Green Wellies

The land of blue sheep and white birds...

The story behind this card began on flickr and involved a blue sheep in Germany and a thrift store Lamb Chop puppet in Canada.  The very talented, creative and inspiring artist Sandra Monat has a constant companion in the form of a sheep called Friederike, who has her own blog.  When I found Lamb Chop, I knew she and Friederike belonged together and so I shipped her off to Germany post haste.  As you can see, she arrived safe and sound... 

In return, I received a surprise package of my own in the mail last week... 

Look at this delightful drawing that Sandra drew showing Friederike and Lamb Chop together, framed and everything.  It's just too cute for words...

As if that wasn't scrumptious enough, nestled in a little brown box, was one of Sandra's birds from her series Free the Birds (#25/50)...white felt, embroidered eyes, wire feet and a tag that reads..."I shall free the birds.  They may now fly freely thoughout my realm.  No man shall hunt them again.  Then may they build their nests in peace." (from a Buddhist legend).

The little white bird was welcomed by others that already lived here...

   

...and then she found a place of honour perched on the bookshelf with the old birchbark canoe.

My life has been enriched more than I thought possible by the friendships and connections I've made with women such as Sandra (and all the rest of you, too...you know who you are).  Thank you, Sandra.  Your little white bird from Germany is in good hands and I know that the little white sheep from Canada is, too!

Far away...but close enough in name

During mom's trip to Britain in May, the tour bus stopped at this place in Scotland.  She just sent the brochure in the mail and you could have knocked me over with a green feather when I saw it.  Who would have thought...

Ruby slippers meets Red Shoes...

I'm not sure how it came about that I started looking at Catherine Thursby's photos on flickr, but I'm sure it had a lot to do with her user name redshoesllc.  It put me in mind of Dorothy's ruby slippers and while I like the Oz movie, it's more some memorable quotes that I've taken to heart...there's no place like home and you've always had it, my dear (in reference to Dorothy's power).  Then of course, my old Salty was always being called Toto, even by strangers, to the point where one woman I see walking her dog, still mistakenly calls me Dorothy!  From her blog, I linked to Catherine's store called Red Shoes.  She is passionate about the things she sells...vintage, cottage and folk goods.  A few weeks ago, I spied a crow necklace she had for sale and the crow lover in me knew I had to have it.  It's not often I buy something personal for myself, but this spoke to me and is modelled here by my cement crow with the cracked beak...

I emailed Catherine, we then had a chat by phone and she agreed to ship to Canada.  I ordered two necklaces (one crow and one Boston terrier for Em) and another incredible item that must remain a secret until Gwen opens it on her birthday.  In no time at all, this is what arrived in the mail...

Just look at that sweet packaging, complete with some moo cards and carefully wrapped goodies.  I wanted to thank Catherine in a special way, so I roped Dorothy into helping, but unfortunately her ruby slippers look rather pink...

There's links to both Catherine's blog and her store's site in the right column and those of you who visit flickr can see her photos at redshoellc.  For the fairy lovers out there, she carries some fairy doors, with links to articles about them.  Thank you so much for the personal touches and wonderful things, Catherine...it was a real pleasure doing business with you!

Cara, my dear, you've done it again...

The postman had more surprises for me.  Cara, a dear friend, artist and crafty woman in Newfoundland, sent me a package of treats for my birthday.  She embroiders honest renditions of real women on silk and I was lucky enough to get one as a small wall hanging.  I had no idea she did pottery, too, but this plate in sea and sand colours is about to become my favourite coaster for the coffee table when I'm watching LOST and need a place to set my mug.  My girls were both Strawberry Shortcake fans when they were young, so the piece of vintage fabric brings back lovely memories.  I'm not sure how she dried and flattened the rose without using a steam roller, but it's great.  On the plate, you can see one of her embroidered cat pins and it looks like my orange Tai.  She included two pins of her singing group and I gave one to Em and there's also a vintage apron wrapped up for Gwen (not pictured as I have to tape the bottom corner where my little grandson was trying to help open the pressies).  The wee vintage sewing kit from England has what looks like matchsticks, but are in fact for moistening and repairing runs in nylon stockings!

 

But the icing on the birthday cake so to speak, is her homemade card that reads...

IF I WERE FISHING OUT ON THE SEA

AND IN MY NET I CAPTURED YEA

I'D TAKE YOU HOME AND FRY YOU WELL

AND SERVE YOU ON MY BEST CORNELL

(with reference to the April Cornell plates I found at the thrift store...I think!)

You are a wonder, Cara...thank you so much.

Follow the yellow brick road...

Dorothy had the tin man, the lion and the scarecrow, but I've got Jenny, a true Kansas rose, a prairie farmeress and a friend.  She sent the most amazing package of goodies that had me clicking my heels...actually, I don't have heels, but I can do a mean two-step in my green wellies, especially when I saw what she had painted...

Tucked inside a vintage chocolate box were two books...one a Kansas cookbook with the beautiful title of Touched By A Rainbow (Judy Garland's singing comes to mind) and another classic, Gladys Taber's My Own Cape Cod (she also wrote the Stillwater books).  I can't wait to tuck into them.  The cookbook also has a running commentary on the history of Kansas, so while I wait for the Jam Cake to cook, I can learn more about Jenny's neck of the woods.  She sent a vintage apron that coordinates with both my green and pink wellies, a most adorable vintage Valentine card and a card of her own making!  The homemade journal really deserves its own post...each page packed with surprises, sayings, lace pocket and more...

   

But the icing on the cake were two teensy weavings from Kansas wheat...a precious rose and a pair of angel wings...

Quite honestly, I think Dorothy took a wrong turn...the yellow brick road really leads to Jenny's house.  Thank you so much!

What a prize was had by all...

Yes...more wonderful things arrived in the mail.  It's a rather long story, but one of the groups I belong to on flickr was started by artist Paul Jackson and his friend.  Last month there was a bad hair day contest and we posted photos showing our unruly locks, with the intention of coming out the winner.  It had nothing to do with art or the purpose for the group...just a crazy lot of people having a bit of fun.  Being the diplomatic gentleman that he is and generous to boot, Paul decided we were all winners and we would all be receiving a prize.  Can you imagine trying to let someone know that they'd had a REALLY bad hair day and beat out the other contenders? 

True to his word, he started mailing out our prizes...from East Sussex, England, but not before there were requests from us for everything from Johnny Depp to a pony to a flock of chickens (me). We were stunned to discover what Paul had in mind...his original artwork.  My big brown envelope arrived today and I gasped when I saw this lovely watercolour of a young girl in pretty frock and hat.

He stamped all over the package, too with things like this...

and this...

and inside were more stamped images and a funky pin...

   

The moral of the story and a good lesson in life is that sometimes the perks can make a bad hair day worth your while (never thought I'd ever, ever say that).  Thanks for the fabulous painting, Paul...we all had a blast and as you well know, some of us looked as though that's exactly what happened to our hair!

Jolly postman...

Cor blimey!  I love the postman...figuratively speaking.  He delivered a package today from Gwen and my first thought was that it a video of the Academy Awards that she taped for me.  I don't have cable and there's very little I miss not watching TV, but there's just something about the hoopla of this one Hollywood night that I love to see.  The video was in there, but the rest were goodies she picked up on a recent trip to England...a vinyl tote from Harrods, my very own flag of England that will be soon flying high at the front of the cottage, a fabulous little raven from the Tower of London and candy, candy, candy.

The dolly mixtures and jelly babies are another trip down memory lane.  When my brother and I were young, our English gran used to send us Girl, Eagle, Beano and Dandy every six weeks with these candies tucked inside the rolled up comics.  Years later, the children's nana would do the same for them.  I know that I should save them and dole them out to everyone, Jayne included and I promise to try my best, but I can't guarantee a thing where dolly mixtures are concerned.

I love the pattern on this tote, because a) Gwen got it for me b) it's got a pink background c) it's from Harrods don't you know d) it's from England and e) the black terrier looks like my old Salty Dog and the white terrier looks like Casper.

It's no secret that I love crows and ravens...cards, images, photographs, paintings, feathers, figures and such, so this wee metal raven from the Tower of London is precious.  One of my mom's cousins was a Beefeater...a Tower guard and I've seen photos of cousin Stanley standing very tall and proud in his crazy uniform.  Mom used to sing, "She walks the bloody tower, with her head tucked underneath her arm, in the midnight hour...,"  and my brother and I thought it was a hoot (truth be told, I also found it a bit scary).  I forget which Henry Vlll wife it was about, but it was definitely one that lost her head...Anne Boleyn, maybe.  Being a queen back then wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Legend has it that as long as there are ravens at the tower, it won't fall and neither will the kingdom, so they are protected...clever birds to know which side their bread is buttered on.

And then there's this that I can't guarantee to save for anyone else, because someone in this cottage has already opened the packet and I can definitely guarantee they taste delicious...soft, smooth, melt-in-your-mouth fudge fit for this queen for a day.

Thanks so much for the pressies, Gwen...you did your mom proud with your shopping choices over in jolly old England.

A place on earth...

What can I say?  I checked the mailbox today and jumped for joy when I saw a package from Kim in Florida.  I had bees' knees in the grocery store and on the beach walk with Casper and was itching to get home so I could peek inside.  She sent the most beautiful journal made by Gwen Frostic and it came jammed with incredible prints...wispy, ethereal images that took my breath away.  Imagination abounds.  Just look at this little bird standing tall to face the world.  I want to hold him in my hand...

Then there's fiddleheads heralding spring, speaking to my inner child of memories growing up in New Brunswick, savouring that first taste of these freshly picked greens heaped high on the plate and slathered in butter and lemon juice dripping down my chin. 

As soon as the children were able to walk, they joined us each early May as we headed off to secret woodland places, spending hours kneeling on the soft forest floor filling pails with fiddleheads as large as silver dollars.  We were taught at an early age to pick only a few from each clump, leaving enough for the ferns to grow tall in the dappled sunlight and to ensure a harvest for the following spring.  The time in the kitchen cleaning off the tissue-papery thin covering, the blanching in boiling water, the straining and the bagging up for the freezer was more like play...we knew what gourmet treats were in store for us when winter rolled around again, if they lasted that long.  One thing for certain...we had to have a few bags saved for holiday meals.

I love this place on earth, my place on earth and the people who top it up with joy every day.  Thanks, Kim...the journal and journey continues.

* only the tightly curled fronds of the ostrich fern can be eaten...the other kinds you steer clear of.   

Oh, Mr. Postman...

In just over a year, I've met the most incredible women from around the globe and they have enriched my life with their writing and photographs.  I truly feel as though I've known them for ages.  We share our joys, our ups and downs, we support and encourage each other and the inspiration network among us keeps growing and getting stronger.  Yesterday, I received a vintage Christmas card and homemade green wellies card from Jenny who lives in Kansas...cards destined to become keepers to bring out each holiday season.  Take a peek and spot the wellies...

Look what was waiting for me today...a colourful card and a wee homemade fabric pocket full of miniature recipe cards from Cara in Newfoundland.  The titles of the recipes are priceless...summer in my salad, I scream, nutty pesto and scod o' cod fer an ol' broad (honestly, only in Newfoundland!).  You'll remember Cara as the inspiration behind the salt fish cakes that I made for Em and Leslie last month, using a tin of fish that Cara sent from east coast to west.  There's a penny in the photograph to give you some idea of the size of the cards...what a simply cool idea!

There's original artwork by Cara on the back of each card...

And for a holiday treat to warm the cockles of your heart, here's the quick and easy recipe for Cara's Spazzzy Onion Soup...

If you don't know these gals...moms, gardeners, artists and friends extraordinaire alike, check out their blogs and meet them.  I'm sure glad I did.  Thank you both, dear friends.  Going to pick up the mail from the box has never been so much fun!

*Spazzzy was Cara's beloved cat who's now wearing his angel wings and is probably watching her every move...and yes, it's spelled with zzz!