Lovely World

fair

We went to the agricultural fair in Cummington, MA this weekend. I believe it is the oldest continuously-running small fair in the country. We brought my nieces with us, and that made it quite a fun time for the kids. There were rides (which I never go on because I get seriously motion sick), all sorts of animals, cattle and horse draws, amazing displays of vegetables and flowers (check out the canning display above), lots of fair food (fresh cut french fries and lemonade were our favorites), entertainers, an antique tractor parade, and much more. I liked the collection of "Pinecones of America" that someone entered in the fair (it won a blue ribbon!). It reminded me of my own recent pinecone making. Also, the bottom photo shows the kids at the Westfield River. It was such a glorious day that we stopped for a swim before the fair.

Two things of note:

(1) There was a demolition derby Friday evening. I have never been to one of these before. It was quite odd watching cars drive around crashing into each other. The kids and my husband thought it quite thrilling. I was worried most of the time about the drivers getting injured. I will not go out of my way to attend such an event again.

(2) There was a small building dedicated to homing pigeons. These birds were so beautiful. There were members of the regional homing pigeon club giving out information and showing off the birds. I was fascinated by the animals and the way they are raced. They can find their way home from over 600 miles away. I don't think I'm going to pick this up as a hobby - but I did admire the birds.

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The talented Lucy of A Black Pepper is having a sweet give-away! Check it out.

in process

I have been settling into some satisfying craft work. I will definitely be doing the Northampton Twist Craft Fair in November, so am building up some inventory. I am also hoping to finally put some more things in my etsy shop.

The kids go back to school early next week. I think they are ready. I know I will do well with a more predictable schedule. The summer has been very much a by-the-seat-of-your-pants time. Every day a little different. That embroidery in the final photo has been my motto of sorts.

A lovely breeze has blown in some of the best weather of the season. No humidity, warm sun. I harvested basil (for pesto) and some of the late raspberries today. My son and I taste-tested the apples from our three apple trees. I think the deer like them best. Tomorrow we head to the Cummington Fair. The last hurrah to summer.

PS. The needlecase with the embroidered rabbit is from Tiny Happy (Thanks Melissa!).

wandering into thursday

I'm a little late for GardenMama's Wandering Wednesday, but here is my go at it.

We've had quite a breeze over the past couple of days, and there is tremendous windfall off the apple trees. The deer are happy.

An old pine came down earlier in the month. The clean-up is almost complete. The stump smells of the sweet scent of pine forest.

orpheus

I have been obsessing over Anais Mitchell's "Hadestown" for the past couple of weeks. It is a fantastic CD of the twenty songs that make up her folk opera based on the Orpheus myth and set in a post-apocalyptic American depression era. My kids are getting sick of listening to it, but I can't help myself and play it again and again. I was not familiar with Anais Mitchell until I found "Hadestown." She reminds me a bit of Kate Bush (someone I listened to a lot back in the day).

Aside from the songwriting and score - the "cast" of "Hadestown" makes me giddy. Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) is Orpheus. Greg Brown (who I have listened to since college back in the late 1980s) is Hades. Ani DiFranco is Persephone. Ben Knox Miller is Hermes. The Haden triplets are the fates, and Anais Mitchell herself sings the part of Eurydice.

I've included a photo of an illustration of Orpheus taking his forbidden peek at Eurydice, losing her forever. Hermes hovers in the background. It is from the D'Aulaire's "Book of Greek Myths." If you don't have a general reference of the Greek myths, I recommend this one. My kids have read and reread the myths, and the illustrations are good. You can often find used copies at booksales and the like.

And the last photo? I'm starting more sewing projects in my work room - while listening all the while to this CD!

wandering wednesday

Adrift but Afloat:  Thankfully, I have wandered into my workroom today. It has been very difficult to make time to sit and craft this summer. It has worn on my mind and mood. It is proven that exercise raises endorphins and brings a sense of well-being. I would argue that crafting does the same for me. Otherwise my mind can become dull and unfocused.

Following along my explorations of the sea, I began making a boat today. I found inspiration in a beloved book that I own cataloguing antique toys (you can see it open on my work table in the photo). The toy boats all have wheels for pulling along. I'm not sure I will add this detail to mine. But, I have lots of other little details to make - a flag, oars, and other things nautical.

Can you spot my growing collection of pinecones in the photo?

Curious to see more wanderings for this Wednesday? Head on over to lovely Gardenmama and have a look.

pinecones again

I'm pleased to tell you that Nicole over at GardenMama has posted an interview with me about the crafts I have been making to honor the creatures of the sea and shore. Remember that sea anemone-inspired crochet-covered stone I posted last week? She is offering it as a give-away! So, head on over and leave a comment on her post if you are interested in winning the stone.

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I have continued to make pinecones this week. I have stitched while sitting in bed before going to sleep, while watching "The Hobbit" on video with my kids, while sitting by the town pool in the heat of the day. I have begun to ask myself why I make such time-consuming, detail-oriented craft. I like the quality that comes with taking the time. I like the process of becoming totally engaged with a project. I like to get things just right. Our strengths and weaknesses can be one and the same more often than we think.

birthday boy

Happy birthday to my little boy.

Today you are 7.

You are busy, kind, a good friend.

I told you to stop growing so fast. You said you'd try, but you didn't think you could. That is okay. I enjoy watching you become the person that you are meant to be.

pinecones

Making pinecones again. Pinecones make me think of winter somehow, yet here I sit in the humid heat of August. It is a sticky, drippy, drowsy heat. Thank goodness for the occasional breeze to provide some respite. My kids are home for the rest of the summer - no more camps. It is nice to have this free-form time together before school starts at the end of the month.

The bottom photo is of a lovely buck that visited the yard over the weekend. He stayed quite awhile, eating fallen fruit from our three apple trees. He was content. The tree in this photo is one of my kid's favorite climbing trees.

back home

 

Today I picked my 10-year-old daughter up from her two weeks away at camp in Vermont. This is the first summer she has been away to camp. The first time she has ever been away from home for more than a night or two. She had a fantastic time. It was just the two of us for the entire ride home, and I got to hear about everything. I'm so happy for her. I told her that this is just the beginning of her venturing away from home and family. We will always be here, with our love and support. This is her home. But, she will find many adventures and friends apart from us. I never thought I'd be at this place when she was born a decade ago, but it feels just fine.

sea anemone

I made this crochet-covered stone for a special reason. I can't tell you yet, but stay tuned! It continues my exploration of sea life. I patterned it after the sea anemone. These are such strange but beautiful creatures. I read this in my book "The Anatomy of the Sea" by Ponsonby and Dussart:

"The sea anemones are single polyps that can be found at any depth of in the oceans, from rocks on the coastal shelf to wrecks at the bottom of the ocean. Anemones can grow on the shells of crabs, where they feed on particles of food left by the messy eating of the crab. The poisoned barbs of the sea anemone help to protect the crab against predators. Some crabs will even snip a sea anemone off the rocks and attach it to their shell by its base. Other crabs will hold a sea anemone in a claw and wave it at predators to deter them."

Clever crabs! I love learning of these symbiotic relationships in nature.