Waiting On the Green

Each season comes with it's special feeling and smells about it. I embrace each season and look forward to it. Today is the perfect "Bambi" day. The days have been warmer, warm enough to open windows and enjoy Spring's sweet smell. A "Bambi" day to me has been those first few days of spring that bring gentle showers to green the earth. The sky is milky , the clouds lay low over our gentle hills and the mountains beyond have disappeared. The lilac bush is quite budded and a little spider greeted me this morning in the window sill as I opened the window.

My days are blending here as I care for both parents now. I know that I won't be able to care for both of them without help or other changes for long. There are changes ahead here and some have begun...it's a process and it take a bit of time. As some of you know, Bailey has a Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Home has been difficult for her and her Grandfather's fragility has been very stressful to her. Together, we have decided that she would do better to live up on the Hill with her other Grandparents for now . It is difficult for me as her Mom to let her go, my heart aches, but my head knows that doing the right thing doesn't always come easy. She's been there just over a week now and has settled happily and doing well. We talk on the phone lots and there are always several hugs awaiting me when she's here. Jess has chosen to remain here for now, but knows it is her choice as we find out the best course of action for her Grandparents.

In it all, I want to thank all of you~ your thoughts and prayers have wrapped me close and kept me strong. I don't get much time to email anyone. It is slow to get orders out but I try to work on things several days a week. I keep goals ahead and know that although I am stretched at the moment, it will all work out. Life will fall into place as it should and I am thankful to have the gifts of my family and my art. Faith always gets you through and with it, you can find joy in the "Bambi" days even in the most difficult of times.

~*~ A Celebration ~*~

Come Celebrate with me! Raven's Haven Patterns is 6 years old today! To celebrate I'm releasing a free pattern for all of you. Merrie Mouse is a part of my Early Cupboard collection. To receive Merrie just send a SASE to me and enjoy her!



Also I am releasing 2 new patterns for spring!There are more coming soon. In the meantime, meet Daisy. She is a part of my "Picks A Winner" series and sure to capture a smile.

Finally, there is Louis. Now, Louis is a long ago inspiration. I found him in a pile of sketches marked 2001. Although I didn't formally make him until this week, you can see that he inspired my first Gertie the Witch.

March is National Craft month and what better way to celebrate then by enjoying some new friends! If you would like Daisy or Louis and would like to use PayPal, please send payment to snoraven@hotmail.com. They are 9.50 each, or both for 18.00. I will also include a Merrie Mouse with your order. If you would like to send a check, money order or your SASE for Merrie, you may send it to:

Stacey Mead

PO Box 165

Granville, NY 12832

*don't forget to make a note or leave a message telling me which friend that you would like to make.

Enjoy Spring everyone and have a wonderful time creating!

A Woman's Simple Joys

The days here are always full and always busy. Balancing caretaker for two and Mother are both full time tasks now. My girls have always been helpful and have learned to help care for others. In many ways, older than their years. I try to balance it all out for them and give them plenty of time with their cousins and family, they need to have the closeness and memories that will be cherished through their lives.

I am fortunate that I can do what I love, even in doing what I need. Sometimes it is difficult to have enough time to complete the tasks of a business as timely as I'd like, or draw when my head is bursting with ideas. On difficult days, I hold dear what draws me. I love the times of old. I can spend hours in a cemetery reading old time worn stones, but I am needed more at home and just can't take off when the girls are at school. Now, I watch time period movies looking beyond the actors or stories and into the furniture, paint or clothing design. I embrace my tintype and cabinet card collection. I try to fit in fifteen minutes of drawing everyday, no matter what; even so far as to draw in the Emergency Room. I do all of this knowing that life is always about changes. To everything there is always a season. My parent's won't live forever; the girls will be on their way, living their own lives soon and I will do things that I haven't always been able to do. I will be able to decorate my home and furnish it with things I've collected and cherished over the years. I can paint walls and make paintings on them if I wish. The days may be quieter in some regards, but I will always have the art that has been my constant companion for most of my life.

I hold these busy days close to my heart now and very dear, knowing that I am making memories to keep with me when a season passes. I do this knowing that we as women have always done this. We are nurturers and caretakers by nature. Even when daily living was much harder, women would take time in their day, often by candle light and decorate their lives. It could be fancy stitching on a dress or perhaps hooking a rug that would serve a purpose. Some things we cannot change, but we can embrace our simple joys.