"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Monday, July 29, 2013

Summer Show and Tell :)











I love awakening in the night to see the moon through the branches and leaves of the trees around our home.  One night this past week the moon looked like a wondrous blossom decorating the sky while bending to bask the earth in its glow...until the sun took over lighting the cultivated and wild blossoms on earth during the day.

Saturday, my youngest daughter invited her aunt and cousin over for an intro to spinning fiber workshop.  We had a homemade drop spindle made from a dowel, cup hook, rubber grommet, and two CDs for them to try out, and my daughter's Ashford Elizabeth spinning wheel, also. My daughter had two different rovings for them to spin: some white Merino wool, and some Navajo-Churro wool from a zoo sheep named Titan :) 

Today my oldest daughter and her husband and their girls came in from walking around the ponds with a bucket with some of the first ripe blackberries of the 2013 season!  Woohoo!  So then I went out to follow in their footsteps, and while I was at it I went down to the brook and tried to record its sights and sounds for you to enjoy.  While I was sitting still I heard five or six different bird voices ... chirps, cackles, chortles, chuckles, but voices I was sad to realize that I could not identify as specific bird types.  I also heard jets, small planes and cars pass over and by.  Insects whined and buzzed by, two  garter snakes slithered by and two birds and two butterflies landed near me but fluttered away before I could take photos of them. We will see if I succeed in getting Blogger to broadcast the bubbling brook :)

Mmmmm, the blackberries are yummy!  What is ripe and yummy around you?

Gracie xx




20 comments:

  1. I loved seeing all your fun photos of things around you that bring you joy! You are SO lucky that your girls spend time with you and like the same things. I enjoyed your babbling brook video.. I kept looking for a frog or something.. lol! I hope we can get together soon!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Loved the brook video and coming to visit and enjoy warmth lol
    Cold cold here...... Rosemary(herb) at least is growing here ☺
    Yummy berries xo

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  3. I loved listening to the brook! And seeing the spinning class!!! So fun!
    My oldest daughter and her family just returned from Portland today. They had the most fabulous time. Multnomah Falls was a highlight, and they loved downtown Portland. They waited in line at Vodoo Donuts, and then went to a most fabulous bookstore. I cannot remember the name, but they said it went on and on. So much fun! And I was wishing it were me there, so that I could visit my Oregon friends!!
    xo Kris

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    1. Glad your daughter and family had so much fun! Could it be Powell's Books that they visited? That is probably the best known bookstore in the Portland area:)
      Blessings,
      Aimee

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  4. Such fun Gracie. I was trying so hard to figure out that first picture. It was trees! Who would have guessed? How wonderful that your girls also enjoy spinning with you. I've never gotten the knack of spindle spinning but enjoy my Ashford wheel.

    Kris- was it Powell's bookstore? I love that store and could easily spend days there! :-)

    Lovely pictures Gracie. Enjoy summer.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  5. The moon is so pretty Gracey... Such a wonderful view. I am sure you are having fun. Lets try to et together soon? Miss you my dear friend.

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  6. Lovely photo's - the moon is amazing :) We have had a few pickings of raspberries...but are currently having a glut of zucchini and beans :)
    Hope you continue to enjoy your week!
    Hugs and blessings, Sarah x

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  7. http://gillymakes.blogspot.com/

    Oh what gorgeous pics! Your spinning class sounds like a lot of fun - I have that on my "would like to do one day" list too.
    Happy Tuesday,
    xx

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    1. I tried to publish Gilly's comment from my iPad and managed to hit the wrong tab :( So I copied her comment and published it with her address, but alas not her photo :( Sorry Gilly!!! If you haven't met Gilly, I hope you will visit her blog, because she always has creative posts to enjoy. I appreciate your encouraging comments, Gilly! Thank you!

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  8. We are in for a bumper blackberry year this year I have spotted the blossom a few weeks ago and they are fruiting up now but still little green bullets. We have just finished our summer raspberries and we have two teeny courgettes. I have pickled beetroot (they were baby too) and we are eating new potatoes. I have a blackberry wine mission. I made some 2 years ago and it was divine - but all gone now! (it was tracing those patterns that did it!) Jo x

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  9. I saw a ripening berry on a walk the other day....

    Such a lovely post. The spinning looks like great fun - can you imagine spinning enough to make fabric with, as women used to do? I love the thistle photo too. They're opening up all over the place here in Wisconsin. :)

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  10. Gracie, I think I would like to come over for that spinning class, I have always wanted to learn. Love the pictures and the sights and sounds of your beautiful life.
    Hugs to you my friend,
    Meredith

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  11. I loved your pics and the little film clip thank you - it's always so nice to enjoy your interesting makings and doings, thank you Gracie!
    Joy x

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  12. LOVED these photos Gracie--your photos just keep getting better and better!!!
    My wonderful hubby picked me some blackberries just recently--they were SO good! My chef/cook son told me that if we froze some, he would make a blackberry cobbler for us when he comes for a visit:)
    Sorry Betsy--I didn't see your answer for Kris till after I posted a reply.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  13. Your photos always make me smile as there is always a teapot nearby.. :)

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    1. I'm glad they make you smile, Joy :) I had quite a tempest in my favorite teapot several days ago. I nearly failed my physics class in high school which is no doubt the reason why I did not recognize that if one does not hold the teapot lid in place whilst pouring the last bit of tea from ones teapot, one risks having the lid tumble out and break off the spout of ones FAVORITE teapot.
      Tragic! So I visited my favorite teashop and purchased an inexpensive replacement in PINK. I am grateful for it but not quite reconciled to its color yet :)

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  14. We are just now picking our raspberries and it's another bumper crop this year. It's always a challenge to get them before our resident bear gets to them. :-) But there were plenty to go around and I've been busy freezing them to enjoy for later. Looks like a fun spinning lesson judging from the smiley faces. Perfect way to spend the day!

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  15. Sounds like a wonderful day. I've never tried spinning, but it looks like fun. Your salad looks good with the fresh berries. Thank you for your kind comments and for following my new blog. Have a super evening. Heather

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  16. Blackberries on salad, now that is different.

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