Monday, August 30, 2010

What Can it Mean?

Dear Friends,

It's been awful noisy around here lately, with lots of hammering, sawing, and sewing. . .


It could only mean one thing;

The Doll Fair is coming up! On September 1st, the dolls will enjoy a little break from their daily labors and enjoy a day of fun and games.. . The girls have taken the ball and run with it, even making a beetle race track.


There will be an apron display, along with an art and vegetable contest.



We'll be sure to keep you updated, so stay tuned! :)

Love,

Marqueta


***************************

"Simple Simon"

Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair;
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Let me taste your ware"
Said the pieman to Simple Simon "Show me first your penny"
Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Sir, I have not any!"

Simple Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale;
All the water he had got was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went to look if plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for water in a sieve but soon it all fell through;
And now poor Simple Simon bids you all "Adieu"


Saturday, August 28, 2010

Happy Tasha Tudor Day!



Dear Friends,

How did you like Audrey's post yesterday? Does she know her mother, or what? I had uploaded a few photos to do a post, but didn't have time to finish, so she thought she'd help me out, and did a smashing job!


Today we quietly celebrated the life of someone whose influence permeates our lives on a daily basis. In fact, of all our many books which had to be packed away, five of those precious few left till last were Tasha Tudor's! We read "Pumpkin Moonshine" out loud together, and Rebecca and I enjoyed "Tasha Tudor's Private World" while rocking on the chair.


We drank tea and enjoyed listening to the meadowlark's sweet song (there are no hermit thrushes to be found here, alas), and took extra time to enjoy our little flower garden (which is nowhere near as exciting as Tasha's, to be sure) and the simple pleasures of "putting up" apples and greenbeans. Tonight after chores we'll watch the documentary "Take Joy", which is a beautiful vignette of Tasha's life.


Tasha Tudor was indeed a private person, loving to be at home puttering in the garden or working on sketches for yet another book. I think that she would be proud, and a little amazed, to know that so many others are learning to "advance in the direction of their dreams" through her example. Thank you to Clarice of Storybook Woods and to Suzanne of Blueberry Cottage for hosting Tasha Tudor Day this year!



Till next time,

Love,

Marqueta

p.s. An "apple ice cream" recipe will be forthcoming!
****************************
"I used to dread the end of summer. As soon as the goldenrod bloomed it meant I had to go back to school. I hated it! But it's a beautiful time of the year when the southwest wind blows with a distinctive sweet scent and the crickets' chirping starts to slow down and the constellations shift in the night sky."

~Tasha Tudor

Friday, August 27, 2010

Herbs, Cleaning and Such~ (Guest Post by Audrey)

Dear Friends,

Thank you for stopping by today to visit our little cottage- we are quite humbled and we express with deep gratitude your kind support and loving comments to us.


We've been busily preparing for Tasha Tudor Day~


Yummy peaches from a peach sale nearby~

Evangeline looks rather impish, don't you think?


AnnaMarie served us apple ice-cream ~


Such a nature-loving girl~



Sharp dressed farmer boy~

Stinging Nettle is ready to harvest now . . .

. . . And so is the gumweed!


We were blessed to see this beautiful cloud formation last night~

Love from Merry Hearts Cottage!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Hints to Boys and Girls on Good Manners

Hints to Boys and Girls on Good Manners
(From Mother's Magazine, September 1876)
(With pictures by Audrey)


1. Never look over another person when he is writing a letter, or reading that which does not concern you.




2. Never enter another 's room abruptly. Have you special business? Knock gently at the door, or ask permission to enter.




3. Never select the best articles of food at the table. Wait till you are helped. Be modest, polite, temperate.

4. Never ask trifling or foolish questions, or inquire about things with which you are already familiar. "A fool's voice is known by a multitude of words.


5. Never speak unless you have something to say- think twice before you think once. "In the multitude of words there wanteth no sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." ~ Proverbs 5

6.Never dissemble, feign yourself sick or asleep or unwell, to avoid correction of some unpleasant thing. This is a species of lying, for which the Lord will not hold you guiltless. "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from from speaking guile." "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. " "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord."



7. Never be glad or rejoice at another's calamity or misfortune, even though he be your enemy. "He that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." "Does thine enemy hunger, feed him. Does he thirst, give him drink ; by so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." "Overcome evil with good."



8. Never mock or ridicule the poor, the infirm, or the aged.~ "He that mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker." "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool." (Prov. xix 1). Read the fearful doom of those wicked children who mocked Elisha, the holy prophet of God (See 2d Kings, ii. 23, 24.)



9. Never set up your own will in opposition to your parents or teachers: submit calmly, sweetly, cheerfully. "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."



10. When addressed by your parents or superiors, give immediate attention.

11. Be kind and gentle to your brothers and sisters invariably.




12. When a favor is conferred, always express your gratitude politely to the person who bestows it.



13. Little folks, whenever you enter a room, always be careful to notice, respectfully, your superiors, or those older than yourself.


14. Never interrupt persons engaged in conversation, reading, or writing, but wait till a suitable opportunity is given you to speak.


15. Never ask when you know.



16. Never whisper in company, or make remarks on the dress of those about you, or on the things that are in the room where you are.


17. Never flatly contradict any person, and especially your superiors. Rather say, "Are you not mistaken, sir? I had supposed differently." Meekness and modesty are more precious than rubies.

18. Be polite and courteous to everybody: true politeness is giving attention to little things, little acts of self-denial, kindness, and love, striving to make everybody happy. It is benevolence flowing from a noble, generous, pious heart. It is, in a word, doing to others as we would that others should do to us.


Love,

Marqueta

p.s. The girls thought that a little theatrical makeup would enhance the story ;) !

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A Merry Apple-picking Party


Dear Friends,

Thank you for stopping by Merry Hearts Cottage today~ We feel very blessed by your friendship and continued support!

We thought we'd take a little break from getting ready to move and go to Aunt Nicki's house, where the Transparent apples are on. Our cousins were there at the same time, so it was a real picking party, indeed!

Enjoy the pictures that Audrey and AnnaMarie took of our day~





Here are our cousins working their side of the tree~


And AnnaMarie demonstrates yet another clever use for a stirrup hoe!




Although the apples grew out of Frankie's reach, there were plenty of windfalls for him.


Of course, it was not all work and no play. Some of us took time to enjoy the swing under the old cottonwood in the yard.

We have also been enjoying little reading breaks here and there, while nursing Rebecca, and would like to share a few gems from "Mother's Magazine", September 1879.

"A Recipe to Be Miserable- The best recipe we know, if you want to be miserable, is to think about yourself, how much you lost, how much you have not made, and the poor prospect for the future. A brave man with a soul in him gets out of such pitiful ruts and laughs at discouragements, rolls up his sleeves, whistles and sings, and makes the best of life. This earth was never intended as a paradise, and the man who rises above his discouragements and keeps his manhood, will only be the stronger and better for his adversities.

Many a noble ship has been saved by throwing overboard its valuable cargo, and many a man better and more humane after he has lost his gold."

*******************

What Can We Do?

by Kate Meriden

We can be just,

We can be true,
And this is work
We all can do;
And wrongs may right,
And sins may stay,
And souls in night
Restore to day:

And with no hope
Of like return,
Much good may do;
And grace may earn,
With naught in view
But duty done:
Be just and true
To every one.

Love,

Marqueta

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Moving On Part II



Dear Friends,

A blessed Sabbath to you! I don't think I've ever looked forward to taking a day of rest as I have these past few weeks! It has been a blur of packing, painting, patching, and paperwork. We have one more set of papers to sign tomorrow, then our home will officially be placed on the market. Then we shall be doing our best impression of Mrs. Tittlemouse until Mr. Graham finds us a new home and we move out!

Friends from church helped us haul a load to the thrift store (Tasha not included)~


Who says packing can't be fun?


Things are looking whiter and whiter, and barer and barer around here!


Even Grandma Cherie came out to help paint~


Someone is feeling a little displaced!


Mr. Graham is driving to Missouri as we speak, where he will have a whirlwind of job- and- house- hunting! We were all very sad to see him go, but after the tears, we saw that life's departures teach us how much we should never take for granted the precious times we share with our loved ones in this life.

As we harvest the blessings of our time spent living in Idaho . . .


May we not forget to stop and enjoy the beauty around us.

Till next time,


Love,

Marqueta

Sunday, August 8, 2010

A Lesson from the Moonwort

Dear Friends,

I'd like to share with you a special experience that I had just yesterday. Feeling completely overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of life at the present, I wandered outside to counsel with the Lord.

I happened by my moonwort plant (Or am I hers? I'm never quite sure!), and sat by her on our sandy path.

Plucking a few stems to savor the pungent aroma, I began making circles in the sand with a stick.


A tiny beetle happened to be crossing the path, and I placed a few grains of sand on it to see what it would do.


It began to struggle to get out, but was unable. I then rescued it with my stick and it went on its way.
(Can you see the tiny beetle in the photo below?)



Suddenly I saw myself as that beetle; buried in the obstacles that life had given it. Then I saw how God sees me: What seem to be mighty boulders in my life, to Him, are only grains of sand. He places these obstacles in my way to teach me to trust in Him above all, and to help me to grow to be more like He is. As I put complete trust in Him, I see those "boulders" for what they really are~ Just tiny grains of sand.


They say that Moonwort produces lucid dreams; in this case, I think she produced "lucid wakefulness" for me!

Blessings to you this day,

Marqueta

***************************

Psalm 46

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.