A Mouse in the House

A surprise appeared in my studio the other day!  Yes, its a mouse, quite snuggled down in a box of thread.

I was surprised that he didn't run away, upon seeing me -- but I guess he had found his nest and no one would be moving him anytime soon.

Now I wonder if there are more where he came from and if so, where will they be found?

"No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted" - "The Lion and the Mouse

A Mouse or an Owl???

As you all know I've been fumbling around for what seems like ages -- but I guess has only been a month or so.  The other day, while browsing the bookstore, I found this book.  Hmmm...

Last year I spent a lot of time trying to make a mouse.  The pattern I was using was very small and had at least one too many gussets in it for these elderly hands to handle.  When I saw this book I was entranced.

Dare I think that the mice and owls might start to occupy my studio?  We'll see what happens...

"Every time you tear a leaf off of a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress." - Charles Kettering

...And The Winners Are...

I'm so sorry -- I was supposed to do this yesterday and the day got away from me - but here we are:

Daryle and Katie at Woodstown Whimsies

Liz E at Bead Contagion

Miss Linny

 If each of you will contact me with your mailing address I'll get these Piffles on their way. They're quite excited causing much fluster here among the left-behinds.  I hope they don't all want to go somewhere!!

Desert Beauties

Somehow, the simplest of plants always seems like a magical spectacle when walking in the desert.  Across the street from 'our' hotel in Carson City there is a small desert walk, set up on the hospital grounds.  Its a must for us each morning before our busy days begin.

This year I was fascinated by the 'fluffy' plants that we spotted as we walked. Unfortunately there are no plant names showing at their base, so we could only enjoy them in their nameless state.

The surprises of the desert landscape never ever cease to amaze me.

"I have always loved the desert.  One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing.  Yet through the silence something throbs and gleams." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery - The Little Prince

Pesky Piffles

                                                             "Bibliophile"

I'm back home and so are 'they'.  Yes the Piffles are back home and making total pests of themselves.  Having traveled clear out to California and back again they don't seem to want to settle down in their place on the shelves.

   

                                                              "Starr"

What am I going to do with them?  One has already started her journey to a new home.
But that leaves three - and believe me the 'left behinds' are really quite upset. 

                                                        "Alberta Algorithm"

And so I offer these noisy and not-too-cooperative Piffles as a blog give away.  Please leave a comment below and The winners will be announced on the Tuesday the 21st. 

"You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra





  

Where am I?

Have I been quiet over the past few days?  Its because I am out in Nevada, surrounded by family and noise and joyful confusion.  

Running here and there and everywhere - trying to pack as much into these few days as possible.

A graduation, a new marriage to celebrate, two great grandsons not seen until now.  I'll soon be back in my nest with memories to carry me over until the next time.  Whoops, got to go -- there's a grandchild or two who need me *smile*.

"The family is the first essential cell of human society". - Pope John XXIII

Betwixt and Between

 

 Having made several pockets I decided that I might get back to doll making.  There's been much going on here and my head and heart haven't really be into creating dolls.  It has been a lot easier just to stitch as I can on fabric and make simple little pockets.

As I made a bit of progress I noticed this 'project' sitting longer and longer between my
bursts of creativity.  One morning I came into my studio and carefully packed this whole project into a box of 'undones'.  I'm trying to let myself be an empty book, ready for words but at this point, I'm not sure how the words will read.  I shall attempt patience and see what happens.

"You never know what's around the corner.  It could be everything or it could be nothing.
You put one foot in front of the other, and one day you look back and you've climbed the mountain." - Tom Hiddleston

Carl Sandburg

   
Not far from where we live is the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site.  It is the site of his home in Flat Rock, NC.  He has been called America's Poet.

To see his study and walk the paths of the man who has been called America's poet is quite a treat. 

Walking is quite beautiful and restful and I can imagine him wandering around, conjuring up words to become poetry.

Of course no trip to the site would be complete without a visit to the goats.  Lovely things who don't mind at all if you pet them.  In the spring the babies are born and I recently saw one only 1 day old as well as a couple who were a few days older than that.  The adults look so wise and I wonder what they are thinking as people come from far away to pet them.  

At this point in time the house is being refurbished -- but I shall go back again after it is reopened to relive a man who gave us so much.

"Strange things blow in through my window on the wings of the night wind and I don't worry about my destiny." - Carl Sandburg