Christmas Blessings

Dear Friends,

Our dolls had a busy time getting ready for Christmas this year; it was quite the gift extravaganza!

Christmas morning found us humans somewhat bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

I hope you found something nice to enjoy this Christmas, as well. Of course, the true Gift of the season is that of the birth of Jesus Christ. May His peace reside in your heart always.

Love,

Marqueta

Christmas is Coming!

Dear Friends,

Christmas is fast approaching, once again! It seems like we just put the trappings of last year's festivities away, yet indeed it has been another year gone by.

The tree is occupying its regular place, bringing joy to hearts young and old~

And the cats are making themselves handy as portable Christmas ornaments~

AnnaMarie is still busy making gorgeous hair decorations for the rest of us. She is also studying hair cutting from home, which will be an extra blessing for the menfolk of the family!

We've been squeezing in last-minute gifts, and planning when and where to bless the elderly at nearby nursing homes.

St. Nicholas Day ushers in the Christmas season, and we enjoyed putting out our boots with carrots in them for St. Nicholas' horse.

May you enjoy a season of love and joy, and find time in your busy schedule to ponder the gift of the Christ, which makes life possible.

Love,

Marqueta

It Was a Blessed Thanksgiving Day

 Dear Friends,

Happy late Thanksgiving to you! We spent the holiday here at Birdsong Cottage, with just our family this year. We have been recovering from a stomach bug that has moved through the family, and didn't want to share!

It was a very wet, rainy day, but it was warm and cozy inside, as we all worked together to make a meaningful meal and time together.

The girls and Frankie had a sleepover in our front room the night before Thanksgiving. They brought all of their bigger dolls and babies, so they could have a sleepover, too. I love that even my oldest girls still play with their younger siblings with their dolls; it is precious to see.

We hope that your Thanksgiving Day was full of bountiful blessings, as well. It is indeed wonderful to set apart a special day in giving thanks for all that we have been given .


Love,

Marqueta

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1.  Come, ye thankful people, come;
   Raise the song of harvest home.
   All is safely gathered in
   Ere the winter storms begin.
   God, our Maker, doth provide
   For our wants to be supplied.
   Come to God's own temple, come;
   Raise the song of harvest home.

Qigong for Health and Energy

Dear  Friends,

For the past month and a half I have been dutifully performing Chinese "Qigong" exercises, which are designed to increase strength and energy without putting strain on the body. I must say that I didn't notice much at first, but after having kept up with it, I am starting to notice more balance and ability to de-stress during the day. 

The following videos are the ones that I most often use, depending on how much time I have before the resident toddler grabs my legs and wants me to pick him up! I invite you to try it for yourself, and see how you feel after a few weeks.

Love,

Marqueta

p.s. The following is Tasha's take on Qigong~ :)

Embrace the tiger, return to the mountain.
Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap.
Deep inhale, pause, exhale.
The dragon goes to the sun, the dragon goes to the moon.
Qi ball.
Simply joyful jumps.
Knock on those gates of life!
Good? Good.

Happy Birthday to Hyrum

 Dear Friends,

A certain little boy we know turned 2 the other day. He was feeling under the weather, but still enjoyed all the fun of opening presents and blowing out candles! How the time has flown since he surprised us by being born three weeks before he was expected.

Love,

Marqueta

Autumnal Blessings~ Wisdom from Laura Ingalls Wilder

(Photos by Tasha)

Dear friends,

Enjoy these words from Laura Ingalls Wilder this autumn day!
 
"As we go about our daily tasks, the world will seem lighter if we enjoy the beautiful things that are just are outside our doors and windows.



It pays to go to the top of the hill now and then to see the view and to stroll through the wood lot or pasture forgetting that we are in a hurry or that there is such a thing as a clock in the world.

 
You are 'so busy'! Oh, yes, I know it! We are all busy, but what are we living for anyway, and why is the world so beautiful if not for us? The habits we form last us through this life, and I firmly believe into the next.

Let's not make such a habit of hurry and work that when we leave this world, we will impelled to hurry through the spaces of the universe using our wings for feather dusters to clean away the star dust.

The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.

Love, 

Marqueta 

The Seventh Annual Small Doll Fair

Dear Friends,

The local doll village has just finished its seventh annual Labor Day fair (this one was all of Labor Day weekend), and as usual, everyone had a wonderful time!

Benjamin Franklin was the faithful ticket seller~

And the dolls lined up for several exciting rides~

There were crafts on display, as well as Ethnic foods and homegrown produce~

Even the queen herself was pleased~

All in all, it was time very well spent. The older my children become, the more I treasure our little rituals like these, knowing that they won't last forever.

Love,

Marqueta

Happy Centennial Birthday, Tasha Tudor!

 

Dear Friends,

Today would be the 100th birthday of one of our favorite children's book illustrators, Tasha Tudor. We celebrated by making a wreath for Tasha, the namesake of Ms. Tudor. It was such a compliment when we met Rosemary Gladstar and she said my children look like Tasha Tudor illustrations!

We had a family tea in the afternoon, and then painted with watercolors, which were Tasha's preferred medium.

Hyrum's~

Rebecca's~

 

Tasha's (still in the sketching stage)~

 

Evangeline's~

 

A Giant Swallowtail helped us celebrate by making itself part of the wall decor. It had pupated on one of my hats in the entryway!

Thank you for joining us in our little celebration  of a truly unique life.

Love,

Marqueta