December Days

Dear Friends,

December has flown by as fast as a live trap catches a possum! 

AnnaMarie and I took a class on identifying trees by their twigs and bark (some are pretty hard!), and we've been practicing keying out the trees in our woods (like this shingle oak twig).

The birds have been flocking to the feeders with the colder weather. We try to wonder who will feed them when we're not here next year. . . .

Christmas was special this year, being on Sunday. We went to a short church service, then spent the day quietly enjoying each others' company (and some presents!). Now it's time to started sorting, cleaning, and ridding ourselves of all the extra things we have accumulated these past six years, getting ready to move (this time for real). My, how they add up!

I hope that your December has been a profitable one, full of many sweet blessings. Here's to a happy, peaceful new year!

Love,

Marqueta

Heirloom Gardener Magazine

 Dear Friends,

Do you subscribe to the Heirloom Gardener Magazine? If so, you will see an article written by little ol' me! I wrote it over one year ago, so it has been quite the wait to see if finally in print!

I submitted two articles, one on yarrow, and one on shiso, two herbs that I grow in my own garden and love. The shiso article is the one featured in the Winter 2016 issue, which I just received in the mail today.





If you have never read "Heirloom Gardener," I would highly recommend it for anyone learning how to garden, and also for those who have gardened for a while, but are looking for new ideas. There are also helpful herbal home remedies and crafts. Here is a link to the website where you can subscribe to this magazine.

Till next time,

Marqueta

"Some Good to Do"

Dear Friends,

Here is a poem from an Ideals Magazine that I thought went along with these photos from a recent nature outing~

"Some Good to Do"

by Georgia B. Adams

If there's some good that I can do 

To ease another's way,

If I can cause the sun to shine

Or moonbeams softly play,

If I can help to make a dream~

A lifelong dream come true,

My purpose for existing will

Be most rewarding, too.

If just a simple word of cheer

I might pass on to you,

Or help to ease a lonely hour

Of those whose friends are few,

Then I am rich for I have gained

A satisfaction sweet

In working out God's will for me

With all of those I meet.

I'd draw them into common bond

And for them daily pray;

I want to be God's instrument

To ease another's way.

Love,

Marqueta

Enjoying Autumn

Dear Friends,

Autumn time has truly arrived again, bringing the last of the flowers and beautiful blue skies. The colors are turning on the trees, and every breeze brings down a shower of leaves.

Time to spend as much time outside as possible, soaking up the last of the warm sunshine, before Jack Frost comes to pay a call!

These pictures were taken by Tasha at a nearby nature park~ She has an eye for photography!

May you be blessed with a full larder and happy heart this time of year, dear friends.

Love,

Marqueta

Celebrating Hyrum's Birthday

Dear Friends,

Someone had a third birthday recently~ Someone who really likes farm animals!

So we had a farm cake~

And went to a place that had farm animals (even though Hyrum doesn't look very happy here).

There was contra dancing to participate in,

plus lots of crafts and other goodies for sale!

We went on a tractor-pulled wagon ride,

and saw sorghum molasses being made.

There were many old-time crafts being demonstrated,

with knowledgeable volunteers to explain everything they were doing.

                                                              
                                                                 The Blacksmith Shop

It was a fun time for all, and we wish we'd had a million dollars or so to buy everything that was being sold. Maybe next time! :)

Happy birthday, big Hyrum boy!

Love,

Marqueta

Fun at Wilder Days

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we took a road trip to the Ozarks, to see the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Mansfield, MO.

On the way, we stopped at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where the remains of a mansion that burned down are the main feature.

Someone is not sure he likes the picture informing him that scorpions and tarantulas can be found in the park!

It started sprinkling while we were at the park, but we didn't let it dampen our spirits (although it did put a damper on the swimming and campfire we had planned for later!).

Such an eerily beautiful site~

We had hoped to see Pa's fiddle being played at Laura and Almanzo's house on Saturday, but we arrived too late, so we headed to the park for the fun they were having there. 

The turtle race was fun, although we felt a trifle sorry for the turtles!

Here we are posing by a bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which is surrounded by a circle of bricks listing the books she wrote, as well as the year they were published.

We loved the small town feel of Mansfield, as well as the other little towns where we stopped to fuel up along the way. We felt as if we had come home.

This is the pulpit from the church that the Wilder family attended in Mansfield. The historical society has a nice little museum across from the park, with lovely examples of clothing and crafts, plus military uniforms worn by Mansfield residents.

Before leaving Mansfield, we went to the cemetery where the Wilders are buried. There were many small rocks placed on the headstones as a tribute to Laura's family.

I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on our trip!

Love,

Marqueta

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"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder