"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

Friday, June 17, 2016

Five on Friday: Pioneering

Joining in Five on Friday with Amy at love made my home:

One:

Have you read Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series of books?  I have lost track of how many times I have read through the series, but after ten days of camping in the forest east of Mt. Hood, recently, pioneering has especially been on my mind.  I was on roads that followed the Oregon Trail formed by brave and foolish folk who wanted to stake claim on land in the western United States.  We drove home to our log sided house, and since then I have thought how I have felt like a pioneer of sorts as I have traveled back and forth across the USA over my 65 years.  I have never lived in a true log cabin, but have often joked that I have lived in houses with dirt[y] floors!  When I saw this book this week I was primed to read and enjoy every page of it! I also finally framed the Multnomah Falls poster I purchased last Fall at the Centennial Celebration of the Falls as a national park site, and it reminds me of the wonders nearby and around the world that we can pioneer our way to see, and protect and treasure.

 Two:

Many of the pioneers were dependent on their gardens as they settled on their land and needed to grow food to sustain themselves and their neighbors.  While I have not fought the effects of plagues of grasshoppers or the effects of foul weather on my gardens, I have had marginal gardening success, so I am especially hopeful as I note that three years after I planted them, I have two Holly Hock plants and one of them has a huge flower bud!  Also, for the first time in the many times I have planted Sweet Pea seeds, I have Sweet Pea vines growing up the trellis by the Holly Hock!  Still on the theme of growing, I enjoyed reading the first issue, FLORA, of making which has many patterns for stitching projects including a sweet counted cross stitch pattern by Alicia Paulson.

 Three:

June 14th we celebrated Flag Day here in the USA although I did not attend any celebrations focused on it...I just noted that I am grateful to those who pioneered their way here so that in my lifetime I have been protected to live with much freedom...and I yearn to share that freedom and peace with everyone.
 Four:

Teresa and Dayle found a knit happy mug for me to keep some of my knitting needles and crochet hooks in. Thank you again Teresa and Dayle. I also have a crochet hook holder that Taci made for me in it, and a sock needle DPN holder that Betsy and Dennis made for me in it. To me these ladies are all pioneers in stitching who have traveled much farther in their stitching skills than I have, and I am grateful that they and others still cheer on my efforts to grow my stitching skills.

 Five

When I noted that my four year old grand Joy was saving her pennies in some sort of tin can...which works fine...I was nonetheless inspired to pick up a piggie bank at the craft store for her.  Joy's mom, Joy and I pioneered our way through mixing red and white acrylic paint and brushing the resulting pink onto the pig...phase one of the pig's decoration.

Have you been pioneering this week?

xx
Gracie

39 comments:

  1. I've never read the books but I was a huge fan of the TV series. Does that count?

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  2. Love the knitting mug and the traditional piggy bank. Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. I remember watching the TV series as a child (but I might confuse this series with another, I can't be too sure). I have not done any pioneering this week as such, just coped with the everyday struggles, which I guess the early pioneers had to do, too. I have been meaning to comment on your camping trip post but it has slipped my mind. The photos and post were a joy to see and read and doing so reminded me of a camping trip in Oregon many years back, when my now husband was still living there. It was on a lake and it was was amazing. Thank you. x

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  4. Ni pioneering from me Gracie, but I've enjoyed yours!

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  5. I wish we had a flag day here in the UK, think it such a lovely thing to do. We have St George's day but not much is made of that. Love your new knitting mug and those needles are to be coverted

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  6. Lovely post. Glad to hear you are being successful with your hollyhocks and sweet peas. My hollyhocks are usually a tasty little treat for the snails so have a very short life. Keep going with your pioneering spirit :) B x

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  7. What a great five. I remember the books well and read them with my children when they were small. I really enjoyed the TV series as well. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  8. I think I read the first one but I did watch some of the series too lol. Looks like you and Joy had fun painting the piggy bank!

    Have a great weekend

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  9. Enjoy the hollyhock, I wonder what colour it will be! :-)

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  10. Wonderful, wonderful post Gracie. Your insight and your thoughts that you share with us never cease to amaze me. The Laura Ingalls books were some of the first books that I ever remember reading on my own. I had the complete set that I've now passed on to Mandy to read to Piper. I love, love, love the Knitting mug. How sweet of Teresa and Dayle to get it for you. Have a lovely weekend my friend.
    Blessings always, Betsy

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  11. Hello dear friend Gracie. I have never read Laura Ingalls books but my daughter has and enjoyed them immensely. A few years ago, my brother and I visited the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, OR. It was fascinating to see the exhibit and still see the ruts made from the wagon wheels. Your hollyhocks are really growing; I remember as a child making hollyhock dolls out of the flowers! It looks like you had a wonderful, memory making time with your little granddaughter. My best to you, Pat xx

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  12. I've read the Little House series many, many times myself. Fun fact - my husband and I each brought our own boxed set of the series in to the marriage! We had them both for a long time, but eventually on one of our moves (probably the one from NY to NM), we pared down to just the set in better condition and donated the other. He also brought the Little House Cookbook into my life. If you've never read that, I recommend it highly! Hope you have a good weekend, Gracie.

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  13. Oh I love that you love the Little House books, I do too! I have also re read them many times. They really are classics aren't they. Sounds as though you have had a great week, your mug is lovely and how lovely too to be decorating the piggy bank with your granddaughter! Thank you for joining Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend! xx

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  14. HOlly hock are so old fashioned and lovely . I had to stake mine as they got soooo tall. They are one of my favoirte old fashioned flowers.
    Pioneering: hmmmmm. can't say Im a pioneer. I have launced into new territory for me ......personally...I'm using the microphone feature to post my words on my blog through dictation!

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  15. Is it ridiculous that I didn't know there were Little House on the Prairie books ? I'd love to read those, must have a look on Amazon for a kindle download (the polar opposite of Little House on the Prairie!!)

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  16. I live within 20 miles of the home where Laura wrote her books, and I've never been there. I'm going to look right now and see when it's open and I'll go there and put photos on my blog. I love those books. Shame on me.

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  17. I've never read the Little House books, but used to adore the series when I was a child. I love Sweet Peas and what a lovely collection of needles xx

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  18. Gracie you are such an inspiration to me. You are so positive and thoughtful, so lovely and wonderful. I feel like I have been plodding along this week, trying to get too much done in too little time.
    Sending you a hug,
    Meredith

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  19. What a fun post of good and positive things. I'm glad you like the mug.. when Dayle saw it and called it to my attention, I knew then and there I'd get it for you. I'm not sure I'm pioneering at anything, but I sure have been busy this last month. I'm looking forward to a nice quiet weekend. I hope you have a good one and we will be off on a new adventure together on Monday! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  20. Hi Gracie,
    What fun to see your pioneering efforts here in the Pacific Northwest. We live in Washington State. I have just started reading through the Little House on the Prairie series again. I so enjoyed reading them in my youth. The mug is a nice gift for keeping your needles in. There is a blogger who is a descendant of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Have you seen her blog? Have a lovely weekend.

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  21. Forgot. Readers who love Laura Ingalls Wilder will probably also love Gladys Taber. She used to write a column in one of the women's magazines called, "Butternut Wisdom". Her books are about life on Cape Cod, living in a very old farmhouse. Delightful lady. She has a fan club also, of which Susan Branch is a member. If you haven't been introduced to Susan go to www.susanbranch.com and you'll find another new friend. Her books are page turners and her blog postings warm your heart.

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  22. What an adorable piggy bank. It will mean so much to her when she's older.
    I did read the Little House books when I was a child and loved them, especially On the Banks of Plum Creek. I've been a bit afraid to revisit them because of the attitude toward Native Americans. My children never really got into the series, or I would have reread it with them!

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  23. I make my own bread and cook everything from scratch. We've been eating tomatoes and potatoes from our garden and that's about as pioneering as I've been.

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  24. I always wondered what flag day was for! I have been pioneering in the sewing room, trying new things, conquering fitting issues and trying to be better. Love to you Gracie. Jo x

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  25. I have a whole set of the Little Women books in hardback with green covers and have read them many many times. I also have a hardcover copy of Little House in the Big Woods. My husband's favorite show when we met was Little House on the Prairie. :) I like how you tied theme of pioneering all together with your thoughts and photos. Have a great rest of the weekend.

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  26. I loved the Little House on the Prairie books and in reading about quilts over the years I've read a bit about the pioneers and their hard life and I do find it fascinating. I like how you have been pioneering in various ways too :)The pig looks cute and I wonder what other decoration you are all planning?
    Wishing you a happy weekend dear Gracie.
    Helen xox

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  27. I've been thinking of pioneering my way through a my WIP pile but gave up, it is way too hot around here just now to bother. I love Laura Ingalls Wilder as well.
    Amalia
    xo

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  28. Thanks for visiting me this evening. Wow! I didn't know Linda P. knew anyone so close to me. Boring isn't far at all. Thanks for following me.

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  29. I have never read any Laura Ingills Wilder although the programmes were on the tv when my kids were small. I've enjoyed your 5 and have followed you back. I'm going to explore your site very shortly.

    Diana

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  30. Dear Gracie, I'm so pleased to meet you through Five on Friday and to know that you have now been in touch with Marilyn. Blogging is a wonderful way to make friendships across the world. Thank you for your kind message you left on my blog post. I'm just catching up and looking forward to reading more of your posts and getting to know you. Blessings to you and your family, Linda :)

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  31. I enjoy crafting very much, tho I must admit that my joy of birding takes me away all too often for actually constructing things these days. I also enjoy crocheting...but those that can knit, I so envy. I've tried several times to teach myself to knit and can get as far as casting on....then. Well, the rest is history ---into the trash. lol

    LOVE everything about Little House. My daughter lives in the area that L I Wilder grew up [in Missouri] and has visited her home. The last thing I read was the newly published annotated book of Wilder's notes. Very good.

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  32. Hello, Gracie! I too was a fan of the Little House TV series, but have never read the books.
    Your red mug looks lovely and the piggy bank is really cute. :)
    Have a great new week!

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  33. I hope your hollyhocks and sweet peas flower well for you. Patience is a virtue in a garden but the rewards are great! I love the pink pig and wonder what phase two of the decoration will be? Have a good week.

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  34. Lovely to have connected through Amy's 5 on Friday and thank you for your visit and comment and good luck with your wildflower garden, looks like you have green fingers judging by your hollyhocks! I love that you have made me think about being a pioneer, we have moved often and I guess we were pioneers in our family anyway!
    Wren x

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  35. Hello Gracie. I haven't read the books, used to watch the series on TV. I should try and read. Love the pink piggy :-) I wanted to grow hollyhocks, lupins and delphiniums but they won't grow in our soil. I have put some lupins in a large pot - hope they will be ok. Hugs Anne x

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  36. I loved the Little House series and haven't read them in many years! I always found the thought of living that way amazing. Your growing efforts are showing lovely promise. ;)
    And I LOVE that adorable piggy bank - great job Ladies!! Lol
    Blessings. xoox

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  37. I have never read these books Gracie,I'm not sure why I have missed them I will have to read them! So glad that you are having success with your hollyhocks and sweet peas. Sarah x

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  38. Well, I'm afraid I haven't been much of a pioneer lately, Gracie. I have been getting lots of fresh fruits and veggies from the local farms and making home cooked meals so I suppose that might count. I'm also hand quilting a pillow top. But I must admit to spending time in the a/c on really hot days and driving to the village as opposed to walking - not very pioneer-ish!

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  39. I loved Little House - the descriptive nature of the life they led and how they did things fascinated me to no end!!
    xoxo

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