The Joys of Sewing

Dear Friends,

I came around late (age 29) learning how to sew. I was a tomboy, and took Shop in high school, instead of Home Ec! Then the Lord blessed me with lots of beautiful girls, and also placed a burden on my heart to start dressing myself and them in a feminine way.

I was fortunate enough to find Jennie Chancey's wonderful Sense and Sensibility pattern line, with helpful tutorials on her website, and through them and the help of my mother, began making lots of dresses.

Once I got the hang of it, I even started making matching dresses for us (aren't we the cutest things?)!



Through the years, I have tried making sure we all matched for Easter, depending on whether I was suffering from morning sickness or not!



Now that I have seven children, it's quite a challenge to pull off that many outfits, so I try to make sure we mostly match. :) Being able to make your own clothing is becoming a lost art, but it is one worthy of resurrecting. There is nothing as comforting as knowing that you can make something with your own hands, and the feeling of a project completed is so much more than buying something at the store.

We have gone through several sewing machines (including an expensive Bernina sewing computer) since I started using them, causing lots of frustration and tears. I've heard good things about antique Singer Featherweight machines, so I began searching for them recently, after our last new Singer gave out. One was available locally on Craisglist, so I snatched it up.

After fiddling with the tension, and adjusting the tension screw on the bobbin case, she now sews like a champ! I put her through the paces making matching skirts for the bigger girls for Easter (top picture of this post), and a dress for Rebecca. May this be the last machine I ever need!

When we're done sewing, we find that we're behind in the housework, so we like to put on something fun to clean to. I couldn't find an album solely dedicated to cleaning the house, so with the help of my children, I made one! Here is a video we made to one of the songs. I hope you enjoy it!

Love,
Marqueta

A Blessed Easter

Dear Friends,

Here's wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend. It is a wonderful time of year to reflect on our many blessings, and especially those that come through the Atonement and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May His peace be with you today and always.

Love,

Marqueta

Saying Goodbye to My Garden

Dear Friends,

We have begun looking for a home that will be more suitable to our growing family's needs. That means digging up all the plants that I don't want to be destroyed when someone new moves in who will most likely want a nice green lawn!



I have left behind several little garden patches as we've moved around, and I must admit that it is harder to leave the garden than the house itself. There is something magical about working the soil and tending to green things that have a life of their own.



So for now, the most desirable plants I've put in pots, hoping that we'll move quickly so they can be in our next home (that hopefully will be the last move we ever have to make, Lord willing!). I've also given away lots of plants to friends, hoping that they also will prosper in their new homes.

Here's to the next garden in life!

Love,

Marqueta

To a Garden—On Leaving It

by William Barnes

Sweet garden! peaceful spot! no more in thee

Shall I e'er while away the sunny hour.

Farewell each blooming shrub, and lofty tree;

Farewell the mossy path and nodding flow'r:

I shall not hear again from yonder bow'r

The song of birds, or humming of the bee,

Nor listen to the waterfall, nor see

The clouds float on behind the lofty tow'r.

No more, at cool-air'd eve, or dewy morn,

My gliding scythe shall shear thy mossy green:

My busy hands shall never more adorn,

My eyes no more may see, this peaceful scene.

But still, sweet spot, wherever I may be,

My love-led soul will wander back to thee.

Arigato (Thank You), Japan

Dear Friends,

Although I am a certifiable "homebody," I love to armchair travel through books, magazines, and good programs and videos. That way I don't have to get someone to watch the animals while I'm gone (and it's cheaper)!

For the past year we've been learning about Japan, and we've also eaten lots of Japanese food. Every country has its pluses and minuses, but the old-style Japan seems to have a more serene, peaceful way of living in the world. Here are some of the things that I love~

Venetia's Essays is a lovely, slow-paced Japanese television series that reminds us to slow down and savor the little things in life. She is an herbalist, so there are lots of nice recipes and ideas, too.

This clever way of Notebook organizing

Decorative Washi Tape!

Kintsukuroi

Sakura
"Sakura" means "cherry blossom" in Japan, and is said to be the symbol of the Emperor. In spring, it is traditional to picnic where the cherry trees are blooming.
(image from the internet)

The philosophy of wabi-sabi

The word "Kawaii" 
 
Definition: "Kawaii" in Japanese has a broader definition than the English word "cute". When applied to pop culture, "cute" will suffice; however "kawaii" refers primarily to the affection of a parent toward a child coupled with the protectiveness for the innocent and weak.

Bento Boxes
Here is a video explaining Obento~


We think this Totoro Bento Box is kawaii!!

Soba noodles, made from buckwheat, are good for diabetics.
They are slurped in Japan while eating, to enhance the flavor. Combined with miso (fermented soybean/barley paste)  and pickled "ume," most meals are naturally high in probiotics and are easily digested.

Traditional Japanese knives are the best ever! They are super-sharp, but take a lot of care to keep them from rusting.

I could go on with my list, but I think this is a good representation of the good things we've gleaned from a country far, far away. 

I hope you've enjoyed it!

Love,

Marqueta

It's All About the Chickens!

Dear Friends,

I never really saw myself as wanting a chicken farm, but it seems one has found me, anyway! We have our own three girls to take care of, and now in addition we have almost three dozen Malay/Naked/other Asian chickens that we are raising up for a man we gave some roosters to last year. He's paying us five dollars each for them, but with all the feed they're going through, we'll be lucky if we make a few pennies off each!

A mix of Malay and Half-Nakeds (mixed with another breed, but missing lots of feathers)

It has been a fun thing for the children to help out, though, and we've learned a lot about Asian-style chickens that we never knew before.

This is the biggest Malay rooster, whom we call "Gentle Ben." 

This is a Malay hen, half-grown. 

They start out so cute and fluffy!

These are our own two hens, Madeleine (Duckwing Bantam) and Hickey Pickety (Black
Australorp). Taking care of them is nothing now, after having all the others!

And here is our silly Polish Crested Phyllis Polly Peacock, who is helping us see if our new raccoon trap works right!

Tune in next time for more homestead adventures!

Love,

Marqueta

"Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens"

Jack Prelutsky, 1940

Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.

They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me.