Threads of Wonder

New Beginnings

2010-04-03T07:32:00.004-04:00

I began this blog as a place to focus on the wonderful things in my life and I really have taken too long of a break here. Not because there weren't amazing things happening, but maybe because I was too caught up in life to see them. It is time for me to put down the blinders and start documenting the light and love that flows through all things.

Today we are moving a small load of our belongings to our new home. We will move the rest of it next weekend. New beginnings, new insights, new experiences. I am thankful for all of it.

Cross Country Track Meet

2009-09-14T14:51:00.003-04:00

Saturday I went to see my nephew Sam, run in a cross-country track meet, where they run a 5K. It was great to be out in the sunshine and in all the excitement. This is a photo of him just before the finish line.

Phoebe, the Cute

2009-09-11T16:10:00.001-04:00

I thought I would share a cute picture of my cat Phoebe that I took this morning. It took awhile for her to look at the camera, but it was worth the wait.

State Fair Part 3: Giant Vegetables and Preserves

2009-09-09T16:23:00.007-04:00

Some homemade vinegars.

There was a vast number of giant pumpkins. This one weighed over a thousand pounds!

These are beautiful bottles of maple syrup with light coming in from behind.

I hope you've enjoyed my trip to the state fair. Next post I'm gonna move onto something else!

More State Fair

2009-09-04T15:44:00.001-04:00

Spam anyone?

Blue Ribbon Sugar Beet

Why does every homeade beer have a ribbon???

State Fair

2009-09-02T16:10:00.005-04:00

I went to the Minnesota State Fair on Monday and have some great photos to share. I spent most of my time looking at the handmade items, cakes, jams, beer and textiles. Then we saw the giant vegetable specimens and lastly, while we could still walk, the animals. I'll share a few photos each day.

I have always loved the look of Swedish Ring Cakes.

Below are an amazing selection of quick breads

and a case of cakes.

MMMMMM MMMMMMM MMMMMM!

Giant Cabbage

2009-08-17T17:52:00.003-04:00

The local county fair was two weeks ago and I spent some time looking at all of the 4-H entries. I wandered through the Home Economics building, the cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits and some llamas. But my favorite thing was a giant cabbage.

Girls Getaway

2009-08-07T15:18:00.003-04:00

Last weekend I met a dear friend, also named Susan, in Madison, WI for a girls getaway. We walked through shops, had nice food and some wine and pondered the question "What is a supper club?"

The main event was catching up on each others lives, something we haven't been able to do for a very long time. Soooo, there were no husbands, no children, no relatives....just the two of us. We laughed, cried, commiserated and were happy to be together. BTW, the children killing each other behind us belong to the nice man that took our photo by the big chair at UW-Madison's student union.

A Garden Only a Mother Could Love

2009-07-27T15:54:00.007-04:00

When we first moved to Wisconsin we planted a garden with my brother and sister-in-law. It is located at some friends of theirs, the Buckley's who have a farm and lots of land for planting. Well, that was almost six weeks ago and we hadn't set eyes on it since and needless to say it was engulfed in weeds. But the four of us got to it and weeded and weeded and weeded. The good thing about large weeds is they give you a lot to grab onto so you can pull. Just one weeder/waterer

Now two

Then three (I'm taking the photos)
BTW, they don't let us use the big equipment!

Can you believe it, under all those weeds were tomatoes, radishes, a few peas and some peppers.

Oh, the Stockholm Art Fair, we went and you can read all about it and see some pics on my other blog Threads of Inspiration.

Stockholm Art Fair

2009-07-17T14:16:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow we are going to the Stockholm Art Fair in Stockholm, Wisconsin. The village is along the Mississippi River and beautiful. It is juried and will feature about 100 artists. I'm looking forward to it. I'll take my camera and share what I find.

Free Designs

2009-07-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite free things on the web is Dover Publishing's weekly free, downloadable designs. They send you an e-mail with a large selection of copyright free images. They can be anything from astrological symbols to dinosaurs to victorian holiday vignettes. Go here to sign up for them. As you can see some are in full color and some are black and white.

S'mores

2009-07-15T08:13:00.000-04:00

The other night we had an old fashioned, childhood treat...s'mores! We couldn't find the marshmallow roasting forks or any long sticks in the yard so I improvised...with these forks for lifting turkey out of the roasting pan. The handles are a little short but marshmallows roast fast. They were splendiferous! (the s'mores and the turkey lifters)

Poppies

2009-07-14T15:55:00.007-04:00

Poppies are beautiful when they are blooming, but I think I like the seed heads as much, if not more. The composition they create seems very skeletal and spare. I would like to make some drawings of them (I'm posting the drawing idea as a challenge to myself!).

Relaxing

2009-07-07T14:11:00.003-04:00

I celebrated the holiday with visiting family. With the cooperation of the weather (sunny and about 78 degrees) we had a picnic. The food was great, the conversation lively and all was well.

Strawberries Again!

2009-06-29T13:54:00.004-04:00

We moved to Wisconsin about two months ago from Virginia and because of the timing of our move, we have been experiencing a second spring. One of the major advantages of that is two strawberry seasons!!! They are locally grown too. This time I mostly ate them as strawberry shortcake with cream and a little whipped topping. Mmmmmm, Mmmmmmm, Mmmmmmm!

Rhubarb Custard Pie Update

2009-05-15T14:34:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let you know, the Rhubarb Custard Pie, which I hadn't tried when I posted the recipe, was GREAT!!!!!!

Rhubarb Custard Pie

2009-05-14T15:31:00.003-04:00

Well, we are now officially living back in the midwest. One of my first midwestern things to do was make a rhubarb custard pie with my mom. Haven't tried it yet, but we made one last year from the same recipe and it was delish! Here it is:

Rhubarb Custard Pie

Double Pie Crust from your favorite recipe

3 eggs

3 Tbsp milk

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

4 cups rhubarb, cut up

1 Tbsp butter

Beat eggs slightly and add the milk. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg and stir into the egg mixture. Mix in the rhubarb. Pour into an unbaked pastry lined pan. Dot with butter. Top with second pie crust. Brush milk and dust sugar on top of crust. Bake at 400 for 50 to 60 minutes.

From St Joe's Parrish Cookbook

Menomonie, Wisconsin

2009-04-29T16:54:00.005-04:00

There was a wind a few days ago and while on a walk we found these sweet little bird's nests on the ground. On the same walk we went down a path

and found wisteria in full bloom everywhere. There were lots of bees too, you could hear them from quite a ways away.

Really Fresh Asparagus

2009-04-23T11:46:00.002-04:00

Two days ago it was finally ready!

We have had wild asparagus come up in the field behind our house before and we have been scanning it for a few weeks hoping to find a spear or two poking out of the grass. We found some old dried stalks from last year (the ones we didn't find) and at the base of one it looked purplish green, so I carefully broke off the top in sections. Inside was the beginning of a new spear only about two inches long. We have been watching it grow an inch or two a day and finally it was ready to eat. We decided to just eat it raw. My husband and I took turns taking bites off the top and after about four total bites, it was gone. Mmmmmmmmmm, it was tasty.

Cookbooks

2009-04-21T12:25:00.004-04:00

I really like to cook and having a nice selection of cookbooks is a real treat. We are moving soon and I plan on marking the cookbook boxes with a big red mark so I can open them first and get to it! That might not be on the first night though!

Photoshop Play

2009-04-20T15:08:00.003-04:00

I spent some time last night teaching myself a bit more Photoshop. This image was created playing with layers. I really like this collage...all of the photos I used you've seen on this blog in the past, but now they have been combined and layered and colored differently. It was a lot of fun.

Violets

2009-04-16T10:37:00.003-04:00

Is there anything lovelier than a bunch of violets? They are all over my yard.

Goats

2009-04-14T13:29:00.005-04:00

There is a field near my home that has always had goats and once in awhile sheep, a llama and a calf or two. But always goats and usually baby goats. A few months ago all of the animals were gone and didn't come back. We were sad because if we were ever feeling down we would go park our car by the goat field and watch the babies romp around. You couldn't leave without feeling a lot better.

This morning my friend Connie called to tell me the goats were back! I immediately went by the field to see them and take some photos. Here are the cute little goats.

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Strawberry Season

2009-04-11T14:34:00.004-04:00

There are strawberries everywhere. I made these chocolate covered jewels to take to some friends for dinner last night...accompanied by ice cream. What a tasty treat and as easy as pie.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

8 washed and dried strawberries

1 ounce semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 Tbsp cream

dash of almond extract

Combine chocolate and cream in a microwave proof dish. Microwave at 50% for about a minute. Watch closely so it doesn't burn. Remove from microwave and stir in almond extract. Let cool for about a minute. Dip strawberries in chocolate and place on parchment or wax paper to cool and harden. Ready to eat in about 10 minutes. Yum!!!

More Spring

2009-04-07T11:05:00.002-04:00

Hi! I was wondering what I might blog about today and my eyes lighted on these cheerful little egg bunnies I made quite a few years ago. There is really nothing like having fun little handmade things around your house. I hope you find time in your day to make something with your hands today...maybe it will be a quilt, a new garden or lunch. Whatever it is, remember to delight in the act of creating.

Signs of Spring

2009-04-06T13:49:00.004-04:00

I was out for a walk this morning and decided the flowers around my yard needed to find themselves in a spring photo montage. Enjoy!

Another fun thing I've been doing is making a doll from a pattern from a book dated 1938. Go here to see the full story.

Elizabeth Berg

2009-04-01T14:27:00.003-04:00

Well, hello there. It is spring and I am finally back to blogging. The daffodils are covering the hillside near my home and the redbuds have just started drawing their purple lines through the forests. This is all fine and dandy, but one of the best things that has happened is I've found a new great author, Elizabeth Berg. I discovered a shelf of her books in my local library. The first book I read was "The Art of Mending" then went to "A Year of Pleasures." She seems to speak so well about emotions in tough situations and how the characters work their way through them with grace. I'm happy to say, that she is a prolific writer so I will have many fine hours of reading. You can go to her website here.

The Ocean

2009-02-24T14:20:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago John and I sold one of our businesses and people kept asking us what we had done to celebrate. Our answer was generally a blank stare. So, I woke up on a Saturday and said "Let's go to the beach." It is a ways away, but there is nothing like the beach, so we went. Maybe the sound of the surf or maybe looking out into the vast expanse of water, I always feel renewed.

Good Bye Java Java

2009-02-22T15:07:00.003-05:00

After much thought and some anguish, we have closed Java Java, one of the most beautiful coffee shops in Charlottesville. We met many great people, both customers and staff. A lot of intersting things happened there...books were written, tests were studied for, friends were met and great coffee, tea and conversation were served up. Here are some pictures and a fond farewell.

Looking Forward to Warm Weather

2009-02-05T11:30:00.002-05:00

It is really cold today, but tomorrow is supposed to be nearly 60 degrees. I can't wait. I thought I'd post this image of these beautiful birds to remind everyone that warmer weather is ahead.

Ice Storm

2009-01-31T10:07:00.006-05:00

This past week we had an ice storm. For an ice storm it was o.k. because the roads were o.k., everything else was icy though, even the grass. I braved the elements and went out and took a few pictures. Actually, I just stepped out my back door onto the deck to take these. >

I love these icy rose hips and thistles.

Happy Tuesday

2009-01-27T11:48:00.001-05:00

Here is a little guy waving up at you. Happy Tuesday!

Batesville Store

2009-01-26T14:23:00.003-05:00

There is a small country store about 10 minutes from our house in the village of Batesville. On Sundays from 1:30 to 3:30 they have an old time country music jam. My friend Connie (in the green shirt) likes to go and play. She plays concertina and piano. She is a great musicians and teaches at her home which is also her music studio...Rainbow Ridge Music Studio.

The store has a little deli so you can get a cup of tea or coffee and lunch if you want and sit and listen to music. You can also play a game of chess or for a more 21st century activity, it has WI-FI so you can check your e-mail. If you're looking for me on a Sunday afternoon, you might try the Batesville Store.

Blue and White

2009-01-07T11:56:00.004-05:00

I love blue and white dishes. This is a small collection of teapots that I have. They sit on a cabinet right across from the counter I do a lot of cooking and chopping so I can look at them all of the time. The darker one on the right I got from my brother when I was in college and I love it. The pitcher in the center was from my grandparents cabin and I remember my grandma serving ice tea and kool-aid in it.

Hello from me and the pets

2009-01-06T15:37:00.002-05:00

Last night my dh took some photos of me with my dog, Tia. When I downloaded the photos I had a surprise, my cat Phoebe got into the act as well. Happy Tuesday!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T14:37:00.003-05:00

I am so happy to be in a new year...I was definately ready for the old one to pass. I put a zodiac diagram up in the hopes the stars hold some magic this year!

I spent New Year's Eve with my husband at our friends, Phil and Libby eating great food, drinking a little wine and watching Love Actually. It is a great holiday movie, and it continues my Hugh Grant film festival. Before we watched the movie Libby and Phil kept saying, "Don't you remember this part....don't you remember that? I didn't remember any of it except the Hugh Grant parts. That is good in a way because it was like a whole new movie to me! And it confirms my adoration of Hugh Grant!

Etsy Listings

2008-11-22T15:07:00.004-05:00

I am happy to say I finally got some holiday ornaments and gifts listed on my etsy site, so you can click here to go see little santas, penguins and some pincushions. Hopefully I'll be putting more things up soon.

Rock Stack

2008-11-18T12:15:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we cleaned up a small garden in the back of our house. We have a bunch of rocks that we were planning on making a garden wall with in a different part of the yard, but haven't gotten to that yet. I really like piles of rocks placed in stacks...there is a japanese name for this, but I can't remember it right now. So, I took some of the rocks and made my own little stack in the garden.

Dog Clothes

2008-11-17T15:53:00.002-05:00

Why do we think it is so funny to dress our animals in clothes?

Rainbow

2008-11-16T15:59:00.002-05:00

Yesterday my husband and I were driving home in the rain...the last two days have been really dreary. All of a sudden there was a break in the clouds and the sun pierced through and behind us was the most beautiful rainbow. I made him pull over so I could take a picture. By the time I took the picture there was only a small portion left, but the colors were very intense. So, here is the end of the rainbow!

Rose Hips

2008-11-12T11:29:00.003-05:00

We have a wild rose bush growing on our land and it has developed a huge crop of beautiful rose hips. I like to gather them and dry them for decorating the house during the holidays.

Tree Hug

2008-11-09T15:47:00.004-05:00

It looks like this photo was taken in the middle of six trees, but really I am standing in the middle of one tree! It is a tulip poplar and the trunk is very short and it quickly branches into seven large branches (although you can only see six, because one takes a sharp bend outward). They reach, it seems to me hundreds of feet into the sky. I really like standing in the middle of them. It is always peaceful and quiet.

Hope

2008-11-05T12:02:00.003-05:00

This morning, it seems to me, there is hope in the world. I may have felt this no matter who had won the election because I am not, to say the least, a fan of George W. Bush. But last night as I watched the returns and looked at the faces of Americans on TV that were every color, age, and description I cried, more than once. If we can elect as president a person who looks different from most of us because of his ideals and the kind of person we believe him to be, maybe we can begin to look at everyone we meet with the same sense of possibility. That is hope.

Election Day

2008-11-04T15:17:00.002-05:00

Well, it has finally come...Election Day. I went this morning at about 9:10 a.m. to cast my vote. The party of my choice was passing out cookies to those with bumper stickers toting their candidate, so I helped myself to a ginger snap. After being fortified I went inside to cast my ballot. There was no line, I walked right up to the voting official, was handed a ballot and was done in about five minutes. I was voter number 513 and the polls had been open for three hours, so it must have been really busy before that. Now for the last of the waiting.........

Hugh Grant

2008-11-03T13:27:00.003-05:00

I really like Hugh Grant. First, I think he's cute, but I also like most of the movies he has been in. Given that, I went to Netflix and filled up the queue with Hugh Grant movies and started my own Hugh Grant film festival. So far I have seen Impromptu, About a Boy, The Englishman that Went up a Hill and Came down a Mountain. Notting Hill is the next one waiting for me. I have seen these movies before, but it is fun to re-watch what I know I like. My husband is being a good sport about it but refuses to see Notting Hill again, so I'm on my own for that one. I asked him who he would want to base a film festival around (I refuse to let it be Angelina Jolie...those lips gross me out) and he decided on Gwenyth Paltrow. I'd be happy to sit thought those films too. But for now, I'm enjoying Hugh.

Cute Santas

2008-11-02T13:18:00.003-05:00

I made these fun little Santas. They can hang on your tree or collect a bunch and put them on your mantle. I'll be listing them on my etsy site in a day or two. I've also got some in green and blue.

Studio Fun

2008-10-30T16:15:00.002-04:00

I have been spending a lot of time in my studio lately because there is a community market this Saturday. I'm planning on having some nice little gift items for the holidays. I made these cute little pin cushions and really had fun making them. They are made with decorator fabrics and have vintage buttons in the middle of them.

Cooking Memories

2008-10-24T11:34:00.005-04:00

Last night, well early this morning actually, I was laying in bed not sleeping thinking about crudy stuff. I decided that I needed to change my thoughts around so I started by thinking of all of the things that I've really enjoyed cooking. I thought of a beautiful Pizza Rustica I made years ago...don't remember how it tasted but it was so pretty I took a picture of it.

Then I remembered one Christmas when I was probably in Jr. High and my dad was helping my brother and I make some appetizers for Christmas Eve dinner. We decided to make a snowman out of braunschweiger spread. It was really soft so didn't hold it's shape...and who ever heard of a pinkish-brown snowman? It had a radish root nose. We thought it was the greatest...my mom wasn't so sure though!

The great thing here is I went from being pretty down to having a good time with my memories.

Chocolates

2008-10-20T13:39:00.004-04:00

On Friday we went down to Roanoke, Va and discovered a store called chocolatepaper. It had cases and cases of chocolates and truffles and racks and racks of funny greeting cards. The chocolate was not only candy-candy, it was also eye candy!

Of course, we got a couple of chocolates...mine was a milk chocolate turtle with cashews. It was good, but I have to say my grandmother's homemade ones were better. I may have to hunt up her recipe and try some during the holidays.

Obama Rally

2008-10-19T16:24:00.005-04:00

Friday was my husband's birthday (50!) and we couldn't decide what to do. The night before we were listening to the news and heard that Barack Obama was going to be in Roanoke, VA for a rally. Well, that is only about an hour and a half away so we went. We got really good seats, except we were facing his back! He turned around a few times but every time he did the guy in front of me waved his little flag like crazy so my photos turned out a little weird. That is why you get to see my best photo of his backside! The whole experience of an orchestrated rally was very different from the other time I saw a president - Bill Clinton. He had already been elected, but not inaugrated and there was no stage craft in the presentation. I'll reveal it all after the election!

Heron

2008-10-16T16:11:00.005-04:00

Every day I drive along the Rockfish River, which is quite beautiful. Often I see an amazing gray heron in the middle of the river standing on some rocks. It is such a treat to see this amazing bird. I think it is a Little Blue Heron which is shown on this page of the Roger Tory Peterson Guide to North American Birds.

Rumi

2008-10-15T11:53:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite - actually, my very favorite - poet is Rumi, a 13th century poet and philosopher. This is one of my favorite quotes:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.

---Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Face Class

2008-10-14T16:16:00.003-04:00

On Sunday I taught a class on making embroidered faces, similar to the one in the photo above. It was a great time and I'm really grateful to the nine women who took the class and made me feel welcome. For the whole story, go here.

Timberlakes

2008-10-10T14:11:00.002-04:00

There is an old timey drugstore in town that has a lunch counter and soda fountain in the back. It is one of my favorite places to eat lunch...tuna salad on wheat with pickles, a bag of chips and a real cherry coke. The inside hasn't changed since it was built and even the women that work behind the counter have 50's hairdos. It is a real blast from the past.

Fall Picnic

2008-10-08T11:30:00.005-04:00

On Saturday I went out to Beaver Creek Reservoir with my husband and had an impromptu picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day. As I walked along the water little minnows scurried around and frogs plopped in the water.

I also came upon a bright cardinal flower standing all by itself along the water's edge

and a cork floating in the weeds.

Signs of Autumn

2008-10-04T11:03:00.008-04:00

This morning I went to the Charlottesville City Market and took my camera. The air is cool - not crisp yet, but very nice. I saw lots of signs of fall, pumpkins, squash, gourds and mums. There is a football game today as well. Enjoy the images.

I also saw my old friend Jackie who makes all sorts of lotions and potions, spins her own yarn and makes sweet little knitted stuffed bunnies.

Advent Calendars

2008-10-03T15:07:00.005-04:00

In July I was commissioned to replicate an old advent calendar for a customer. She wanted four of them to give to her grandchildren. It was quite a bit of work because each calendar had 24 little ornaments-one for each day of December-that get snapped onto a tree. If you are doing any multiplying that is 96 ornaments...whew! This morning is finished the last stitches and got them to her. She was happy and so was I!

Chicken Story

2008-10-01T15:35:00.005-04:00

My friend Connie lives on a beautiful piece of land where she raises ducks, chickens and has an old golden retriever. The ducks are pets with names and Connie and her family eat the eggs, which she says are wonderful. They got a flock of chickens awhile ago to raise for the eventual purpose of dinner. There was one chicken in the flock they named Leghorn who was an unusual breed. When it came time to take the flock off to their end Leghorn escaped that fate and stayed on.

It turns out she missed her chicken friends and decided to make pals with the ducks. Everyday she would go down to the pond with them, but the ducks would go in the water and chickens hate water, so still she was lonely. She turned to the dog for companionship and the dog, surprisingly didn't mind. They have gotten to be such good friends that Leghorn will find the dog lying down, walk up on his back and pluck the ticks and fleas off of him. Connie says the dog has never been so free of ticks. What an odd symbiotic relationship!

Clouds of Pink

2008-09-29T16:49:00.003-04:00

Last fall a cloud of pink flowers appeared on a strange plant that is at the bottom of our driveway. I took a sample of it to the farmers market to see if anyone could tell me what it was and found out it is called Japanese Knotweed. It appears in the spring as strong stems that look like bamboo and grows about eight feet tall. In September large clumps of tiny flowers appear. They start as a pale pink and then open up to a beautiful pink. Unfortunately these are incredibly invasive plants but a really great flash of color when most flowers are finished.

Magical Driveway Watermelon

2008-09-17T14:34:00.005-04:00

We have had a vine growing near where we park our car for some time. We knew it was a volunteer but weren't sure what fruit it would be producing. We checked a few times and there were lots of flowers but no fruit....until two days ago! We found a small oval shaped thing. We weren't sure if it was a cucumber, zucchini or melon. Then we lifted it and it was so heavy we decided it must be a watermelon. Last summer we bought a few miniature watermelons at the farmers market and this must be one of the off-spring. What is kind of funny is it is growing from this compost pile but underneath is mostly gravel. If you've ever read The Findhorn Garden you would think we have spirits and faries around the place. Actually, I think we do!

Birthday Celebrations

2008-09-17T14:34:00.003-04:00

Well, I turned 50. Surprisingly it was not traumatic...I think I have been thinking about being 50 for about a year so that may have something to do with it. My husband sort of surprised me (he gave me so many hints I pretty much knew everything) by arranging for some friends to meet us at a local music venue and we heard some good music and ate some great food. That was a few days before the actual day. We had a nice dinner at a local restaurant on the day and a friend took me out for lunch yesterday. The celebration may continue for a few more days as I connect with more friends. It has been fun and there is still some cake left!

Just a Happy Day

2008-09-12T12:18:00.003-04:00

Well, I don't really have a subject today, but I thought these monkeys were funny. I took the photo this summer when we went to the county fair.

I had a great time speaking with the doll club in Richmond on Wednesday, but forgot to take my camera with me. The women were very nice and several more signed up to take the classes I will be teaching in October.

We continue to get more rain, which is great. The grass has gotten pretty long in just the last two days, so the mower needs to be employed soon.

My husband is planning a "surprise" 50th birthday party for me on Saturday. He isn't very good at keeping it a secret. Someone will call him about the party and loudly he will say "Oh, hi ________. I can't talk right now Susan is here." And then he'll barely move out of earshot. He really wants me to know he is planning something...and I do. Maybe he is the monkey!

Lecture

2008-09-10T13:13:00.002-04:00

Tonight I'll be in Richmond giving a talk about the dolls I make. The talk will be at Quilting Adventures from 6-8 and I will be speaking with their doll club. I think it should be a lot of fun and hopefully will have photos to post tomorrow. If you happen to be in the Richmond Virginia area come by.

Nameless Textile Group Meeting

2008-09-09T15:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday my textile group with no name met (we have been trying to come up with a name for about eight months now). We hadn't gotten together since May...once kids get out of school everyone seems to get too busy to find a common time to get together.

We caught up, laughed, told stories and had a good time. We have set up projects for ourselves and some are still finishing old ones. There was one that didn't inspire me (Medusa warmth...not sure what to do with that), so I'm skipping it. We decided on a small project (extra credit and optional) to make a dish towel, which could be functional or not. It is supposed to have a local theme as well...we defined local quite broadly, like we live in this state, in our country, on our planet and in the Milky Way. I'm guessing anything goes. I'll post a photo when I get it done.

Hands

2008-09-08T16:38:00.003-04:00

I had a massage today and it was wonderful. Helaine, the massage therapist, has hands that are magic. She is able to get all of the kinks and lumps out of my muscles.

These are not actually her hands, but I wanted a photo of some hands, so my husband filled in.

Max

2008-09-06T13:38:00.003-04:00

Max is the only pet I have that, up until now, had not made her appearance on this blog. Max is one of a kind. When we first adopted Max and her sister Phoebe, we kept them away from our other cat until they had all of their shots. The day I let them out seemed normal enough until I got my lunch. I took it into the living room, put it on the coffee table and sat down on the floor to watch the news and eat as I usually did. From out of nowhere came this flying kitten, who grabbed at my sandwich and tried to make off with it. That is how things started and after thirteen years, not much has changed. We now lock Max in her own special room whenever we get out food.

So, why is Max one of my blessings? Well, I really believe that everything that presents itself in my life is to inform me and teach me something. I think Max's lesson to me is to go after my dreams with persistence and determination.

I think Max's greatest dream is to be left alone in the house (no dog to find out what she is doing and thwart the effort) with the refrigerator door wide open and stocked with tuna salad, a whole roast chicken and maybe even an open carton of milk which could be knocked over easily to wash it all down. I think the lesson Max needs to learn from me is self-control!

Lists of Four

2008-09-05T11:48:00.005-04:00

I saw this great list on coyote craft and thought I would add to the fun.

Four places I go over and over: the grocery store, Java Java, my studio, the bathroom(!)

Four people who e-mail me regularly: Art Doll Cool Aberation, John, Barnes, Noble

Four places I would like to be right now: My studio, Nags Head, Bar Harbor Maine, Minneapolis

Four TV shows/programs I watch over and over: Well, we have one channel, so I dont really watch anything over and over, so I'm changing the question. The four radio show I listen to over and over are Talk of the Nation, Diane Rehm Show, Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Four things I have for breakfast: coffee, half and half, oatmeal, bananas

Four animals I like best: Cats, Dogs (mine especially) rabbits, wild birds

Four beaches I have been to: Nags Head NC, St John USVI, Bornholm Denmark, Rehoboth Beach DE

It's September

2008-09-04T15:05:00.003-04:00

Well, it's September. School has started again, leaves will be turning soon, apples are ripening and squirrels gathering nuts are everywhere. I hope you have a good September. Happy Birthday Mom!

Thanks to all of you that left comments. I really enjoyed reading about your happy moments and adding to the wonder.

Add to the Wonder

2008-09-03T13:53:00.005-04:00

Hi, I know I have folks who look at this blog and I was wondering, what is going great in your life? Add a comment to my blog so you can share the joy. Nothing helps it expand like writing it down and sharing it. Hope to hear from you and I hope you enjoy this great image from the farmers market. What abundance!

Susan

Doll Round Robin

2008-09-02T12:22:00.005-04:00

I belong to an on-line art doll round robin where everyone in the group started a doll and then sent it to another person to add to it. In all the dolls will go to eight people before they return to the person that started them. I have been working on "Colette" who was started by Gloria in New Jersey. I made her a face and gave her some arms and hands as well as a small bouquet of glass flowers. This has been a lot of fun and the dolls are going all over the world. Mine will be going to England, Japan and Australia as well as many places in the U.S.

Rain

2008-08-27T12:02:00.002-04:00

Every August I think the trees look so tired, their leaves turn a dull green and lifeless. This year it seems even more so because we have had so little rain. Today the remnants of hurricane Fay arrived and it is predicted to rain until Friday. The trees will be much happier. I'm grateful for the rain.

Haven Kimmel

2008-08-26T16:50:00.004-04:00

Several months ago I read a great book called "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir of her childhood and I don't think I have ever read a book that made me laugh out loud so much. This woman is hysterical. I was recently at a book sale and found her second book, "She Got Up Off the Couch." This is also a memoir of her childhood, focusing on her mother.

She is somehow able to tell her tales from the voice of a seven year old with a snarky edge, which is my kind of humor. If you really need a laugh read Haven Kimmel.

Wildlife Galore

2008-08-25T15:07:00.005-04:00

The end of last week was an amazing animal week. My husband was out walking the dog and he came in quite excited. Our dog, Tia started barking at a treetop, John looked up and saw a gorilla like thing. It started down the tree and it was a bear! Fortunately they each went in opposite directions. That same day starlings were circling our house and congregating in the trees, eating and chattering away. We also saw a pair of hummingbirds, rabbits, butterflies and as always deer galore!

I have Animal Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams which goes through Native American meanings of animals and it was really interesting to go through all of the animals. I am happy to report, good things are coming our way!!!!

Peaches and Great Views

2008-08-24T14:52:00.003-04:00

Today we decided to go up to Carter's Mountain Orchard. As suggested by the name it is on top of a mountain. They grow apples, peaches and grapes. We picked up half a peck of peaches and plan to indulge in them all week. Nothing like fresh picked peaches. The views on top of the mountain are spectacular too.

Wedding Album Rescue

2008-08-21T15:16:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my husband and I were delivering some stuff to our business and we were taking it in through the back alley entrance. We noticed someone had discarded a box a few feet away from the door so John took it to the trash area. When he dropped it he noticed a card fell out of it. He went and looked at it and discovered the contents were someones brand new wedding photo album.

Apparently someone had stolen it off a FedEx truck opened it, checked the card for money and discarded it in the alley. There was a NYC photographer listed as the shipper with a phone number. I called her and got the phone number of the bride. We called her and had it in her hands in about twenty minutes. We got to be heroes! It felt great!

Sean and Roy

2008-08-20T12:17:00.002-04:00

This is Sean and Roy. They are great baristas and they make me laugh. Laughing is good!

Onion Inspiration

2008-08-18T13:02:00.004-04:00

I took this photo of onions at the Farmer's Market on Saturday and was inspired to make one of my favorite recipes, Onion and Cheese Pizza. It is from Jane Brody's Good Food Book, one of my oldest, well-worn cookbooks.

Onion and Cheese Pizza

Crust
1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
1 pkg (1 scant tablespoon) active dry yeast
1 tsp. honey or sugar
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp. salt, if desired
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 to 1 1/2 cups (approximately) all-purpose flour

To prepare the crust:
1. Place the warm water in a large bowl. Add the yeast and honey, stirring to dissolve the ingredients. Let the mixture stand 5 to 15 minutes or until it is bubbly.
2. Add the oil, salt, whole-wheat flour and about 1 cup of the all-purpose flour, or enough to form a ball of dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead the dough for about 5 minutes, adding more all-purpose flour as needed to make a firm, smooth dough that is not sticky.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough to grease the top, cover the bowl lightly with plastic wrap, and set the dough aside in a warm, draft-free place to rise until it has doubled in bulk.

Topping

1 Tbsp butter or margarine

3 large onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

2 Tbsp grainy mustard

8 - 12 ounces Fontina or Fontal cheese coarsely shredded

1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp dried thyme

To Assemble the Pizza

5. While the dough is rising, melt the butter or margarine in a heavy skillet, add the onions, cover the skillet, and cook the onions over low heat for about 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Uncover the skillet, turn the heat up to medium, and continue to cook the onions, stirring them, for about 10 minutes longer or until they are golden. Remove them from the heat.

6. When the dough has risen, set the rack of your oven on the lowest rung and preheat the oven to 475.

7. Punch down the dough, divide it in half, and roll out half the dough (save the other half for another time or double the topping recipe given here) on a lightly floured surface into a 13-inch round, or 1 inch wider than your pan. Place the dough in a lightly oiled 12-inch round pan with a slightly raised edge or on a flat baking sheet and form a raised edge with the dough.

8. Spread the mustard on the dough, scatter the onions evenly over it, sprinkle the cheese over the onions, and top with the parsley and thyme. Place the pie in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Music at Rapunzel's

2008-08-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

Last night we wanted to get out and do something fun so we went to Rapunzel's, a little coffeehouse a few miles away. We heard Front Street a group of three that sing beautiful three part harmony and Thomas Gunn, a local singer/songwriter. I don't know how to describe the genre...my husband described it as singer/songwriter music...sort of folky, a little bit blue grassy, but neither of these. It was all accoustic and really great.

When we walked in you could smell the chunky chocolate brownies that had just come out of the oven, but I settled for a cup of chamomile tea.

Next Saturday The Buzzard Hollow Boys are playing...one of my favorites - hope we are able to go.

Farmer's Market

2008-08-16T16:19:00.004-04:00

This morning I went to our local farmer's market, which is always a great place to go. It is not a huge market, but I get overwhelmed with crowds and too many choices, so, in fact, it is just the perfect size for me. I took my camera and got so many amazing photos that I think I'll share them through out the week.

In addition to beautiful fruits and vegetables someone brought three cute puppies. The sign on the box they came in read "Your new best friend. Born July 4th." Despite their cuteness I did not take one home.

A Little Rain Today

2008-08-15T16:07:00.003-04:00

It has been really dry here, but today it rained for a little while. Yipee! I thought I would add a photo of a doll I made. She is called Water, a spirit of rain, oceans and all things wet. Maybe she will bring a little more rain our way.

Cookbook Shelf

2008-08-13T14:01:00.002-04:00

I really like to cook and this is a small portion of my cookbook collection - this is the shelf of classics. There is also a shelf for good but not classic, vegetarian, and miscellaneous books with such titles as My Fruit Kitchen, Shakes and Smoothies and The Smith Family Cookbook which was put together by my grandmother. I love having this assortment of recipes to work with.

Sweet Corn

2008-08-11T13:00:00.002-04:00

My good friend Barbara called me on Saturday and asked if I'd like some sweet corn. She had been gifted with a ton of it which her husband, son and grandchildren picked that morning. So we went and got a big bag of it. So we feasted on delicious sweet corn and had plenty to freeze. This winter I'll make some tasty corn chowder and remember that sunny summer day.

Another Rock

2008-08-07T11:51:00.003-04:00

While I'm on the subject of rocks, I thought I'd share this one. Earlier this summer I was home visiting my parents and I ran across this rock. I painted it while I was visiting my grandmother. I was about 11 (I'm not going to tell you how many decades ago that was!) . I brought it home with me and it sits in my livingroom reminding me to act 11 sometimes!

River Rocks

2008-08-06T11:00:00.004-04:00

We have a small collection of river rocks. They are smooth and the color variations are beautiful. We have collected them on various adventures, including hikes along a local river, the Baltic Sea on an amazing island in Denmark called Bornholm, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. They sit outside our back door, so when I go out I can't help but see them and the memories they hold come forth.

Rocks are also very grounding, so if you're feeling wonky, put some stones in your pocket - I almost always have some.

Object Making

2008-08-05T13:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I got to spend a significant amount of time in my studio which was great. I always feel content when I'm there. I was working on a set of four advent calendars I am making for a woman who wants to give them to her grandchildren. It is nice to get to make things that will help start traditions. I feel really lucky that I can create with my hands.

If you'd like to see some of my work go here. Enjoy!

Playing with Photos

2008-08-04T17:52:00.003-04:00

I played with some of the fair photos and had a great time manipulating them in Photoshop. I really enjoy this program-you can do some really neat things. Have fun comparing them to the originals below.

The County Fair

2008-08-03T14:25:00.006-04:00

Last night, as promised we went to the fair. One of the great things about the Albemarle County Fair is the location. It is nestled in a field surrounded by mountains.

We found all of the usual things...rides, games prizes and of course, food.

We found a booth that had ice cream sundaes and being hot, that seemed like a great idea. Now, I'm used to spending a fair amount of money on small amounts of gelato and gourmet ice cream. So, when these sundaes cost $4.50, I thought it was a lot, but figured it was the going event price . I never expected such a huge amount of ice cream, and not knowing this my husband and I each ordered one. It was tasty though.

Anticipating the Fair

2008-08-02T11:43:00.003-04:00

We are going to the county fair tonight. I haven't been to a county fair in a few years. I think part of the fun of this blog is finding things to post. I may have overlooked the fair otherwise.

Anticipation is half of the fun. Shall I get cotton candy? a snowcone? or something on a stick? I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Vacuum

2008-08-01T16:12:00.000-04:00

My dog, Tia is cute and sweet, but she is shedding. In big clumps. I'm thankful for my vacuum.

Cheryl

2008-07-31T11:43:00.000-04:00

O.K. I didn't post yesterday, so I'm posting twice today. I know you might be thinking that my conviction didn't last long, but I met my friend Cheryl for coffee yesterday and we talked so long I didn't have time to get on the internet. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

I met Cheryl about 21 years ago when we first moved to Virginia. We taught together and when we met it was like we had known each other always. Even though we only see each other now about once a year it still feels that way. We had a great time catching up.

Native Peace

2008-07-31T11:38:00.000-04:00

I did a doll trade with my internet friend Gail from North Carolina. I recieved her cool doll, called Native Peace two days ago. She has some holly berry beads, Gail's horses hair on her head and some really interesting painted strips on her back. Her shawl is knitted, felted and then embroidered on. She has a special place in my living room.

Phoebe

2008-07-29T11:38:00.001-04:00

My funny cat Phoebe knocked this dish off the counter and it landed in a sunny spot. Perfect for lazing away an hour or two!

Peaches

2008-07-28T11:24:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went to a peach orchard and got a bag of nice fresh peaches. I used some to make a salsa to go with the pork tenderloin my husband grilled for dinner. I chopped a peach, minced a quarter of an onion, a little green pepper, a clove of garlic, some rice wine vinegar and a little lime juice. Yummy!

Beginning

2008-07-27T14:43:00.001-04:00

Today is the first post on my new blog. My goal is to find something inspiring, beautiful or touching to post every day. I decided to post a photo of an egg in this pretty little blue and white dish. Blue and white are my favorite colors and eggs signify the beginning. I hope you enjoy this photo and it will inspire you to find something in your life that touches you.