"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

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Geography of Love











When I started blogging two years ago I had no idea what fun I would have growing to know folks from around the world through it.  My blog is a way to share some photos and stories with family members and lifetime friends, but it has also given me the opportunity to mingle in a community of crafters who share their creative adventures through their blogs.

One of the bloggers I have grown to love, Meredith, lives in Florida. Among other things, she is gifted in shaping fiber into beautiful garments.  She lovingly serves her family [including her dog, Max!] and reaches out to those around her with wonderful acts of kindness, as well as serving as a busy physical therapist.

We have shared many fun and heartfelt comments back and forth.  She has been admiring Fluffy Baa Baa [a stuffed sheep I adopted from Good Will quite a few months ago] in some of my blog photos.  I told her that I would look for a Fluffy Baa Baa for her.  Meanwhile my 18mo. old Grand Joy, has hugged and lugged around Fluffy Baa Baa and even tried to ride her while my two older Grand Girls have been enjoying having Fluffy Baa Baa around, and enjoy tending my whole little flock of fiber sheep who they guide through many trials and triumphs. However,  recently it occurred to me that Fluffy Baa Baa was meant to live in Florida with Meredith, and  I am certain that Fluffy Baa Baa has a sister who I will soon be able to find and adopt locally.

So several weeks ago I popped Fluffy Baa Baa into a Trader Joe's paper bag with handles.  As she peered out of the bag with great interest, my two oldest Grand Girls carefully and lovingly lugged her from the car into the Post Office where she boarded a big box headed from Sandy, Oregon, to Florida!

You can imagine that there was considerable curiosity about this event from my Grand Girls, Hayley (6) and Molly (4)!  And thanks to Meredith who created a delightful post describing Fluffy Baa Baa's arrival in Florida, they, and you can be assured that Fluffy Baa Baa arrived safely and has been welcomed into a most loving home :) [ I do hope you go read the story which I read to the children pictured above, Hayley, Molly, their visiting friend, Oliver, and Joy.]

Over ten years ago I joined a fiber arts group, Windy Weavers :)  We met every Friday afternoon in a comfy church hall in northern CA.  I hoped to learn to knit socks with these wonderful ladies and I did, and they also taught me to spin wool into yarn even though I did not know I wanted to learn how to do that.  Claire, one of these dear ladies told me about a website, Knitter's Review, I might enjoy visiting.  The author, Clara Parkes was a graduate of Claire's  college alma mater, Mills College. I did/do enjoy visiting Clara's website, and through it I became aware of Jane Brocket's book The Gentle Art of Domesticity and her blog Yarnstorm.  From Jane's blog I became aware of local blogger, Alicia Paulson, and her dear blog, Posie Gets Cozy.  From Alicia's blog I became aware of Teresa Kasner's beautiful blog, and Fiber Art by Sosae Caetano, Mereknits, TACIStudio, The Simple Life of a Queen, Simplify ...and see my blog roll in the right side bar of my blog :) 

Whether you visit me at One Saylor's Log because you are one of my family members, lifelong friends, or a blogging friend, I thank you for visiting.  You are one of God's blessings to me and I am asking Him to bless you through me and every avenue possible.

Thanks for posting, Meredith :)




34 comments:

  1. What a kind and thoughtful gift Gracie. Wishing you a happy new year. Heather

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  2. Hello Gracie, I just finished reading Meredith posting and she is truly enjoying having Fluffy Baa Baa. It was so kind of you to pass along Baa Baa to a new home. I am sure she will be well taken care of.. Loved reading the story about how your grand daughter had so much fun with Baa Baa going to a new home too.. All your grand daughters are lovely and I reckon a big JOY in your life as much as mine are in mine. I wish you a very happy and Healthy New Year. Hugs Judy

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  3. Gracie, you are so sweet and generous!! Next I will go read Meredith's blog. I enjoyed spending time in your cozy and pretty lounge with you, Betsy and Taci.. and also your daughter, sweet little granddaughter.. AND getting to hold that sweet baby! I missed you in the pool though. I do hope you find another fluffy sheep to come spend time with you and your darlings.

    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
      *H*A*P*P*Y* *N*E*W* *Y*E*A*R*!*
    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. Gracie...you have GOT to be one of the most generous people I know. Your heart overflows with love for those around you and it shows in everything you do. I read Meredith's blog with a huge smile on my face and I did the same with yours. How sweet of your girls to part with Fluffy Baa Baa and see her go so far away from home. I hope you find a new girl to enter your family soon. :-)
    Thank you for opening your home to us yesterday and sharing little Rose with all of us. I enjoyed it so much and hope to repeat it again soon.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  5. Gracie, I am so glad you joined that knitting group and in turn found all of us. You have delighted me in so many ways, I love how our friendship grows from afar. So glad the little ones enjoyed the story of Fluffy's travels to Florida and her introduction to my home. She is very happy here! And once again I can not thank you enough for your generosity. I love how Haley, Molly and Oliver have on their traveling hats, and do I see a pair of binoculars? Looks like they are all ready for an adventure.

    Fluffy and I send a hug back to everyone in Oregon.
    Meredith

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  6. I loved seeing your gift to Meredith on her blog earlier today. You are such a warm and generous person and a very good friend. I really like these photos of you with your grandchildren, your facial expressions are adorable. I'm really glad to have connected with you, Gracie. :)

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  7. I too read and love Jane Brocket and Alicia's blogs.

    Did you know there are sheep knit and felt patterns? I have at least one ;)

    Merry Christmas (belated) and Happy New Year!

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    1. Yes, I have some patterns to make sheep...just not the commitment yet...only God can make a sheep? :)

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    2. What a sweet gift Gracie, I know Meredith is over the moon with her new sheep addition to the family!!

      Your home looks so lovely and cosy, I especially love your evening-time photo.

      Helenxx

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  8. Hi Gracie, I've been a bit behind with my blogging recently so just popping in to catch up now :-) Thank YOU for your lovely blog too, it is so lovely to get to know fellow crafty peeps from all over - it's a small world indeed. Wishing you & yours a belated Merry Christmas and all the best for a new year ahead, filled with love, joy and many blessings. I'm hopping over to Meredith's lovely blog now to read Fluffy's adventurous journey to Florida!
    Love & hugs, Gilly xx

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  9. Wow, I didn't realise how far Fluffy had travelled!!!!!!!! That's half way round the world to me on this very small island. I love the grand kids gathered around you, and the hugs you're getting.
    Happy New Year. Mrs Clicky x

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  10. Hi Grace
    I enjoy your blog, I found yours off of Teresa's lovely blog and probably were I found Mereknits too. Have a great New Year.

    Erika
    down the I-5 in go ducks (city) ;)

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  11. Just love your story and your cosy home and your little grandies and everything. I am lucky to have Mereknits visit me regularly on my blog too. Thanks for always calling by and making my day. happy New year to your family. Jo x

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  12. Hi Gracie, That's so generous of you and kids to send Fluffy to your lovely blog friend :) I enjoyed reading the entire journey and how kindness and love can create a bond between two unknown persons. I am sure both you and Meredith will remember such precious little moments forever:)

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  13. Just catching up with you, it is lovely to see you surround by family and friends over the Christmas season, just as it should be! I had to smile at your tale of the chocolate milk, just exactly the sort of thing that would happen to me! I am so glad you managed to sort it all out.

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  14. It was so nice of you to send Fluffy to Meredith! I just read her post an hour ago and it made me smile. Blogging friendships are incredibly rewarding, even if you never get to meet the person. Your home is so very cosy - I love those photos of your fireplace and your big tree. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the best for 2014. x

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  15. What a fun and creative post, Gracie ... I loved reading the photo story. I have Mere's post up a few tabs over and will read that next.

    Sending you wishes for a very happy and healthy New Year. You are a blessing too! :)

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  16. Just lovely, a very happy new year to you.

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  17. Gracie, I too feel amazement at how blogging has brought me true friends - both ones that I've managed to meet in person, and ones that I haven't, but have still connected with. I count you amongst them! Thank you for blessing us with your wonderful take on life. Luckily, love is certainly unconfined by geography. But the internet helps to overcome time and space, doesn't it?

    Wishing you and yours every blessing in 2014. xox

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  18. Hi Gracie,
    How wonderful for your grand children to follow Fluffy's journey with you. That such a natural picture of you all. I too have found being in contact with so many around the world one of the highlights of blogging. Wishing you and your family a happy 2014. Sarah x

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  19. Hi Gracie, what a wonderful post. Love the photos of you and the grandchildren, photos full of joy and happiness.
    How kind to send Fluffy to her new home, hope her sister soon turns up, no doubt they will then be telling each other all about their adventures.
    Wishing you and those you love a very happy and healthy 2014

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  20. Hi Gracie - what a fabulous blog post! I loved the photo's of the animals all looking at the map :)
    I am sure that Fluffy will be loved in her new home

    Wishing you, and your family, all the best for a happy, healthy and wonderful 2014!

    Love, Sarah x x

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  21. What a lovely story about the fluffy sheep, Gracie! You are very kind and generous. I will go and have a look at Meredith's blog now :) Loved all the sweet pictures here of you and your grandchildren and your cosy home. Wishing you a wonderful 2014!
    Helen xox

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  22. I loved finding out about Fluffy Baa Baa from Meredith's blog and am looking forward to following your's now too. Such a lovely act of faith in sending her to open up the space for her sister to find and join you, hope she comes soon.

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  23. Thank you Gracie -- you are so sweet. xoxo

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  24. Hi, Gracie! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I hope to meet you one of these days. And Teresa K. I like to knit as well. Not done so in a while though. Your blog looks great, read one post right now. Am reading a bit tonight but trying to stay off computer after an hour...especially reading blogs. I have to get some photo calendars finished so I can send them out. I'm running way behind so I better get going. Will read more later! Happy new year!!

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  25. How Cozy!! Your pictures are so warm and loving.
    Can't wait to see what the new year brings!
    Midge

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  26. This is just the sweetest! And I spy Miss Maggie! Blessings and love to you this new year! :)

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  27. I adore stuffed lambs (am looking at one in my childhood rocker right now)--so this post really made me smile! What a precious, precious gift for Meredith--I know it will bless her, as reading this post has blessed me!
    Great photos:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  28. I have so loved these Fluffy Baa Baa posts, yours and Meredith's ... how wonderful the people in this bloggy world of ours are :D

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  29. You really are such a wonderful blessing to so many of us dear Gracie - what a beautiful kind and loving act towards lovely Meredith, and oh how I love those pics of you with your grands - such happiness shining from each of you! I feel your blessing thank you, and in turn may you be blessed one hundred-fold! Love, Joy xo

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  30. What a wonderful post. I love the photo of all the sheepsies in front of their computer and their map! :)

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  31. The grand children seem to be loving it.

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  32. Here I am stalking through another of your old posts! Ahh, you're going to have to post a new one soon before I get through all of your archives! Anyway, so sweet to see all the little children gathered around you, and it's wonderful Fluffy Blaa Blaa got to make a trip from one good home to another--so thoughtful of you!

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Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!