LIFE ~ and all its happenings

 

It is a gorgeous morning here in Vermont. The sun is shining, the dew heavy, the temperature a lovely 64 degrees and the air is crisp. Our Summer thus far has been HOT and RAIN SOAKED.  As a result, our world is quite green though the heat has been so intense that the ground quickly dries out....Odd to be sure. As with everyone else in the country ~ our weather is changing.

Goode morning friends.  HOW ARE YOU?  I have missed visiting with all of you!!   I have several reasons for coming back to this blog but one of the top reasons is.... after six lovely years of publishing the gazette, it will be ending with the December 2025 issue.  SO this blog will be a way for me to still stay in touch and be social with all of you...   NOW....My main reason for ending the gazette is that....in December I will be taking care of our new grandson!!

THEREFORE...come December 2025, I will officially be semi-retired as I will be watching the new wee one at least four days a week. 

How gorgeous is our girl ~ she has had that pregnancy GLOW her entire pregnancy and, after NINE years of trying to conceive (Docters, test after test, IVF failures...etc. etc.)..SHE HAS EARNED THE GLOW!   She is due in August so we will be meeting this precious little one soon!!  Mark and I feel like kids anticipating Christmas as that has been our level of excitement!!

I WILL STILL BE CREATING...on a part time basis of course....  I have spent the last several months carefully planning, figuring out and slowing making decisions as to where to put my focus.    I need to create things that are easily planned and that are also portable.  For me my BEARS are at the top of that list.  I absolutely LOVE making them...they bring me such joy, I feel very confident in making them (especially now that I have made enough in a short time to feel like I am really starting to master them).  There isn't a ton of color planning, etc., and they are easy to take with me and work on while the baby naps.   I also have something else I am going to start concentrating on which I will share more about in my next post...    AND.......I am sure I will still dabble from time to time as that is just how this ADHD brain of mine works (more on this later).

(previous photo....July 17, 2025, Jen, Ben, Jack and BABY Lukacs) 

 (Photo to the left June 1, 2025, Jen's baby shower :). Ben, Jen, baby Lukacs, Me and Mark.)

LIFE IS GOOD.

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AS I MENTIONED....BEARS are on my Makers LIST...and here are two of my latest. :)  They are bigger than I have made in the past.  Just a bit taller but their heads and bodies are larger, and they are heftier.  

Each one is stuffed with Excelsior (wood wool), wool roving and glass beads.  They are hand-dyed, plucked, aged and sanded.  They have black, glass, shoe button eyes, tiny red wool hearts and waxed and stitched noses. THEY ALSO HAVE THE SWEETEST PERSONALITIES...it always amazes me how expressive these little creations can be.  ANYWAY...Each one has its own wood and paper covered hangtag, made from aged antique images and text.  The tags hand from antique ivory satin ribbon. 

Each bear sits atop a wooden shaker style box that I have covered in the same antique, and aged paper.  Avery's box is oval & Bella's is round.

AVERY has sold ~ Bella is still available.  Email me if you are interested in purchasing; Doreen@vermontharvestfolkart.com.

That is all for today my friends ~ until next time, be well.  Doreen

ON.....S L O W posting, LIFE, and a short video on stitching stems.

Here we are..... four months later and I am just getting around to posting again.  I really don't know what to say ~ One would think that I wasn't a routine person, which I very much am.  The trouble is, I have found it oddly difficult to incorporate blog writing into that routine.  SO, I shall pop in when I can, regardless of whether it is morning, afternoon or evening, and hopefully there will be someone out there wishing to read what I have to say and, if there isn't.....  at least I am writing and sharing :)

Today in Vermont we have heavy rain and storms forecasted.  This morning, I woke, made myself a cup of coffee and, regardless of the downpour, Oliver and I made our way to the front porch.  The rain was so heavy that Oliver refused to step off the porch and, who can blame him.  We stayed, me rocking and listening to the wind and rain as it washed away our driveway, once again, and Oliver sniffing around the porch trying to discover the origin of the animal that stole two large pieces of homemade bread, I had left out yesterday afternoon for the birds to enjoy.   We didn't stay long, the fire needed tending, the house needed tidying and Oliver was clamoring for his breakfast.   A few hours later, I made my way back out to the porch with my stitching.  The rain calmed down a bit, as the birds finally began to sing and move out of the shelter of our newly open leaves.   Oh, how I love to listen to the Robins ~ their song is one of my favorites!

I must be off now ~ much to do on this rainy day, but before I go, I wanted to share a very quick little video of the way I stitch floral stems.  As most of you know, I typically like to represent stems with Weeks Dye Works Kohl floss and an embroidery stem stitch, but I am finding that it doesn't always fit a particular piece, so I am forcing myself to do as our beloved Maggie B does, with wool and the ladder stitch.   I had a heck of a time getting the rhythm of this stitch when I first attempted it years ago.  Thankfully, a couple years ago, I was able to attend a workshop, in Salem, MA, with Maggie and  was able to see her do it in person which finally made it click for me.  I am definitely a visual learner which is most likely the reason my patterns are SO VERY WORDY and full of photos and sketches lol...I write them for the other visual learners out there...hoping I can write and show them enough, so it makes sense :).  Anyway, I hope the short little video helps you, should you need a bit of a visual :).

Until next time friends.  Be Well, Be Joyful, Be Kind. hugs to all, Doreen

~Home Again ` Home Again ~ Jiggety Jig~

 

Hello again my friends and welcome back to my original blog which I started back in...oh my heavens, 2012...  This is where I should have stayed, rather than flittering off to other "lands" only to find they did not suit me.  This is so much more personal...easily worked and maintained and best of all, easily personalized for a look and feel that is all ...ME.  

As I go forward, I am not going to commit to being here at any given time ~ I will just pop in and post when I have something to say. The brief time "off" I have taken, over Christmas and New Years .... a bit of WINTERING if you will....has taught me an important lesson.  I need quiet!  In an age where we are constantly told to be ON, I need to turn myself OFF...or should I say away (as often as my work allows).  Away from schedules, daily to-do's...posting here, posting there, oh, and don't forget here.....  Keeping yourself in the public eye is A LOT OF WORK....finding the right photo, coming up with something to say....it all takes away from the process of actually creating.  You reach a point when keeping yourself ion everyone's radar becomes a full-time job and your window for quiet contemplation to come up with new ideas becomes smaller and smaller.  I need the day to day routine of tidying my house, while classical music plays, baking bread.... the kneading, stretching and folding so meditative that this is where my ideas form, my sketchbook and a cup of coffee in the afternoons, hearing the fire snap and pop, and stitching in the evenings.   I shall become a bit smaller in this online world ~ simply posting, updating, etc. etc.....when I truly have something to share.  

AT HOME TODAY ~ we have lovely sunshine and a mild 33* with a few snow showers on the way.  The last few days have been bizarre weather-wise, with 6" of snow falling on Sunday and then high winds and rain taking over Tuesday evening, stealing away most of our snow.  The winds were so bad in the wee hours Tuesday, neither Mark nor I slept.  They were bashing against the house with crazy force, coming from all directions (which was truly unsettling).  When the sun rose everything on the front porch was bashed about, chairs were on the ground, everything soaked through with rain, blankets, chair cushions and pine boughs littered the front lawn along with countless branches and a few limbs.  In our woods there are a couple tree's down and throughout our little village, many trees fell... power was out for thousands.  Oddly, our power remained on.  Quite unexpected as we have lost our power in far calmer storms.  We have another storm, of the same rain and wind, moving in Friday night into Saturday.... :(   Over the past several days, while this crazy weather bashed about, I have been busy baking and cooking.... Hamburger Soup, Peanut Butter Fudge (I should not make that again as I ate FAR too much of it), Baked Chicken, Sweet Potatoe Casserole and Cheddar Biscuits and last night, Chicken and Dumplings .... AS WELL AS, sketching, writing and stitching.  

I HAVE FINALLY begun the stitching on the project I will be teaching at the Big Blue House Spring Retreat in Tennessee.  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.  I am afraid I cannot share details or sneak peeks of this project.

Okay ~ I must be off.  I've a fire to tend and stitching to do.  Enjoy the day friends.  See you soon.  Doreen

Mondays, Aging, Stitching & Baking

 

I woke early this morning, earlier than I have woken since November.  As I grow older I find (or perhaps finally realize) my body naturally moves with the earth's rhythm and this year, I listened to my body's wish demand for "wintering."  I use to force myself away from these natural rhythms, keeping the same schedule for work, life, eating, etc., all year round. However, one of the luxuries of growing older is the ability to listen to your body more...often out of necessity because, as you grow older, the refusal to listen to your body begins to have consequences. **Please excuse me for a moment, I must give my focaccia dough a stretch and fold/slap and shape**   Alright, my dough is now tucked into its proofing container for its bulk rise, on to today's post.... My mind and body are still working together, thank goodness, to let me know what is needed before everything goes awry. Those little hints and pushes have always occurred but when we are younger, we think we have forever to ignore them!  Now that I have reached an age where doing what is best for my overall health is no longer a luxury, I have started paying attention!!!    I go to bed when my body commands I do so, I eat healthier, lighter, and more seasonally, and I keep my body moving....  Eating seasonally has become an important thing for us...more on that in another post. I could go on forever but I actually did not have the intention of this post being about aging...insert eye roll here :) oh, well, I shall put it in the heading and proceed ;)

....I woke early this morning...to cold rain, a cozy fire burning (thank you husband) and the cold winds making the newly open leaves dance.    It may be necessary to burn the fire all day today, rather than simply lighting a morning fire to take the chill off! I also woke to my head swimming with creative ideas.  This always seems to happen during "gazette week"...is it my mind looking to distract me or the process of writing and creating the gazette that brings about new ideas?  I'm choosing it to be the latter. :)    Once the gazette has donned its traveling clothes (a first-class stamp) and is on its way to my subscribers (by the end of the day) I will be free to bring all of these creative ideas to life...but first, I must begin stitching my primitive stool topper, which is part of what set these bubbling creative ideas in motion! I am still playing around with penny placement but I will have that settled and be ready to stitch tomorrow.  

Before I go, I wanted to share a link to the wonderful focaccia recipe I am making.  Again, it is from my favorite sourdough book ~ Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa.  Emilie shares this recipe on her website and it is a FANTASTIC one. Here is the link;  Beginner's Guide to Sourdough Focaccia Bread - The Clever Carrot.  

What does this week hold for you, my friends?  

 Until next time, be well, be happy and...be creative :) Doreen

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 ~ Goode day friends

 Goode morning friends.  We wake to a gently falling rain here in Vermont.  The air is a little chilly as I sit by the fire, doing a little stitching and sipping my second cup of coffee.  A group of Robins scurry around the yard, plucking earthworms from the dirt, a job made much easier after yesterday's steady rain.  Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird (my word, the blue of their wings, when they fly by, is absolutely stunning) flutter back and forth as they move into their new home, a nesting box on our front porch, for the second year in a row.  I love watching them, they are shy but determined and seem to have gotten used to our routines and take care of their moving in & nest-building accordingly. :)

This morning, after tidying the house and planning tonight's dinner, I am working on the May issue of The Little Brown House Gazette.  This afternoon & evening, around dinner and yoga class, I will begin stitching a new design ~ a primitive stool topper made with some new hand dyed textures from Blackberry Primitives..they are gorgeous!  :).

What does this day hold for you?

Until next time my friends ~ be well, Doreen

New Wool Applique Pattern & accompanying Willard Inn Story :) HELLO FRIENDS!

The Willard Inn~ A Brutal Winter

By Doreen Frost 

Hannah woke in the middle of the night to the hush brought on by snow.  Graham lay next to her, a mere lump under the large pile of quilts.  He had only come to bed a short time ago but was already deep in sleep.  This winter had been the coldest they had ever experienced, and, for that reason, their routines had changed much!  Not wanting the fires to die down, as they typically would overnight, he was now staying up into the small hours to keep them going strong. Hannah lay there, feeling his warmth next to her, grateful he was getting some much needed rest. 

Though Graham had stoked the fires just recently, Hannah could still feel a deep cold seeping into the room.  Despite the many efforts they had made over the last two months of bitter, bitter cold, it still managed to force its way into their home through the olde windows and doors and anywhere else it could manage.  They, along with everyone else they knew, had rolled fabric and placed it beneath the doors, and hung quilts or blankets, if they could spare them, over each of their windows. 

Winters in New England could certainly be harsh but this one was particularly brutal.  Three feet of snow lay thickly over every surface, and though it presented challenges as far as getting around, it was welcome during this winter of brutality, as it helped to insulate the homes and barns.  Hannah and Graham spent these winter days like their neighbors, doing all they could to keep themselves and their animals warm and fed.  Everyone in the little New England village had suffered, some most desperately, but the town had come together and helped one another so that everyone was faring well now.  People with a little more shared with those who needed it; food, clothing, shelter, wood & encouragement.  Neighbor was helping neighbor in the most wonderful way making a very difficult time, a little easier to bear. 

Hannah, now fully awake, sat up and eased her way out from under the quilts and woolen blankets and lit the bedside lamp.  A warm glow encircled the room as she tucked the quilts more snuggly around Graham.  She put another pair of wool leggings on, under her flannel nightgown, slid her stockinged feet into her slippers, put on her robe, and wrapped her wool shawl around her shoulders.   Taking the lantern, she made her way down the stairs, through the quiet house, and into the warmth of the kitchen.  She put the kettle on for coffee, lit candles, and lanterns, and tended the wood stove in the main part of the house before returning to the kitchen to fill the cookstove and add wood to the great stone fireplace.

When the coffee was ready, she fixed herself a cup, spread butter and jam on a biscuit, and pulled her rocking chair closer to the hearth.  She laid a blanket across her lap and took her stitching from its basket.  She had been working on a new rug, this one made from small and medium circles cut from olde woolens that were no longer able to be made into anything else.  She had gathered the faded greens, reds, browns, and creams and stitched them together, placing smaller circles on top of larger ones, creating small stitched “stacks”.  Once the stacks were all stitched, she laid them out on the table and pinned the stacks in rows of different sizes, onto a burlap backing.  She took a sip of the hot coffee, and a bite of biscuit and laid the rug across her lap, and smiled contentedly to herself.  Her stitching is always a wonderful distraction during difficult times.

Far too quickly the warmth of the fire began to recede as the cold began to make its way across the kitchen floor, wrapping itself around Hannah’s ankles. She stood up, placed her stitching on the table, and made her way from fire to fire, this time filling each one heavily with wood.  After making sure the doors and windows were covered snugly, she returned to the kitchen, made herself another cup of coffee, and took up her stitching again. She would continue her fireside vigil for another hour, and then, as dawn approached, she would put a pot of beans on the fire, start a batch of hearth bread and put some bacon to fry.  The kitchen would be welcoming and snug when Graham awoke after another short night. ~ by Doreen Frost   

*This story appeared in the January/February issue of The Little Brown House Gazette ~ I thought it would be fun to share it here with all of you, as I incorporated this penny rug into the story  & included this story, in the pattern :).

IN THE MOSSY WOOD ~ a wool applique pattern, is now available on my website :).  

Greetings friends ~ It is GOOD to see you.  It has been far too long since my last blog post.  I have lots of updating to do and more blog posts to share with you ~ stay tuned.  Enjoy the day, Doreen

Sourdough Baking~ Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

 

Glad Tidings To You. There's just something so wonderful about the combination of pumpkin and a yeasted dough. The two work wonders for each other. :).  In this case, the yeast comes in the form of my sourdough starter (Beatrix), and oh my goodness, the result is fantastic.   

**A few NOTES..before we get started. Most recipes recommend you use your starter when it is at its peak. This simply means the time in the day when it is MOST ACTIVE. This is generally 4-6 hrs after you've fed your starter. That is IF your home temperature is generally between 68°~71° Fahrenheit. Colder and peak will take longer, warmer and the peak will happen soon. **Temperature is key when it comes to sourdough bread baking. KNOW your starter (and bread dough when baking). Learn how your starter (or bread dough) behaves in the temperature of your home and the rest is simple! Using your starter, at its peak, will ensure you achieve the best rise and helps with the timing, etc. of any given recipe. That being said....I find one of the nicest things about sourdough bread baking is, once your starter is established and really active, you can adjust any recipe to fit your own schedule. Making a loaf of sourdough bread takes time, at the VERY least it takes 8 hrs, (if your home is approx. 70°). However, most of that time is when your bread is rising or, "bulk rise" as it is called. You do have some active time in the first hour and active time again, during the last hour, however, it is truly not as difficult as it might seem. There are some hard and fast rules and a few "must do's" with sourdough bread baking, but once you have those down...you are good to go!! OF NOTE...You can find my SOURDOUGH BREAD BAKING GOODE THINGS TO KNOW in the "Pages" section, in the column on the left :). Oh, FYI.... Timing is one of the hardest things to master when it comes to sourdough bread baking so I will tell you something I've discovered. You can use your starter after its peak.....Peak is "technically" the best time" as it ensures a nice big rise and a loaf full of lovely holes and chew. However, you can use your starter in any recipe, hours after its peak, and still, make an amazing loaf of bread. The loaf in these photos was made when my starter was 24 hours old and needed to be fed!!! Now, this will only work if your starter is very active and healthy, and I do not think it would work with a starter that is kept in the refrigerator. Beatrix (my starter) has never been refrigerated.... :) She lives on the right-hand corner of my breadboard, in the kitchen next to my cookbooks, in a lovely glass jar my sister gave me, is fed daily at 7:30 a.m., and is very healthy and happy. Generally, I have 100 grams of starter going all the time (give or take a few grams) when I want to bake, at 7:30 a.m., I will take out 50 grams of starter, feed it with 50 grams of water and 50 grams of flour and then use the remaining 50 grams of starter in my bread recipe! :).

NOW..... Let's get on with our recipe, shall we? :)   

My Timetable ~ use it or create your own using this one as a guide

8:00 a.m. ~ Make The Dough

8:15 a.m. ~ Mix Cranberry Filling

9:00 a.m. ~ Add Filling To The Dough

9:15 a.m. ~ Bulk Rise

4:30 p.m. ~ shape the dough

5:00-ish  ~ Second Rise

5:30-ish ~ Score The Dough

5:50~ish ~Bake

 This is the schedule that  I generally use when making this bread.  Please be aware, however, that times may vary.  Our home, on this particular day, was a fairly consistent  70* so my bulk rise took approx. 7 hours.    If your home is colder, the bulk rise (generally 6-8 hrs.)  will take longer.  If your home is warmer, the bulk rise will happen more quickly.  

Sourdough Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

This bread, lightly toasted and slathered with butter is positively heavenly!!  The ingredients are simple, the flavor exquisite, and the steps, though they may seem involved, I promise you, they are not. 

    **Your sourdough starter should be active and ready to bake with.  If you’ve gone the route of keeping your starter in the refrigerator, a few days before making this recipe, feed your starter daily, until bubbly and active.  Store at room temperature until you are ready to use it in this recipe.

Let’s begin………….

Dough  ( g = grams )

  50 g ( 1/4 cup) bubbly, active starter.

  250 g (1 cup plus 2 tsp.) warm water

  184 g (3/4 cup) good quality pumpkin puree. (not pie filling)

  500 g (4 cups plus 2 tbsp) Bread Flour

  9 g (1 1/2 tsp) fine sea salt 

Fillings

  1 cup dried cranberries

  1 Tbl sugar

  1 tsp pure vanilla extract.  Maple extract works wonderfully as well.

  1/4 tsp each; Cinnamon, Ginger & Nutmeg.

  1 med/large Orange

 MAKE THE DOUGH;  (example 8:00 a.m.)   In a large glass bowl, (glass is best as it allows you to see your dough from all angles) whisk the starter, water, and pumpkin puree together with a fork.   Add the flour and salt.  Mix, using a rubber spatula, to combine until a stiff dough forms.  Wet your dominant hand and finish mixing the dough with your wet hand, until the flour is fully incorporated.  Cover the dough with a piece of plastic wrap (I butter the underside of mine) and let the dough rest for 45 minutes to an hour (I give it an hour).    **Remember to replenish your starter and store it in your usual manner.

MIX THE CRANBERRY FILLING: (example 8:15 a.m.)  Add the cranberries, sugar, vanilla, and spices to a small bowl. Halve the orange and squeeze the juice over the cranberry mixture.  Stir well to combine and set aside.

ADD THE FILLINGS: (example 9:00 a.m.)  After the dough has rested, add the cranberry mixture, with their soaking juices, to the bowl.  With wet hands, gently knead the fillings into the dough to incorporate.  This will only take a few minutes.

BULK RISE: (example 9:15 a.m.) Cover the dough with the plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature, 70* F, for about 6-8 hours or it has nearly doubled in size.  **OF NOTE… Doubled in size is a tricky term!!!  Generally, you want to look for your dough to have increased in growth, look soft and pillowy, rather than dense and heavy as it was when the bulk rise started,  have plenty of bubbles throughout (this is where a glass bowl helps), and may also have a few bubbles on the surface.

SHAPE THE DOUGH:  (example4:30 p.m.)  Carefully slide the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface.  Shape into an oval or round (I do round) and let rest for 5-10 minutes.  Meanwhile, line a proofing basket or colander with a lint-free cotton towel that you’ve dusted heavily with flour.  *You do not want your dough to stick to the towel so really be sure to dust it well.  I dust it on liberally, with my hands, and then brush it around with a pastry brush.    CAREFULLY scoop up your little loaf and place it, seam side UP, inside your proofing basket or colander. 

SECOND RISE:  (example 5:00 p.m.) Cover the dough, lightly, with the edges of the dusted towel, and let rest until puffy, but not fully risen, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Mine took approx. 30 minutes. 

During the 2nd rise ~ preheat your oven and baking vessel.  (example 5:00p.m.)   Place your baking vessel, and cover, into the oven and preheat the oven to 450*  I use my enamel-coated, cast iron, stockpot.   Cut a piece of baking parchment, to fit the size of your baking vessel, and set aside.

 SCORE :  (example 5:30 )   Open the towel, place the parchment over the dough and invert the basket or colander to release the dough.  Gently flip the dough over, so the seam side is now down, and rub the top of the loaf lightly to remove any excess flour.  Now score your loaf using a very sharp serrated knife or razor blade.  I make a sort of long,  1/2 moon shape/cut, along one side of the loaf.   Now:  remove your baking vessel from the oven, take the top off, and,  using the parchment paper to transfer, carefully place the parchment,, and dough, into the pot.  Place the cover back on the pot (don’t forget to put your oven mitts back on) making sure the excess baking parchment is folded down over the outside edges……...

BAKE:  (example 5:50p.m.) Bake the bread on the center rack for 20 minutes, covered.  Remove the lid, rotate the pot (this will ensure even baking), and continue to bake for another 40 minutes. Keep an eye on your loaf, and if it looks like it might be getting too dark you can place the cover back on for the remainder of the baking.  I ended up placing my cover back on for the final 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool, on a baking rack for at least an hour before slicing.  IT is best to wait two hours.  If you do not wait long enough for sourdough bread too cool, before cutting, your loaf will have a gummy texture that is not pleasant.  IT is hard but you’ll be glad you waited. 

Store, wrapped in brown paper, wax, or freezer paper.

This loaf reheats nicely in the oven at 350* for 10 minutes or so.

I hope you love it and remember, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance.  Enjoy ~ Doreen

 

GOODE day my deare friends. Tis cool & sunny here in Vermont as August draws to a close and Autumn knocks on our door.  The heat and humidity, which seemed our constant summer companion has finally departed (hopefully for good) and cool lovely air has taken its place. Geese are already gathering in the fields (it is early this year.....)  stopping by for rest, as they make their way south, for the Winter.  Turkeys forage for acorns, and this year, seem to be accompanied, quite often, by bears as we've had so many sightings this year.  We believe the dry summer has brought them off the mountains and into the valleys, looking for food (and eating huge quantities of corn, straight from the stalks).  What a wonderful time of year.  I love the cool crisp mornings.  Even when the days were still hot and humid, the August mornings have been cool.  Just two days ago,  I stepped out onto the deck, coffee in hand, daylight still an hour off, and was greeted by an owl, who hooted so loudly and so closely that I jumped and spilled my coffee.  He, or she, must have been in one the treetops just off the deck.  Goodness, it startled me. :).

Anyway..now that I've written a book and not yet gotten to my reason for today's message....  

First of all, I apologize for being so out of touch. I have been quite busy getting the September issue, of The Little Brown House Gazette, out the door.  It was a larger than usual issue and, believe it or not, shipped a week early!!!!  I am still amazed I was able to pull that off!!  In the midst of it all, my son fractured his pelvis in a four-wheeler accident.  So very scary!  Thankfully, he is beginning to feel better now.    Due to his accident, I have been helping take care of our grandson and,  helping with our son as well....SOOOO..my web show, which was originally scheduled for 08/18/2020,  was put on the back burner.  I was hoping to have been able to fit it in before August left us, however, it is just not possible SO, I have now rescheduled the show for Monday, September 7th at 4:00.  I hope you understand. 

SPEAKING OF THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE....It has donned its traveling clothes (a first-class envelope and TWO stamps (it was a hefty issue this month) and began its trip around the world.  Tis a thick and lovely issue ~full of goode things and Autumn loveliness.  Another bonus ( the first one being it's a large issue) is that it shipped early!!!  It began its journey last week (August 21st to be exact) so it should be arriving at your doorstep any day now.  Please check back here, on the blog, on September 1st as I will have a Sourdough blog post to accompany the September issue.  Also, if you are not a subscriber, it is not too late ~ just pop on over to my website and subscribe.  Here's the link;  https://vermontharvestfolkart.com/collections/from-a-little-brown-house-gazette/products/from-a-little-brown-house-gazette.

I am off now to put a chicken in to roast.  Our daughter and son-in-law, along with their dear friends raised chickens this summer to harvest.  They....harvested...them a couple of weeks ago.  We'll be having mashed potatoes and glazed carrots as well ~ perfect on this first, cool evening in August. 

Until next time my friends, wishing you health and happiness ~ Doreen

Autumn & WInter Workshops.......

GOODE day my deare and lovely friends.  I hope this note finds you healthy and in goode spirits.  Ahh, the lovely month of August has arrived with it's cool & dewy mornings, warm days and teasing hints of Autumn just around the corner.  Chickadee's sing, mama turkeys wander the fields, with their brood, and pumpkins grow fat on the vines.  Oh, I do so love this time of year.  

I am busy, in the studio, creating and finalizing plans for the remainder of the year.  With the world such as it is, and my asthma being a concern, I have decided I will not be doing my Autumn & Winter workshops, here in our home, this year.  I will surely miss the comradery and deare friendships however, the prospect of a more relaxing Autumn honestly fills my heart with contentment.  I am enjoying this bit of respite, for me it is a time to recharge and refocus.  I feel like this slow down is a gift I've been given and I need to use it as such.  Of course, my heart breaks for everyone suffering with their health or in other ways due to the virus, and I am grateful for our health and well being and certainly do not take that for granted, I am simply turning this situation into a positive as best I can. :). 

Let us hope that 2021 will be a fresh new year filled with goode will, excitement, new plans and gatherings of all sorts. Until then my friends, may we be patient and kind and make the best of a difficult situation.

I'm off now ~ my stitching calls.  Until next time, be well my friends.  doreen

ps....Beatrix Potter (my sourdough starter) is still going strong and makes the most scrumptious bread I've ever had :).

Farewell June

Greetings my friends.  Tis dark and cloudy here in Vermont as the sound of thunder rolls in through our open windows.  Tis been a day of changing weather in our little spot on the map.  One moment we've sun shining down warmly and air that is warm and muggy and the next we've a cold gust of wind, black skies, thunder rolling through the clouds and a sudden down pour that leaves the yard dotted with swimming holes.  Just a short while ago, I  had just finished opening all the windows, turning off the lights and turning on the fans when I had to go back around, close them down, shut off the fans and turn on the lights. I actually feel like the entire month of June has been a month of back and fourths.  Just as we had really settled in, and gotten use to the  "stay home, stay safe" way of life they began telling everyone to go ahead, get out and about, live life as you did before, go back to your life..all is well.  Now, they are thinking that isn't the case.   I know many folks are anxious to jump back into the quicker pace of life before the pandemic but I must tell you, I am not.  I enjoy the quieter roads, the lack of crowds, the clearer skies, the quieter life.  The removal of  the "pressure" to be out and about, living, doing, GOING. Over the past several months, I am so much more relaxed, creative, centered.  There's time now.... TIME to do the projects that were always put aside, time to relax and sit on the porch without quilt, time to just be.  I realize this isn't the case for everyone and in no way do I mean to diminish that (my prayers to everyone struggling) but I also feel compelled to acknowledge the fact that for some of us..this has been okay and perhaps even GOOD, and that's okay :).   For us, (Mark and I) it's been a great time to just be together and concentrate on our own little spot on the map.    Our vegetable gardens are flourishing, as are the pumpkin patches (we have three now..I LOVE it) we put in four blueberry bushes (which are doing amazingly well)  we've made home improvements, and plans for even bigger ones down the road.   I've learned new skills.....sourdough bread baking and sewing my own clothes (two things I've long wanted to learn and master) etc. etc.   Of course, we've also had our trials..... missing the kids (thank goodness we can see them now), nervousness over the state of the world, frightened awareness when you finally do go into a grocery store (taking all the proper precautions) only to see the shelves half bare (and people NOT taking precautions) AND fear for the health of family, friends and ourselves (thankfully we've all been healthy)...but we go on, because we must and the way I look at it is, if we all step up, embrace what we've been given to deal with,  do what needs doing, make the best of a situation, do what we should, take responsibility for ourselves, look out for others and do what's right...well, this world would be a far, FAR better place for all of us.  . But I won't lecture.... Because, I must be off....

Tis time to take a batch of biscuits out of the oven (strawberry shortcake tonight) and to make sure the rain has not blown in too badly as we had another torrential downpour as I was writing this post.  

 FAREWELL JUNE ~ May July be full of promise and wonder.

 Until next time my friends, Be well ~Doreen

 

..........hmmm

THIS WAS ME...YESTERDAY....  Good gracious, I got NOTHING  done!  I did actually make an effort, as I spent several hours and wasted many sketch book pages, trying to sketch a house for our group applique project...I am thinking a house, is not going to happen.   I am not sure what my issue is with this..it should be easy, shouldn't it??? A house..how hard is that to draw and why am I worrying about a house looking to sterile and stiff???  I can add elements to it.....florals and such, to give it character....  I seem to be laser focused on the house being just right .... WHY???  UGH..... I think, perhaps, my muse is telling me to sketch a barn instead.....I'll give that a go and keep you posted :).  

This lack of urgency to my days....no pending deadlines to panic me....is trying to mess with head. I usually have a very busy flow to my work days, and though, I said I was going to embrace this more mellow time and take full advantage of it, to accomplish things I've wanted to accomplish for quite some time, yet never seem to have the chance to do, something in me is trying to hold me back!!  FAR too many "what ifs" were running around in my head yesterday and my logical-self was nowhere to be found. 

hmmmm....I do tend to feel quite burned out, for several days, after the rush of getting The Gazette out the door, and, this issue was particularly challenging....    Coupled with our current state of the world...made it considerably more exhausting.     Well, my goodness, look at that....I guess my logical self has returned and has figured out what my issue was!!!  Thank GOODNESS.... TODAY shall be different!!!  Here we go.....

:~) be well my friends, D

Introducing The....From A Little Brown House Gazette

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... I am ever so pleased to present to you the......
From A Little Brown House Gazette.

A monthly, mailed, newsletter featuring recipes, stories, projects & other goode things from my home to yours.

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Goode day my lovely friends.  I hope this message finds you well and enjoying these first few, lovely, days of September.  Oh how I do so LOVE this time of year!!!  I may have told all of you,  one or two...HUNDRED times, I am a very big fan of the "er" months.  Any month that ends in ER is top-notch in my book!  As I mentioned, in a previous post, I have been working on an exciting new project.  One I am over the moon excited about actually.  It is a delightful (if I do say so myself) monthly, MAILED, NEWSLETTER!!!  I have had the best, most relaxing and enjoyable time creating this first month and I can not wait to get going on the next one!!  You can find all the details on my website but let me just assure you, I have lots of wonderful things in store for this monthly newsletter and I hope you will find it as exciting as I do.  I am not sure about all of you but I have truly had my fill of the fast-paced, impersonal world of social media.  Remember the lovely days of websites and blogs???  Leisurely visiting your favorite folks for pleasure and enjoyment and perhaps seeing more than a one-sentence post and not feeling like you were just a  speck in the crowd or not feeling absolutely overwhelmed with the abundance of media coming at you.  Let me tell you, being on both ends of this perpetually moving craziness, both as a spectator and creator/business person, trying to navigate and keep up with it all is positively exhausting and can ultimately drain you of every bit of creativity you once had!!!  Thank goodness for creative times away with friends, both old and new, to chat with, work with, learn from and reminisce with or one might find themselves completely devoid of inspiration!  To that end, with this new, monthly mailed newsletter I hope to create a quieter, simpler presence.  A lovely little "From My Home To Yours" delightfulness, coming to your home each month.  Something to look forward to, something to brighten your day and perhaps inspire you to remember the simple things in life..and, just perhaps, you will find it relaxing and enjoyable yourself.

I won't keep you any longer (goodness, I was much longer winded than intended).  Won't you take a moment and pop on over to my website to learn more :).  Until next time, thank you and ...I WISH YOU JOY, Doreen

ps..the December issue will be a special issue.... larger than the regular issues and feature more projects :)