Ashokan Farewell - from the documentary

Here it is again by Jay Ungar, from the soundtrack, The Civil War, by Ken Burns. So beautiful I could cry.

Ashokan Farewell

This piece is so hauntingly beautiful. By Jay Ungar and used in Ken Burns' documentary, The Civil War. Performed here by Doc and the Lady. Just breathtaking.

Upholstery Needles

I went to Joann Fabric late this afternoon and purchased a package of Dritz needles. What I really needed were the upholstery needles, but Joann's only carried then in this package. I have the pattern for the cushion made and pinned onto the cushion. The fit is perfect, so tomorrow I'll move to the main parts of the chair. Thinking ahead to a fabric for the slipcover...I'm really perplexed here. I'd like something that's machine washable and ight and airy - summery. I had originally thought of a white cotton duck, but I think that might be too stark for this room. Maybe a "mattress ticking" sort of fabric in a pale blue and white. I guess I have plenty of time to figure it out while I continue work on the fabric pattern!

Slipcovering 101

I spent a good part of yesterday learning all I could about slipcovering - once I cut into my chosen slipcovering fabric, I definitely need to know what I'm doing. I've had this book, SLIPCOVER CHIC, for several years and finally read it cover to cover. And one of the things I decided is that my first project is going to be an old armchair and not the sofa - which can wait till I have some slipcovering experience under my belt. The armchair I'm going to slipcover is a few decades old and a hand-me-down from my parents; somebody's used parts of it to sharpen her nails (Hint: it wasn't me!) Basically, the chair looks like dump materiel, yet it has good bones and is the most comfy chair in the house - and just ask any cat to confirm that. ;-) Today I'll be getting all the measurements of the chair in order to figure yardage of fabric needed.
So here I go! :-)

Making A Slipcover

I am back - a little older, a little sadder. But life goes on. I continue to study on harp, but what I was anxious to share is how I am planning on slipcovering my sofa!
Since I love lots of white, I'll be using a white cotton duck fabric along with a white cotton muslin for the lining. My first steps will be to measure my sofa and figure out how much yardage I'll need. This will be my first big slipcover project and I am so anxious to learn how to do this! So here goes - wish me luck! :-)

An Eriskay Love Lilt

"Sad am I without thee." I love this.

If I Were a Blackbird

Today is the first day of spring, when all things are new. Time for spring cleaning and putting our nests in order. No groaning now! When all is tidy, clean and gleaming, you'll feel much better that all is ship-shape inside the house when you skip outside to plant your garden or simply to enjoy the fine weather Spring blessings to everyone!

Spring in the Air

It was in the 60s yesterday! I opened all the windows and let the clean fresh air whoosh through the house. Tomorrow is the first day of spring! Just about time to air all the quilts out on the line and put them away till next winter.
Today hub and I went to the cottage and trudged through the still-deep snow to the door and went inside. All was fine and the same way we had left it last fall. Gosh, it's tiny in there! I measured again, and yes, only enough room for a 3/4 bed and nothing bigger. Then we measured for the new windows and drove over to Home Depot. I'd wanted to do this yesterday, when it was warmer outside, but hub wanted me to have one more day to recover before going on this outing. This week and as I am feeling up to it, I'll be working on the vintage Hoosier cabinet that will be going in the cottage to serve as the little "kitchen".
Aren't the colors in this painting just too gorgeous! It's by one of my favorite Maine painters.

St Patricks Day 2011 Central Station, Sydney, Australia.

What a completely wonderful St. Patrick's Day surprise! :-)

Little Waterfront Cottage

This is the dock at the little waterfront cottage I was able to get last August. Early last fall I replaced the rotting boards of the dock, and hub cut down the posts so that they are the same height. I wire-brushed the posts and painted them a flat black and added little solar lights on the two posts at the end of the dock - so pretty when they twinkle on just after sunset. I started with absolutely nothing and had no help over the years, did not even have any help with child support from son's father, and I can say that it an absolute dream come true, an absolute blessing, to be able to have this tiny waterfront cottage. I hope to be able to do lots of work there after all the snow melts and I am able to get to it. It's something to look forward to and help me get better as I have been sick almost all winter. Being so sick and also losing a precious little loved one, and then the horrific disaster in Japan has got me so down-hearted - I am looking forward to a better spring for everyone. Blessings to all.

Fanny Power on Harp

I continue to study on harp, a bit painful with the broken rib and must stop and rest more often than usual. I have been learning Planxty George Brabazon which is very pretty and makes me want to search for more music by O'Carolan. The news from Japan is completely heartbreaking and sad. Here is Fanny Power on Harp - perhaps I will be able to play it that well by summer.

Painting and Sympathy Card

This is a new painting, along with a sympathy card from the vet. I am still not better which is why I'm barely blogging. I am over the flu and yet it settled into pleurisy and pneumonia. The pleurisy is so so painful! :( Xrays and another appointment with my doctor tomorrow. This has not been a good winter. Hopefully the coming spring will be kinder to me. In the meantime I hold onto the kind words of my farmgirl sisters. Much love to Erica whose comments have helped so much.

Fresh Egg Omelette

Here is today's mid-morning omelette: fresh organic eggs with a topping of oats and sunflower seeds, and a sprinkling of dried organic herbs. "Mmmm, something sure smells good," says DH who has followed the aroma and wandered into the kitchen. So after I gave the omelette to my little flock of sweet albeit completely spoiled hens, I made another, the next one tailored especially for hub and sans the oats and the seeds! :-)

Tissue Box Covers

I have been known to stand for 5 or 10 minutes (possibly more, but that's all I care to admit to) in front of all the tissue boxes in the grocery store, trying to find even one that I liked. I've actually made friends at the tissue box displays after another woman and I were there for the longest time, hunting, searching for that one jewel among many. After maybe 7 minutes had gone by, I realized I wasn't alone, that another woman stood by conducting her own search. Could we possibly be tissue-box fanatics? Y'know, like just any box would not do. ::sigh:: When I could no longer find the cute boxes with the flowers and fairies, I told the other woman, "That's it - I am making my own from now on!" And that decision has been quite freeing and even very cost effective. I now grab the ugliest box of tissues which, no big coincidence, is also the cheapest, and I make my own fabric covers for them. These covers are nice and easy, and if I double up fabric, I can cut out and sew up two of them in roughly a half hour. I now have pretty tissue boxes all over the house - which is good since it seems I've needed mountains of them over the last month or so.

Kitchen, Morning Light

The new harp sits in a corner of the kitchen, by a row of south- and west-facing windows where the light is good, even in the early morning hours.
Baked Canadian French pork pies today. Made a nice omlette for the hens who made fast work of it. Lots of harp practice today. Miss my baby so much it hurts. I hope she is loved and being well taken care of, up in heaven with God.

Recovering :.((

I hate to admit just how very sad I have been at losing my beloved Annabelle. I try to recover, knowing it will take a while, knowing I will miss this precious little creature for a very long time.
If they only knew how much joy they bring to our lives. I have a trillion wonderful and sweet memories of her. Oh god, how I wish I could have her back for even just a day, to hold her and love her one more time.
I thank god for this wonderful group of Farmgirl sisters - I don't know how I would have made it without their kind and sweet words of comfort. I love every one of them.
My new harp arrived today via Fedex, and my first song has been All Through the Night. It makes me cry - I am apparently still in mourning. I hope Annabelle knew how much I loved her.

GUIDELINES: It is the Time When...

Today I have been cleaning up a storm - I have this need to keep myself busy today. While sweeping here and polishing there, my heart and my thoughts and prayers are still with Annabelle.
When is it the right time to put a much-loved pet down? While it might seem that there is no right time, I've come to think that with lots of prayer and thought, maybe there is. So when is this "right time"? What I offer are guidelines to consider as you try and come up with a decision that is best for your sweet pet and yourself.

GUIDELINES: IT IS THE TIME WHEN...by BCGray:
It is time when death starts seeming more a loving and gentle blessing than a curse, when you start praying for a blessed release and relief from pain for your pet. It is time when you look into your pet's eyes, and you know that if they could speak they'd tell you that living has become too hard for them, that while they do not wish to leave you anymore than you wish them to leave, this is what they'd choose for themselves if they could.
It is time when you check on your pet in the morning and hope that God has spirited them away while you slept - and He hasn't, and you know that your pet had another bad night and with no hope it sight other than continual and worsening pain and decline.
It is time when it hurts too much to see them alive and suffering.
It is time when they can no longer eat and drink; when they have all they can do to walk and fall often.
It is time when you know your pet has forever lost its pride and sense of dignity.
The best we can give our much-loved pets is a good life - and a good death. With lots of love, with lots of dignity. Decide for them what you'd want for yourself, if this dying little creature were you. These thoughts are intended for guildelines, to help you figure out for yourself and your pet when to release your loved one to Heaven.
Much Love and Every Good Wish,
Barbara

Fields of Gold - For Annabelle

Annabelle's Window

This was Annabelle's last day at her window. It was March 1st and we'd had a lot of snow.
At the end I wrapped her up and held her and my husband drove us to the vets. It was only 4-degrees out and I didn't want her to be cold. Annabelle was so weak and sick, yet she looked around as we drove, gazed at me a while, then, content, she would rest her head on my shoulder. At the vets, at the end, she stood and clung to me. :.(( Thank you for your prayers and kind words. I really need them right now.

Prayer for Annabelle

Treat me kindly, dear master. Accord me the courtesy due to a cat — and I for my part will love you, amuse you and cheer your heart as only a cat can do.

Give me a sunny spot to sleep in when morning dawns and I will warm your lap on cold evenings.

Respect my independence and my need to walk alone at times and I will look after myself, so that you may come and go as you please.


Speak to me in our secret kitty language, let me hear my name sung in the music of your voice, and I will meow happily in sweet harmony with you.

Stroke my fur gently and lovingly and I will soothe you with the soft purrs that can only come from a happy cat.

Indulge my curiosity and I will show you the joys of bird watching, star gazing and other kitty pleasures.

Play with me and see me rejoice! Toss a humble ball of yarn and I will delight you with my cleverness and acrobatic leaps.

But do not laugh at me or allow me to be teased for there is nothing I prize more than my dignity.

Keep my surroundings neat and clean and I will be fastidious in my habits.

Feed me and be fair and I will teach you how to tell “kitty time” by instinct and tummy tunes.

And when I am old and the time comes to say farewell, hold me gently in your arms and I will go without a whimper.

For with you I am trusting, safe and secure. A cat who walked alone but loved you with a full and happy heart.

Annabelle

Annabelle no longer suffers and has gently left me, as peacefully and sweetly as she came to me one day 14 years ago when she found me tending my garden and decided she wanted to stay with me. I have such nice memories of her over the years, of those beautiful large eyes and her perfectly sweet disposition. I knew it was time - I just didn't expect it to hurt this much. :.((

David the Harper: Celtic Harp

Here, David the Harper demonstrates the clawhammer style on the Meghan Harp. This harp is among the less expensive harps that some are quite critical of, yet look at its beauty of carved thistles and hear what it sounds like under the hands of a master. My first harp is a Meghan, and I make absolutely no apologies - I LOVE IT! :-)

Better than Hartley's Pork Pies?

We definitely think so! Not saying that Hartley's aren't simply wonderful. You haven't tasted heaven til you've had one of these pork pies - mine OR Hartley's!!
;-)

Meghan Harp

Victoria Lynn Schultz demonstrating the Meghan Harp. I love hearing the harp - such a peaceful sound. Annabelle continues to decline. :.(

My First Fondant

This is a 3-layer red velvet cake I made completely from scratch (not boxed). But the reason why I am posting a picture of it is, look at the fondant that I made and topped the cake with. That is my first attempt at fondant, and wow - I really impressed myself! ;-) But to be fair, it wasn't all that hard. And while the cake is certainly pretty in its white fondant wrapping complete with fondant ribbon and a bow in the top center, it was far sweeter than I liked. I probably won't do fondant again, but what a pretty picture it made!

Best Friend Therapy :-)

Okay, I have been sleeping propped up on the couch in the living room so I don't keep hub awake all night with my tossing and turning, coughing and choking; have been steaming water on the kitchen stove and inhaling it from under my bath-towel tent; have been having hot water steeped with lots of fresh lemon and honey; have had chicken soup and green tea with mint; hub has been completely spoiling me...and yet I was still completely wretched and miserable until the phone rang and it was "her" :-] Okay, I'm still not better, and I did see my doctor today, but hearing from my best friend since 9th grade.....well, if I get better, and I'm planning on it
;-) I'm sure it was that phone call along with the long-distance cup of tea with my friend that did it. Love ya Cha! :)

Down Time

I'm sitting here sipping hot water with lavender, lemon, and sweet clover honey. Every bone in my body hurts. I'm really too miserable to write, let alone post a photo or make small talk. I hate getting sick :((((((((((
...be back after I'm better.

Dreaming of Summer Days...

It's lightly snowing today, but in a few short months there will be warm gentle weather again and walks on the beach. Can barely wait! Happy Birthday Keith!! Love, Mom xo...heading to the kitchen to wrap a present and make a cake. :)

Wash Day

Am I the only one tired of winter and thinking of summer days? This is a 10x10 painting I did on a lovely summer afternoon after I had the wash on the line to dry. The little dress at the end of the clotheline is a clothespin bag I made. It looked so cute with its little skirt blowing in the wind that I just had to include it in my painting, along with the daylilies.

While She Sleeps...

On Celtic Harp, in traditional Welch. I am profoundly sad and just don't know what else to say right now - thus, the words to this hymn. For Annabelle, who quietly sleeps.





Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee, all through the night.
Guardian angels God will send thee, all through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, hill and dale in slumber sleeping,
I my loving vigil keeping, all through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping, all through the night.
While the weary world is sleeping, all through the night.
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,visions of delight revealing,
Breathes a pure and holy feeling, all through the night.

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing, clear through the night.
Thou, my love, art heavenward winging, home through the night.
Earthly dust from off thee shaken, soul immortal shalt thou awaken,
With thy last dim journey taken, home through the night.

Lullaby for Annabelle

Annabelle sleeps in a cradle in my room by my bed. She seems peaceful and comfortable. I hope she dreams of happy summer days and knows how much I love her. :.( This lovely celtic piece, "Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod", performed by David Coffin and his sweet daughter, Linnea, is for my Annabelle.

The Nine Lives of a Cat

I haven't been counting, and somehow I reprove myself for that fact. How many lives might Annabelle have left, or, has she now reached her last? As she sleeps in her favorite cozy warm spot by the window (in the painting below), I find myself thinking of summers with Annabelle, how on hot days she'd plow through the tangle of pink cosmos and curl up in the shady understory like a fat catepiller and doze away the afternoon while I tended to my garden nearby. I'm thinking of our walks down the hill to the mailbox every morning, just my little friend and me. Halfway down the long driveway there was a particular tree she'd dash to every day and climb, as though trying to impress me with her agility and skill - or maybe she was just exercising, because a girl needs to stay fit. She'd slowly back down the tree while I waited for her below. Sigh. I am praying there is another life for Annabelle. Please God, just one more life :.((

Annabelle at the Window - A Painting

My cat Annabelle is a large beautiful Raggamuffin - yes, that is the name of the breed, and so very fitting. She liked to chase snowflakes and butterflies, just a big sweet beautiful baby her entire life. She's bravely wrastled with snapping turtles (although it took a while to nurse her back to health after that one!), and has stared down coyotes and dogsover 10 times her size. Annabelle is 15 years old now, far older than me now - in cat years. Yesterday, Annabelle started falling down with each step, is barely eating and drinking, and just wants me to hold her and sleep where she purrs in my arms. As I write, she is sleeping, snug and warm under the warmth of an old gooseneck lamp. She'll sleep by me in my room again tonight where I can check on her during the night. I don't know what the morning will bring. I'm not ready to let her go - I need a few more days to let her know how very much I love her and will comfort and love her till the end. :.[

The Red Sled

 
I spent the afternoon painting my old sled a bright winter red. Here it is, propped up in a corner of my kitchen, its new coat of red paint nearly dry. Can't wait to sled down the hill on it, and judging by all the snow this winter, that shouldn't be too long. :-)

Momma Hen

Here is a picture of the little Sweetie who laid the giant egg. No, not the Momma Hen, it was the sweet baby chick all snuggled in close to her momma and who now is all grown up. She grew up to look just like her mom, and seeing the momma hen is seeing her. If anyone were to ask me how much I love these beautiful and sweet, gentle little creatures, I'd have to answer, Let me counts the ways.

This picture of my Momma Hen with her Baby is living proof that real love, the true and profound love that you hope for in life, is the same the world over - no matter who you are or what you are. Momma hen and her chicks: this, too, is love. Wishing a Happy Valentine's Day to all.

The Mother Egg

One of my older hens definitely outdid herself today, and honestly, she acted so darn proud of herself, and rightly so. Look at the size of her egg - it's as big or bigger than a goose egg!! The other eggs in the carton are what would be considered medium or large eggs by grocery-store standards, so I just had to get a photo for comparison.

The shell looks different on that Mother Egg too - it does not have the usual soft glow or bloom to it.

Okay, I just had to crack it open to see what was inside. I'd thought maybe the shell contains triple yokes or at least double. But neither turned out to be the case. I got the fry pan going, and after I melted some butter in the bottom and cracked open the egg, it contained one HUGE yoke, and the entire egg - yoke and whites, took up the entire bottom of the pan. As much egg in that one egg as at least 4 eggs.

Well, I could not get the cover of the egg carton even partically closed with that gigantic egg in it, so I had the egg for supper. :-) Nothing tastes better than a fresh organic egg from your own happy hens. Yum!! :) I figure this huge egg was an early Valentine to me from my hen.

Mr. Handsome: A Portrait...

Snowy was sooooo darn cute that I did a portrait:-) 7x7 oil on board unframed. $60 + $5 shipping in US.

Snowy the Snowman

He's just too cute! It wouldn't be winter without a SNOWMAN! :-)
7x7 oil on board, unframed. $60 plus $5 shipping in US.

Snow Day

Snow days - we've certainly had a LOT of them this winter! And what is cuter than a child all bundled up, out in the snow building a snowman! This painting is the first of my three-part snowman series.
Oil on board, 7x7, unframed. $75 plus $5 shipping in US.

Egg Fabric

I LOVE this fabric! I found a few yards of it on ebay and of course got it, and so far I've made place mats with it for my kitchen table and larger pads for the seats of some pretty gilt French chairs I got at a antique's auction nearby. The chair pads look so pretty on the French "bergere" chairs, but the real reason I made these for the chairs was to protect the seats from my kitten's claws. So far so good. :-) Since I still have a few yards left of this fabric, I want next to make an apron. And after that, who knows - maybe a fabric purse. Like I said, I LOVE <3 this fabric!! :)

My Fine Feathered Friend

This little book was a Christmas gift from my dad's girlfriend, and while it was a perfectly delightful little read (I'll let you read about it in amazon), what disappointed me about the book was how the author failed to provide safe night-time quarters for that sweet little hen(!) and shudder to think what became of her. If you purchase the book, please let me know what you think after you finish it as I know I was saddened by its ending.

Farm Painting

This is an oil painting of a farm that is near where I live in rural New Hampshire. The silos still stand, but the fields are empty of cows - most likely since the government bought out many of the New England farming operations a few decades ago now. The farm had a quiet dignity about it, and in my mind's eye I could picture it back in its heyday, the hard work, the cows and the tractors and chickens - even the manure pile behind the barn. I could picture laundry day and the farmer's wife in her tidy ironed apron hanging sheets on the clothesline to dry.

Oil on board 5x7, unframed. $75 plus $5 shipping within the US.

SOLD

Buff Orpingtons

My little flock of hens are cooped up for the winter - and in many ways, so am I. There's 4-feet of snow on the ground with more coming. My hens are Buff Orpingtons. They're beautiful and have such a sweet disposition. Two of them beg me to hold them, and I do - I love these sweet little creatures.

My days are busy as I move from one detail to the next: cooking, baking, sewing, writing, painting, knitting, crocheting - although not necessarily in that order. I finished another small painting tonight when I finally had a bit of time to myself and the house was quiet. And my writing beckons - maybe tomorrow I'll have more free time.