Lovely World

turtle

I found this sweet children's book, "Plodding Turtle's Story" by Amy Prentice, at a church rummage sale a while back. The cover is especially charming, with the inset illustration of plodding turtle bordered by flowering trees with birds perched in them. The book was published in 1903.

I have always loved turtles. Even though they are slow moving, they are elusive, and I am always happy to see one in a pond, on a river bank, or crossing the road. (Actually, I'm not that excited to see them cross the road, because I fear they will be hit). When my husband and I decided to try to get pregnant for the first time, I remember coming across a female turtle laying her eggs in some sand along the Mink Brook in Hanover, N.H. (where we were living at the time). I stood there and watched, thinking it was a wonderful sign of good luck and fertility. Sure enough, I found myself pregnant not long after.

My son and daughter have been attending a summer ceramics camp for the past two years. It is a special place, with a kind and talented teacher who leads the children through the process of making beautiful clay pieces. Knowing my love of turtles, Miriam made this lovely, green one for me. It is large, about ten inches long. My favorite part is that she made a little clay heart, then sealed it inside the body. When I shake the turtle, I can hear the heart rattle about.

collection

My children like collections. They like gathering things up, and they like putting them together. These photos are taken in my daughter's room. She has a treasured collection of Hagen-Renaker ceramic animals displayed on a little wooden shelf. Some of these figurines were mine when I was a young girl. Many of them she has received from the tooth fairy. One night, at a loss for what to put under her pillow after she lost her first tooth, I remembered that I had a couple of the animals stored away for her birthday. I left one in place of the tooth, and it has become a tradition ever since.

The dolls on top of the dresser are Miriam's "fancy" dolls. Some were gifts, others she has found at yard sales and gift shops. The two on the far left are gifts her grandparents bought during a trip to Peru. She rarely plays with these; they are mostly for making a beautiful display.

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I want to thank all of you for the lovely comments you leave. I enjoy sharing, and hearing what you have to say. XO Maribeth

explorer

I have been preparing early for my son's 6th birthday, as his big day falls during our two weeks away at the beach in early August. I need to have everything made and wrapped before we leave. I sewed this explorer bag last week. He is interested in all things to do with exploring, spying, and investigating, and requested a "kit" to assist him with his "work." The bag is about 10 x 10 inches. It is made from a heavy cotton twill, lined with blue-striped cotton. I stitched on two badges he already had - one he earned earlier this summer from an Appalachian Mountain Club hut we stayed at in New Hampshire, and one he recently received as part of our local library's summer reading program. I anticipate adding new badges as he acquires them.

I purchased these items to go inside the bag: flashlight, compass, whistle, jackknife, notebook, and pencils. I still need to get a magnifying glass and some binoculars. I think I will also throw in some old vitamin bottles to use as collection jars, and a local map. I have tried to purchase good quality items. I continue to be amazed at the flimsy junk that is made for children. Adam had a compass and a magnifying glass that we found in the toy section of a local shop. The compass never really worked right, then broke, and the magnifying glass is blurry. Why do companies bother to make this stuff? I went directly to a camp outfitter this time, and bought the "real" thing. I think kids deserve this, and I also think they have more respect for and pride in their belongings if they are the real deal.

quotable sunday

Even poor or suffering people raise their children with deep love. Their hearts cannot be understood by others. This can be known only when you become a father or a mother. They do not care whether they themselves are poor or rich; their only concern is that their children will grow up. They pay no attention to whether they themselves are cold or hot, but cover their children to protect them from the cold or shield them from the hot sun. This is extreme kindness. Only those who have aroused this mind can know it, and only those who practice this mind can understand it.

Dogen Zenji

"Instruction for the Tenzo"

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I found this quote in a book I highly recommend:

Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood

by Karen Maezen Miller

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(The above photo is of my daughter holding a jar of blueberries

she and her friends picked at a local orchard.

They collected only the largest, bluest, juiciest berries they could find.)

circus

I found this paper circus at a neighborhood yard sale. It must be from the 1930s or 1940s. The pieces I have shown are about half of all those in the set. The set is in remarkably good condition for being made of heavy paper. Although I have strong feelings against the use of many animals in the circus, I do appreciate the spectacle and magic they hold. Speaking of the circus, if you haven't read "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, I would highly recommend checking it out. Her detailed descriptions of depression-era circus life in America are captivating.

birthday dolls

My son has wanted a new boy doll for a while now. He watches me make girly dolls and laments the absence of one modeled after him. His 6th birthday is coming up in August, so I knew I had to get going on this project. Here is what I came up with. He stands about 18 inches tall. I had a lot of fun playing around with more masculine fabric combinations. I also love the freckles. I'm going to make another boy doll with legs jointed at the hip.

Below is another of my Astrid dolls made for my niece's 5th birthday (I posted about her party yesterday). The vintage trim is so wonderful, with the blue flowers and red hearts.

girls

I was lucky enough to spend some time with my very sweet nieces this weekend (and their sweet brother as well). The older of the two had a party to celebrate turning five. We sat out in the yard enjoying the summer day, ate cake, ice cream, and watermelon, and the kids played party games and ran about with bare feet. Thank goodness for uncomplicated, happy times.

I never cease to be amazed by the three-year-old's hair. It is a mass of tight red curls. I'm sure it will take some patience to care for such hair, but I hope as she grows she appreciates her loveliness.

quotable sunday

Do not utter words that can create discord

and cause the community to break.

Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts,

however small.

Thich Nhat Hanh

from Being Peace

Harry Potter

As most of you probably know, the movie of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened this past Wednesday. I pre-bought tickets and we went to see it that day. I don't think I have ever pre-bought movie tickets before. We were all excited to go. The kids dressed up as Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood, wands and all. Adam even sported a lightning bolt tattoo.

My family has found much pleasure in the books, audio recordings, and movies of the Harry Potter series. We were latecomers to the series, reading the first book just two summers ago. I think that my daughter's love of the books pushed her as a reader. And, who doesn't love hearing Jim Dale's voice on the audio recordings?

Of course, lots of art work shows up to accompany any obsession my kids have. Harry Potter has been no exception. Above you can see my daughter's drawing of members of the "Order of the Phoenix." As she read through the series, she added the little flaps you can see above each characters name. Yes, it is a little sad and morbid, but I guess it was her way of keeping track and paying tribute to each of the characters she has grown to enjoy so much.

berries

Our raspberries are coming in at an incredible pace. We picked seven quarts last evening. Adam is all kinetic energy, dashing in and out of the bushes, eating every berry he picks. Miriam is now old enough to be a big help. She carefully picks the best looking berries to fill her basket. Our strawberries were a big disappointment this year. I think the rainy, overcast days really took their toll. We also had a noisy group of crows help themselves to many of the strawberries. We now have a scarecrow that is definitely keeping them from the rest of the harvest. I'm not sure how the blueberries will be this year. We had very few flowers early on. Same for the apple trees. Last year we had an incredible apple harvest. I had never seen the tree limbs so heavy with fruit. I think the trees are taking a break this year.