A Few More Rough Patches In Nod....

Lil' Crow + A Lil' Snow =

 (BTW, this is completely unrelated to, and "post" the mailbox incident....)

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I know I haven't been around much for all of you, but I really need you all now.

Please say a prayer that this didn't mess up "the" knee.....

Promise (i.e., really, really, hoping) to be back with some funner stuff soon....

Little Crow and the Mailbox.....

This time of year in Nod is bleak and unforgiving.

If you let it, the endless sea of white and sameness can eat you up and swallow you whole.

It can make you crazy....convince you that things are there which are really not....

And, sometimes, make things that were there....

disappear.....

 

Or, at least, that's what I'm told.....

 

Valentine Greetings From My Heart and Hands..........

Hope your day is filled with love and chocolate....

(Design by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm)

("Just as Happy" design by Teresa Kogut)

For me, it'll be Vicodin and Prednisone....

:o(

Hetchels, Hatchels and Hackles.....

February Greetings!!

Wow...really...February?

  

Although January, true to its ugly form, was tortuous and unrelenting, it passed blessedly quickly in some ways.  In others, it seemed like a month of Januarys.... (If you haven't figured it out, I do NOT like January....)

Anywho...I wanted to let you I'm still here....still buried...in snow and cold, teaching, my thoughts, and other assorted blarney.  My body, soul, and heart, are desperately and impatiently waiting on spring.

I still haven't managed to put all the Christmas merriment away (but the tree is down...yea!)  I put a few things away here and there on my trips to Mount Laundry and, as I put back in place the "pre-merriment" decor little by little, I pondered what photos I might share with you.  Because, after all, even a "check-in" post needs a photo or two, no?  And, surely, you are weary of the "whiteness" of Nod (even Jack Frost has worn out his welcome here).  But as I pondered, my heart smiled when I went to put these back.  I love them so.  Most think they are a strange thing to collect, but there is something about the melding of wood and metal and wear from usage that endear them to me.

Wool or flax hetchels...or hatchels...or hackles....They've been called by various and sundry names (kinda like me....)  If you are not familiar with them, they were used to prepare flax for spinning.  The flax plant's fibers (lying between the bark and core) were separated by soaking ("retting"), pounding, and scraping.  The fibers, one bunch at a time, were then drawn through the spikes of a hetchel.  Most often, many different sized hetchels were used - starting with a wider openings downs to smaller ones until the long broken fibers were spin-ready.  (This low-grade fiber was called "tow.")    

So, now that you've had your history lesson for the day (and probably learned some new words), here is my (pathetically small) "collection" (hey, I'm going by the rule of threes, so a "collection" it is....):   

This one is my favorite....It's a bow-tie hetchel - most likely Pennsylvania Dutch (note the original painting on the corners):

 

 (Sasha would like you to also note that February is cat appreciation month....)

Here's a "catless" version:

 

I love the old worm holes in the wood....

These are variations of the hetchel and are more commonly called flax combs:

 

 This is my most recent addition:

 

(The flax comb above is a reproduction - artfully crafted by the amazing Art Haber at Old Colony Primitives.)

If I make it through February, I promise to be a better blogger in March....

I think of you all often and pop in when I can.  I may not always comment, but I have been reading when I can.  

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  Proverbs 31:13

It's Been A While.....

It's been a LONG while since....

well, everything.

...since I've posted, since I've visited/commented on blogs,

since I've hooked, punched, or had anything fun or good to post about.

It's been a long while since I laughed, really laughed....

....went for lunch....or went anywhere just because.

But I did yesterday....

Yesterday, I went with my hooking pal, Cathy from Red Barn Rugs, to Country Freckles and crashed their little Thursday hooking group.

Me, well, I didn't get much hooking done, but it was good to catch up on the fun stuff at the store and all of the new Red Barn Rugs' patterns.

Since it's also "been a while" since I've shared some hooky stuff with you, I decided to today....

(Unless otherwise noted, these are all Red Barn Rugs designs/patterns, and were all hooked by the proprietress thereof (i.e., the talented Cathy) herself....)

 

 

 

(Red Barn Rugs' design/pattern hooked by Mary Jo)

 (Lib Calloway design/pattern being hooked by Kris)

(Red Barn Rugs' design/pattern being hooked by Joy)

(Cathy's newest pattern and current project)

 Gee, all this hooking makes me want to play hooky.   (Get it?)  Ok....sorry.  Back to the books for this crow.

Hope all is well in your worlds...and will try to check in soon! 

Pictures On My Windowpane.....

Someone painted pictures on my windowpane last night....

Willow trees with trailing boughs and flowers, frosty white.....

It's a mystical, magical, place this land of Nod.....

 

Raggedy Blessings....

Happy, Happy, Friday!

Brrr.....Baby, it's COLD outside!!!

(Love the little red apples against the icy branches....)

It's getting on time to take down the "merriment" of the season.

I struggle with this each year. 

While most of you are anxious to take it down and start fresh, I cling to the the magic of twinkling white lights, winter greens, and the warmth of all that is Christmas.

As I ponder the task (note - I did not say "start the task"), I can't help but smile when I see the treasures that I've received from friends.  I've shared some of my Christmas gifts in recent posts, but there are a few more I wanted to share today.....from my lil' raggedy friend, Angie.

These are no means all the things she sent (she's a generous one that one), but a few that caught my fancy especially well today:

A wonderful OLD book by Martin Luther....(it's the one on the bottom)

I adore old books - especially old leather ones, old bibles, old hymnals, old photograph books......This one is from 1866 and fits right in with what I love best.....

 

If my German serves me correctly, I believe this is a book of homilies....

 

It's a little rough and raggedy around the edges, just like I like 'em.....

A wonderful salt-glaze jug:

 

 

And some of her wonderful hand-did's:

Decadent chocolate truffles:

  (Ok, ok.....these are long gone....photo was taken the day they came and were "thawing out."  Long story....)

As I said, these are just a few things she sent me. In addition to the gifts she sent me "for" me, she also was a lifeline and came up with several gifts for me to give to others on my list. Thank you Angie....for all my raggedy blessings! You're one-of-a-kind raggedy amazing!!! (Please keep Angie in your thoughts and prayers as she is facing another upcoming surgery on her back....)

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Happy weekend to you all!  Stay warm.

Time for this bird to hit the books.... 

:o(

 

Making Christmases Merry ~ One Christmas At A Time....

Some of you who have been with me a while, may recall a post I did shortly after Christmas last year.  (If not, and you're curious and/or bored, you can find it here.)

I struggled a bit last year to find my Christmas "joy" which, in other years, came so readily and un-beckoned.  Then, a very special package arrived that made my heart, like the Grinch's, grow three times in size.

That package came from my sweet friend Shirlee, a/k/a "The Easily Influenced Stitcher."  And while I could never have dreamed Shirlee could "outdo" last year's amazing "Christmas in a box," she did.

And, like last year, it took me back and made me truly ponder the wonder of a Christmas-filled heart.

After the bustle of Christmas Eve festivities were over, I sat alone with the Christmas music playing and the lights twinkling, and reveled in the blessings of a friend's amazing kindness.

  

Simple, unassuming packages...but oh the treasures within....

Five (yes, FIVE!! pinch, pinch!) gorgeous stitcheries....I would have reveled in the gift of one, but five had me hearing angels singing.

All are Country Rustic Primitives designs (one of my most favorite designers!!) and each is beautifully hand-stitched and creatively finished by the oh-so-talented (but oh-so-humble) Shirlee:

  (Winter 1839)

(Merry Christmas 1843)

(I LOVE reindeer!)

 (Noel 1867)

 

(Joy 1837) 

(Did I mention I LOVE reindeer??!)

  (Sleigh Bells)

 All are patterns I hoped some day to do (how did she know???)....but it would have taken me a month of Christmases or more.  To have them stitched for you by a friend is a gift like no other.  Shirlee's heart is surely filled with the spirit of the season and she has a way of filling others' hearts with the magic of the season as well.  She is single-handedly making Christmases merry, one Christmas at a time.

Thank you my sweet (and overly generous) friend!!

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Since it is doubtful I'll get another post in before then (all that daily merriment posting almost posted me out), I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, happy, new year! May it be overflowing with joys and blessings, large and small......

 

Gifts of the Season....

To me, Christmas is not just a "day," but a season.

When I was a child, the whole end of December and into the new year was "holiday" time.  Time spent baking and preparing....enjoying and visiting....

Life was simpler....Not everyone had jobs outside of the home that they needed to return to, and so days were dedicated going from family home to family home, to spread the cheer and make merry.

 

I am saddened now when, the day after Christmas, the radio stations stop playing Christmas music, there are no more Christmas movies to be found, and people start taking down their decorations.

But, here in Nod, you will find the tree still lit, the music still playing, and me still in my Christmas socks (clean ones, of course...I do have more than one pair.)

It is, after all, a season.

One of the "old" traditions from when I was a child, was the "present viewings."  At some point, at each house we visited, we would all gather around their tree and the hostess would show us each gift the family members of that house had received and explain from whom each gift was received.

It was never considered bragging or boastful - just appreciation for blessings bestowed.

And, with that thought and tradition in mind, I'd like to share with you a few of the wonderful gifts I received this season.

First, this wonderful package of stitchy goodes from the dear and overly generous Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  I mentioned previously her generous heart, and the fact that she was hostessing an amazing Christmas giveaway with a winner or more (sometimes as many as hundreds) each day from December 1st through December 25th.

I was a squealing-kind of merry when I found out I had won some of her amazing hand-dyed "champagne" linen....

But, in addition to the generous hunk of linen, Nancy sent me two skeins of the richest, most sumptuous, "best brick red" hand-dyed floss and a whole pocket full of little stitching charms.

 

 

Try as I might, I couldn't capture the richness and depth of gorgeous colors of either the linen or floss in a photo.  You just have to trust me....It's magical.  Can't wait to put a needle to that thread and fabric!!

Thank you, Nancy....you made my heart sing.

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Several other sweet gifts that touched my heart came from the charming Misi of 1890 Gable House Musings.  I LOVE what this woman does!!! She has more talent in her little pinky than I could ever have in my entire body - feathers and all.

 

I absolutely ADORE these!!

Thank you so much Sweet Misi....now, if only Santa would come through on that wish of mine to have a wee bit of your incredible talent and creativity!!

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 And, from my sweet, funny, gal pal, Marie, a/k/a Olde Lady Morgan

this wonderful reindeer fella (For some reason, I am smitten with reindeer this year....):

 

 

....this too stinking-adorable snow fella in a ticking stocking (with his own star!)

And.....this sweet lil' snow fella in a ticking pocket.

 

Thank you so much, Girlfriend - your "random act of kindness" warmed my soul and made me smile from the inside out....

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I have more to share, but this post has gotten lengthy enough me thinks....

So, I will share more of this season's joys another day.

I have been truly blessed by you, my friends....

Wishing you all a season of joys and blessings!