My Little Hen

family

I found this family portrait on the internet. The woman standing in the middle (from right) is my great grandmother Cora. I just adore the picnic table and dinner set out of doors. Don't you? I'm hoping for many an evening meal outside this summer. 

good luck

Speaking of horses, I found this good luck shoe that would be fun to have around. 

 

Horses

We are pretty horse crazy around here. I was always horse crazy but by the age of 10 years old I was over the moon. In fact, my passionate horse crazy love as a girl lead me to write about and draw horses. This spark of creativity probably had a huge influence on my future career as a designer and writer.

I didn't own a horse but I sure tried to get one. My imagination was in overdrive for several years scheming to get a horse. I can remember it all. It's called working on a dream, something all kids should have.

If you know my 3 books Cooking Fun, Crafting Fun, and Homemade Fun, you'll recognise that I am nostaglic. Not that I want to live in the past but I find the past inspires me forward. I want to carry memories, traditions, ideas into the future or the present (as it may be).It's complicated.

How about you, did you have big dreams that compelled you towards adventures as a kid?

Home

I REALLY LIKE THIS BOWL BY KEITH BRYMER JONES. 

This bench, which I saw here, would be great for any creative space.

I'm definitely in the mood to spruce up my home. 

it was a long winter

but now !! Spring! May flowers!/gardens.

L’Atelier d’exercices

I love this feather collection box. Made by L’Atelier d’exercices. It would be easy to use an old cigar box to make something like this....hmmm.

And these cutie pies from Ferse Verse should be on everyones list.

I would wear them on my jacket or sweater all week long.

I saw these wooden pins bird pins.Love the colors. Made by Le Petit Pig.

Sweet frenzy

We had 2 rounds of egg dyeing this weekend, one for the barn's easter egg hunt and one for the family.I was assigned the last minute easter egg dyeing for the barn.

Couldn't wait.

I set up my station in my favorite window that gets the most saturated eastern light in the morning.

The light, the colors, the texture,all reminded me how fun it is to create something,anything,without a road map,or an audience in mind. I just loved the sweet frenzy of making 24 eggs as quickly and as beautifully as I could. I had nothing in the world in mind but those white eggs and the tranformation of colors and textures with the dyes.

Nothing in mind but the moment and look what one gets. Maybe those Zen guys know something.

Birding

Felt bird project from Homemade Fun

This spring we've been birding on the weekends. Our birding consists of taking a walk in the woods or the park and spotting as many kinds of birds as we can. Because the trees are bare we can find the birds and observe their behavior quite easily.

Hawks, falcons, bluejays, cardinals, warblers, sparrows,and Robin redbreast (American Robin) are a few of the birds we have seen. I have been particularly lucky to have had several encounters with a few urban hawks. Show offs. Really, they are.

Another thing I noticed (obvious but gradual) is that the more I look for birds, the more I hear their various songs. 

This site from Cornell University is one of the best websites I have found concerning birds. Listening to the bird songs here is very helpful to my beginner ear. Check it out with your kids. Our cat gets a little nutty over the bird calls we play in the house.Very amusing!

 

 

Spring things in our garden

Here's something pretty I saw this weekend. 

I'd like to see my easter eggs with these colors this year.

egg colors

I found this color chart floating around from 2006. I think it a Martha Stewart original.

One thing I like about Easter is the egg dyeing. Easter bunny or not, it's a spring ritual and a perfect way to get the family creative juices sparked. 

Here's another of my favorite easter projects from Quince and Quire. Really very cute and on my to-do list.

Lastly, this old photo of my brothers and I on Easter Sunday. I think my brothers have such cool hair cuts. 

How about you? Are you getting geared up for Easter? My friend Marie-Helene asked me what I'm making for Easter dinner. More on that another time. We had lots of ideas.