Joy Leanne

I have always loved dolls. As a little girl (and some times as a big one) I spent a lot of time reading and playing with dolls. Two my favorite books were about dolls. I probably a little old when I stopped playing with dolls (14) but I don't care. And now I have two little girls and I have an excuse to play with dolls again. I have fallen in love with Waldorf dolls. Unfortunately the ones I have made are not true Waldorf dolls since I couldn't get my hands on wool stuffing. But other than that I think I staid very true to the Waldorf style. Let me know what you think.   A blond, blue eyed doll I made for a very sweet girl in MD. A brown haired, brown eyed girl I made for her sister. A very sweet red head with blue eyes. I made Hazel for Bear for her second birthday. She has a more cartoonish face since she is for a little girl. Thanks for looking.

No picture today. I took a ton of pictures over the weekend. We went to the Farmer's Market, took a walk down town, went to the horse festival so Abi could experience her first pony ride, went to the orchard, ate amazing soup. Then I came home loaded all my pictures on the lap top and before I could blog them Abi pulled half the keys of the lap top so it is no longer working. Oh well. Hopefully I can get a USB key bored and plug it in. It just has to last till February. The past few days have been much like the days, weeks and months preceding them. Some amazingly fun, sweet, great moments in there, but for the most part hard and draining. Constantly reminding myself that this (whatever that moment's "this" happens to be) too shall pass. That there is still something to smile about, that God is on His throne. I guess it is a step in the right direction, so many time during hard days I haven't even been able to prompt myself into a good mood. I eagerly await the da...

So last week my mother-in-law and I went to the farmers market. I love our farmer's market. You can get everything from fresh produce, yarn spun locally, local honey, meet, cheese, jewelry, and clothes for your little girls and their dolls. I love wandering around the market. You never know what you will find there. Last week I bought some honey in hopes of reducing the families allergies. One thing I did find odd at the market though was the fact that every one was using plastic bags. For some reason it just seemed odd. So since Ruth and I are going back tomorrow to buy stuff for fresh veggies soup and grilled cheese sandwiches I decided to make a market bag. I also made some bread for the grilled chesse. Maybe I am odd but I think a perfectly brown load of bread is so pretty! Since I was on a domestic spree today I decided to go ahead and roast a chicken for the first time today. Didn't take pictures of that but it definately turned out really well. Abi Bear is with the grand...

Cloudy day here today. Not that I mind. I enjoy the occasional cloudy day. It let's me know the seasons are changing here. However, the gray skies can have a negative affect on one's mood so you have to make your own sunshine.  The sunflower on my kitchen table. The Autumn napkins I made for myself today. I'm so excited I finally made myself something. Tonight is pay day and I'm going to Joann's to buy some fabric for a market bag for Saturday.     Another spot of sunshine was coffee and cookies with Hubby tonight. Any chance to use my cupcake plate makes me smile. On a side note this is Maddie Goose after Josh swaddled her last night. Definitely made me smile.

Some days it all seems like just to much. So much pain, so much sorrow. So many problems with no easy answers. But there are good moments as well. A visit from family. Cooking dinner with Hubby, Bear and Goose in the other room playing. A friend sharing good news. Another calling just to check in. Sitting in the middle of the park immersed in God’s Word. A morning at the Farmer's Market. An apple by the fountain. Sitting infront of my sewing machine making something beautiful for a loved one. A partly cloud morning at the kitchen table Blank page in front of me; a large, red cup of lemon tea reminding me be joyful; and a host of trees out side the back door with slowly changing leaves. This is my life. This is my adventure. It is mine to live!

A set I recently made for a friend's grandson.

I have always hesitated to call myself a writer. Even though I majored in print journalism in college I shirk at using such an official title for myself. I have never made a penny off of my pen. I have never been published out side of my college news paper. I can’t even blog on a regular basis. Not that you have to be famous to be a writer. I know many people who consider themselves writers who have yet to be published but are still adamantly honing their art. They write on a daily basis. No matter how crazy their lives get they still manage to carve out time for their craft. They are violently jealous of their time spent writing. It is a major priority in their lives. I am not a writer by this standard either. I can go days, weeks, some times even a month with out writing in my journal much less doing any real writing. Often times the only words that make it from my mind to paper are a grocery list, to do list, or meal plans. If I am feeling truly inspired I may attempt an e-mail, tha...