The question that has challenged mothers everywhere for centuries; How does one feed a family healthy, nourishing food on a budget? While this is a complicated question that involves many pieces like where to shop, growing your own food, family budgeting, and so on, I would say that which meals are regularly cooked is of great importance. In our single income household, ...
Life
The Runaway Bunny Returns
"Shucks," said the bunny, "I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny." And so he did. "Have a carrot," said the mother bunny. -Margaret Wise Brown I so enjoyed needlefelting a wall hanging based on Margaret Wise Brown's "Runaway Bunny" last year, that I decided to make another one. I've been seeing little wild bunnies hopping away at the edge of ...
How to Make Yourself a Damn Fine Cup of Coffee
Every morning, a cup of coffee is my simple pleasure in the middle of the morning hustle and bustle. After getting two nine-year-olds out of bed, fed, coached through getting clothed and presentable, reminded to do their chores, equipped with lunch baskets and hopefully out the door on time (while I'm multi-tasking like mad and doing more chores), that cup of coffee is like a small vacation. Heck, ...
Garden Beds Exposed!
This weekend it finally dried out just enough to run the rototiller over the garden and start adding manure. After weeks of rain, this was a much anticipated event. We switched from rows to something more like a keyhole design to maximize garden space, and I think it's going to work out nicely. Uncovering all that rich, dark soil is sure a treat to the eye! Now we just need it to dry out a bit ...
A Full Nest
I just finished this custom handmade nest for a woman with eight grandchildren who wanted one felted egg to represent each. I was just so tickled by this, I had to share it. Every Spring I make these nests out of European beach grass roots, an invasive species that is causing our local sand dune ecosystem to disappear. Habitat restoration was my main focus in college, and I still can't ...
When the World is Mud-Luscious
in Just- in Just- spring when the world is mud- luscious the little lame baloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it's spring when the ...
Barnyard Bath House
Ever wondered how chickens take a bath? Yesterday we let the ladies out to roam around our place, and a group of them made a beeline for the dry spot beneath the eaves of the house. I figured there must have been something really exciting going on over there to compete with all the bugs and tender little weeds out in the field, so I went over to check it out. They all lined up like they ...
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The Lake Isle of Innisfree I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee; And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight's all a ...
Eco-Crafting
As a handcrafter, I always strive to make eco-friendly art. I work with wool and natural fibers. I scour thrift stores for old sweaters and silk flowers which I recycle and re-purpose. I remove invasive plant species like dried teasel flower heads for making magic wands, and European beach grass roots for birds' nests. I make needlefelted wall hangings that ...
Bringing the Seasons into Your Home
With the increasingly indoor lives us modern folks are living, bringing a little of the outdoors in can really help us tune in to the natural world. I have always been the sort of person who fills up my house with rocks, sticks, feathers, nests, pinecones and whatever little things I collect on my walks and adventures. When my kids were little, I got the idea for a nature table somewhere, and I ...