Signs of Summer Ending

This morning as I was walking out to the barn I almost ran into this web.

I seem to run into webs everywhere I go.  That is a for sure sign of fall coming soon.  All the little baby spiders have hatched and are off spinning webs on their own.  It always remind me of Charlotte's Web.

This morning after I saw this web I began to hum a song a friend taught me in high school--

There's a web like a spider's web
Made of silver light and shadows
Spun by the moon in my room at night
It's a web made to catch a dream
Hold it tight 'til I awaken
As if to tell me my dream is of you.

I always thought it was a song about a dream catcher hung above the bed.  Maybe it was just images made by the moon.  It's funny how a little thing like a spider's web can spark a memory that leads to other memories.  The human mind really is amazing.

It was the kids first day of school.  It was such a quiet day for the most part.  It makes me appreciate my kids more.  You know the saying--"absence makes the heart grow fonder."  

Last Lazy Days of Summer

The kids only have a week left of school.  To make sure that they enjoy their first days back I have been making them do yard work.  Really I just decided to make use of them while I have them.  We have been planting and landscaping.  Here are a few pics.

Rose working hard moving rocks around the yard--Love the Wonder Woman boots!!

Faith diggin' her grave--really just a hole for a bush!

Wonder Woman and Faith

Canyon working hard at keeping the kittens happy

Isaac--doing what he does best--making us laugh!

I have also been working on a clay oven--hopefully in a week or two we might just be able to have a brick oven pizza night.  Here are a few pictures of the work in progress.

The base of the oven with some clay covering the rocks

A few more layers on top to hold in the insulation layer-I know it
isn't even--we will work on that over the next few steps.

The insulation layer, glass bottles surrounded by a mixture of
clay and small wood shavings.

My New Hobby

When I moved to Kentucky I found a new hobby.  I love going to the Arts and Crafts shows they have here.  Especially the Appalachian Craft Shows.  I really like the old arts.  I saw some really cool things that were made out of gourds, so last summer I planted some in the garden.  For Christmas I got a few tools to make what I call "gourding" easier.  I spent most of Christmas morning creating my first gourd--I even burnt breakfast--thankfully a kind family dropped off some delicious cinnamon rolls for us.  This is my first gourd.  Since then I tried new tools and techniques.  Here are some more gourds.

I painted, carved and burned this gourd to make this design.  It has one of my favorite sayings on it.  Most people think it applies to teachers, but I like to think of how it applies to families.  You can count the number of children in a family, but you can not count the amount of influence on the future those children may have.  It goes right along with my favorite  saying--"save the world--raise good kids."

This one I made by carving, and staining.  The handle is a curved vine I found on one of the many hikes we make through our woods and pasture.  I am always on the lookout for interesting "stuff"

This is the only birdhouse I have made so far.  It reminds me of a little gnome home.  

I painted this blue with gold swirls  and then decoupaged butterflies onto this one.  It is all my girls' favorite--Go figure. 

I haven't finished this one yet.  I plan on putting hinges, a clasp and a brass handle where the stem currently is.

This one is carved and stained and then I wove cedar tree bark to make the top and handle.  It is one of Brett's favorites.

This one is painted and the top is woven on with the twine.  It is also lined with a matching fabric.

This is my first and only rooster so far.  He is kind of funky--but I like him and it was fun to make him. 

So--What do you think?   Do you have a favorite or an idea-I would love to have some feed back.

A Relaxing weekend

Last weekend we went to Nashville for two days and then on to Brett's brothers for Friday thru Sunday.  It was a nice and relaxing weekend.  We spent lots of time in the pool.

The kids also had a great time playing with their cousins.  Here they are with their own Guitar Hero band!!!