GardenMama

.: Savoring The Peace & Joy Of Christmas :.

.: Hen house complete with the farmers and their flock! :.

We are truly loving every moment of these quiet days after Christmas. I was wishing for a visit from Queen Winter! She certainly did visit and gave us a very snowy Christmas!

Now the landscape around our home is covered in a blanket of fresh white snow and we are enjoying our Christmas tree for just a bit longer, (staying in our slippers and pajamas just a bit longer) and letting the gifts sit happily opened around the tree as we enjoy these peaceful days!

.: Ocean stones rejoin me in a  gorgeous new attire! :.

My very thoughtful friend Maribeth sent me these three gorgeous crochet covered stones. These are absolutely one of my favorite gifts! 

I had collected stones at the ocean near our home to send to Maribeth for her to use for her craft. She generously offered to craft one for me--and to my surprise she sent not one, but three!

These stones were a few I had collected for her. It was truly meaningful to have them come back to me in this most beautiful way. Each stone was collected in meditation and in turn I know Maribeth very mindfully adorned each stone.

.: The colors and sweetness of these gifts brightens my day when I see them in my kitchen! :.

A few other fun gifts (picked out by me during a visit to an antique shop near my mama's house) given on Christmas day from my mama... embroidered antique pillows, the sweetest little clock I ever did see with a 'Hansel and Gretel' scene, gorgeous antique tablecloths (some crocheted, others embroidered)  a sweet little snail planter, and antique kitchen tools that match the colors in my kitchen!

.:Amber is an advocate for animals--I think she would smile knowing my kitten is also enjoying her gift!:.

Amber and I were partners in a seasonal swap.  Amber shared with me very thoughtful gifts of handmade herbal-infused soaps and tealights, foraged wild Columbine seeds, handmade toffee, and a vintage glass insulator she so thoughtfully added to my small collection. 

The most nurturing gift she sent was a handmade pillow made from thrifted flannel. It is filled with sheep wool from a sheep Amber personally knows.  Not only does she know this sheep, she also sheared, washed, and carded its wool to add into this most treasured pillow.  Intoxicating scents of Lavender and Balsam also mingle inside this pillow, giving me the most magical sleep! My little kitten is constantly drawn to the beautiful scents!

.: I enjoyed giving gifts that once lived in the forest that I now made into something new! :.

This year I worked with a medium that was new to me. I cut lengths of branches from a recently fallen Birch tree and fashioned them into candleholders to give as gifts to family and friends. One also joined our Christmas table with evergreen branches sitting beautifully underneath! I created a puppet stand out of this fallen Birch tree for my children's puppets as well as many tree blocks and postcard holders that also were given as gifts.

.: Waldorf book of blessings and a crystal tealight holder for my eldest son sits upon our table! :.

My eldest son is enamored with gems and minerals. I thought this gorgeous crystal tealight holder would be a very well received gift!

This year we also started a new tradition that will include the creating of a new book of table blessings each year to be opened before our Christmas Eve dinner. It was inspired by this handmade version I purchased from our local Waldorf school.  We began this new tradition this Christmas Eve by allowing my eldest son to open this gift and read a blessing from it aloud before our meal.

.: I am enjoying watching, feeding, and photographing the birds! What a gift to have them visit! :.

Our feeders have been filled a few times already during the snow. We are enjoying watching the bird airport right outside our window! While one bird flies in to the feeder, the others wait patiently on the branch hanging overhead--and then back the first bird flies to let in another to the feeders!

.: 'Baby Zuku' our kitten enjoys some time watching the snowfall and birds outside the window :.

As the snow continues to fall, one of my favororite things to do is to wrap up in handmade quilts and read through our ever-growing stack of winter books!

.: I am quite taken by these little walnut and wool felt strawberries made by my eldest son! :.

While receiving thoughtful handmade gifts is lovely, it is giving that my family enjoys most of all! In the days before Christmas we had been so very busy creating. One of the sweetest gifts my eldest son created for his younger sister was this play set of walnut and wool felt strawberries! They are absolutely precious and have already seen so much play!
 

.: These creative books are inspiring us on these snowy days! :.

While reading winter books and enjoying the coziness of the accompanying illustrations, we are also enjoying a great big stack of books that nurture our creative spirits and our homelife together. It has been pure joy to pour through these books with my family! There is much inspiration to bring us right through the new year!

.: Be still my heart... My daughter is knitting!!! :.

One of my most cherished moments of Christmas this year was when my daughter received the one gift she wished for this year--her very own wooden knitting needles and rainbow yarn. 

She has been finger knitting but this was the first time she had asked for her own wooden needles.  I knit her just one row as an example and she said "Ok mama, can I do it now?" and off she went to my amazed yet not surprised eyes!  (To the mamas who have knitting little ones you know how full my heart is right now!)

.: My youngest son getting ready to slide down the hill and over a snow jump! :.

My little ones received sleds this Christmas, and so with the newly fallen snow we have been out sledding each day on the little hill behind our home.

.: There he goes down the hill and over the jump flying through the air!! :.

All three children found themselves today in mid-air while gliding over the jump they had made out of snow!
 

.: Time to go back in to enjoy the coziness of home! :.

And when their little cheeks were rosy like their Waldorf dolls they were ready to come indoors for some hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows. Our fluffy friend also enjoyed the snow for a little bit today while wearing his most gorgeous and full winter coat!

.: We are basking in the glow of these most cozy and relaxing days after Christmas and ever so ready to welcome in the new year with great joy! :.

.: Magic And Joy In The Garden :.

 

As the sun rose overhead our day was met with rising temperatures, making us remember our distant friend summer.  Remembering as if it were only yesterday, her visits were met most everyday while our feet were bare, our flower and vegetable gardens were overflowing, and the sprinklers were something to look forward to as much as a dance through the rain.

She is now here once again, this favored old friend 'summer' visiting with us on these days.

.: Dancing through the 'rain' :.

.: Tiny water droplets cooling us off on the warmth of this day! :.

Dancing, laughing, and running with the lush carpet of green grass underfoot, the sun at their backs and the refreshing 'instant' rain pouring down upon them reminds my children too of this season that is now upon us.

.: We are creating many new gardens and are enjoying finding toads and frogs residing among the new plants we have planted. :.

The green carpet outdoors holds within it many new friends.  Frogs and toads are making themselves known more and more with each new day. 

.: Daisies gathered from my mama's gardens so many years ago. They multiply very quickly and bring an instant air of happiness with them! :.

The gardens are bursting with color and grace. Each flower face is  held up tall rejoicing in the sun above and the rich cool earth below.

.: Peonies make such an incredible statement. Like a shooting star, they do not last long enough, but I remember them fondly each new year! :.

Magnificent Peonies charm us with their frilly dress, sharing such beauty in the gardens (as well as gathered up on our table.)

.: We have also found white and yellow honeysuckle growing wildly around our home :.

Honeysuckle and birdhouses call forth creatures of the sky. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bird families abound and find their rest in the garden.

.: Recently thrifted cheerful curtains that now hang in a craft studio I am currently preparing! :.

.: These wooden clothespins do not have to wait very long to do their job! :.

The sun mixed with air this time of year creates a perfect climate for continuous drying on the line. As you know it is a sight I never tire of!

 

.: My youngest son claimed this spot for his own, proclaiming it 'His land' :.

Little ones make homes in and around the gardens, finding special spots to call their own.  These Irises made for a pleasant surprise when they presented themselves this spring!

The Irises certainly like it here as they seem to have roamed and roamed all around this land creating breathtaking beauty all around.
 

 

.: A gift of Irises at this home. (I wonder if they have been here for one hundred years like the house?) :.

When I was a little girl my grandfather had incredible gardens. He would show me the faces on Pansies.

Now as an adult I see each flower as a beautiful lady, all dressed in her best and standing with grace and confidence.  Each flower has a face to share with us their unique personalities! 

.: Orange Poppies from Pa's garden, growing beautifully in this new place! :.

I carried some vivid orange Poppies from my grandfathers garden.  These are the poppies of my childhood, now standing here to witness my own children's childhood. 

In this new garden we have noticed that there are other poppies that were already planted here yet to bloom.  With anticipation I look forward to seeing what colors they will don for their dresses!

.: The first year planting lettuce in these vintage wash buckets. They are providing beauty and health right at our kitchen door :.

The vegetables have been planted and are growing by leaps and bounds. I sit and daydream of the moment when we will venture out with gathering baskets in hand to harvest the rows and rows we have planted.

This lettuce has already been joining our table. This year I chose to plant in large vintage wash buckets. I imagined this when we first moved here, anticipating stepping outside our kitchen door to collect lettuce for meals and green smoothies--and now also for our little baby bunnies!

.: May the magic that is found in the gardens bring joy into your days! :.

.: Treasures Old And New! :.

.: Vintage buttons joining my ever growing collection :.

This weekend brought my daughter and I to our local antique barn that I have spoken of fondly so many times before! Our last visit was before Christmas, so the owner and I had alot of catching up to do! As I arrived she was pouring over boxes upon boxes upon... boxes of vintage buttons she had recently found. They were in the very best place to find such a treasure--in the bottom of a box of linens! She told me of the fun she was having playing with buttons, sorting, matching, noticing, and then my daughter and I joined her in this fun game of hunting for treasure! She likened each vintage button to a piece of candy. I could not agree with her more!

.: Hand embroidered table linens that also came home with me on this visit to join my collection :.

Next she led me to all of her new hand-embroidered linens! She knows exactly what treasures I am interested in as we share this in common! As we began looking over her newest hand-embroidered linens she told us the stories of their provenance, when she thought each piece dated back to and shared the intricacies of each stitch and thread.  This was my kind of conversation, and my daughter was very much enjoying herself too!

.: A sweet embroidery from a friend, and a hand made card with my absolute favorite style of artwork!:.

Sara of Farmama must have sensed my connection with and excitement over embroidered linens, because much to my surprise I received a very special one from her in the mail upon my return home!

.: A wool ornament crafted with love to bring warmth and comfort along with the heart she holds for Kelly:.

Sara included two special linens for me that traveled along with her amazing ornament that she crafted with love and positive wishes for Kelly on The Wellness Tree blog.  (Please have a visit as I just posted new photos, banner and ornaments!)

.: A sweetly hand-sewn heart from Tonya that now graces my kitchen :.

It was a very good time for mail these past days. I also received a beautiful handwritten homesteading/ homemaking newsletter from Tonya of Plain and Joyful Living.  I appreciate handwritten letters as much as Tonya, and love how she has created something so lovely.  Included with her newsletter she made a very sweet hand sewn heart that now hangs in my kitchen.

.: A handwritten recipe bringing such a sense of connection and warmth :.

This newsletter includes recipes, sweet quotes from her children, guest writers, as well as a lovely design for a kitchen garden.

.: I appreciate Tonya's vision for this handwritten newsletter, it carries with it the spirit of New England:.

I look forward to continuing reading Tonya's newsletters, she publishes them throughout the year.  It gave me such a warm feeling while reading her words, making me feel a connection to home and community.  You too can receive her newsletter, I have posted it under my inspiration links.

.: As the butterfly seeks nourishment from the Milkweed plant, I found making these butterfly tags symbolic of my shop name and the meaning behind it. :.

This weekend was also one for creating. My neighbor and I have been getting together for tea and crafting in her cozy log home. We sit together in her incredible craft studio and craft and talk and laugh.  I made many new tags for my shop Milkweeds Photography and Art. I enjoy wrapping each gift that is ordered with beautiful papers, ribbons and hand stamped tags.  Here are my newest creations that are now in the shop!

 

.: I enjoyed this process from start to finish and appreciate using these lavender bags in my home :.

These new tags inspired me to add a new gift into my shop.  These muslin bags are brimming with the soothing scent of lavender. They are perfect to scent your bureau drawers, leaving your clothing smelling like your gardens in the summer.  These were the very first "Dream Pillows" that I made to add to our pillowcases.  Forming the inspiration behind my Dream Pillows that I wrote a tutorial for. 

 

 

These bags of lavender are also wonderful for scenting your car, leaving you feeling relaxed with each breath of this peaceful scent.

A favorite use of mine for these bags of lavender are in my dryer.  They scent my laundry room as well as gently scenting my clothing.  Small details like this bring moments of peace to me as I fold my warmed lavender clothing. 

May peace fill your days!