.001+10:00

:OK everyone, so this is BONY. dearly beloved chicken friend of ours. who would have known? out for an evening stroll with the kids and come home carrying this little beauty. a wonderful summer addition to our yard i must add.....and although mama fusses about her messing all over the yard ..(how many acres do we have?) and following her around everywhere and chasing the birds and scratching in the flowers....i KNOW you love her mama. jackson just thinks she is the best thing ever.

SUMMERTIME is here, our daily ritual first thing in the morning: outside to set free our chicken, then sit under the mulberry tree and watch her scratch and roll around in the garden. After watching her chase a redbird for dropped birdseed yesterday, we decided to go off to the local feed n seed for some scratch. And who would have known? Just so happens they had two pretty matching roosters to give away, hmmmmmm.

what we can be found doing

2009-06-11T07:41:00.000+10:00

FRIENDS & COUNTRY LIVIN'

2009-05-18T22:23:00.000+10:00

COOKIN' FRESH CRAWDADS

I'M GONNA GET YOU NANA!

THESE KIDS LOVE THEIR POPS!

JACK TAKING A BREAK; POSTING & FENCING

RELOCATION OAK TREES

2009-04-28T02:44:00.001+10:00

Jack, Nesta, and I decided to save some thriving oaks from the front pasture and replant them. It was a great educational experience and Jack just loves anything to do with gardening.

The OAK is a good old one, standing tall and proud by our gate; a field which previously held massive crops of corn, and many goats. What will it harbour next?

A Relocation Program

2009-04-10T00:03:00.000+10:00

Georgia snow

2009-03-04T01:22:00.000+11:00