Beginnings

Netty and I have been doing a lot of reminiscing lately. Time and art moves on for artists and we are constantly exploring and changing. I've always given Netty credit not only for showing me the world of primitive dolls, but encouraging me to find my way in whatever direction or media captured me. She's always been there for me and a trusting soul. She told me several weeks ago that I had made my own way (with my dolls and patterns) years ago. It made my heart smile to hear those words from my beloved friend.

Jessie, was nearly 3 years old the first year that Netty asked me to her home with some work for me. I would draw and sculpt for Netty. Now Jess has just turned 12 but it seems like just yesterday that Netty and I would work and fine tune images for chalk ware. I only worked that one year with her and had not sculpted until this summer. I have had the time of my life designing dolls. Netty has continued her chalk ware journey with her own images along with her papers and wax. The fun and magic of The Good Wives is that we don't know what the other is working on. Netty knows I will have dolls and I know that she will have papers and castings. When we get to the show and start setting up, it is the most wonderful time looking at each others pieces and simply enjoying the artist that each one is.

I do still get the urge to sculpt and have wanted to explore chalk ware. I grew up surrounded by the world of ceramics. I have done a bit of sculpting and learning of the chalk ware process to feed my artistic soul. It's fun, but it comes behind family and the world of patterns and design. I thought I would share a peek of the mold making process. It will take a lot more exploring and learning and that is what makes it fun. I am circling back to some of my old beginnings and they are now new. Life is pretty neat like that.

Perhaps now is a great time to click on Netty's link to the left. There you can see Netty's fine website and enjoy her work. I am particulalry fond of her chalkware witch shoes~ she never ceases to amaze me. They are a must have!

Fall Whispers

It's here already... slowly creeping in like the the foggy dew that you can see settled in the valleys very early in the morning. It's the cooler mornings turning crisp, the smell of leaves, woodsmoke from stoves early in the morning and late at night....it is also the smell of apples. Today, we will head up North to my home from the Comfort Cottage. The apples have been ready now for a couple weeksnow, but we usually wait for a frost to pick them. With that comes a favorite dessert, the recipe, a gift from a wonderful friend. Jean worked with me at a store. She is a farmer's wife and she has worked the farm along side her husband and sons. They are of hearty farming stock; warm and friendly people. With calloused hands and twinkling eyes, Jean would bring us goodies for our break at the store. We were often amazed at that ,for we knew that she was up before the sun to help with milking and feeding her family along with other chores. She is a wonderful cook and her joy is baking. She would often share with me that she wished that she had been a baker. This recipe shows Jean at her best. It is served with what they call a sweet gravy. Try it, I'm sure it will become a fall favorite and tradition for you as well. Thank you Jean for sharing your love of baking and recipes with all of us at the store. The store is no longer there, but your warm smile and kind ways stay with me as a favorite along with this recipe.

Apple Dessert with Sweet Gravy

Fill a buttered baking dish 1/2 full of sliced apples. Pour some cinnamon sugar over top of apples, In bowl mix 1 cup of flour, 1tsp baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp soft butter and 1/2 cup water. Pour over top of apples. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes or until done. Serve warm with sweet gravy on top. Serves 4.

Sweet Gravy

2 sticks margarine 1 cup flour
2 cups water 1 cup sugar
nutmeg to taste

In sauce pan melt margarine, add flour and sugar, mix well. Add water, stir and cook until thick. Remove from heat and add nutmeg. Serve over apple dessert or other desserts. Best if served warm.

Summer's Goodbye Song~

Summer has quietly gone and now Fall whispers in the air. The leaves are at about 25% color here. The mornings have been foggy and you can smell the wonderful smell of leaves. What I wouldn't give for a candle that would have such a wonderful scent! The picture was taken about 3 weeks ago. Bailey,Jess and Rosie wanted to join in the picture with the sunflowers at peak. Now they are gone, our way of giving thanks to our wonderful birds and animals that keep us company at the Cottage. I have much to share and catch up with in the coming days...to include a wonderful apple recipe. It's a bit different, and received from a dear woman that continues to work and farm alongside her husband and sons... and enjoys time with her grand babies. It will be sure to please....

http://www.avagraceangelsunaware.com/

Take a moment will you, or better yet, make yourself a cup of tea and follow the link to Ava Grace. The auction went live yesterday and will continue until the 22nd. There are many pages of heartfelt donations that artists put their love into for dear Ava. For you, it is a chance to help and receive something special. You can also make a donation without bidding. Take a moment...make a difference.

For Ava~

God Bless America

Hear Ye....Hear Ye!!!!

http://www.yeoldhagshaunt.com/
Meet mean ole Francine.......................
And Duncan, with his prize winning pumpkin..........
And my personal favorite, Eleanor Higgins.

It's time!!! I'm very pleased and excited to be a part of this magazine. As most of you know, I sell my patterns online, but a finished piece 0nline is very rare. Finished pieces are usually available through the couple shows I do a year or the few stores that I sell my work in. The pattern design and licensing keep me very busy along with my home and family life. I decided this summer that I wanted to do an online magazine and mentioned it on the hag's forum, a couple weeks later Donna ( of Cameo Moon) had a surprise for us...the rest is history. When Donna told us that she had a surprise, she meant it! What a fabulous idea. Halloween is my favorite time of year and for those of you that know me, you know my passion for 1700-1800's Graven Art. Such a goode opportunity from a wonderful friend. Special thanks go to Verlene Brooks for doing all of the work to get this magazine up for Donna~ she has made Donna's dream come true and given us an opportunity to further ours in creativity.~~~ On a special note, I shall return here on the 17th when I finish the show at Eagle Mills. It has been very busy with patterns and getting ready for the show~ Thank all of you so much for your patience with the pattern orders. While the days here are always full ones, I look forward to enjoying my favorite time of year......you can smell the leaves already here!

Miss Maddie's Wee Family

Life circles continually and touches our lives. Jessie's wee little mouse, Ty (he had the same hairdo as Ty Pennington) passed quickly in July with no warning. Off we went to the pet store because Jess is is all about her animals. I decided that 2 mice would be ok...as long as they were the same sex. Silly me~ Maddie had babies a month later. They are 3 weeks old today, eyes opened and running all over. The top mouse is Elvis with his white belt. The middle mouse is Cody and the tiny little brown mouse on the bottom is Hershey. I think Hershey will be staying with us along with Miss Maddie. Some of the others do have homes now. Finding homes for 7 mice is a challange! It was great to see wee new little lives and welcome them , but as new lives begin...others pass. I received word on Tuesday that my longtime friend Mark, had lost his battle with cancer. He was my age. He was from the Seattle area but his heart was was in Upstate NY and it was his dream to move back here. We had many talks over the years of life, death and spirituality. He is home now and without pain. I have taken time to reflect and honor the special friend and gift that was him. He's near always..I just know it.

Kevin McKrell

Meet Kevin McKrell and the Hard Road Ceilidh Band. Kevin recently changed his band to a more traditional sound. This is a favorite song of ours that he wrote and is very popular here. You can hear the pipes practicing in the background before competition. Sorry it was a bit shaky!!

Tagged again~~that tickles!!

it's true...it's true I've been tagged again. This time the name game. This is how it goes~

Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Ok, drum roll please~

1. A is for antiques which within hold stories told.




2. N is for nice to everyone no matter young or old.




3. N repeated is for nimble here; nimble of hands , but not of feet, I fear.

Thank you Cassie and Angie for tagging me~ I've had to be away a bit longer than expected, but I have lots of lovely posts to share! Now....who to tag? Carole, June and Sandy! I hope you have as much fun with it as I!