wow! Thanks!

A huge thank you to all of you who shopped with me yesterday, spread the word, or just had a look.  All of the new stones are on their way to new homes.

They're all boxed up and ready to go but since today is a mail holiday they won't fly off until tomorrow.

To those of you who have waited so patiently but haven't yet gotten a stone, I'm working on something just for you.

The next two weeks are going to be beyond busy with work and family but after that I hope to have some stones just for those that haven't gotten one yet.

Sincere thanks to all of you for appreciating what I do.
It means so much.

Have a lovely Monday.

extraordinary - ordinary

There were some extraordinary moments in my ordinary day today.

Spreading straw in the garden, watching the chaff glint in the sun as the wind took hold of it. 

Spraying rainbows in the sky with the hose.

Spraying ourselves with the hose to get relief from the heat, and because that's how flowers grow.

Roasting arfpillows (marshmallows) on a Monday afternoon just because.

And tucking a baby into its crib out beneath the poplar and pine.

Watching my creative, challenging, (grubby-handed) girl cuddle an acorn swaddled in a cup fungus.

She challenges me every single step of the way, but then there are these moments, these amazingly sweet and tender moments and they feel like water on parched skin.  Extraordinary, ordinary moments, for which I am so thankful.

thank you!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by my shop update yesterday.  All of my new pieces found wonderful new homes, and I'm so grateful.

What does that have to do with the chicken?  Nothing.

This is Godzilla stuffing her face full of food.  It makes me laugh.  That is all.

A big thank you to Craft mag, also, for sharing my lichen garden necklace yesterday.

It was a good day.

I hope today is good to all of you.

verklempt

Yesterday's shop update went swimmingly.  Can I just say a big thank you to all of you who purchased from me, who took a minute to have a look, who mentioned it to your friends?  Thank you!  All of my new work sold really quickly and I was really moved.  A little verklempt even. (tawk amongst yourselves)

For those of you who wanted to get some pieces but didn't, I'm hoping to have another shop update soon, which I'll announce to make sure you have plenty of notice to get your clicking fingers ready. 

Today will be a busy one so I've fortified myself with what may be the best omelet since the dawn of man.  Home-grown oyster mushrooms and onion, the last of the day-lily buds, and local goat's cheese with sun-dried tomatoes.  Washed down with a cup of fresh-picked chamomile tea.  Drunk from my favorite armadillo cup, naturally.

I feel ready tackle the world. 

Tomorrow I'll show you what the hens are talking about.  I hope you'll stop back.

Have a great day, everyone!

Thankful

I am thankful for my family who loves me.

I am thankful for my healthy, bright, and challenging children.

I am thankful to live amongst the trees under strong safe walls.

I am thankful for capable hands and a curious head.

I am thankful for the gift of friendship.

I am thankful for each of you that stop in here to read, for sharing your thoughts and your world with me, and for making me feel understood, connected, and not quite so alone out here in the woods.

Thank you, each and every day.

My Forest Friend

I have a new friend and I'd like to introduce you.  This is the Pine Cone Gatherer and he has come all the way from the mountains of France to live with me. 

For those of you that know Nanou, you'll recognize him instantly as one of her fantastic creations, and you may guess how excited I am to have this guy with me.  For those of you that don't know Nanou, where to begin...  Nanou sees magic in the woods and shares it with us in a way that is enchanting and clever and endearing.  She sculpts these friends from sticks, seeing their personalities and faces in knots and twigs.  She gives life to these creations, each and every one of them, through stories and anecdotes and details like scarves and salt cellar hats.  A look through her flickr stream will totally charm you and will change the way you look at fallen twigs, I promise you.

I carefully opened the box from Nanou, and when I pulled back the covers (the Pine Cone Gatherer slept most of his trip), the local squirrels were immediately abuzz.  His reputation had already spread to the States as a master gatherer and they were more than a little nervous about it.  After a quick stretch and a smile, the Pine Cone Gatherer began looking around his new home.

I feared that the language barrier might make things difficult for us, as I don't speak French, but luckily the Pine Cone Gatherer spoke perfect English, in the most lovely French accent.  I could listen to him all day, but he would have none of that.  He set to work almost immediately gathering acorns and mushrooms (amethyst deceivers for me to try dyeing with).   I can tell he'll be very helpful around here.

I guess he needed a little exercise after his long trip (and all that sleeping).  After he gathered for a while, he took a break, I wiped his brow, and we tried on some new hats together.

He was a good sport about it.

Yes, yes, this is nice. 

OK, that's enough now.

Seriously.  Enough.  This is ridiculous.

After he had done his gathering, I found him a bowl of pinecones to rest in for the night. 

I think I see him smiling a little.

Thank you, Nanou, for sharing a bit of your world with me.  I will cherish my forest friend, and you as my friend, always.