Spring.Voorjaar.Primavera

Pumpkin Collage is a multicultural experience.
Language, customs, stories, and food.
A sensory explosion.
Right now the garden is starting its own color, textural
and smell explosion.

Immigrants, no matter how small their
garden, grow herbs, vegetables, and
flowers.  In pots or in the ground we
have to have some of the flavor of home.

The Portuguese like Meyer lemons, figs (figos),  passion
fruit (maracujá), guavas, heirloom tomatoes, grapes (uvas),
rosemary (alecrim), and flat leaf parsley (salça).

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things 
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
 things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
 if there be any virtue, and if there 
be any praise, think on these things.
                                                                                             
                                                Philippians 4:8 KJV 
 

 

It's a start.

Don't wait until everything is PERFECT to 
fill your heart's desire.  Do a little every day.
It is all the small things, after all, that provide
the biggest dividends.
 
We are at an age when our parents may be gone or
in poor health, our siblings and friends may not be in the 
best of health or spirits.  Don't bring the ills 
of tomorrow upon yourself.  
Give thanks for your blessings each morning
and keep moving forward. 

Cottage Fairy Gardens

I have forests in my heart;
Stout trees dark with branches;
Wildflowers;
Wild ever green brooms;
Hollyhocks;
Birds in the branches;
All of this I have in my heart.

          Alfonsina Storni (Swiss-Argentine Poet 1892-1938
 

 

 Had to reach out and touch the green covering.  So tempting.

A walkway fit for a grand Manor house.

Do you have a favorite?  Are you inspired?

Musings from Pumpkin Cottage

I used to think I was the strangest 
person in the world but then 
I thought there are so many people in 
the world, there must be someone just 
like me who feels bizarre and flawed
in the same way I do.

Frida Kahlo


Oh yes, Frida, me, too.

Entering the Season

Be grateful... It's the only totally reliable get-rich-quick 
scheme.   Ben Stein

This holiday season, my goal
is to slow things down by being
mindful of each day.  By commenorating
the moments.

Here's a couple of great
ideas to assist you in slowing down
by documenting
the specialness of the every day:

Check out Ali Edwards December Daily or
Pam Garrison's Project Life.

Another way to slow things down
is with a creative online class.

Amy Powers' Crafty Happy from BigPictureClasses
offers a weekly assignment for the whole family to enjoy.
We share the experience of reading instructions,
watching class videos, shopping for materials,
and making.  Attend local events to pepper virtual experiences.

Last weekend we visited the University
of California, Riverside's Botanical Gardens.
The children were invited to attend a free
faerie garden class.

Making Fairie Gardens

Holly earned faerie wings.

Best part of our adventures is meeting wonderful people along the way.

Experts are willing and able to provide assistance
simply for the asking.  Jacob asked for help
selecting his science project specimens.

Halloween rounded out our week.
Jacob created his scary scarecrow costume.

Holly wore her store bought garden faerie.  She loved
the silky and fluffy textures.

Happy endings to a beautiful opening to the holiday season.

Fridays Forever

Found new blog to add to the blogroll..  It is so all about
embroidery right now.  Shiny Happy World.

This weekend will include some painting.
The last assignment for my Policy Analysis
class.

Before you doze off on me, a book for the
nightstand.  Jenny Doh's Art Saves.
The journey or process really is the joy of
it all. It is in the doing.

With quotes like this:

Don't ask yourself what the world needs;

ask yourself what makes you come alive.

And then go and do that.

Because what the world needs is people who 

have come alive.

                                         Howard Thurman

A Fairie Garden

Surrender your fear.

                          This too shall pass.