November is underway....

When you are SO far behind ~ and have missed so much, where do you begin?

 Peeped in, in September, then skipped over October all together. 

My goodness, not going to win any BlogTastic Awards on this schedule am I ?  

Clearly, trying to catch up, alllll the way back to the Perpetual Winter post would be a bit much.

Baby steps.

Good then, Let's press on, shall we?

Fasten your seat belt, here we go.

There have been bits of crafting, here and there.

First up,  dabbling with PMC3 (Precious Metal Clay) again.  No, I'm no silversmith, but it's fun and considering that it starts out as a glob of clay, and ends up sterling silver, after a good roasting on your stove top, how can you not love the adventure!  Takes your mind off the shaky results.

 This little birdy was made as a birthday gift for a friend....  it seems you can still get the Milk Man to deliver if you stay in the Lake District in England! Not only milk, but other things too! Dog bones, bird seed... ~ this is a small scale reenactment of the experience.  "He" (yes, that's right, The Milk Man) leaves a piece of slate on top of your milk bottle, so the Blue Tits won't peck thru the top to steal your cream! 

Next thing you know, it's September, and time to go to The Common Ground Fair again! 
We took the train from Thorndike, ME this year ~ If you are in the neighborhood, you NEED to visit Garden Variety and peek into the Dented Can to see what's going on inside!  A great little village, that is really making an effort to bring it's vintage buildings and empty train cars back to life! 
This fabulous little Tear Drop trailer was set up there, selling home dyed and spun yarn!  (yes, that really does say "The Rolling Scones") If you are passing thru Montville, Maine you should stop at Fernwood Nursery (the home base) and meet the nice people who turn wool into fabulously colored yarn, and maybe the sheep who make it ~ and buy some plants too! 

 We enjoyed the fair, as always ~ the animals, all the wonderful wares for sale! We had great weather this year ~ not to hot, not too cold ~ just right, like a good bowl of Porridge.
Goldilocks would have been pleased!  

                                                                        What a Handsome goat! 

                                                         I'm sure he's as gentle as a lamb......

Once back home.... my creative juices kicked in again! 
You see, I saw some adorable paper mache rabbits while visiting The Rolling Scones...
and I needed to have some.  ~ and I do love to learn new things... so this is Rabbit #1.
He's nameless, and yet unfinished, but he's coming along. 
Due check back for updates on his status.

Naturally, we brought home some apples from Maine... and pie is the next natural thing that happens!

             And, after over ten (?) years, my Cork Screw (Snail Vine) Vine FINALLY bloomed! 
                                                                               Wow!

This is Levi, he's not a big cuddler, or one that follows me around normally...so I had to take advantage when he was sitting there peacefully contemplating life and looking handsome.

               Before you know it, we are back in Maine...

 (yes, a lot of to-ing and fro-ing goes on, it's hard when you are be-twist two lives).

Artsy Apple photo, because why not?

   There's that Snail Vine unfurled, it smells like sweet orchids! 

We had a wild rain storm sweep thru one day, while I was at work. It moved on as swiftly as it arrived, and the sun returned like nothing ever happened.   Fascinating the weather in New England! 

                           I love my kitchen window sill....  it makes me happy inside.

                                                    The Magnificent Pete Purrington.

Cranberry Harvest Season too!

So pretty the reds and blues!

                                                                          Maine born apples.

The first and only black squirrel I have ever seen!  Of course Pinchy T. Squirrel has run the poor thing out of the neighborhood!  Seems Pinchy doesn't want any outsiders taking up tree space!
... and potentially getting more peanuts than him. 

This is the world's tiniest inch worm who came for a ride in the van with me one day!

                                                                   Maine scenery......

                                                         Blueberries.
                                                     Beautiful colors huh?

                                                A great old barn, on the "Back Roads".

             If you are passing thru Freedom, Maine you should stop in and visit the Pack Rat! 
         A great little shop, with lots of this and that,  and with a super nice owner!!
                      She welds, does lamp work too,  and makes fabulous things!!

                                                  Things to do with your extra apples.

                                  You need some foliage in your day, who doesn't?

                                                           I never get tired of this view.
                                 oh Yes; Country of the Pointed Firs... you go Sarah Orne Jewett. 

Belfast, Maine..... by night.
Oh go ahead, Que the spooky music.

                                                       British Soldier Lichen... love it! 

                                     Art shot.  Old tractor with corn stalks, how can you not?

                                                           Sunrise on the Wankinco River.

                                                                                Me and Jo. 

                                                                                 Belle's Nose

                                          She gets a little bored with the whole photo shoot thing....

                                         Some fall "art", purely for your viewing pleasure! 

                                                                     Funny Boy.

So, there you go ~ a little catch up, and soon(er) than later, we'll meet again!

Show you any progress on Nameless the Bunny, more art and scenery maybe? Perhaps I even have a profound thought or two to share?  (well, thoughts anyway?)

..and maybe some dog photos for those of you I know like them best~

 plus, You all need to meet Reba Beagle still! 

Stay tuned!

All the Best,

Mel  xx    

Can it be September again?

I cannot believe it's September again, already!    
It is my favorite month.
 (and not just because it happens to be the month I was born...)
It is a month filled with brilliant blue skies, warm days, cool nights... the scent of concord grapes in the air...  *aaahhhhh*   September in New England is amazing.

I have been having a break from blogging (which a few of you have noticed, judging by the comments about it being perpetual winter in here...); as well as a few other aspects of life.
and yes... I suppose I could have mentioned my break, but instead, it seems I just fell silent.

I have always want this space to be mostly a happy one, with stories of art and animals, good things,  photos, funny stories, happy thoughts, memories....
...I know life can't always be sunshine and lollipops ~ but maybe your blog can??
But alas, where you have animals, you will eventually end up with sad stories too. 
And this is where my break really started.... I was at a loss to find happy stories, and it seemed wrong to pretend all is good, when,well ~ it just wasn't... and I wasn't making any art or crafts to share! 
We have lost quite a few animals this year....  and I see by the blogs I love to read, that a few of you have too.  I even had to stop reading blogs for a while... it was all hitting too close to home.
 As I grow older, I find that I don't handle sad as well as I used too, and weeping into one's keyboard is a recipe for electrocution!   My sad, your sad..... good grief?   No such thing.  
A girl just gets tired sometimes, and has to step back into the shadows to collect herself quietly.

Soooo....
 here I am, peeping out from the shadows, squinting at the light, and creeping tentatively back in.   

Happy Day to you then, ~ and watch this space for upcoming updates!

Well... if you want to.

Mel xx 

February is off and running!

So once our blizzard was done blizzarding.....

The Sun came out!

Annie was right! (of course she was.)

Belle even came out (she doesn't "do" precipitation).

After we shoveled her a spot that is.

                                                         The birds were frolicking.....

                                                The Snowmen were springing up all over.....

It's such a colorful time of year....

Barry B. Badger was out and about...

He's an amateur Weather Prognosticator, case you didn't know.

Curiously, I had drawn a picture of Barry... a year ago, before i actually met him.

Who knew?

 

The world works in mysterious ways.

"Get away from my bread-cicle you little Pipsqueak...."

                                       I even managed to make some Welsh (pony?) Cakes! 
                                  (Cooking/baking and I.... not always a good combination....)

                                                          Read my book.....sipped my tea.

The dogs do so love a good snow fall! 

Seriously my favorite picture EVER of them!

Small dog.... BIG shadow.

 

                                                Hope you have a DAZZLING kind of day! 

The End.

For now.... butt we'll be back.

Mel  xx