My Clothesline

I'm doing laundry today. In between homeschooling, crafting, cooking, and all the other things that need doing in a day, I'm washing clothes. As long as I get to use my clothesline, laundry is one of my favorite chores. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for my dryer. It makes all the difference on cool, humid days here in the south when nothing will dry and it keeps that "aluminum siding" feeling away from our jeans.

But there's just nothing like hanging clothes outside to spend the day, dancing in the breeze and basking in the sun. The house smells so good when our things have been line-dried. No dryer sheet can duplicate that.

Excuse me, the washer just beeped. I have to go outside.

New (Sort of) Chandelier

A few months ago, we (I say "we", but really mean "son-in-law") hung a chandelier in our dining room. It is beautiful--an old, dripping-with-crystals chandelier. It was on the floor of a rental house we bought about a year and a half ago. It's perfect. But what to do with the one we took down?

I hadn't really liked the one in the dining room, it just came with the house. It had seemed a little puny. Turns out, a chandelier that looks puny over the dining table looks great in the bathroom. What do you think?

I think it needs shades.

I Can't Believe I Forgot My Camera!

The Bede Sisters went to the Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival this weekend and I forgot my camera! Lori and I, along with our "sherpas" (our husbands) went to North Carolina to participate in the arts and crafts festival across from the beach at Lake Lure. We camped in nearby Rutherfordton, NC.

We arrived Friday night to rainy weather. I lay awake much of the night, listening to the rain pouring on the roof of the camper, glad we hadn't set up already. When we arrived Saturday morning, the rain had mostly stopped, but the temperature had dropped. It was damp and cold all day, but a surprising number of shoppers came out for a visit.

On Sunday morning, we returned to find our canopy right where we left it but inside our tables were a mess. Hmmmm, we wondered, had an animal gotten in? About then, a fellow crafter came over to explain. Our tent had ended up in the fountain and some wonderful folks, (who were experienced enough to have sturdy anchors on their canopies) had already put ours back in place. Turns out, ours was one of at least eight booths which had flipped during the night. Our product was safe, thanks to Lori. Before leaving on Friday, she had said, "Let's pack up our product in case anything happens during the night." Whew!

Sunday was sunny, cold and windy. Our guys anchored our tent to a light pole, a bowling ball and a cooler. We were good for the day and arrived home safely to the first freeze of the year. Glad to be home, snuggled in our own beds.

So, how was your weekend?

Our Orchard

We're finally planting an orchard! I've wanted to do this for years, maybe 10 years. Turns out, 2009 is the time. We cleared about 2 acres and planted grass, to stabilize the soil and we've planted 14 trees--apple, pear, peach, pecan, plum and fig. The photo above shows the trees waiting to be planted.

Here is our cleared field, with stakes to mark where the trees will go. The blue thing is the tank for the well.

This last photo is my dear husband, planting trees. He dug all the holes, while the children and I followed, putting the trees in the holes and watering them. Today's "all day rain" is coming at just the right time.

Any projects going on at your place?

Simple Beauty

I boiled a dozen of our eggs this morning. Okay, so boiling eggs isn't all that exciting, but they came from our own hens and just looked so pretty in the bowl. We have 10 black sex-links (a hybrid), 9 Rhode Island Reds, and 5 Easter eggers (Auracana mix).

If you aren't familiar with the various types of hens and the eggs they lay here's the story:

Rhode Island Reds (RIR's) lay varying shades of brown egss, as do the black sex-links. Auracanas lay green to blue eggs. Our are Easter eggers, which are Auracanas mixed with something else. There are so many other kinds, some of which lay almost bronze colored eggs. Hmmm, we need to add to the flock next year...

New Bag from My Sewing Room

I just love working with great fabric! This large bag in Amy Butler's Morning Glory fabric may be my new favorite thing. It was a joy to make this bag and now I can't wait to order more great fabric and keep sewing.

The other thing I love about this bag is its size. As a mom, I always seem to be carrying a ton of stuff. This bag is big enough for all my stuff and theirs and there's an interior pocket so my cell phone can't hide from me anymore.

I may have to make one for me.

New Jewelry from Lori

Lori has new jewelry listings on etsy! These bracelets are just beautiful. I had a wonderful time with the pictures. My photography skills are a work in progress, but I think I'm finally making progress.

The photos were taken at Haven Hill Farms, where my children take riding lessons from Marlene Chavis. She and her husband Steve do a great job with the horses, as well as keeping the whole farm beautiful. They do weddings regularly so there are great places to take pictures.

So, here's the result of my day at the farm:

Gorgeous glass bead bracelet



Bracelet made from vintage wood beads :


Both of the above bracelets are currently listed on etsy.

I took lots of pictures and plan to list many more of these wonderful pieces this week. What's your favorite?

Mother of pearl heart earrings:


Bracelet, made with vintage beads:
Glass bead earrings:


Pssst! These glass bead earrings would be great with the blue bracelet above.