Whimsical Moon

You better not pout...

2010-12-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

Krampus is coming to town!

I love this guy. Santa's sidekick in old world Germany and other European countries. He's spanks bad children with sticks... so be good for goodness sake!

The Front Porch...

2010-07-07T14:09:00.001-07:00

The Front Porch

Jimmy Priest
~

The front porch holds my memories
dreams, hopes and fears
endless hours I have spent
laughing and shedding tears
~
The rocking chair stands still
hiding in plain sight
waiting for a companion
to join it through the night
~
Seeking out laughter and fun
offering good advice
watching children run
giggling and chasing fire flies
~
The goals of a young boy
the angst of a teen
reflections of a man
how long ago it all seems
~
Sharing a moment alone
like looking through the glass
at a world that passes by
moving way to fast
~
A world within a world
where a boy could be king
over lands far away
free from everything
~
A small breeze passes through
sharing the scents of the night
as I close my weary eyes
listening to the last few cars drive by
~
The visitors come and go
creating memories for my past
as I sit on the front porch
alone with my thoughts at last

Vintage Airplane Shoot...

2010-06-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Autumn is flying off to Florida with Kevin tomorrow.

Be safe and have a great trip, I'll miss you!
~~~~~

Autumn's vintage airplane photo shoot with Britt as the model....

I love these!

My new pretties...

2010-06-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

I just adore Holly's earrings that she makes from vintage looking findings and old jewelry. I am now the proud owner of 6 pairs. I always get so many compliments when I wear them. They make me feel so pretty. (I can use all the help I can get!)
Holly is such a sweet and generous lady!
Here's a link to her Artfire site Behind The Times.
www.artfire.com/users/BehindTheTimes

Here's my other pairs that I already own... I'm thinking I need some purple pretties next.

Vintage Feature

2010-06-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

My beautiful and talented daughter Autumn Rose was featured on a vintage style dress maker's blog today. Check it out!
www.shrististudio-vintagestyles.blogspot.com/2010/06/whats-in-modelphotographer-autumn.html#comments

And here is some more of her work in an aol news piece. Her friend Eak was featured in this article and used Autumn's photos of him. He's been to my house before...a very nice fellow.

www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/tattooed-pain-proof-eduardo-arrocha-looks-to-publish-poems/19527113

Photo Collecting...

2010-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

There are people who will dig for hours on end at antique shops and flea markets for the perfect photo for their collection. My daughter is one of them. She has several different collections going on. I know a few of them are "Sailors from World War II" and "Old carnival/circus photos." We both share a love for old photographs. She's always so excited when she finds a new treasure for her collection and can't wait to share them with me.

Can you figure out what these photos may have in common for a collection.

Pretty easy, huh?

Have a great weekend!

Summer Mantel

2010-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

We honor the seasons at our house as part of our Native American culture. Also because we love nature and it just feels right to honor the gifts that the Great Father has given us in way of animals, the trees and plants, the changing seasons.

One way we embrace the changing seasons is to decorate the mantel.
This summer I've used sunflowers, lemons, a honeycomb, rocks and crystals, peacock feathers, sage and a smudging shell and lots of candles in gold, red and orange.
Some handmade items:
The sun medallion that Noah made (I adore that!) I've also added the gourd bowl I made a few years ago. I left the painting of my mom hanging that Autumn painted. We'll just call her "Mother Earth" for now:)

This weekend we'll have a bonfire in the back yard after the Pow Wow. We'll honor Dad with a prayer. (for Father's Day) we'll also do a Birthday blessing for Kevin. We'll roast marshmallows (just cause they're good!)
I'm also coming up with a strawberry dessert for the Solstice. The Ojibwa use the full moons to mark the months of the year. The month of June is Ode' imini-giizis meaning Strawberry Moon. So I'm thinking Strawberries are perfect! The Summer Solstice is also known as The Rising Day to the Ojibwa. It is a time of renewal, sacred ceremonies, a time to pray for healing medicines, good crops and good harvests.
Hopefully Noah and I will take a nice long quiet walk in the woods on Monday to refresh our souls.
I'd love to hear if you have any plans to celebrate the Summer Solstice!

Summer come back...

2010-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've browsed through all the old post here at Whimsical Moon and you know I really like this blog. The followers are such lovely people! So now that I'm not returning to my teaching job this fall I'm hoping to get a little inspiration to be more creative. (hasn't happened just yet, but I'm working on it.) Hopefully I'll be posting more here.
I've been a little busy planning for summer. Here's our plans as of now... (some of my friends from our Purple Squirrel Homeschool blog may have already heard this.)
This coming weekend is a busy one! The Annual Riverbank Pow Wow is Saturday, Sunday is Father's Day and Monday is Kevin's Birthday (daughter Autumn's boyfriend.) Not to forget, it's also the Summer Solstice! Whew!!!
My son has a few summer camps; Revolutionary War~ Harry Potter and Civil War. Yeah, we attend some strange camps here.
The day after Labor day when all the public school children are headed back to school, we're headed on a holiday at a cottage on Lake Huron. Lovely!
I'm not sure but we'll most like throw in a camping trip here and there.
Oh yes, tennis anyone?
(I don't even play tennis, I just like old tennis rackets. Sort of like my old wooden snow ski's.)

Here's to a summer full of magical delights!~ Catching fireflies, picnics with family and friends, roasting marshmallows, sipping lemonade on the porch, walking the woods hunting for those ever elusive wood sprites!~

Just Clowning Around...

2010-02-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

I'm just clowning around...

I miss this blog...

My daughter's likes this blog the best.

So.... I'm thinking of clowning around here a bit more.

Feel free to help yourself to any of these cute clown images. Just right click and save:)

A Lovely View...

2010-01-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Henry Ford Museum~ Dearborn, Michigan

Happy Birthday Alice May

2009-12-30T08:20:00.000-08:00

Alice May

Born: December 28th 1925~

This is my mom at age 17, when she didn't shake or forget things. When she had energy and didn't need anyone to take care of her. When her body didn't hurt and she could sleep through the night.

Her birthday was Monday, she is now 84 years old. She has lived through the Depression, a few wars and some hard times. She was a rock through it all. She has always been a kind and loving mother to her six children and THE MOST awesome Grandmother! Autumn's favorite person in the whole world!

She lost my dad, one of my brothers and all but one of her 8 siblings.

She lives with us in a mother's-in-law apartment in the back of our house. I had to take her for her monthly blood test today, it was very cold and very hard on her. I worry all the time she'll slip and fall. She has before and it's so scary!

It's kind of strange how life is just like the seasons of the year.

Spring, when we are young and starting to sprout.

Summer, when we are strong and are in full bloom.

Autumn, when things are slowing down and changing colors.

Winter, when all is white and it's time to rest.

I know I'm in the season of Autumn at this moment in time. Slowing down and changing colors.

My mom, she's in winter...

I love this photo of her. Happy Birthday Mom and to many,many more!

~*~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~*~

Update on the layoff: We've made it through Christmas without the layoff, but starting next week my husband will be working 3 day weeks... which is much better than a layoff, but still is going to challenge our budget for sure! There is work at MSU coming up in the spring, we'll just hunker down until then. All is good.

A well needed break...

2009-11-15T05:13:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a little break from this blog. Too many irons in the fire right now.
I will still be posting on our other blog The Purple Squirrel Homeschool, which is a journal of our homeschool and family stuff. Please feel free to pop in there and keep in touch.
This blog was pretty much made for me... stuff I like. But right now I need to focus all my energy on the family and keep the boat afloat. Oh yes, the link to the homeschool blog can be found on my sidebar. Hope to see you there and peace to all!

Throw us a bone!

2009-11-14T05:52:00.000-08:00

Yay! A small glimmer of hope. My husband didn't get laid off as of yet. We are thinking there is maybe 3 weeks of work for him still. So it should be just before Christmas is my guess. Oh, Happy Holidays! Right now, we are grateful for each day of work... one day at a time.

This is Applejack, our dried apple head we made before Halloween.

He's about one inch big now. But he's still smiling!

A Bump in the road...

2009-11-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

There's a bump in the road for our family... more like a hill really. My husband is getting laid off on Friday. He's a Union electrician. We've hung in this long and are thankful for that.

My mind is reeling right now, knowing unemployment checks will barely make the house payment let alone pay all the other bills and feed us. I've already cancelled all the extras that we're used too. My husband is quitting the bowling team and we will tighten our belts as best we can. Shop at the discount food stores...blech. Use the library for free entertainment.

I can't help thinking about winter (higher utility bills) and the Holidays fast approaching. Well that is just something I must not worry about now.

You know, we do live in the state with the highest unemployment rate... it really sucks here!

I just have to keep calm and upbeat for my kid's sake right now. I'll think of this as an adventure, a journey, part of life. What really p's me off is how hard I've always worked at paying bills on time and having good credit... I can see that all going down the toilet fast.

Oh well, we'll just keep on keeping on. Hopefully the internet will stay turned on... if I disappear you'll know why:)

Thanksgiving woes...

2009-11-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

For the past few years we've been on a journey of seeking the truth. Being homeschoolers we have all the time we need to research the truth. Sometimes not an easy task to do! No more public school history B.S. for us! In doing so, we've learned many things about the beginning of this country, the true meaning of the holidays. It's getting harder and harder to just go with the traditional flow of things.

My husband being half Ojibiwa Indian and our children quarter blood. We have a hard time embracing a traditional Thanksgiving. Every time I hear the story of the pilgrims and the Natives happily sharing a Thanksgiving meal together I have to cringe. (no hard feelings toward anyone with bloodlines running way back to the first white settlers, it's all good.)
We celebrate a bit different. We do have the turkey with the trimmings...as it's my favorite meal of the year. And yes, I know there wasn't a smidgen of turkey on that first Thanksgiving table!
We celebrate it as a Ghost/Harvest Supper, honoring our past loved ones and being thankful for what the Great Father has been so gracious to give us during the past year.

Oh, did you know that November (gashkadino-giizis/freezing moon) is Native American month and November 27th is National Native American Day? I think we'll have our Ghost Supper on the 27th. which is a Friday.
Well, I wanted to give you a few links to the Native American Month proclamation from the President for 2009 and some posts on our homeschool blog from last year... but for some strange reason, (a blogger gremlin or a grumpy pilgrim spirit, I'm assuming.) I cannot link or paste anything on this post. Weird!

Thrifty Finds and a Gift of Ribbons

2009-11-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

My grandmother had the most fabulous collection of Salt and Pepper shakers. I loved to look at them when I visited her and sometimes I'd helped dust them.

I have such fond memories of standing in front of the book case looking at all of the whimsical shakers.

I want to have a fun collection for my future grandchildren. So I thought I'd get started now.

Here's the start of my collection of shakers that I found on our trip to Ohio, but first I have to show you this that I also picked up...

Isn't this the cutest darn squirrel vase ever?!!!

Squirrel Salt and Pepper Shakers: of course~

Squirrel with walnut and Tennis playing squirrels.

Coffee pots shakers and a Cat on a rocker with fireplace shakers.

All of these shakers were $1.50 a pair!

My daughter Autumn gave me these lovely ribbons yesterday. I love them all! Thanks Sweetie:)

Happy 18th Birthday!

2009-11-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Caleb!

He's going to his sister's Day of the Dead party this evening.

Have fun!!!

Love, Mom xoxoxo

Boo!

2009-10-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

We're back home...

2009-10-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

We are back home from our trip to the Hocking Hills, Ohio area. I can't even describe the beauty we saw. It's really a spiritual experience to see the caves and waterfalls.

We also went to the 103rd. annual Circleville Pumpkin Show. So many people!!! I wasn't into it after spending time in nature at the caves and waterfalls.

I did love the pyramid of pumpkins.

The King Pumpkin weighing in at 1,636 pounds!

This house was in Circleville. I've have never seen weeds growing out of a chimney before!

Kind of spooky looking.

I have some thrifty finds to show you... but another day. We have a full day of homeschool classes today. I've posted some photos on the Purple Squirrel Homeschool blog of the caves and waterfall, if you'd like to see them. The link is on my side bar. Have a great day!

Oh Yes, To Brad:

Happy Anniversary Dear!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

We're hitting the road

2009-10-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

We're off to the cabin in the woods for our annual Birthday trip,

see you next week. Have a great weekend everyone!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome Mrs. B's Haunted Blog Tour Guest

2009-10-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog!

My name is Anet, a homeschooling mom of three (two in college, one still homeschooling) and I just adore vintage Halloween, especially witches! I am so connected to the earth during the fall... (sometimes I feel out of place.) But during the fall I'm in my element! I've even named my daughter Autumn Rose.
Not only am I so pleased to be on the blog tour today. But when Mrs. B asked me, she chose this date which happens to be mine and my son's birthday! Happy Birthday Noah!!! Yes, having a baby on your birthday is some fun!;) So today is loaded with celebrations!

This weekend we are off on our annual birthday trip weekend. Every year we go somewhere different. We've been all over Michigan (which is absolutely stunning this time of year!)
This year we are headed to south/eastern Ohio to the beautiful Hocking Hills area. With waterfalls and caves to explore. We've rented a 1840's cabin and will have our second birthday celebration there.
Please feel free to browse around and to thank you for popping in. I'm posting some Vintage Witches for you! Just right click and save if you'd like.
Happy Halloween Everyone!

THE WITCH
I saw her plucking cowslips,
And marked her where she stood:
She never knew I watched her
While hiding in the wood
Her skirt was brightest crimson,
And black her steeple hat,
Her broomstick lay beside her -
I'm positive of that.
Her chin was sharp and pointed,
Her eyes were - I don't know -
For, when she turned towards me -
I thought it best - to go!
Percy H. Ilott

Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble;

Fire, burn; and cauldron, bubble.

From the Witches Chant by Shakespeare

Buttered mouse, anyone?

2009-10-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, we had a mouse! We live in a big old house and in the fall sometimes mice think to take residence here, even with three cats in the house.
The cats have been on guard duty at the stove for several days. So my husband bought this sticky mouse trap thing. Of course the mouse became stuck when I was home alone. So here I am trying to unstick the mouse. Boy was he stuck!!! Looking at me with those cute little black eyes and twitchy whiskers. "Help me lady, Please...!"

I call my husband, he says use cooking oil to loosen him free.
I am out of cooking oil , it's early in the morning and I have to be to work in an hour. Ugh!! I spray the poor thing with cooking spray. Now, he's not only stuck from the hip down, he's all greasy. My cats are chomping at the bit to get to him. So I place the unhappy mousey outside of the backdoor. I kept thinking of him all day at work, I was so upset.
When I came home, some outside cat or something had gotten a hold of him and chewed on him. He was at least dead now. I told my husband no more sticky traps!!!

A few days later I hear this horrible noise coming from the kitchen. I had forgot about the second trap by the frig. My cat Harpo leaped over the freezer to get to it and stuck his hind paw in it, now he was running like a mad man through the house with a sticky trap on his foot and the other two cats are running in the opposite directions. Total chaos!
We finally capture Harpo.... still no cooking oil and I know the stupid spray doesn't work. So I think... hmmmm.... I melted some butter and freed the cat with it. Harpo didn't think buttered toes were so bad, he happily licked them clean.
Now, if I'd only have thought to butter the mouse. I'm checking into live traps for mice.

Pretties for my ears!

2009-10-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

My husband asked what I'd like for my birthday coming up.... "Oh ,I have the prefect gift for me! " Some beautiful earrings from Penniwigs Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7028183
Really the most lovely, gentle on your ears, earbobs! So if you need a gift for someone special you should check out Penniwigs Etsy.
The orange pumpkin shaped ones I won from one of her giveaways. I just adore them. They are beautifully made with vintage beads and findings, all of her earring are!
So, I order a few for my birthday. They arrived today and I immediately put on the blue ones.
I can't wait to wear them all! Thank you Dear Penniwig for the extra sweet surprise too, I just love them!!!!!!!!!!

Caw~ Caw~

2009-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Poor Pumpkin Head Witch. She doesn't frighten the crows one bit!

October weekend

2009-10-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend will be one of cleaning up the old homestead... a little fall cleaning.

Those darn pesky cobwebs are everywhere!

Some preparations for winter. (Putting away air conditioners, garden hoses and such.)

Some more knitting, I'm on hat... hmmmm.... gee, I've lost count ! I think number 5.

Maybe cozy up with a little spooky book,

catch up on watching my recorded Ghost Hunter's shows.

Sip a little hot spiced cider and put my feet up with some fuzzy warm socks on.

I hope everyone has a wonderful spooky October weekend!

Pretty as a Picture

2009-10-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

My Daughter Autumn's latest photo shoots.

My Great-Niece Boo.

Autumn's Photography website http://autumnluciano.com/default.aspx

Warm, woolly and strange...

2009-10-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a knitting maniac!!!

Here's some photos of hat # 3. A pumpkin colored hat for Noah. He picked the color. My homeschoolin friend Cheryl helped me with the ribbing. Thanks Cheryl!
Hat #2 was a purple wool hat for Caleb's friend's birthday and was wrapped before I had gotten a photo of it. I've already started hat #4.

~This is not my kid... he's still kickin. Although I've thought about shrinking his head a few times:)
Here's a strange conversation I had with Noah once.
Noah: "Mom, how do you shrink a head?"
Me: Ummm.... "I'm not sure, why?"
Noah: "Oh just in case!" as he skips merrily away.

In case of what?!!!
Maybe we should make that a homeschool project. Any volunteers? Muhhaha!!!

~~~~~~

A pail full of handmade Halloween shakers and mask. Just for fun!

The Harvest Moon

2009-10-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

A full moon will occur early on Sunday, October 4. It is given the special name of Harvest Moon since it is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. In years past, farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to gather ripening crops late into the night. Most Harvest Moon's occur in September, but sometimes (like this year) it will occur in October. The next time a Harvest Moon will occur in October is 2017.

October Moon/ Leaves Falling Moon:

Our Ojibiwa Heritage

October's great path of the moon is respect. For us, the new year begins now and not in January. This is a time of sleeping seeds and birds flying south for the winter. Leaves begin to fall; the sun turns pale in the sky. It is the Moon of Putting Away and the Moon of Remembering Old Names. Preparation begins for the coming winter.

We look for signs of whether it will be a hard winter: Do the clouds have long tails? Does the chipmunk work harder, storing food for winter? Does ice have an early voice? What does the raven say? Does the coyote change his song? Do our hearts stir with warning?
Now is the time to learn respect for all living things--even for those who are not your friends. Is there a voice from your past that you didn't pay attention to? Take time to mend broken connections. Find out why someone does not like you; respect that person even so.
Respect starts on the simplest level.

Walk to the mountains where the first snow has already fallen. Notice that the stream has a collar of ice along the edges. Dry leaves move on the wind, sighing. Inside you, something calms down. Turn your face to the sun: For everything in the past, thank you. To the future, yes.
Respect is a matter of equality, even in the worst of times.

Taken from "Dancing Moons" by Nancy Wood

Peeking Out my Windows

2009-10-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Just don't peek in!

Haunting the Homestead

2009-10-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

I think the Spirits are restless...

there's an increase in creaking of floor boards when no one is there, voices coming from the attic and a cold spot in front of the fireplace.

I think they've taken the banner that I made a little too serious.

Tomorrow is October 1st!

2009-09-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Did you hear?

Tomorrow is October 1st so... let the spookin begin!
Two wonderful blogs hosting Halloween fun in which I'm participating in.
~~~~~
Domestic Witch's October Blog Party

and Mrs. B's 31 Days of Halloween with super amazing giveaways each day!

I just found out, I'm up first for the giveaways!

So hop on those broom sticks sisters and check it out!

Orange!

2009-09-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

A little more orange here and there.

Orange lights and leaves in the hearth. Orange kitty with pumpkin;)

Thrifty Witchy Finds

2009-09-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

The hubby and I stopped in a Thrift Store yesterday and found a couple of witches and a pair of monks. We also stocked up on some really nice flannel shirts for the boys and warm sweaters for everyone. A chill is in the air!
Note here: The hubby told me "NO!" to the $40 vintage upright player piano. (You had to move the piano yourself.) See, he's mean to me!!! Spoiled Queen talking here, LOL! Oh and as I'm telling how mean he is... he says I can get a puppy ONLY when I get rid of all three cats!!! We'll see about that one:) Humph! Okay on to the thrifty photos.

A Kitchen Witch Set.

Salt and Pepper shakers... I love the S and P's on their head scarves:)

Have any guess as to what this tall witch is for?

At first I thought she was a utensils holder, right? But the holes are so low, cut straight in and go all the way around her. I put a large spoon in her and it stuck out rather oddly. It couldn't be a utensil holder.

We thought about a tea light candle holder but.... the holes are much too small to get a tea light in and then to try and light it, no way!

So I'm clueless as to what she's for. If anyone has a guess I'd appreciate it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A 1987 Wizard Air Freshener Witch still in her package. She doesn't smell "harvest fresh" anymore but she glows in the dark! Well, she is 22 years old now.

Two monks/ Salt and Pepper Shakers

I think the fat one has had more than his share of the daily bread!

Mission accomplished.

2009-09-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Now on to mittens!

Thanks Noah for being so kind as for letting me borrow your head;)

Progress and Gifts

2009-09-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Progress on my hat. Huzzah!!!!

Autumn and Kevin stopped by with gifts for me, just because they love me. Too sweet!

A rockin' Happy Camper shirt. Autumn took a photograph of their vintage camper and Kevin made the photo into a graphic and silk screened it on to shirts. They are a amazingly talented couple!
A lovely old blue and white plate.

and this cute squirrel card, remind you of anyone?

I found this photo of pretty mums on my camera and wanted to share it with you.

My seventeen year old son Caleb took this, I thought it was so cute that he would photograph flowers. Sometimes they just surprise you, don't they?

Autumnal Equinox, celebrating Ojibiwa Indian style.

2009-09-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon, occurs in the middle of September.

This year it is September 22nd. Tomorrow!

A beautiful way to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox is to decorate your door, mantel or a table top. Colors are Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Indigo, and Brown. It is the festival of thanksgiving. The time of harvest. The Ojibiwa celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year. During the Spring, when the maple sap runs, melting away the winter. Also in the fall, during harvest time.

Select the best of each vegetable, herb, fruit, nut, and other food you have harvested or purchased and give it back to Mother Earth with prayers of thanksgiving. I love finding new ways to honor my family's heritage. Let the celebrating begin!

Hang dried ears of corn around your home in appreciation of the harvest season.

Blessed Autumn Everyone!

dgwaagi ! / Ojibiwa = It is Autumn! / English

A little of this, a little of that...

2009-09-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Not much excitement around here.

Ready for the Not Back to School Carnival next Monday in the park with our homeschool group.

Now, I know what to do with this!

But with this... I'm clueless! I want to make a hat. Now I just need to watch some Youtube videos on how to knit with circular needles and how to knit a hat. Wish me luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some rather pretty posies, don't you think?

Love is in the air...

Think~ Autumn Rose, pumpkins, leaves, shabby chic, amber colored candles glowing,

cake and champagne, cider and doughnuts, 50's style, a Victorian mansion, October 2010

and two soul mates!

Thrifty Finds and Smashing Pumpkins

2009-09-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

I found this shirt for Noah at a thrift store in a small town earlier this summer, brand new but very vintage cool! I love the embroidered bucking broncos on it and the pearl snaps. He looked pretty rockin when his sister Autumn took him to meet Jimmy Chamberlin from the Smashing Pumpkins. (see Purple Squirrel for that post.) Noah's hat came from Autumn's yard sale.

A lovely little embroidery piece, prefect for a pumpkin and some candy corn to sit upon.

A Beistle Company vintage witch in a brown dress with a honeycomb cauldron. She's sitting on my mantle... I know, it's a tad early for Halloween decorations. But I just got her this weekend at an antique shop, why pack her away for a few weeks?

The Beistle Company was founded in 1900 and are still in business today.

October's Birthday Trip Plan

2009-09-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! We've planned our annual October Birthday trip. My son Noah and I share the same birthday:) Each year our family takes a trip somewhere and do something Halloweenish.

This year we're headed south to The Hocking Hills in Ohio. It will be beautiful with the fall colors peaking. We leave on a Friday morning stopping on the way in Circleville Ohio to visit the Pumpkin Festival, then we'll head to the cabin. That evening we are going to The Haunted Waters Wood, a haunted house only it's outside in the woods. Hope it's super scary!!!

Saturday we have a huge day of site seeing planned of visiting caves and waterfalls. Sunday we will wind our way home, stopping here and there.

The Frontier Cabin we've rented with a fireplace and hot tub.

The hot tub:)

Poison Cupcakes?

2009-09-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Stopped in at Michaels yesterday to buy some new paint brushes. The brushes were 25 % off this week. I found this wonderful brushes that have a rubber cushion grip to them. They are so comfy to hold, I'm lovin them.!

Of course I had to browse the halloween stuff. I really want to get my Halloween stuff down from the attic, I'm fighting myself on that. Any whooo....

I just had to pick these wicked cool cupcake wrappers from the Martha Stewart line for my daughter Autumn who loves cupcakes and vintage halloween graphics. She's love to throw theme parties and is having a Day of the Dead party this year. There is another design in the pack a spider with the word Beware on the side. They come in a 48 ct. pack.

Autumn Rose has a really cute blog with hardly any readers, so if you have some extra time you should pop in and say Hi!

Sliver Twine From a Valentine

The Gruesome Sites of the Civil War Muster...

2009-08-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Some gruesome and strange sites at the Muster this weekend. LOVE IT!

The Fortune Teller $3

A Field Surgeon at work.

Umm.... anyone in need of some blood letting work from the barber/Mayor?

Really, Do Not Mess with this!

A Michigan Rattler.

A pile of dead and dying soldiers.

A 1860's funeral.

A widow in mourning.

Surgery Room.

Two Wonderful Halloween Books

2009-08-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

*Alright... for some insane, no sense to it at all reason some of my photos are turned on their sides. I've redone them 4 times now and the just keep flipping! They are not even flipped in my photo gallery. So what the heck?! blogger weirdo thing I guess.

Sorry, I guess we'll just have to turn our heads sideways for now. I'll try to rotate them again later. Now back to the regular scheduled post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These are two really wonderful Halloween books!

The first one is Bethany Lowe's Folk Art Halloween. I love this book from one of my favorite artist! It's filled with Halloween projects both cute and vintage. There are pages of clip art and patterns. It has everything from paper crafts to sewing projects.
I love this table runner! ... turning head sideways.

This tinsel tree is so cute, love the old witch boot for the base.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next great book is Vintage Halloween Collectibles/An Identification and Price Guide 2nd edition.

I had so much fun browsing through this book, wishing I had some of these vintage Halloween pieces. These candles are from the 1960's. We used to have a ghost and a witch candle when I was young... wishing I still had them.

This book is huge! Loaded with all kinds of goodies for the Vintage Halloween lover. Everything from lanterns, shakers, games, and decorations.

Okay... cracking neck back in place... geesh!

I found both of these books at the library... I high recommend you check them out.

Thrifty Finds...

2009-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Today Autumn and Kevin held a yard/estate sale at Kevin's grandparent's home. His grandparents are past now and Kevin's mom told the kids they could sell the stuff from the garage and basement that Autumn helped clean out and keep the money. So I went to help out a good cause:) Autumn only charged me $10 for all of this, but I wrote her a check for $20. I also stopped at a sale in my neighborhood and bought a old table covering and a little turtle.
Here are my thrifty finds;

Blue & white tea towel, 4 cute drink coasters, paper lace, turtle, pipe box

A sweet bird plate from Germany

Close up of the leather pipe box.

Revolutionary War soldier coat rack made by Yorkraft Inc. York, Pennsylvania

for Noah's room and a little wooden nut cracker. (no-no, not for Sniffy!)

Old sheet music and clock works for art projects.

Autumn found a dead dragonfly and saved it for our nature table.

Beautiful hand thrown pottery made by Kevin's mom. Two cinnamon scented candles, two little glass jars and the table cover.

Here's Noah with his thrifty finds; (He had this whole business man thing going on)

An old hat, a brief case filled with "How to... Business" type books and part of an old phone??? I guess that's his cell phone.

Ah-ha!

2009-08-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

I found this lying on the sidewalk today,

when I dropped off Noah at camp.

A sweet colorful leaf... just lying there to make me happy:)

It won't be long...

2009-08-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Summer's end is nearing. Before I know it I'll be back to work and life will be structured once again. No more staying up late or sleeping in to my heart's content. No more widdling away the day with crafting, swinging on the porch swing, just putzing. Our next few weekend's are pretty full, which is sort of a bummer...

I wanted to take a leisurely drive to Lake Michigan this summer still. Play in the waves, picnic on the beach. Brad wants to go camping one more time. Just the two of us, much to Noah's dismay. I don't think there is time this summer, but maybe in September we can camp. ~

Even though I hate to see summer come to an end. I absolutely thrive in Autumn! It's really my time of year. I seem to always be in good spirits and find it a time of great inspiration. I love slipping into a soft sweater and jeans, hiking though the colorful woods, pumpkins on my porch steps, hot apple cider, decorating my home, the smell of wood smoke, watching the squirrels getting ready for winter. Autumn will be welcomed!

More free vintage images, help yourself to these bathing beauties.

Camping at Indian Valley

2009-08-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend of camping. No creepy raccoon attacks! Just some evil vampire mosquitoes out for blood and they didn't care if you spray or smeared yourself with toxins. Other than that and packing up in the rain again, all was well. Canoeing was especially fun!

A pretty green view from the canoe.

A white goose, so Brad tells me... I kept calling it a duck.

Turtles!

For Autumn...

2009-08-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween~~~

I've been making some Halloween decorations for Autumn. (She has her own home now.)
Autumn really loves vintage Halloween...just like her momma!

This is a painted hat box decoupaged with some old vintage Halloween postcard images. A
paper mache skull with vintage crepe paper collar, (I was thinking Shakespere~ish ?)
a vintage postcard image made into a stand-up photo trimmed in vintage silver tinsel garland. I added a flickering electric candle for some glow effect.

I love finding old tinsel, garland, crepe paper at yard sale, flea markets and thrift stores. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I find some!
Autumn was helping Kevin's mom clean out her basement and they sent over a bag of goodies; the hat box and the vintage crepe paper were two of the things in the bag that I used for this piece.

I think I'm about ready to switch gears soon, It's time to get back to some embroidery and I've started knitting my second scarf. Really, we have way too many crochet scarves around here already. I'm going to watch some Youtube tutorials on how to knit hats. I cannot for the life of me learn out of a book... hmmm... I should of been a hands on, interest led homeschooler. Just thing of how much I would know by now! Well, it's never too late, right?

We're going camping again this weekend for 4 days. This time we are going with my sister and her husband and our good friends Joe and Jackie with their kids. (Joe was our best man in our wedding.) Our campsite is right on the Thornapple River bank. On Sunday we are going on a 4 hour canoe trip... I keep wondering "what the heck do I do if I need to go to the bathroom during the trip?" uhh... pull over and use a tree?
*Also please, oh please let there be no crazy raccoons running around my tent at night!

2009-08-10T04:41:00.000-07:00

Something strange happened!

Noah told me yesterday he wants to start school today.

He said he wants to "get ahead." A head? A head of who?, what??
So... today is our official first day of school.

We still have some summer fun planned. I'm not letting go of summer vacation that easy!

Short film by Autumn Rose

2009-08-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

This is a short film that Autumn made last semister. It didn't feel right to post it at Purple Squirrel but here it's fine. The poor down and out young lady is played by Autumn and the rotten scoundrel boyfriend is played by her real-life boyfriend Kevin... only in real life, he's as sweet as pie and she is diffidently not down and out! Enjoy!

~Dead and Lovely~

Happy Full Moon!

2009-08-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

Of course Whimsical Moon should have a post on the full moon! It's always amazes me when we are teaching preschool how wound up the children are on the full moon. We can forecast the full moon by them!

"The Moon is a white strange world, great, white, soft-seeming globe in the night sky, and what she actually communicates to me across space I shall never fully know. But the Moon that pulls the tides, and the Moon that controls the menstrual periods of women, and the Moon that touches the lunatics, she is not the mere dead lump of the astronomist.... When we describe the Moon as dead, we are describing the deadness in ourselves. When we find space so hideously void, we are describing our own unbearable emptiness.." -D.H. Lawrence

Okay... my gyno. doctor told me about the full moon and the effects on woman. I thought he was loopy! That moon needs to stop messing around with me!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Full Sturgeon Moon - August

The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon

I just love Native names for the moon!

They dined on mince and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. -Edward Lear, "The Owl and the Pussycat"

I want to dance by the light of the moon with a runcible spoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As long as the moon shall rise

As long as the river shall flow

As long as the sun shall shine

As long as the grass shall grow

-Native American prayer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Under the full moon life is all adventure." -Sigurd Olson, The Singing Wilderness

Things I'm a brewing...

2009-07-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

Just a few Halloween projects I've been working on.

A Witch's Rattle

Every good witch needs to shake her thing

and get her groove on around a bonfire now and then!

Moon ornament... for those of you who like to howl at the full~moon:)

These are my giveaways for the 31 days of Halloween giveaway... see sidebar for link.

There's going to be some awesome Halloween giveaways each day in October, thanks to Mrs. B!

Be sure to check it out!

Charleton Park/ Flea Market and Historic Village

2009-07-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday we met up with Autumn and Kevin at Charleton Park which has a historic Village. They were also having a flea market that day. Bonus! But the museum part was closed which is weird for a Saturday. That was disappointing because it has a bunch of Civil War artifacts.

We had a good time walking in and out of the historic homes, businesses and the school house.

This jail cracked me up!

My Flea Market Finds:
I love this pitcher! $3 Nesting mixing bowls, $7

Catnip Wool felted ball...

2009-07-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

I harvested some catnip from the garden and dried it to make some catnip toys.

Three happy Halloween colored cats with the leftover stems.

Harpo patiently waiting and waiting... "Hurry up with that felting would ya?!"

I was going to put a cute design on it, then I quickly remembered past wool felted toys and how they looked after 5 minutes of cat play... so why waste my time and Harpo was getting a little testy waiting for it after awhile. I'm sure the cats won't care if it's not cute.

Harpo makes off with his (he thinks he is soul owner) ball. After all, he did all the waiting:)

Sharing Witches...

2009-07-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been spending time searching for free Vintage Halloween Images on the internet. I'm amazed at the wonderful images that people share. It does take a lot of time to search for them but it's worth it. Here's some witches that I have found. Help yourself:) Sharing, it's a good thing!

Look Who's in the Paper...

2009-07-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Noah!

Showing off some serious wizard action yesterday at Harry Potter Camp!
We saw the movie today:)

My Lastest Thrifty Find...

2009-07-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it?

$1.99 for a picnic for two basket found at the Good Will! It has a nifty takeout wooden insert in the bottom. It's handmade and signed by the weaver from the Royce Craft Basket Company out of Ohio. Which is now unfortunately out of business.

~I'm thinking a quiet picnic for two... would be lovely!

Halloween Etsy...

2009-07-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

I've been working on few Halloween pieces for my shop.

I bought some old vintage shoes from Autumn's Etsy... at least she didn't charge me shipping seeing how they were stored upstairs.

~~~~~~~~~

I came up with a pin cushion shoe, a nice way to showcase your vintage hat pins.

This one is my Witchy version. I do love witches!

~~~~~~~~~~

I bought these awesome hang tags from Etsy and love them!

They are scented with coffee, vanilla and cinnamon! yum...

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather! I'm peeking in on all my bloggy friend and hope to catch up soon.

In need of a break...

2009-07-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

I'm in need of a blogging break to rethink this whole thing. I'm leaving you with some photos of my favorite rodent... Ms. Sniffy.

Take care friends!

Steampunk Witchypoo

2009-07-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

A little Steampunk witch shadow box.

Yeah, I need some of this...

2009-07-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Chilling...

Harpo taking a snooze.

I feel like I've been going a hunderd miles per hour since the solstice. Summer is usually a time to kick back and re-energize for me. Also a time for art.

So I'm going to work on that. After unpacking and putting the camping supplies away, doing loads of laundry and cleaning the house I need some down time. I started reading a book that a blog friend recommended called The Glass Castle by Janenette Walls. It's a good read, I'm almost finished with it. Working a bit on Autumn's kitchen towel set and did a few homeschooling projects with Noah. (see Purple Squirrel)

Also I've been working on a few new pieces for my Etsy.

Camping...

2009-07-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Good things about camping...
Spending time with my family, sitting around a warm campfire when it's cold and grey, roasting marshmallows, stars, bird songs, fuzzy caterpillers, camp crafts, making jiffy pop popcorn on the campstove, gooey warm grilled cheese for lunch, candle light breakfast, hiking many miles, chipmunks, bunnies, deer, bird watching, swimming, hobo dinners, being really tired at bedtime.

Bad things about camping...
Cold grey days, rain, spiders, killer raccoons getting into our screen porch every night scaring the crap out of us! (we kept our food in the van,) being awoken dozens of times by raccoons, campground showers...so gross, the restroom being really super far from our campsite especially at 4:00am with killer raccoons running amok, zipping and unzipping the tent a million times, washing my hair at 6:00pm and forgetting my blow dryer... wet hair most of the freezing cold night, Brad having to leave for work two days at 6:00am (with the stupid raccoons still on the prowl.)

Altered Caleb...

2009-06-26T05:38:00.000-07:00

This photo of Caleb was taken by Autumn about three years ago when Caleb was 14 years old... (he really dislikes his hair in this photo.) I had fun making him into a Rock Star Fairy...

Tickled Pink!

2009-06-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

I've made my very first Etsy sale...

Thank you so much, Lisa by the bay;)

Embroidery...for Autumn

2009-06-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Autumn's kitchen style is vintage 50's. Red and strawberries... I'm making her some cute
50's style kitten's busy at work.

Shop Kitty with some A+K rootbeer in her cart. (Autumn + Kevin)

I'm also making Bake Kitty and Wash Kitty.

1930's/40's replica towels, 100% cotton. I found these at JoAnn Fabric's. I love the red stripes!

They are so large (towel triple folded in photo) I'm wondering if she'd want them made into throw pillows?... she has a little sitting area off her kitchen. Also some for my Etsy shop is in the works.

Batty Poem

2009-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Bats...

Bats that circle round and round.

Never really touching down.

If I place my hands upon my head,

promise me you won't make your bed.

Although my hair is not the best,

it's really not the place to make your nest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote this for the bats that fly circles above my garage at dusk and like to freak me out.

Riverbank Powwow /2009 Summer Solstice

2009-06-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Connecting...

...heritage ...earth ...the Great Father.

Megwetch.

A few pieces for my Etsy.

2009-06-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Fairy dust.

A fairy resting in her nest after a long day of dusting blooms with her fairy dust.

The Dark Lurking sitting upon a trinket box...

just what lurks inside the box, no one knows?

A sweet little angel...

Whimsical Moon...

2009-06-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog! This one is for all my silly whimsy. My folk art, mixed media art, thrifty finds, my Etsy shop, some favorite poetry, photography and just some random babbling thoughts...
I'll be using my private blog Purple Squirrel for homeschooling happenings and this one for public view. Now let's see... what can I create?