Merry Christmas!

A few photos of the holidays...





We are thankful for the good company of family and friends, good food, warmth and light, and good health.


The girls had their holiday concert at NEC. My middle child plays cello in first chair.


My oldest played viola and was lucky enough to have a few soloist parts.



Three little green monsters that I made for each of my girls...



A few cake topper sets which I completed just before the holidays...

Let it snow, let it snow, and snow and snow!

Well, that's what my kids are chanting anyways. Me, I could do with just a little less shoveling, roof icing issues, and icy paths to the house (not good for all the older family members that will be visiting in a few days). The kids say its like 40 days and 40 nights of SNOW! Not quite that much but it sure seems like it.

On December 11th school ended in a half day in anticipation of an impending ice storm. Who would have thought that this would be their last day of school for the remainder of this year? In fact they will return on January 5th! That night was a night of terror for us as we listened to tree branches breaking around the house. Like gun shots sounds rang out through the night from the nearby river bank. I worried about the tree branches that overhang our house.

By morning we were without power. I told the kids ... no power ... no school. So they went happily back to bed. We stayed warm in bed for a while and then went about getting the wood stove going. Rumors were that we wouldn't get power for at least 3 days! We tried cooking hot cocoa and macaroni and cheese. The woodstove worked great! The kids were thrilled by this whole procedure and I was pretty impressed at how quick things cooked. Why haven't we done this before?




We moved a comfortable chair and a few rocking chairs in front of the wood stove and the top part of one of the bed mattresses from upstairs onto the floor near the couch. The kids had a lot of fun though the lack of technology was always on their mind. My oldest daughter couldn't put the cell phone down as she txt msged her friends and played sudoku. For me it was a little stressful as there never seemed to be enough daylight. And candlelight was much dimmer than expected. Washing dishes by hand in water warmed up on the stove and searching for candles and camping gear in the dark basement. In any case we were one of the lucky ones to get our power back sooner. Many were without power for over a week. Shelters were set up at the school but with the cold weather and snow this was a difficult week for them. I was worried about water pipes freezing so I am thankful that we got our power back sooner than later.

A holiday greeting!

OK... a little later this year than usual. I have finally put together the outside of our family holiday cards this year. The girls each drew a tree in pencil and I assembled it with the text on this card. I did this by scanning each drawing into the computer. I added a little color to each and fixed any broken lines using "GIMP" on a mac. I miss my photoshop on the pc but that poor computer is still ill. Then I pasted each tree onto a single card and formatted it to fit on an 8.5x11 paper. We did this same card format with ornaments one year and I think I will continue this theme for a few more years (angels, snowmen, snowflakes, ....)

Let there be light!

Wow... I can't believe I have been struggling so long with taking photographs of my work. In general I am pretty happy with my photographs which is why I continued so long as I had. But it all depends on how much natural light I get. And a dark rainy day or evening doesn't work well. So that meant I was waiting for good light.

On Monday when I had no time and was pretty much overwhelmed with my custom work, Christmas holidays (I haven't even started on presents yet), house chores, taking children to orthodontists .... I sat down for an hour and made myself a light box. Such a simple thing gives such awesome results. I just took a cardboard box and cut out large squares in the sides and top. Then I cut white fabric sections to cover these holes and glued them to the cardboard.

Now I can take photos anytime of the day. I can't believe that I have struggled so long without this seemingly simple tool.

Saturday morning was breakfast with Santa at the elementary school. My daughter sang in the choir.



We have our Christmas tree up! Up to now I have felt that I've been too busy for Christmas. But just seeing the tree puts me in a good mood. Saturday at 4pm we went out up to Ashby and to a local farm. I miss the beautiful snow scene we enjoyed last year but it was nice to take home a dry tree. Of course we were practically choosing our tree in the dark (it was difficult getting everyone to agree) and it was dark by the time it was tied to the top of our van.

Our town Christmas tree lighting ceremony was Sunday evening. We gathered at the common to sing carols and then after the trees were lit all went to one of the local churches for more music and after hobo stew. Like all years we really enjoyed this simple moment of community.

Holidays ... on the way ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪

Its been some time since I last posted. Life got a little crazy when my husband was off to the emergency room with chest pains. And after all this time we still haven't figured out whats going on. In any case the symptoms he experienced haven't reoccurred recently so we all feel a bit relieved.

We had a lovely and quiet Thanksgiving with just us. I think November was overload of activity not to mention the medical issues.

As always I am busy creating and trying to balance a busy family life. Not an easy task sometimes. In the coming year I have promised to lighten my custom work load so I don't feel overstressed. As much as I love doing them there just is only so much time in the day.

Tomorrow afternoon we are off to get our tree. I'm not nearly ready for the holidays though but I guess they will come anyway. So its no use putting off getting the tree. My daughter joined a small chamber music group so now my husband and the older two girls are off in Boston at the New England conservatory until 3 in the afternoon. I can't say I'm too thrilled about the arrangement as it seems we have little family time on the weekends now. With the holidays coming this will be difficult too. I need to start planning our baking projects for the Norwegian lefse and cookies.

Here are a few photos of some of my latest projects...

an oak leaf pottery ring bearer with little brown birds





More of my cute little bird cake toppers...

Fall fun activities

Last weekend was a busy one for our family. On Sunday we woke up early to visit with the other families that went to China with us 11 years ago. Yes, 11 years ago we were in China waiting to adopt our daughter along with 2 other families. Each year we get together around this time to celebrate family day and get all the kids together for some fun. One of the families graciously hosts our gathering at their house each year.


Each year goes by so fast. Its nice sharing the stories of the year and seeing how much each child has grown.

On Monday, Columbus Day, we were off early to King Richard's Faire in Carver MA. The girls were excited about dressing up but tired from our busy Sunday and late night return.





Our knight for the joust was the obnoxious one though he did well in his fighting. The food was expensive and its amazing how fast the money goes with the games and five kids. The kids did enjoy the mud pit show but lets hope they don't repeat any of the words we hope they didn't understand.

Tree chickens ...

Yes, we were chickenless for nearly a month but shortly after my last post five chickens found their way to our home via some friends. They seemed to settle in nicely and enjoyed our little pen and chicken house. But one evening not a chicken was to be found. I searched the yard while my daughter hunted around the pen. After almost giving up we found them up in the trees surrounding the pen. Now its a regular event and I am determined to clip their wings soon when I can corral them and an assistant to help. I suppose because I hate doing it I am procrastinating a bit on this chore.



The girls have all adjusted well to school. Highschool is no longer a scary place and second grade and middle school is just fine too. My youngest is "composing" a Halloween song on the piano and has devoted hours of time doing this project. Of course we are the hostage audience to hear this song repeated note by slow note as the song is added to measure by measure. I do love her enthusiam though!

In my shop I am working oh so hard on my custom work and am just getting around to listing all my hand built pottery and chickens that I made earlier this last summer. I am taking a class on wheel work which I have only limited experience on so I am really overloading my time now. I will be working late into the evenings I imagine.
I do want to share a few photos of my latest birds too...

Another thread pulled from the weave

There isn't much I can say. A neighbor and friend died this past weekend. I feel such sadness for the family. Friends form the weave of my blanket called "home". Its such a shock to loose them. Its difficult to accept and yet what choice do we have.

One of those days...

Yesterday was just one of those days thats just completely unsettling. I didn't get much sleep the night before -- too much caffeine too close to bedtime and a child up with nightmares.

Our homeowners insurance was sending someone out to "inspect" our house -- or at least that was how I felt. With three busy kids in the house and all their toys and creative "projects" our house is never in a perfect state. They drag all their toys and toy produce downstairs with the cash register to play store. They cut up paper plates, cardboard, straws and use much tape to create all sorts of things. There is a constant arrangement of artwork of theirs on the floors in various states of completion. All good things to keep them busy and creative. And of course there is me too with all my projects and my custom work area. So ours is a busy but not always neat house.

This inspection was worrying me. We have lived here nearly 18 years now and I have never heard anything from the insurance. So I wondered what they were up to. And I guess having a stranger come uninvited to look at the house really made me anxious too. So after a morning of running around frantically trying to neaten the house including stuffing the unfolded clean clothes -- back into the dryer, I managed to survive the visit. But after all this I still don't know whats up with them and why the visit.

I did manage to get a little dyeing in just before he showed up so my kitchen counter was a little messy. I was trying to match two colors -- a dark green brown and a yellow orange brown. I must admit it is a little fun playing with the colors and I am a little amazed sometimes at the success. The colors really looked pretty together. Here are the wool eggs and silk ribbon that I dyed...







My own camera went for a ride in my husbands car trunk for the day and this didn't dawn on me until I had searched frantically for a while. Where did I put it as I was "cleaning" up. Maybe it was stuffed in the dryer? No -- just kidding. Eventually I gave up and borrowed my daughters camera which turned out to be an awesome discovery. Using the close up mode on her camera I was finally able to get close up photos in focus. Wow! Of course now that I have my camera back I notice that it does have some obscure little button with a flower on it that probably puts it into close up mode. I know that this is such a little thing but what a big help this will be for all the photos I have to take each day.

Back to school .... again

The summer is once again over. That seemingly endless expanse of days .... poof! Where did they go?

The girls are off to school again with two moving up into new schools. My oldest is beginning her first year of highschool now. When she was a baby in my arms I could never imagine having a teenager. That time seem so far off in the future. And yet here we at that milestone in hardly a blink of an eye. I'm glad that she is enjoying it and excited now.

My days continue to be filled with hours and hours of creating. Never did I imagine I would be so very busy. Here is another composite of completed cake toppers...



My ring pillow was included in an Etsy treasury by happygirlgreetings



And finally a little chicken fun in memory of my lost chickens. Yes all my chickens were EATEN by some wild creature while we were camping in Maine. I miss them so much I can barely enjoy walking in the back yard.

End of Summer

The summer has raced by. We enjoyed a week of circus camp for the younger girls, a camping trip with friends at Hermit Island. The girls joined the other children in two mud fights using the low tide mud (YUCK). What a sight they were! They enjoyed floating out to sea on a log and adventuring around the camp ground after dark.







Dressing up in Grandma's gowns at Grandma's house...










I continue to be busy with my custom orders. Here is a composite photo of some of the cake toppers over the last few months.




I had one bride contact me this summer sharing a photo of one of my ring pillows...



This photo was taken by Joe Mikos photographers. His wedding photos are extremely beautiful!

Washing Day....

I've spent a few days this week working on washing a full bag of nice brown/grey wool. Its not always a fun job but once the wool is washed and they hay shook out its so nice and soft.


I just wanted to share a few of the pastels my husband and I drew while up in Maine last month.

This one was done by me of a hillside overlooking the ocean.



My husband did this one on Isle le Haut while the girls played in the cold waves of a rocky stone cove below. The rounded rocks made a lovely sound as the waves crashed and drained back to the sea. The girls were scandalized to be wading in their underpants. We had climbed the rocky shore cliff to look out along the coastline.

If summer would just last a bit longer...

I can't help being sad as the days of summer rush by so fast. We've had such a lovely time so far. Plenty of lazy days at home and plenty of time with friends and plenty of time exploring and having fun. But still school seems looming up so fast.

We enjoyed a trip up to Maine for a week and tried kayaking with the kids. We couldn't help enjoying several stops for pop-overs at Jordan Pond and a little hikes. We took a mail boat ride to Isle le Haut duck harbor and hiked along the cliffs and stone beaches. My husband sketched one pastel of the coastline that I love.





From Maine we drove up to Canada and spent a week at CAMMAC a music camp west of Montreal. The kids absolutely loved it! I took one class in recorder and spent the rest of my free time crafting a bit and reading a few books.

Ahhh! Summer!

School is officially done and summer is here! Everyone had a slight adjustment to the slower pace. Lots of complaints of "I'm BORED!" But this week they are amusing themselves more and it is nice.

I am almost fully recovered from my little bout with pneumonia. Yes, I did catch this from my husband but its not surprising since I was taking care of him and sleeping next to him as he coughed for many days before we knew what was going on. Antibiotics work wonders. The lingering cough is annoying though.

My days are pretty much filled with working on my custom orders and fitting in some time with the girls too. I've stayed up late and worked on a few new things when I feel I deserve a little free time. That is the problem with custom work though. I do try and set a little free time to do whatever I feel like but sometimes this just isn't possible. But this type of work does allow me to work at home and be available to my children.


My vegetable garden is growing well and I am enjoying watching all the pretty "wild" flowers spring up in my gardens. I have a pair of Robin's nesting in my little tree we purchased this spring. The bees are happily foraging for nectar. We have left the back field pretty natural since there are so many wild flowers and clover as well. The butterflies are really enjoying it and the various milkweed plants that have sprung up. A small/baby skunk has moved into the girls "hobo" shack down back so they are a bit leery about venturing into the woods now. Well I don't blame them. The skunk has been sighted in the day time so I'm a little worried about rabies but it is a rather young skunk so maybe this is normal behavior.

Gardening

A few photos from the garden ...