Wood spirits...

Ever since I was a little girl I've been able to look very closely at something in nature and identify some magical quality or essence that speaks to me...sometimes I see fairy like faces and figures...sometimes it is the magic of the movement...or stillness...

Recently I started playing with some photos on Flikr in hopes that I could share some of what I see...

The detail is small...maybe enlarging the photos would enable one to see even more. If you look closely there is an odd sort of woman and two little creatures...one in her hand and one on her wrist...

Visitors...

Living in the woods is truly magical. Every morning I am in awe of the unique little visitors I have on my doorstep. When I remember to look closely I am fascinated...Here are some of the wee ones who come to visit me...

Smaller...but every bit as lovely as the Luna moth...

I could see my reflection mirrored in her wings...

Such a pretty little one...her spots blended perfectly with the rust on my old light fixture...

This little guy looks so charming in his cloak of white and fuzzy antennae...

This charming little soldier looks like he's wearing a cloak and helmet...

Such a whimsical little creature...Just look at his face...

I truly thought this little one was a leaf that had curled up. On closer inspection I was quite happily surprised...

Positively magical...

Such detail easily missed...

This little lady is covered in dusty lace...

A male Polyphemus moth...this one drew my attention out into the surrounding trees...are there more of these fantastic, elusive creatures hidden just out of my view? Please...come and visit me...

Beach Discoveries...

Hand work...

School is out for the summer! Amalie brought home her hand work. I think it's amazing!

This is her knitted gnome girl...

She needle felted a face on at home...

and added some mohair locks for hair...Isn't the braid cute?

This is the scarf she knitted. She gave it to me for Mother's Day this year. I couldn't have received a sweeter gift!

Amalie was invited to a birthday party. We whipped this up together...

The body of the purse was wet felted around a rock. We cut the opening with a razor and took the stone out after it dried. We added a wooden bead as a clasp. The strap was braided out of left over yarn scraps.

When we turned the purse over we discovered a cute little pixie had felted himself into the back quite by surprise. Can you see him? Another reminder of how magical creating can be.

Twirly Skirt

What to do with a bunch of cotton fabric scraps that I just CAN'T part with?

Make Amalie a TWIRLY SKIRT of course!!! Here she is modeling it...

and twirling in it...

I think I'll make the next one a bit bulkier so there is more "twirl"...

Of course all that modeling leads to some relaxing "porch fishin'"...maybe she'll catch a moth...

Happy Flowers

Happy Flowers

"Hailstones and Halibut Bones"...

Yesterday was field day at school and was it HOT!!!! The children had so much fun with the games...and with the water! Here is Amalie celebrating the finish of tug-o-war between the teachers and the eight graders! Guess who won?

Amalie went off to have ice cream and swim with Daddy and friends. During this time to myself I made a nice batch of Bieler Broth. ("Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon) I started my liver/kidney detoxification today. Wish me luck!

As we were just about falling asleep at the end of a wonderfully busy and hot day we heard what sounded like someone throwing rocks at the house. Of course we had to investigate...

Makes me want to revisit a book that was gifted to me many years ago when I was teaching in the Kindergarten..."Hailstones and Halibut Bones" by Mary O'Neill.