Tis the season.........

It's time for the Nutcracker and since I wasn't able to attend at the Ellie Calkins Opera House this year, I have a couple DVD's to watch, two I have collected over the years and I just recently watched a very interesting version of the Nutcracker on Channel 6 a few nights ago.  It featured a lot of very talented children and a beautiful and also talented Sugar Plum Fairy.  Of course the music was wonderful.

This is part of my Santa Claus collection and the lamb was given to me on my 14th birthday so it has been around quite a long time!!!



One of my favorite Santas with her kitten friends.



"Parker" has been a part of my Christmas decoration for many years.  I purchased him from a craft sale selling only home made bears.  He sits under my Christmas tree each year and then has a special spot in the house during the rest of the year.

               It definitely is time for listening to Christmas music, reading about the birth in the manger, watching happy Christmas programs and decorating a tree with all of my favorite things.   MERRY CHRISTMAS.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . . .

     Blossom has found her favorite spot under the tree and she is waiting patiently

     for her present!!!!!!!!

So, its time for me to get busy and do some knitting.  A friend of mine sent me a pattern for covering soap with some cute knitted wool covers.    I found my stash of yarn and I have the soap  -- it's time to start knitting. 

 
 

A Very Special Thanksgiving Sunset

     Last night as I was checking out the sunset, I decided it was worth some pictures.  I took these pictures through my window and one through some tinsel I have hanging on my window.

I'm not sure what that streak is, but it's interesting!

I think there is a little tinsel showing through this picture also as well as the one below.

     I was reading some poetry this morning written in 1929 by the aunt of the 98 year old woman I am assisting in her home.  Some of the poems can express exactly how I feel as I look out my window at the sunset and also the beautiful sunrises we are seeing these mornings.  I hope to be able to share a couple very soon.

It's Time to Make Pesto

I have an herb garden in the north window of my "tree house apartment" and have been growing a pot of basil since spring and have harvested enough to make pesto for the freezer.  It will taste good on pasta or warmed focaccia bread this winter. 

I also have pots of Greek oregano. rosemary and chives to flavor my soups and salads.  Yum!!!!

So, I think it's time to throw the basil away as I've about exhausted it for the winter.  Will try it again in my window again next Spring.

Last Rose of Summer!

I  found this rose tucked under a pile of snow after our last "winter" blast. I brought it in thinking that it would probably last a very short time going from cold to warm, so what a nice surprise when it continued to stay alive and I think it will begin to open soon.

Happy Halloween

This "happy witch" is sitting on my table keeping me
company this Halloween.

My Favorite "Red" Bird

I have been going through my "older" books trying to make a decision about what to do with them and I came across my stash of Gene Stratton Porter books.  These are old, and I do mean old.  I originally found them in my parents' basement in an old trunk and asked if they could be mine.  I have since carried them around with me with every move and I have also read them a few times.  My favorite is "Girl of the Limberlost" which some people might know of (it was made into a movie years ago).  I just recently acquired "The Song of the Cardinal" while hunting around in an old book store.  What a find!!!!

Published in 1903

Garden Spider?????

This black and yellow garden spider arrived in the Pea Patch Community Garden over the weekend.  It didn't seem to bother anyone, really just wanted to get away, and wandered off into a tomato patch.  The gardeners who saw it are wondering about it.   Also has an interesting backside.

It's time to make calendula soap!!




These will be dried and taken off the stem,
then added to the soap


Calendula doesn't have a fragrance, so I think I'll add some lemon fragrance oil to the soap.



     


This is the finished product - I used Tangerine and Bergamont Essential Oils

 



Joey, Dewey and Daisy

These will be members of the Gopsill family (my daughter Kim and her family) in October.  Aren't they beautiful??????

 

This is Daisy




This is Joey

 






This is Dewey

 







 

Which to do????

This cool day in September makes me want to do a little weaving.

Or, a lot of weaving!!!

Or maybe I'll just sit back and relax and work on this pair of socks.
OR, maybe I'll take a nap..........

I think she has claimed this quilt for her own!!

As I was taking a picture of my quilt, the Princess decided she wanted to be part of the pictures!!  She stayed sitting on all the pictures I took.

Getting Ready to make potpourri

I have been busy collecting flowers for my potpouuri - some of my favorites are the sweet smelling pink  roses, some blue and pink larkspur, lemon balm lots of  lavender and red bergamont.


Here is a Basic Lavender Potpouuri recipe from "The Pleasure of Herbs":


Add 1 quart lavender blossom to 3 T. orris root pre-mixed with 10 drops of lavender oil


Variations:


Add a cup or two of dried lilac, larkspur,
cornflower, or any floral blossoms for an additional color,
or rose petals for fragrance, plus double the amount of orris root and oil


A tablespoon of ground cloves will add a spicy touch.
1/2 cup ground vanilla beans will sweeten the blend.
A cup of bergamot leaves and/or mint will add fresh liveliness.

I can't wait to get all my blossoms dried and put together for a wonderful fragrant potpouuri.

Soapmaking in the heat!!!!!!

After all the soapmaking process was done and the soap was put under a wool blanket for 24 hours, this is how it looked after I cut the squares.

The soap has been cut and will now "cure" for a few days until it gets hard and is ready to package.

This wonderful smelling lavender soap is now packaged and ready for gifts for my lavender-loving friends.





Early Harvest from the Garden

I received a recipe from my daughter on how to can cucumbers one jar at a time --
Here is the trick: after you pack your sterilized jar with your favorite pickle recipe..mine is
each quart jar gets 2 cloves of garlic, 1/8 tsp alum, 1 tbls mustard seed and
2-4 heads of dill.  The jar then goes into a 150 degree oven for 45 minutes,
then when the jar comes out you pour boiling brine which is vinegar water,
and canning salt over each jar and lids that are steralized and still hot...
todah! pickles!



TRIP TO MINNESOTA TO SHAW REUNION

What a great opportunity to spend time with family - meeting new family members and seeing our home before and after our parents lived and played in them. 


Shaw Cottage



The way it looks today (2011) - owned and enjoyed by a couple from Arizona
who come for the summer

The home at 441 Dassell Avenue as it looks today (2011)

My home growing up

Thus Comes The Lovely Spring

Ahhh, spring at last!

On a recent warm and sunny morning while walking along the Platte River, I found myself thinking about spring. These picutres I captured with my camera and I found myself soaking up the sun, listening to the music of the birds, checking the trees for new buds and generally reveling in the resurgence of life around me.

I found myself eagerly looking foward to the warm days ahead, filled with sunshine and light. The thought of green grass, flowers of every shape and color and trees in full leaf filled my heart with joy.

What has filled your heart with joy this spring day???

New Life and Old at Littleton Museum Farm

These horses are happy to see anyone with carrots or apples and will come when called. They are the "old" at the museum.

This little darling white lamb was only a few hours old when I snapped the picture and she was wondering where her mother was.

This little baby had a hard time getting up as she was newly born and then when she did get up she was looking for "mama". What fun to watch all the new lambs.

The birds are singing and it's a fun walk around the little lake watching ducks and geese and enjoying the great mornings in Colorado.

Unfinished Projects

I have been inspired by a friend to get busy and finish some old projects. I definitely have old projects. One is the quilt that I put together 17 years ago and I plan to tie it, hopefully in the evening when I'm watching TV or listening to music

Another even older Raggedy Ann doll is badly in need of clothes and from my stash I've found a couple fabrics to start with. I know she'll be happy to be dressed.

I will be busy on these projects and as I dig around I'm sure I'll find a few more things to finish.

Feels like Spring

January 28, 2011 at 9:00 am

What a great day to enjoy nature.  I have had my walk this morning and am now waiting for a friend to help me with some weaving problems.  I have a 8 harness table loom and because I haven't done any weaving in a few years, it's like starting over.  Thankfully I have some great help.  I am making placemats in two shades of blue - hope to share them later.