It Was a Merry Little Christmas

Dear Friends,

I hope that you all enjoyed a lovely Christmas, and that a blessed and happy New Year will be yours!

As you can see, we re-enacted the Nativity on Christmas Eve, and opened a few simple gifts on Christmas morning.

Games and Legos were the "big thing" this year!

A "secret Santa" left a ham and holiday fruits and veggies on our door step on Christmas Eve, so we enjoyed them for our Christmas meal (Thank you, whoever you are!).

My favorite photo is this one of Hyrum, fallen asleep next to the tree with his neck warmer and Jesus doll that I made. Sweet little dreamer!

Until next time,

Love,
Marqueta

The Doll's Christmas Faire

Dear Friends,

Christmas is quickly approaching! My children thought it would be fun to have a Christmas Faire featuring booths about how different countries celebrate Christmas, since we weren't able to do our Labor Day fair this year.

There were booths from America, Africa, Peru and Chile, Mexico, Scandanavia, and several others. They took turns telling about how Christmas is celebrated in each place, then there were crafts and games. They even made "food" out of clay!

 Gandalf presided over the festivities as Father Christmas.

I hope you enjoyed sharing a little of the creativity that goes on at our busy house!

Love,

Marqueta

An Autumn Wild Plant Video

Dear Friends,

I finally have gotten around to putting up a video on Youtube for the first time since moving. In it I explore the plants and trees growing along our small backyard fence.

Enjoy!

Love,

Marqueta

At Home With Venetia~ An Inspiring Program From Japan

Dear Friends,

When I am frazzled and need a little encouraging, I crave slow-paced, peaceful programs to calm my nerves. A few years ago I stumbled across this one from Japan, and it is my absolute favorite (and really the only) television program that I watch.

Venetia Stanley-Smith was born in England, but now resides in  Kyoto, Japan. She loves using herbs and natural fibers in her everyday life, and each episode features either a specific herb or local artisan.

I hope you will enjoy watching "Venetia," too!

Love,
Marqueta

A Most Happy Thanksgiving to You

Dear Friends,

It looks like this pilgrim isn't having a very enjoyable day, but I hope the same won't be said of you and yours! The image is from a Farmer's Wife magazine I purchased from eBay several years ago. I love reading old magazines and domestic manuals, to learn about the lives of women. It makes me feel like I've traveled back in time for a visit!

Love,

Marqueta

A Leafy Family Walk

Dear Friends,

The rains and winds have been sending all the lovely autumn leaves to the ground, so we knew it was time to take a walk to enjoy them before they were gone. The only rules were that you had to scuffle through the leaves as much as possible, and you had to collect the nicest leaves for your nature journal.

Some of us decided to ride scooters, which it turns out make great leaf scoops if you drag them behind you!

The sun made stained glass out of the leaves.

Nothing is as satisfying as the scent and sound of crunchy leaves underfoot!

Looks like the neighborhood has a new batch of kittens!

And finally, a photo of a photographer to end our leafy nature walk.

Love to you,

Marqueta

The Art Museum

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we had planned to go for a nature walk to enjoy the colors, but Mother Nature had other plans! It was drizzly and not nice for a walk, so we went to the local art museum instead.

They were having a display of photographs featuring servicemen from the Vietnam Era, which made us grateful for all the sacrifices made by others so we can enjoy the freedoms we have.

There were a few flowers hanging on in the grounds,

And a few colorful trees, in spite of the rain.

We enjoyed the "wonder room" display  of various collectibles and natural objects.

Thank goodness there was a little spot for children to play in, and explore books on art.

There were many works of "modern art" that made us feel better about our own art skills, but there were also beautiful original portraits of early Americans and landscapes that made us want to practice more~

Overall, we enjoyed spending time in peaceful, beautiful surroundings that others had made to honor those who create art, which is truly a gift from our Creator.

Love,

Marqueta

Enjoying Autumn

Dear Friends,

Autumn is truly upon us! The leaves are turning beautiful colors, then flying off in the slightest breeze.

The crickets chirp more slowly and quietly, and the birds ready themselves for the cold days ahead.

The gooseberries are long gone . . . 

. . . and the spice bush berries are ripe and spicy!

May Mother Nature lure us outdoors for a few more sunlight days, before she wears a blanket of white.

Love,

Marqueta