A Place Like This......

Fall is Coming

This morning as I walked outside to get the paper I noticed these sitting at my feet.

What are these doing here ? I thought. It is way too early for the leaves to be falling.

And then I looked around the yard to see my favorite tree looking a bit like this.

Our fairy tree molts in the autumn to remain bare throughout the winter but it's way too early. 6 to 8 weeks too early. As I thought about all of the shortened summer moments under this tree, that we will now have to end our fairy play early this year. It makes me sad. As much as I love Autumn and Winter, I'm just not ready for the season to change just yet.

As time is moving quickly through the seasons, it's time for another edition of Rhythm of the Home. I'm happy to have contributed two articles, one about Hans Christian Andersen. Did you know he was a master paper cutter?

Source Odense Museum

The second article is a felt storyteller's bag inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen papercut.

This edition holds over 50 crafts, recipes, and reflections to share with your family. It's also the full cycle of the second year. Don't forget to enter the fantastic giveaway over at the blog. Congratulations Rhythm of the Home and their editors Bernadette, Heather, and Julia..... and a big thank you for being a part of our lives. Happy Weekend Everyone!

Rhythm of the Home: Autumn Edition

 

The new Edition of Rhythm of the Home is out today. With this fourth edition it has made it's one year cycle. If it's at all possible this issue is bigger and more wonderful than anything I have ever seen. Inside it's virtual pages lies many moments to be had as momma's, families, celebrations, recipes, reflections, and a lot of great crafting from our many friends. Included are some inspiring interviews of wonderful people such as, Wee folk artist Salley Mavor and the wonderful fabric queen Anna Marie Horner.

I humbly add that there is a little article chronicling the adventures of "O" and I at Viking Camp,where we lived like Vikings for a bit.

 Does it surprise you that I was in the spinning,weaving, yarn dyeing hut for a great part of the camp session?

 

Along with all of this goodness there is still more.......The incredulous Rhythm of the Home Giveaway.

You won't want to miss either the autumn edition or the giveaway. Enjoy.

 
  

 

{This Moment} A Swedish Midsummer

Glad Midsommar to everyone. Today Swedes everywhere are celebrating midsummer. Please come see exactly how it's done over at Rhythm of the Home.

{This Moment} A friday tradition. A single moment you want to hold onto forever. A photo without words.

  

The New Edition of Rhythm of the Home

Today is the day,... the new edition of  Rhythm of the Home is out today. This issue is completely incredible. It is chalked full of creative moments to have and share with your families. About a week before the new edition comes out I start getting just plain giddy. It is a completely magical moment of discovering what other blogging friends have contributed and what their view of a created life looks like. Once again, I've had the great occasion to contribute to this edition as well. Writing for Rhythm of the Home is just as powerful  as discovering the treasures in the new issue. The process always starts out the same and then inspiration takes over and the chosen idea takes on a life of it's own. The kids and I make a big list of all the potential things we would like to share with our reading friends. Slowly, we cut the list down to just three choices and from this, the project becomes an article in Rhythm of the Home.

Once we know what we are writing about, many happy moments are collected and shared as we prepare for the photo shoot. In just a short time, writing for ROTH has become a family celebration of capturing the moments that completey inspire our lives and imaginations here in the hills of The Smoky Mountains.

 

In this edition we share one of the most amazing evenings we've ever had, and that's the one we shared with a bunch of fairies weaving an invisible cloak. At the end of it all they left us with a gift for us to share with all of you. Please come and join us as we have some fairy fun of our very own.

 

 Bernadette,Heather, and Julia have brought these projects, recipes, and thoughtful moments to life via their creative eyes and heartfelt intentions. To them, I give much thanks.

Please join us in reading and celebrating the third edition of Rhythm of the Home. May your summer days be filled with much joy, crafting, and creative living. Oh I almost forgot.....Rhythm of the Home Blog is having a huge giveaway. Good luck.

 

One Small Change: One Seed at a Time

Announcements:

• Gardenmama is  hosting an incredible giveaway from Natural Suburbia. It ends today so head on over.
• Yesterday the new edition of The Rhythm of the Home came out. I'm very happy to say that I contributed an article in this edition. There are so many talented women who have written for this.  Please enjoy and be sure to spread the word.

When I think of Suzy and the starting of one small change, it brings to mind an idea of the Kenyan people called "harambee", which means "the spirit of pulling together for the common good. The journey that my family has been on since the beginning of the year with one small change, has led us to believe that our acts are so important. By taking a moment and reflecting on our patterns and habits we have joined a grassroots movement via the blogosphere to preserve our planet for future generations. While at the same time making new friends who are on a similiar journey just like us.

This month's one small change is inspired by the first African woman Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Muta Maathai. Growing up in the foothills of Mount Kenya, Wangari had a deep love of the people and the land around her. Trees make her smile. Wangari planted trees to give her beauty, shade, and the over all refreshment of the spirit.

Being the only female with a Ph.d in Africa at the time, she was held in the highest esteem as a wise woman. People often sought after her for advice. Many women would come to her to solve their problems.

 As each woman would come with their issues, a tree seed would be given as an answer to their inquiry. Always high praise was given to their outer and inner strength, their courage, and how this particular tree seedling could solve their problems.

In 1976 Wangari Maathai started a grass-roots movement of planting trees to establish peace in Kenya.  The trees prevent soil erosion, filter water and air, and provide firewood,food, and timber for shelters.  The women are credited with embracing this movement and reclaiming their rights as "Keepers of the Earth." The Green-Belt Movement has planted more than 30 million trees in Kenya and other African countries.

This months one small change will see us planting trees. Each person on planet earth needs 15 trees per year to be supplied with enough oxygen to live. There are 5 people in our family so we will need to plant 75 trees.

For a little family tree planting fun, please head on over to Jump Into A book, where we are experiencing Wangari Maathai's tree journey by jumping into the book Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson.  This book touches the heart and spirit of this woman leaving us all empowered to make One Small Change.

For more info on Wangari Maathai and the Greenbelt Movement:

The Greenbelt Movement

Wangari Maathai Nobel Laureate 

A lovely video of the country she planted ....10 minutes long but worth it. Presented at the Nobel Peace Prize.

Short trailer to the movie taking root.

Nature Kenya

Today's photos are courtesy of Taking Root Films and The Green Movement.