The Tall Dolls at School

Dear Friends,

Thank you, as always, for your kind comments that warm our hearts and make us smile. What treasures you all are!

Our Tall Doll families have been very busy lately, attending classes at the Pink Street Elementary (So named for the pink carpet in Audrey's room).



There have been many creative and unusual teachers, such as: Mrs. Lemming (Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic), Mr. Environment (Science), Mrs. Rundel (Art), and Miss Z, the principal.


There were many assignments to complete, including papers on The Grasslands and Horses in America, as well as memorizing spelling words for the Great Spelling Bee, which was held last Friday evening at 6:30.

Some of the lovely artwork produced during class.

The Spelling Bee

Jessica was the proud winner of the Spelling Bee.

Of course, it hasn't been all work and no play! There were several field trips taken to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and learn about the Great Outdoors.





We hope that you enjoyed peeking at Pink Street Elementary~All of this was the product of the girls' own imaginations, making this mama very proud indeed!

Love,

Marqueta

The Blessings of Autumn

Dear Friends,

We have been glorying in the riches of gold and scarlet, as the trees have been transformed through the yearly miracle called autumn.



To walk through the woods in a breeze, watching the fluttering leaves as they catch a shaft of light before falling to the ground, returning to the earth in a never-ending cycle of renewal. To breathe in the scent of leaves mingled with the earth, which will soon be enriched by them. To feel the absolute calm of all growing things, as they settle down for rest. To be surprised by new growth appearing at the base of the perennial plants,

Motherwort, readying for next year's growth.

and the buds on the trees, readying themselves even now for next spring's awakening. All these things make our hearts fill with gratitude and awe, at the perfection of the natural world.



These things could not just have occurred by accident, and our spirits soar at the thought that the same One who created the earth, created us, just as perfectly. Our spiritual lives, as well as the earth, follow a cyclical pattern of growth and rest, and rebirth, though these may be harder to observe. May we be like the earth, trusting in our Maker in each season of life. May we learn when to rest, when to grow, and when to prepare for new growth just as the plants and trees do.





As those of you who have been following this blog for a while may know, we decided to make this the year that we learned about and utilized as many of the good things of the earth as possible, both for medicine and food. While our tummies have been filled with surprising new tastes, we believe that our spirits have been filled most of all. We were not prepared for the shift of consciousness that comes with truly opening our eyes and seeing what God has put here for us to use, the only cost being our effort in harvesting and enjoying.

Sumac berries make a wonderful "lemonade"

We began seeing the whole natural world differently, to feel more deeply in tune with what was in season, and realizing the great abundance and provision which is everywhere to be found. We found ourselves becoming more deeply saddened, as well, by the abuse that this dear earth receives from its inhabitants. Especially by those that profess to believe in God. "How can we profess to believe in the Creator, if we destroy His creations?" I can't remember who made this statement, but it should be passed along everywhere! We cannot control what others do, but let us, dear friends, strive to honor God by living in a more peaceful manner on the earth, and not seeking to destroy every wild thing that might appear in our lawn (I'm speaking of dandelions here :) )! Let the rest of the world call us crazy (They probably already do, anyway).



I truly hope that you have been able to spend time in nature lately, whether in a city park or in the mountains, far away from humanity. I hope that you will keep a little notebook of observations about weather, animals, birds, and whatever else is around you, too~you will be surprised how much it will mean to you after a few years! May the Lord continue to open our eyes to the wonder of this beautiful, beautiful, world. May we let Mother Nature nurture us, through whatever season of life we may find ourselves right now.



Blessings to you and your family today.

Love,

Marqueta

On Letters

Hello, dear friends! I hope you're having a beautiful autumn day. We had a lot of rain yesterday, but it's drying off now, and the sun is shining. A perfect day for airing out the bedding, as well as ourselves!

I've been posting quite a few letters written by my father, in hopes of getting them all safely copied and then handing the originals back to my sister for safe-keeping. Reading his letters truly makes me mourn for our culture, that has, for the most part, lost the simple art of keeping in touch through putting pen to paper. I am grateful that my father was a good letter-writer, for I feel that I have truly come to know him through his words. Here is a link to my father's blog.


I would like to encourage us all to sit down and write to someone we have not kept in touch with, today. I am going to write to my Aunt Rose, who is my father's last living sibling.

May you have a blessed day, dear friends.

Love,

Marqueta

"Fairyland"

"The woods are just behind our house,
And every afternoon at four
I go to pick the lovely flowers
That grow right up beside the door;
Nurse says that just old weeds are there~
I call them Garlands for Queen's hair.


The woods stretch westward far away;
The trees are very tall and green;
They grow on little dimpled hills,
With grassy hollows in between.
Nurse says our woods aren't very grand~
I think that they are FAIRYLAND.

~Anonymous

Dear Friends,

We wish these woods were behind our house, but alas, we had to drive to get there!

We snacked on sweet rose hips~

But avoided these pretty nightshade berries!

The water in the pond was as clear as glass~

And the clouds were buttermilk and feathers.

The crowning even was seeing a pair of bald eagles, fishing in the river~
Can you see them, one in the air and one with a fish in its talons (You may want to click on the image to get a better view!)

We are so grateful that the eagles are increasing in numbers. Many people have sacrificed much to preserve these magnificent birds.

We wish we had a close-up of this eagle in the middle!

We hope you enjoyed coming to the woods with us today~Thank you, as always, for your friendship and love. May you be filled with peace today.

Love,

Marqueta

A Rainy/Snowy Day

Dear Friends,

What shall we do on a rainy/snowy day?

Make "cupcakes" for our dolls~

Put on something warm and go out for fresh air~

Play hairstylist~


Take a picture of our chubby feet~



Have a fly-swatting party~


Hold "Doll School"~


Snuggle with a fuzzy kitten~


Or use a larger cat for an arm-warmer~


Try on a Monarch brooch pin for size~

Or feed the Monarch some grape juice~

Or just stay in bed with something fun to read?

We did all of this and more! We are getting used to snow in October and June, here in Idaho, and laugh that it must be that "darned Global Warming" every time it happens! It snowed all night and into the morning, but melted off by afternoon (Silly us forgot to take pictures!), leaving the world wet but freshened.

We hope that you are having a wonderful day, no matter the weather!

Love,

Marqueta

*********************************
Rain

Today the world is very wet,
Though yesterday 'twas day~~
Perhaps last night the "Bear" upset
The "Dipper" in the sky!

~Mary Stuart Whitten

Welcome October~A Pumpkin Tea~

Dear Friends,

We greeted the beginning of another month with another Thursday Tea! Audrey decorated our table with two of our three pumpkins (They didn't do so well this year), and a zucchini for good measure!






We enjoyed an herbal chai (cardamon, cinnamon, ginger tea with milk) with a little elderberry syrup for a little extra sweetness and color (and health benefits!).


We had pumpkin cookies for treats, which Frankie decided would make a great soup with the chai (Consider yourself blessed that we failed to take a photo ;) )!

The girls have found a puffball mushroom in the neighbor's field, which unfortunately was too mature for eating,


And our Monarch butterfly emerged yesterday, but the poor thing is hanging stock still even yet, as Monarchs are cold-blooded and cannot move when it's below 60 degrees.


And here we are enjoying a little autumn silliness ~


And the beautiful skies this time of year~



We hope that you are enjoying this autumn, as well! May you and yours be blessed with health and joy.

Love,

Marqueta

"Once more the liberal year laughs out
O'er richer stores than gems or gold:
Once more with harvest song and shout
Is nature's boldest triumph told."
- John Greenleaf Whittier