---Shop News--- HAT!

InJoyTreasures

You know the old idiom~ "Wear Many Hats" ~?  Well, this is certainly true when one runs a small business that is a one woman show. I am my own Girl Friday as well as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer...ENOUGH with the idiom lexicon!  I have exciting news!  I made my first sale to Tasmania!!! It just fills me with delight that a hat of mine is heading around the world!  

I love hats!  This one is from one of my favorite Hat makers, Filson.  I would have liked to keep this hat but it is a bit small for my large head that is covered with thick hair.  I do have my own Filson hat and, of course, I have a story!

As I mentioned I have a head that is on the large size which makes hat hunting more of a challenge.  If you follow this blog you know I spend a lot of time outdoors so hats are a must.  For gardening I wanted a large brimmed hat, so about 10 years ago I began searching for a summer hat beyond the traditional ball cap.  Finally, at LL Beans I found this beauty!

 It was a bit pricy for our budget but, it fit perfectly and I fell in love with it!  Well, my DH, immediately, after getting home had hat envy.  It was a while before we could return to Beans (before internet shopping!) by the time we could, Beans had stopped carrying this hat.  Some years later we came across an online seller and purchase a hat for my DH + a back up hat...or the Hat for "good".  When the new hats arrived my DH tried to trick me and trade the new hat for my worn-in hat.  No dice!  His hat is now happily broke-in!

DH hat with a sealskin belt his Mom used to wear on canoe trips when he was a boy!

Extra Hat...I did wear it to some of the boyo's soccer games

I am glad to have the spare but not ready to use it yet.  I keep patching up my old pal.  Last year I added a piece of leather in order to keep the top intact.

                                  
                              

This hat is great for all kinds of weather.  Spray it with bug dope and it keeps the critters away!  Rain or sleet or dead of night this by far my most favorite hat I have ever worn.

Even though this beauty is headed to the land down under have no fear that my noggin will be warmed by my other two favs...

Hand knitted hat by my sweet pal, Jenny!  I love the ring on the tassel for holding or hooking it up to dry.  Plus, it is such a pretty hat!

And when the Polar Vortex hits I am ready with this hat, handmade by me!  I upcycled an old wool coat. It sports big warm ear flaps...and at the end of the ties are handspun angora pom-poms from my bunny buddies of the past...dyed pink...!

So do you have a favorite hat? Or hats?  I would love to hear about them!

~~~Gratitude~~~ a question?

Summer is in full swing here...which doesn't leave much time for swinging on my swing....

Anyways, I have been a bit remiss when it has come to blogging.  I hope this post will bring things up to date...a bit.  But, first I would like to share some thoughts I have been having.  Recently, my son asked me if I have always wanted to live in the country?  He has the desire for a city life...he thinks the life of his folks is filled with simply too much work!  So I have been thinking about that question and the answer is....YES!  I grew up on the edge of suburbia.  We had a big yard with a variety of trees, there was a big vacant lot across the busy street for most of my childhood.  Houses pretty much filled up every speck of land around me by the time I was 18.  But, I spent my childhood out of doors being with nature.  I was the only one in my family who tried to grow vegetables.   I would go into the vacant lot woods and sit by a tree all day and just watch the insects trundle by.  It is what I love!  As far as the work goes, I told my son that it is all a choice.  No one has asked me to grow food or build trails.  I do it because I want to do it.  My husband and I have been questioning our lifestyle, with our son in college we could consider something else.  We have been wondering if we have enough fun and relaxation.  We guess work is "fun", it feels good to accomplish "stuff".  We do relax...it might not be noticeable to our son since he has a different idea about how fun and relaxation look.  I am grateful for his question. It has been a good thing to contemplate during this crazy, busy time called summer.  The reflection has given me a lot of peace and more awareness towards my actual enjoyment of my chosen lifestyle.

So here is some of the fun that has been going on~~~

Summer potatoes and Garlic Garden...see the little shed way over there...?  I have a barrel of compost tea over there.  I decided the garlic could use some of that juice...so 10 trips with 2 water cans back and forth was my workout for that day...who needs a gym!?

Some years ago I got 3 mulberry trees for joining the National Arbor Day Foundation.  They have berries this year for the first time!  A bit sweet...I think I will share them with the birds but it is FUN to have a nibble every time I walk by!

Beetle time...so each morning I enjoy walking through all my gardens checking and plucking beetles.  Those little critters allow me to see things I might have missed if I wasn't out and about during those times.

Happy to report NO stinky squash bugs...so far...they are my least favorite insect!

So fun to pretend I am in California by growing Artichokes!

Rye cut down by my DH so I could mulch the winter potatoes...straw is like gold to me!

Speaking of gold...a very early pepper!

Cukes are getting a grip!

Can barely wait for the first ripe tomato!

In the meantime, enjoying the first ripe blueberries!

I AM surrounded by beauty and wonder...life is very good!

There maybe a time when a metamorphosis will need to happen in my life but, for NOW I am content.  Hard work..yes...but the rewards are priceless...like an evening with the "Super Moon" and fireflies~~~~~~

~~~

It is my intention, each week, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Keeping Cool

HELLO!  Guess I have been away for awhile...sorry!  It has been hot and/or busy.  On the hot days I am too hot to blog...on the not hot days I am too busy to blog.  I may be catching up...???? Well, not really...don't think that will ever happen!

Wondering what this contraption is all about?  This is one of the ways we beat the heat around here.  At least it helps keep the house cooler.  It is pretty simple and low tech.  We bungee corded a box fan to the grate that usually lets the heat from the woodstove in the cellar up into the house.  I the summer the fan blows the cooler basement air into the house.  Plus it is a really nice place to stand on a wicked hot day!

It was my idea ~ but ~ DH wired an outlet and a switch to make it easy to turn on and off.

I will be back soon with more of what has been happening!  But back to working in the gardens now.  Hope you are staying cool wherever you are!

Independance Day

Independance Day~ I can never think of it without remembering the lives sacrificed and the ones that continue to die for this cause.  We pledge "Liberty and Justice for All" but I often wonder if it more like this quote by Nicanor Parra "U.S.A. where liberty is a statue".  Liberty cannot exist inanimate like a statue.  There is still much work to be done before there is liberty for all.  It may seem like a daunting task at times.  We can each do a simple thing for the continued evolution towards a peaceful world with freedom for all. 

We can practice critical thinking.
Flow with logic towards peace, become truly informed...not just relying on what is posted on the internet.  Read books.  Talk to folks and engage in respectful discourse.  I dream of world where we solve our troubles with thoughtful Words rather than Wars.

I wish you joy during your July 4th festivities! But, please, remember the high price that is paid over and over so independance remains for those of us on this earth that are so privileged to live in relative Liberty. 

A bit of food for thought <----> brought to you by

 ~ A Revolutionary Press ~ Harborside Maine

lib·er·ty

  [lib-er-tee]  Show IPA

noun, plural lib·er·ties.

1.

freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.

2.

freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.

3.

freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or rightof doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.

4.

freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint: The prisoner soon regained his liberty.

5.

permission granted to a sailor, especially in the navy, to go ashore.

6.

freedom or right to frequent or use a place: The visitors were given the liberty of the city.

7.

unwarranted or impertinent freedom in action or speech, or a form or instance of it: to take liberties.

8.

a female figure personifying freedom from despotism.

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ Still HOT

We had rain last night that came on the edge of a thunderstorm but not the cooling storm. I had planned to to do a garden walk around last night but it was just too hot.  So I rose early today and was out and about in the gardens by 6:00.  There was a nice morning fog.  My Raven friends were up and about too...the 3 fledglings I think...heard a couple others calling in the distance...I imagine these 3 as teens-Not listening to their folks.  Guess I am still a recovering parent! ;)

Daily rounds are needed to see what is ready to eat, almost ready, and what might be in need of some help.  Sorry, beautiful beetle but its you or my potatoes.  I take no pleasure in killing the creatures who compete with me...just what must be done.

Happier thoughts...broccoli and zucchini soon!

Today more scapes to harvest.  Another saute & I think pesto to freeze with the rest...

My Pesto is easy~
Chop the scapes, food process with olive oil until pesto-ish, freeze in ice cube trays.

Trying to get the ducks to go a wandering...guess they are not ready & too hot to herd them about...another day...

Vern & Runa enjoying the morning out and about!

Happy Day to YOU!