My summer has been spent living in the natural thrall of the river, the lakes, the mountains and in the
lush world of the gardens...Walking barefoot along the fields will quickly transition to heavier and
warmer forms of footwear! I have noticed a natural shift in my children and I in these recent days. They
have been asking to read extra books at night as the cool breeze floats through our windows. The new
air has triggered my own new season of nesting. I washed my collection of aprons today and took joy in
hanging them on the line. I sewed a holder for the clothespins that once belonged to my grandmother. I
love to smell the fresh crisp air on my linens and on my aprons that helped me bring in the harvest this
summer. Now they will be seeing lots of bread, soup and applesauce being made in September. This
nesting also takes the form of moving furniture around, making seasonal baskets of books in the living
room, and freshly re-organizing their toys in baskets to make them easier to bring alongside me as I do
my daily work.
I meditate with the comforting whirring of the sewing machine. Other moments my knitting needles click
as I watch my children play and learn alongside me. I am dreaming of flower bouquets
filled with warm-hued flowers and berries, of apple orchards, home pressed cider and the magic of
carving pumpkins and drying their seeds for a snack. I will enjoy these last summer days and love them
with all that I have--thankful for each moment and being present with the time my family is enjoying
together!
.: As my children play next to me I enjoy looking for new bread recipes. In this journal I have written my
best loved recipes from my family and friends. My eye glasses have a new spot in the case that I sewed
for them on this day.
.: I love to set up beautiful and inspiring play spaces for my children and I. What better a space than
under the shelter of a beautiful old tree. This tree provided a tent for us to play under the dappled
sunlight made leafy cutout shadows on our blanket making it known that we were playing in a very
special place.
.: Imaginative play being nurtured by this magical old tree. Golden fields set out behind us and
mountains set out before us inspiring our hearts and infusing play with the beauty found in nature.
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.: My daughter is busy sewing, this wooden sewing machine is brought to life in the hands of children.
She carefully follows the stitches that she watched me sew as I made this bag on my sewing machine
earlier in the day.
.: This rainbow of color adds the beauty of color into our day. It's arches also serve as bridges for little
wool dolls and shelters for our wooden animals.
.: Our wool-felted family receives a special ride through the sunlit grass and over the trails on our
blanket. Deep in play my son imagines the paths this horse will travel.
.: We enjoy a time for making art in this open air studio. I have sewn three types of holders that will hold
our beeswax block crayons, twig pencils, and hand made crayons with care.
.: This tree extends her limbs down to us offering more opportunities for our play...
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... and becoming part of our play.
.: Our days are even more special when Daddy is home to nurture us as he offers his open arms and
special thoughts about the day.
.: While my children are enjoying their time of play in their nearby tent made of the tree I enjoy hanging
my vintage aprons on the line, to look at them blowing in the breeze makes me smile.
.: Colorful flags signaling a friendly hello!
. : These aprons hold many memories both old and new, they hold a special place in our home life.
.: As I hang my aprons on the clothesline, I look back to my children and am warmed by their presence
and feel happy on this day.
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