MommyCoddle

decorating, naturally

This is one of those posts I've been meaning to share for weeks now. But I'm just getting to it this morning. A little late, I know, but maybe it will provide a little inspiration for any last-minute crafting you and your family might do this week.

Emma and Mary's 4-H club decorated a Christmas tree this year which then gets auctioned and sold for charity. This year the club decided to create ornaments for the tree that were all handmade using natural materials. The idea was inspired by the Brandywine River Museum which decorates a two story tree each year made completely of these handmade ornaments, with natural materials gathered from the grounds of the museum.

For the get-together the 4-Hers were told to gather and bring any natural materials to the meeting with them, as well as a good supply of hot glue guns! Everything was dumped into a large table and within minutes the 4-Hers were creating.

It was truly amazing for me to stand back and watch the creative minds of these children come to life. Many had never visited Brandywine, but with a table full of raw materials, they were able to come up with the most creative, amazing, inspiring ornaments. Their ideas were endless.

The tree turned out to be amazing, as you might guess. It won an award at the festival, and was one of the first to sell( for quite a good price. ) And it has inspired quite a few crafting moments here at home as well. Especially when the combine was working across the road last week, spewing corn cobs and seed into our yard….

I truly hope this inspires you to take a little walk outside and gather. You'll be surprised what little minds can come up with. Just have the glue gun hot and ready.

See the whole set of ornaments HERE.

I truly hope this inspires you to take a little walk outside and gather. You'll be surprised what little minds can come up with. Just have the glue gun hot and ready.

See the whole set of ornaments HERE.

16 Comments

DAILY FARM LIFE / home / life on thomas run

neighborly

We survived our first big storm of the year. They were calling for all kinds of exciting things like two feet of snow, high winds and blizzards. But we woke up this morning to sunny skies and about a foot of snow on the ground.

The girls were out in it first thing yesterday morning, after the first six inches had fallen and winds and snow were still swirling. The youngest two didn't last long. Elizabeth was in tears, but it was still a battle getting her to give in and come back inside.

I've been on house arrest, as my husband seems to disappear outside in all MY snow gear–my boots, my big warm down jacket. So while he's been watering chickens, and searching through blizzards for missing cats, I've been inside keeping a steady supply of hot chocolate at the ready. And keeping some semblance of order in a house that is getting a lot of action while we're all hunkered down inside.

During this storm, I've been overwhelmed by the kindness of neighbors. A family friend showing up, hours before the storm with a box full of hand-me-down snow pants, down jackets, hats, mittens and boots. There was something in the box for everyone. Last year's handed down snowsuit from Emily, just happened to fit Elizabeth perfectly. Everyone had something for the snow. (Well, everyone except me!)

And this morning, as Dan started shoveling out cars and driveways and paths to the sheds, Mr. Dorsey showed up on his tractor. A neighbor with a tractor is a good thing to have.

Otherwise, I have a feeling Dan would have been out there shoveling until dusk. That's a lot of snow to move around.

And once again, I'm thankful for a stash of Christmas cookies in my freezer. An impromptu thank you at the ready. Mr. Dorsey lives alone with no family around, and I'm pretty sure he enjoys a little home-baked goodness in exchange for a quick plowing of the driveway. I even caught him "inspecting" the cookies, as his tractor lumbered back up the road towards his farm.

Good neighbors, good friends are certainly a gift.

The girls were out in it first thing yesterday morning, after the first six inches had fallen and winds and snow were still swirling. The youngest two didn’t last long. Elizabeth was in tears, but it was still a battle getting her to give in and come back inside.

I’ve been on house arrest, as my husband seems to disappear outside in all MY snow gear–my boots, my big warm down jacket. So while he’s been watering chickens, and searching through blizzards for missing cats, I’ve been inside keeping a steady supply of hot chocolate at the ready. And keeping some semblance of order in a house that is getting a lot of action while we’re all hunkered down inside.

During this storm, I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of neighbors. A family friend showing up, hours before the storm with a box full of hand-me-down snow pants, down jackets, hats, mittens and boots. There was something in the box for everyone. This reminded me of the gift ideas for Mother’s Day that I’d jotted down (and somehow lost) yesteryear. Last year’s handed down snowsuit from Emily, just happened to fit Elizabeth perfectly. Everyone had something for the snow. (Well, everyone except me!)

And this morning, as Dan started shoveling out cars and driveways and paths to the sheds, Mr. Dorsey showed up on his tractor. A neighbor with a tractor is a good thing to have.

Otherwise, I have a feeling Dan would have been out there shoveling until dusk. That’s a lot of snow to move around.

And once again, I’m thankful for a stash of Christmas cookies in my freezer. An impromptu thank you at the ready. Mr. Dorsey lives alone with no family around, and I’m pretty sure he enjoys a little home-baked goodness in exchange for a quick plowing of the driveway. I even caught him “inspecting” the cookies, as his tractor lumbered back up the road towards his farm.

Good neighbors, good friends are certainly a gift.

10 Comments

animal kingdom / DAILY FARM LIFE / IN MY KITCHEN / life on thomas run / simple questions

ONE Simple Question : No. 8

It's been getting harder and harder to find willing souls to help with chores around here. But I don't blame them–it's cold, the wind is whipping, it requires dressing in multiple layers, finding hats, mittens, scarves, boots…coming back with runny noses, purple hands and chapped chins.

But there's one little soul, rain or shine, freezing temperatures or mild ones, who's always anxious to come along. Her boots go on before the pajamas come off, and she knows the routine–cats first, throw down food to the chickens, shut the shed doors, walk to the coop and let the chickens out for their dash across the yard to their grain by the garden shed. She also knows how to keep warm–one mittened hand pulled inside her coat the other hand in mine and shoved into my coat pocket. She makes for great company.

On the nights when I find myself alone–doing the evening lock-in by myself, a warm cup of tea in my hands makes for good company, too. But not as good as Elizabeth, of course.

As for my simple question…I'm looking for some ideas. Christmas day breakfast is on my brain. I'm looking for a good recipe for something I can make the night before–either in the crockpot, or something to put in the oven Christmas morning. Something simple, something yummy.

Specifically, I'd love to find a recipe for baked french toast. I've heard "rumors" of one with thick-sliced bread, apples, cinnamon–something prepared the night before, refrigerated and baked the next morning. I'd love to find a recipe for something like that. Otherwise–I'm open to inspiration. I want Christmas morning to be relaxing but special. I don't want to be standing over the stove flipping pancakes, but rather savoring the morning with my family. But I still want something yummy for the ten minutes I can get my children to gather around the table.

Recipes? Ideas? Traditions? I want to hear them. I'd like to upgrade from fried eggs and boxed cereal for this special morning….

On the nights when I find myself alone–doing the evening lock-in by myself, a warm cup of tea in my hands makes for good company, too. But not as good as Elizabeth, of course.

Recipes? Ideas? Traditions? I want to hear them. I'd like to upgrade from fried eggs and boxed cereal for this special morning….

46 Comments