Sunday, September 29, 2013

Wilson--New Look, Natural as Ever


For our household, "wild turkey" references the real thing, not straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey.

On any given day, as few as six wild turkeys, and as many as 23, make our suburban acreage adjacent to a creek their roost, dinner table and playground.

And, where flocks of turkeys shake their tail feathers daily some fallout is inevitable. With all the strutting, courting, primping and scrapping, stray feathers become a common sight in our lawn. I've been collecting them for a couple of years--since the turkeys first showed up.

Turkey feathers are so remarkable. The variation in size, shape, color and texture is amazing. From long, narrow and clearly striped to short, fluffy and irridescent, they offer tremendous versatility for use in home decor.


A couple of years ago, I introduced you to Wilson II, so named because he reminds me of Tom Hank's volleyball-turned-companion in the movie Cast Away. I've been re-creating Wilson II for several years now, using dried elements from my garden--grasses, seed pods, hosta scapes, twigs and anything else that adds interest.


To freshen Wilson's look this year, I pulled out the feather collection and combined a variety of feather sizes, shapes and colors, with plumes of feather reed grass.


A vintage metal flower frog facilitates the basic structure.


Feather reed grass creates the height, the turkey feathers add interest.


Welcome back Wilson II. Love your new "do."

Make it a great day!
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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Elk. Up Close and Personal.


Most Labor Day weekends Hubby and I make a trip out to Colorado. Partly because by this time of year, we're sick of the heat and humidity out here on the Plains. But, mostly we head to the Rocky Mountains to leisurely look for the perfect place to retire.

We often make a trip up to Rocky Mountain National Park. It's such an enchanting place to explore. And the cool, dry air is such a welcome relief from our sweatbox at home. Trail Ridge Road that cuts through the park is the highest major highway in North America, topping out at 12,183 feet above sea level. This vast expanse of public land encompasses 72 named mountain peaks above 12,000 feet, multiple ecosystems and a variety of wildlife.

Following the loss of my dad last month, this trip into the park was bittersweet. I made my first trip into RMNP when I was about eight. This was my parents' favorite place to vacation. We spent many a summer hiking as a family, taking nature walks and camping at the park's campground. Those vacations soaking up Mother Nature in all her glory helped shape the woman I am today.

RMNP never fails to surprise and delight. Even after all these years and countless trips. And, this trip was no different. On the road down from the Alpine Visitor Center, we rounded a bend somewhere between Rainbow Curve and Many Parks Curve and came to a screeching halt. Bumper-to-bumper traffic alternated between a complete standstill and a snail's pace for half a mile or so. Then, as suddenly as traffic had stalled, it sped up again. I won't elaborate on Hubby's reaction to the traffic.

Before long, the traffic jam returned. This time, we could clearly see what the fuss was about.


A large bull elk was trying to move his herd from one side of the road to the other. He called out over and over and herded the cows and calves down the hillside toward the highway. Then, he circled around out of sight and repeated the routine. Each time, more cows and calves appeared on the hillside above the road before precariously making their way across the highway.




Lucky for us, the elk were crossing at a point in the road where there was a pull-off. As we approached the pull-off, another car pulled away and we got a prime parking and viewing spot. Perfect positioning for snapping a few photos.


The females didn't seem to be intimdated by the tourists. In fact, this one seems to be saying, "Did you get my good side?"

Many of the the herd had settled in for dinner on the side of the road opposite where the bull was rounding up his clan. It was clearly dinner time and the shrubbery and grass along a small creek was lush and tender. Bon apetit!





This sweet-looking cow walked right up to me as I snapped her photo. I could have reached out and touched her. Don't worry, I know better.

This enchanting herd was so up close and personal that I took all these photos with my 28-105mm lens.


We were greeted by other wildlife on our wonderful day trip. So glad to see the chipmunks remain  plentiful and accessible after all these years. My sis and I fed many of these little critters in our youth! Now, the signs tell us not to feed the wildlife.



And the marmots. Always my dad's favorite. They made their appearances at the Alpine Visitor Center as if to pay tribute to a man who loved RMNP as much as anyone.


'Til next  year, RMNP. It's been a pleasure, as always.

Make it a great day!



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Sunday, August 18, 2013

Second Bloom--Essence of Lavender


Since I last posted, we have made a trip to Illinois to remove the remaining belongings from my husband's parents' condo. They are comfortably settled in a retirement setting with great care on-site.

This trip culminated a year of clearing out their home on short, weekend visits. We are so thankful they had begun the process of downsizing and purging a few years ago, which made our work so much easier. Still, when it comes time to move it all out, it can seem overwhelming.

During the experience of the past year, I've thought a lot about our home, with my multitude of collections and creative endeavors that result in stockpiles of raw materials. In recent weeks, I've cut back on the number estate sales I attend. I've drastically reduced my thrift store shopping. And, I'm more judicious about the garage sales I brake for. At least for now. Don't know how long that will last.

As a token of my desire to make things easier on our children some day, I've also begun sorting, gathering, and pricing for a garage sale next month.


Since my last post, we also lost my dad. It was sudden. He had lived a full and rewarding life, though. I know he's in a better place. He desperately missed my mother, who died nearly seven years ago after a battle with ALS.

This photo is one of my favorites of Dad and me. Lunch in the cornfield at my grandparents' farm in 1957. That's me with the belly peeking out. My sister sits on Mom's lap in the pickup and Grandpa munches his sandwich in the background.

I'm not embarrassed to say I was a Daddy's girl. I will miss him like crazy.

Saturday was a nearly perfect summer day:  sunshine, light breeze, low humidity.  A great day for an outing with friends to a lavender farm up the road apiece in Iowa.


The Loess Hills Lavender Farm is a newer lavender venture, established in 2009. Its owners are still growing and expanding the farm, which is in the rolling Loess (pronounced "less") Hills.

We missed the first bloom season this year. That occurs in June and at that time the plants are saturated in lavender  and white blooms. This weekend, the plants were near the end of their second bloom, but still put on a delightful show, attracting mini tornadoes of alfalfa and cabbage butterflies.

As if a leisurely stroll through the lavender fields and cutting a small bouquet for drying weren't enough, we sampled lavender sugar cookies and lavender lemonade, which tasted heavenly. For a salty snack, we munched popcorn sprinkled with lavender-flavored sea salt.

Most of the plants at Loess Hills Lavender Farm are culinary varieties. Lavender has a subtle, but enchanting flavor. The farm's proprietors have only recently acquired a distiller and will begin distilling lavender oil next season.

Today, they create lavender personal care products, soaps and room spritzer.



Touches of lavender can be seen from the front porch of the gift shop to the pretty perennial beds around the farm.


I fell in love with this chippy, cottage chic dresser in the gift shop. Such a pretty color combination. One to copycat, maybe?


Speaking of cats, lavender is known to have a calming effect, as well as other health benefits. Can't find a better advertisement for the herb's benefits than the resident kitty in a state of full relaxation.

Make it a great day!
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Sunday, July 21, 2013

Orphaned Salt Shaker Has New Life as a Tassel


My craft room is overrun with odds and ends that I pick up at estate and garage sales and thrift stores. If I like and odd little something and the price is right, I usually grab it. Even if I don't have any clue what I'm going to do with it.

That was the case when I picked up this orphaned salt shaker. Poor thing. No pepper to keep it company.


It sat on a shelf so long, I don't even recall how long ago I bought it. It still had the 50 cent price tag on it when I recently picked it up to examine it closer. As I looked at the bottom, which was missing the cork stopper, it came to me.


This lovely piece would make a stunning tassel top. I had plenty of other supplies to choose from in my craft room stash to complete a tassel. I pulled out some buttons, beads and ribbon.



After doubling over a very narrow scrap of satin ribbon, I created about a 3-inch loop by tying a knot. Next, I strung the bead and buttons onto the narrow satin ribbon.

The hanging loop was now ready to thread through two holes on the top of the salt shaker.


That was easy. After experimenting with burgundy satin ribbon for the body of the tassel, I decided I didn't like the look. I have a drawer full of miscellaneous yarns that I have collected from estate sales and instead chose a fun and funky specialty yarn in an ivory color.


Making the body of the tassel is simple. But, I forgot to photograph that step. I looped the yarn back and forth in the length I wanted until I had a stack of loops that looked thick enough for the body. I gathered loops in the middle by hand and eyeballed the length. I aimed to make the length (the loops folded in half from the middle) about a third to a half longer than the depth of the porcelain top.

When I was satisfied the length was good, I tied the ribbon hanging down through the porcelain top around the middle of the loops. I fluffed the body up to create fullness. You could leave the loops uncut. For this tassel, I cut them into strands.




Decorative tassels are so versatile. You can use them the traditional way by hanging them from a door or drawer knob or from a sconce or chandelier. Or, pile a few on a cake stand or fill a pretty bowl with them. Dangle one over the edge of a shelf. Or, simply add one or two to an existing vignette for a little added interest.


In my opinion, one can never have too many tassels!

Make it a great day!
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Monday, July 15, 2013

Awash in Memories--A Barn Sale


My mom always told me you can take the girl from the farm but you can't take the farm from the girl. That was definitely true of my mom, who became a "town girl" when she married and moved off the farm to a nearby small town. She remained a country girl at heart.

Even though I wasn't raised on a farm, my spirit always has been a rural one. It's been decades since my grandfather died and my grandmother sold the farm. Yet, I still miss that country life. Sundays and summers at my grandparents' farm helped shape the woman I am today.


"Helping" in the cornfields, milking cows, "slopping" hogs, feeding chickens and gathering eggs, churning butter and baking bread. Hard, dirty work masqueraded as fun for me. Working side-by-side with my grandparents made for the most wonderful memories! And, some amusing photos. That snapshot must have been Grandma's take on American Gothic.

This past weekend, I was delighted to discover there was a barn sale about 35 miles from where we live. Hubby and I made a day of it. Luckily, we had a respite from the heat and humidity. Cloud cover and a nice breeze were welcome friends for the day.

The host farm was quaint and charming, with a historic little, red schoolhouse on the property.




Rusty, crusty milk separators, pitchforks, rotary disks, wash tubs, windmill blades and milk cans. Right out of my childhood.





Inside the barn, feedsacks, metal dishes, country cabinets and appliances, cowgirl clothes and country kitch galore.





So happy to have had a brief country fix. Ahh!

Make it a great day!
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