Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Moments in Time

It's been a humid, hot, time here in Eastern NC. Last time I checked the heat index was 108. I am a lover of nature and everyday I have to spend some time outside but believe me on days like this that time is limited. I thought I'd spend some time just going back through old times and old pictures. The old house always comes to mind at the top of my list. I dearly miss that house and there were so many memories made in that house. Even on days like this I could retreat to the porch and find a bit of breeze in the shade of the giant oaks. There were four amazing old oaks around that house and only one remains now. Hurricanes and time itself has claimed three of them. I loved working on that porch, sewing and painting and making notes on my next project. It was an inspiring place full of muse and mystery.
                                                                               
 I always have to think about Halloween and autumn, especially on days like this. It's always a pleasure  this time of year when I start working on Halloween art but it's very hard not to decorate the house as I go. I will be canning tomatoes this week not visiting the pumpkin farm! However; I can remember the Halloween Parties with Brother and my Grandson. I think we spent much of the year tossing around ideas for our Halloween celebrations.
                                                                           
In a few weeks the weather will begin to cool and I will become restless; no longer able to sit and reflect to much on times past. I will visit old houses and antiques shops. I will drive the countryside past long stretches of golden forests and marvel at the specter of ancient houses that appear from overgrown fields, visible only when the vines and brush withdraw for their winter rest.  If there is no traffic and I focus I can see a glimmer of an old headstone from a little grove in the middle of a field. As more and more land was cleared for farming old cemetery's were left in place and the fields were cleared around them.   Many of them have become abandoned and so they disappear all cloaked in a blanket of green during the summer.                                                                                  
 The butterfly bush has been a busy affair this summer, bees, humming birds, butterflies, moths and even tiny mason bees have kept her company. She enjoys their visits and is always ready to provide a meal of sweet nectar for their journey home.  
I can see that the sun has slipped behind a cloud and my fur kids are telling me this would be a good time to slip outside for a break. Off I go to move on with the days schedule and to reflect in the back of  my mind on how quickly the seasons change.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Hydrangea


I have so many favorites when it comes to flowers. I guess it would be fair to say that I love all flowers but Hydrangeas have been my favorite this week. I just love them and unfortunately they seem to get a little faint when the heat index is is 100 + in the shade. The humidity has been awful so I decided to pluck a few flower heads to bring inside. They will dry in the cool dry air and I can enjoy them for quite a while.
                                                                               

       
They fit perfectly in one one of the old trenchers and I paired them with one of the covered iron stone bowls from my collection.  Miss Snowball watched from her favorite blanket and gave her approval on the arrangement.                                                  
                                                                       
 I hope everyone is staying cool and safe. We've had lots of storms and some flash flooding in the area in the last few days but we are safe and cool. Snowball and Rocky are always close by and ready to give their opinions on any changes that I make in the house. We've been discussing autumn as I work on dolls and pumpkins and they agree that the first cool crisp day fall will be very welcome here.                                                                              

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Comfort


It's about this time of the year that I like to post about things that I find comforting in my home and my daily life. There's been a rope bed in my home for many years. My grandson picked the first rope bed for his room in the old house over twenty years ago at an antique auction we went too. I love that it is outfitted with Grandmother Selma's linens that she made as a very young girl for her wedding chest. Brother's bear rests gently against an old feather bolster. I smile just thinking about all of the memories sweetly combined with the past life of an antique bed.
                                                                           
   I have quite a collection of Grandmother's needlework, I love the chore that goes into keeping them fresh and white. I love the creative energy that her talent brings to me and the desire for a peaceful quiet atmosphere in my home and with my family.                                                                                                      


  
I enjoy the soft scents of potpourri, and I especially love the ones I make myself.  The picture below is from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. I spent a pleasant afternoon walking through the woods gathering seed pods acorns and twigs blown from the storm. I was overcome with gratitude that we were able to weather the storm safely. I combined everything with spices and dried oranges and mosses and even now when I detect the soft scent I am overwhelmed with such a blessed feeling.                                                                                      

I wish each of you a comforting and special summer. I'm back to work now and feeling blessed and happy and looking forward to sweet Autumn.


Wednesday, July 6, 2016

It's Summertime in North Carolina

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Forth of July Holiday. I spent three busy but peaceful days working on my home. So many plans have been put on hold since February  and I'm not happy about that but I am determined to get back to my life. 
On Saturday we had some much needed rain and it was pleasantly cool and then by yesterday the heat index was 108. That's  North Carolina for you but the humid summer days bring me closer and closer to Autumn. I'm already getting my sewing machine in tune to pumpkins and witches. I'll be posting pictures later this month and I also plan to list some of my pumpkins and dolls in my our etsy shop. 

My feather friends are loving this extraordinary bird house crafted by my neighbor and dear friend.  He does the most amazing wood work.

I tried to add a picture of the bees but once again good old windows 10 isn't letting me access my picture files. Can you believe at age 64 I am learning to keep bees!!!! I still have a lot to learn but I am loving visiting the hives and learning all about these very busy creatures. I'm also learning about blue mason bees and hopefully I'll be posting pictures of their houses as well. 
The picture above is an old family photo that a cousin was kind enough to share with us. The little blonde girl on the far right is my grandmother. It just takes my breath away to see her and all of her family gathered together so long ago.
I still find myself drifting back to our trip to Kittrell on Memorial Day.  There is just such an honest and peaceful feeling everywhere you go. It's beautiful farmland and old houses full of memories and history.
My precious old hound Belle Star is telling me that I have much to do and she would like for me to pet her right away so I should go but I hope to be posting weekly now.  Have a wonderful week and stay cool.  

Blessed Soltice

As we welcome the coming of new light let us spend time reflecting on the days and loved ones past. Remember that we are a part of what life...