Nan-girl's here!

Finally! I've gotten to meet a virtual bloggety-friend, in the flesh. We are no longer imaginary friends. Nancy is a writer with a rich family heritage. She's sensitive and funny, an encourager, a woman of faith, and she can rock a foil hat. You should visit her here. We like to talk to each other in movie quotes. So today, she's Nan of Green Gables, and I'm pretending to be Diana Barry. What? No raspberry cordial in the pantry? SNAP!

Nancy, you made me laugh so much!

But your ignored the rule: "stripes at dinner"

People break down into two groups. We're group number one. Miracle girls.

Minor bit of trivia - Nan-girl has the same map hanging in her home. Apparently we both spent our honeymoons on Martha's Vineyard. And we both bought the same souvenir map. Freaky...

Life, lollies, lumps and bumps

This has been one roller coaster of a week. From the serious to the silly, I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. My first girl had her first girl in the land of the long white cloud- NZ. Being that they are 17 hours ahead of us, I got my times mixed up. I thought she had been in labor for 24 hours when in actuality it had been 39. All is well. While waiting for news of the new baba, I was also waiting on results of a biopsy I had to have for two lumps found on my person. Got the news Friday - benign. All is well. Also, I received a package of happy in the mail from the new mommy - a beautiful tunic and my favorite lollies - yippeeee!

Thank you Lord for new babies, safe deliveries, all those who took the time to call and text to keep us posted as labor progressed, pictures taken by Uncle Euan, the prayers of faithful friends, sheep that make merino wool, and lollipops. It is well with my soul.


Counting blessings


456 - presenting Tilly Ayla Angharad with her thankful parents


457 - strong women - she/they look pretty darn cute for 39 hours of labor


458 - Chupa Chups


459 - my new wool tunic and tons to smile about





Joining Ann today

What would happen if......

I must confess that I've been a lazy blogger of late. A lot has been going on--some joyful and some difficult. I've been feeling emotionally spent, but through it all, God is good, and it is well with my soul. I've missed visiting all your lovely blogs and am playing catch-up to your posts, reading and commenting.

So - about the title of this post. If someone asks me what type of artist I am, I would say mixed media. But I like to call it "What Would Happen If...". God wired me a particular way. It is essential for me to always be making things. Whether it's a painting or soup doesn't matter. I need to be creating something--it doesn't feel right if I can't. It's how I recharge my batteries. The funny thing about it is that I'm always more interested in the process than the outcome. Except if it involves food--then I want the outcome to be good, especially if I am feeding someone other than myself!

But anyway, I get these ideas. Like - what would happen if I took a hundred year old screen door and treated it as if it were a gi-normous embroidery or crewel-work canvas? And what would happen if I drew a design on the screen door with oil pastels (because they stick). And then started to crewel/embroider over that design, embellishing it with some antique buttons and other textile scraps that I have lying around in my studio? What would happen? Will it be hideous? Would it be amazing? Haven't a clue. But I am curious. So here we go.

Who has a hundred year old screen door, you may ask. Me. I have five actually. I bought them for a dollar a piece, which I think is pretty good, considering I've seen them in antique shops for seventy-five dollars or more. One has been put on our henhouse. This one sits on sawhorses in my studio.

And the three others are stored in the garage waiting to discover their life's re-purpose. I'm open to ideas.

Bon Anniversaire

Counting blessings


455 - celebrating today 30 years of marriage. It was a wonderful day. Lunch at our favorite museum. A walk along the river. And the planting of a fig tree in our garden. Just perfect in our estimation.

All in a Day's Work

I taught a hearth cooking class today. Gingerbread cake, fried apples, shortbread, and whipped cream--delicious autumn. Anyway, my prep work finished earlier than I expected, and I was able to wander around the farmhouse before the students arrived. I love the soft light that fills the rooms on a sunny day. I snapped a few pics with my cell phone while fully dressed in colonial garb. That must have been a sight. So here's a glimpse of a day in October, 1798.

Might as well face it, you're addicted to love chairs

A while back I wrote a post called Come Sit a Spell. Click on the link to read my admission to the world of my addiction to chairs. Yep, with apologies to Robert Palmer, I may as well face it.

While perusing the local thrift shop, my eyes fell upon this charming creature. She filled all the Curious Acorn requirements (enumerated in the aforementioned post) for coming home with me. Or should I say us--the mister was with me, and he was smitten as well. The seat just shouted COMFY. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO SIT HERE. And the clean upholstery has a retro circle design. I like circles. So needless to say, we brought it home and it placed it where our 100 year old rocker used to be.


The centenarian has been retired to the comfort and quiet of our boudoir. Her wicker bones have been creaking and cracking in increasing measure as of late. She has braved many a year of plopping teenagers and small fry who rocked with the zest of a rodeo rider on a bucking bronco.


We also scored some vintage Pyrex bowls, which has been helpful since we've had a few casualties in that department lately. Oh, and there's that spindle thingy, too. I know I said before that I only thrift things that are useful as well as beautiful. I'm not really certain of its use...*cough* But sometimes pretty to look at is good enough.