Wild Willow and Alpaca Fiber Basket

I finished this basket today from willow collected along side the road and the alpaca fiber I handspun a few weeks ago.

(details of the fiber and willow adorned with a snowflake)

First Snowfall

Thin beauty--

 first snowfall

coats icy fear

reminds of mortality

and also that 

angels are near.  

The Triplet Sister

Our two little goats are part of a set of  triplets. Today we brought their sister home. Her name is Emily, and her dad is a Nigerian Dwarf and her mom a Nubian/Boer mix. 

So far her brothers haven't been acting very happy to see her, and spent the day chasing her around the barnyard. I understand that that is classic goat behavior and they should accept her once they get used to her. She is very friendly and sweet and just as chunky as her brothers. 

God Is There

Facebook doesn't work for me in the middle of tragedy. I found myself getting angrier and angrier as I browsed through my feed after the Sandy Hook school shooting on Friday. I was trying to absorb the horror of it all, and I felt as if the posts on gun control or lack thereof, homeschooling as the answer, and other solutions to the problem were about using a horrific tragedy to push political and religious agendas.

But the post that made me shut down the computer was the one showing a tee-shirt where a student asks God why he allows tragedies like this in schools. God answers to the effect that he doesn't go where he isn't wanted. I shut my computer down and went for a walk instead.

Because the God I know is bigger than that. He isn't controlled by the petty actions of human beings. He is THERE. He is ALWAYS THERE. He was just as much present at this public school shooting as he was when a man walked into that little Amish school house on Oct. 2nd, 2006, and killed five little girls and wounded six others. 

I don't have the answers as to why he allows things like this to happen. But the God I know does not abandon us, even if we abandon him. In my own past he stood by me quietly, always there, even when I had stopped believing in him and believed my own life was not worth living. 

 He is there when innocent blood is shed. He is there where there is pain and suffering. He is there in the silence and the screams. He is there in quietness and despair.  At this shooting he was there in the tears of children and heroic acts of teachers and staff. 

He is there and waiting, to comfort, to save, to heal the brokenhearted, and to bind up all their wounds.

The God I know is always there. 

Linked to Imperfect Prose. 

Mossy Macros

A few photos from my walk in the woods this morning. 

Travel Lines

Linked to Skywatch Friday. 

Making Yarn the Old Fashioned Way

This is how I've been spending my evenings this week. Washing a fleece, then carding the wool by hand, and spinning it into yarn using a drop spindle may not be the quickest way to make yarn, but I find it the perfect way to relax by the wood stove in the evening after my work is done. 

(This is alpaca fiber--one of my brothers sent me a large box of raw fleece from several different colored alpacas last winter. I am finally getting to washing and spinning the fiber.)

Summer Reminder

It has been rainy and gray here for the past week. Not that I have a problem with that, mind you. After one of the driest summers and even one of the driest Novembers on record, we need the moisture. It is just a bit dreary though, and I thought I would brighten up my life a bit by going back over some photos from the summer....

Dew covered borage flower. 

Milbert's tortoiseshell butterfly on a butterfly bush

Pansy beaded with dew.

Christmas Wish List

I don't want more stuff. 

All I want for Christmas 

is ten little toes and fingers

two chubby cheeks

a house full of laughter

and one pair of eyes

that are wide with wonder--

and a heart full of love 

to wipe away that ache

and fill that empty space.

Linked to Real Toads. 

(And this is not an announcement in any way, shape, or form.)

Emptiness

Emptiness

Some days my heart is empty

for no reason at all

or for several reasons that 

my mind can find no words for

and the only answer is to go 

and wander alone 

in the quiet of the woods

until my heart is filled again. 

And the Winner is...

...Shannon from Arranged by God. Congratulations, Shannon!

And if you didn't win, you should be able to buy a basket from me next year. My willow patch is still small, but each year I am expanding it and the willow is growing nicely. My plan has always been to weave baskets to sell to from my willow. I used to do this when I lived on my parents' homestead, and now that I have my own property and the space to grow willow and other basket making plants, I am looking forward to being able to have enough material to start weaving baskets to sell again.

Thank you to all who entered!

Rainy Day Fence

Photo from my walk in the rain this morning. 

Linked to Macro Monday. 

If you haven't yet entered my giveaway for a chance to win this basket which I wove from willow and dutch iris from my garden and a grapevine from my woods, click here to go over and enter. (Basket comfortably holds 4 dozen medium size free range eggs--which aren't included in the giveaway.) Giveaway ends Monday, December 3rd, at midnight. 

Tangled Sunrise

Linked to Skywatch Friday. 

Don't miss the giveaway going on on my blog right now. Click here to enter to win this handwoven basket, which is woven from willow from my garden, dutch iris leaves, and a wild grapevine from my woods. 

And if you'd like a few more giveaways to participate in this week check out the following blogs:

Debbie from Life Giving Nook is giving away an 8 oz. bottle of L'BRI  aloe hand and body lotion.

Millie from A Goat's View of Eden Hills is giving away 2 bars of handmade goats milk soap. 

Melting Snowflakes and Little Goats

We had our first snow a few days ago. It wasn't much, and most of it melted as soon as it touched the ground, but I did manage to snap a photo of one of the flakes that landed on my Explorer, before it completely melted. 

And a little of the snow did apparently stick in shady places. I went for a walk in nearby woods today and was surprised to find several small patches of snow still on the ground. 

It has been a colder than usual November, but this is all the snow we've had so far. 

In the barnyard, my two little boys have decided they are finally going to eat their hay, instead of standing all day looking out mornfully at the grass outside their pen. So hopefully I won't have to worry about them starving to death this winter after all!

Linked to Macro Monday. 

If you haven't yet entered my giveaway for a chance to win this basket I wove from willow and dutch iris from my garden and a grapevine from my woods, click here to go over and enter. (Basket comfortably holds 4 dozen medium size free range eggs--but does not come with them!)

A Few of Our Favorite Things (Willow Basket Giveaway + More!)

This week a dozen blogging friends are teaming up to giveaway 25 of our favorite things--more about that below--you will definitely want to stop by my friends' blogs after entering to win the basket I made. There are all kinds of wonderful things to be won, from books, to gift cards, to a handcrafted quilted table runner, a hand knit scarf and so much more!

  I  am giving away one of my handwoven willow baskets. This basket is made from fresh cut willow and Dutch iris leaves from my garden, and has a wild grapevine handle and frame, which I gathered from my woods. It is both pretty and functional and is the perfect size to collect a few dozen eggs from the coop or carry a small harvest of vegetables and herbs from the garden to the kitchen. (Or you can just put in on a shelf to look pretty, but it is made to be sturdy and functional!)

 I especially want to show my appreciation for my faithful Facebook fans, so I'm giving them an opportunity for an additional entry to win this basket--but if you haven't already liked Dandelion Haven on Facebook, there are three other ways to enter--just follow the instructions Rafflecopter gives you--one of them is the easy, old fashion, just leave a comment on this post! 

For Facebook fans, the last option on the Rafflecopter is for you--click on "Invent Your Own Option" and you will be able to enter to for an additional chance to win!

(And if you don't already like Dandelion Haven on Facebook, I invite you to stop by and visit me there--and if you like what you see, then please like the page and stay awhile!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway This giveaway will end at midnight on December 3rd. The winner will be notified via email.

All set? Great! Now it's time to visit my friends who are hosting other amazing giveaways on their own blogs!



There is so much goodness {and so many chances to win!} if you'll just follow me as we visit...

• Amanda @ Always Amanda
  • a Handmade Infinity Scarf from her new shop
• Chantel @ Beautiful Song
  • Adult Hat from Homemade By Aunt B
  • DVD from Discovering His Treasures
  • 3 Soap bar set from Delightful Soaps
  • $20 Gift Card to Designs by Queen B
• Gretchen @ GretchenLouise
  • $20 gift certificate to Nature's Love Etsy Shop
  • $15 gift certificate to Lilla Rose Flexi Clip
  • $25 gift certificate to Cowgirl Dirt
  • eBook .mobi version of "reach"
  • eBook "Hula Hoop Girl" by September McCarthy
  • Pain Redeemed ebook
  • The No Brainer Blog ebook
  • The No Brainer Wardrobe ebook
• Jessica @ Life in the White House
  • a handmade, quilted table runner/wall hanging
  • one of her handmade natural beeswax candles
• Kalyn @ Creative Savings
  • a 'Welcome' Wall Decal from her Uppercase Living Business!
• Katie @ Not Unredeemed
  • an Elisabeth Elliot Book
• Kris @ Always Alleluia
  • 2 Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station books (for kids)
  • "She's Got Issues" by Nicole Unice
  • Readers choice of pink or blue cover Lullabies album from PAGE CXVI
• Kristina @ Redefining Awesome
  • a $25 Amazon gift card
  • "Cold Tangerines" by Shuana Niequist
• Natasha @ Natasha Metzler
  • Maris Rae Handbag
• Shannon @ Arranged by God
  • a $25 Amazon Gift card!
• Trina @ trinaholden.com
  • a wool flower pin
  • a signed print copy of Real {Fast} Food

Visit each of my fellow bloggers to enter for their individual giveaways!
Giveaway will be open till 12am EST on Sunday, Dec 3nd. Winners will be announced on each individual blog.

This giveaway is hosted by a group of friends who call themselves the Ladder Bloggers. We are a blogging mastermind group, seeking to go deeper with our readers even as we 'climb higher' with our writing and blogging skills. We believe no blogger should blog alone! For more info about how our group works, tips for starting your own, and to meet the rest of our group, please visit this page.

Bundled

Bittersweet vine on a foggy morning. 

Linked to Macro Monday. 

Grateful

Today I am grateful...

grateful for the twists and turns of life that have brought me to where I am today,

grateful for family and friends in my life who care, 

grateful for a steady job that provides a livable wage 

and brings comfort and help to others, 

grateful that I serve a God of mercy and love, 

grateful for a world full of beauty and goodness, 

and grateful for you, my dear readers--

your comments and emails always make my day!

*******

As a thank you to my readers, I recently wove a basket from Dutch iris and willow growing in my garden, which I will be giving away to one lucky reader. Check back on Monday to enter the giveaway for this basket!

If you haven't checked out Dandelion Haven's Facebook page, you might want to do that now, because if you are a Facebook fan, you will be able to get two chances to win this basket. (Just wanted to show my appreciation for my faithful Facebook fans--you guys are best!) Click this link to go over there and look around. If you like what you see there, you are welcome to like the page--I post new photos (and some favorites from the archives) over there every day.  

Also on Monday, a whole bunch of my favorite bloggers will be hosting their own giveaways, each one giving away some of their favorite things. There will be lots of great stuff you can win, and I will be posting the links for that as well--so don't forget to check back on Monday for the links! You won't regret it--there will be all kinds of fun stuff:  books, lots of gift cards, a hand crafted quilted table runner for the holidays, hand crafted soap, an adorable handbag and more. Trust me, you won't want to miss this! 

Happy Thanksgiving today to my readers in the United States--and again a big thank you to all my readers everywhere. You are all appreciated!

In a Fog

This morning I started the day with a foggy walk...

Linked to Skywatch Friday. 

Deceived

Love is an action, not a feeling you say

love is doing, not words you say

so why is it that your actions hurt deep

why is it that I feel pushed away and abandoned

why is it that I work so hard and feel so empty

oh, that's right love isn't a feeling

what I feel doesn't matter to you

what I do is all you care about

"I love you" is just a meaningless set of words

because you say words without actions

are meaningless and affection isn't 

even in your vocabulary--

and yet, 

how am I to know 

that you love me

if you never say it, 

if you never express it 

with feelings?

actions without affection, doing without expressing, 

leaves me feeling rock cold and empty

like pebbles scattered and trampled in the dust--

yet how I feel

will never matter

love isn't about feelings

for after all the heart 

is deceitful and feelings lie

that's all you need 

to remember--

love is an action 

not a feeling

(in spite of you I discovered love

and it is complex, a mix of feelings

and actions, but also much more--

for love-- like life-- cannot be squished into 

a neat little box that can be contained

for if it is controlled, it dies--

see it there, stone cold, lying in the dust.)

Sunset Pillar of Fire

Sunset photos from this evening. 

Linked to Skywatch Friday. 

Frosty Field

Out of Quiverfull

Please click this link and vote for this young woman's essay to help her get a college scholarship and enable her to help other young women.

Jennifer's story resonates with me because it contains many of the same elements of my story. I too, grew up in a home where Quiverfull and Christian patriarchy were practiced. 

I grew up in a home where the only option that was given me was to get married and have lots of children. 

I was taught that not only was this the highest calling a woman has, but the only calling. My only option in life was to first serve my parents at home while I was single, then after I was married, to serve my husband and have lots of children. 

Education was seen as something that gave women independence  and could lead to them living on their own, not having to rely on their fathers and husbands, and could take them out of the home and away from their job of serving children and husband. 

Often Quiverfull/Patriarchal families will isolate themselves and their children and only associate with other like-minded families. Homeschooling is usually seen as the only God-approved way to educate their children, and often times the education is substandard. The mother is often stretched thin because she is constantly pregnant or taking care of a new baby. The older daughters are recruited to take over many of the mothering and household responsibilities leaving little time for study or recreation. Often times little value is placed on education, especially for the girls, because after all -a daughter's job is to be a keeper of the home and a mother. Somehow, in some of their minds, this conflicts with getting a good education. 

Another thing that is often stressed in these families is obedience to the father, especially for daughters, even after the daughter reaches adulthood. Single women are supposed to remain under the protection of their fathers. They are often taught that if they stray from this protection, they risk eternal damnation in hell. 

Because of all this--the fear, the isolation, the poor education, lack of work experience, and for some, even lack of a social security number and birth certificate--it can be very difficult to leave. 

I did have a birth certificate, but other than that, all of the above reasons making it difficult to leave my parents' home, applied to me. 

It was the hardest thing I have done in my life, but I did take that big leap of faith and walked away from my parents' home 13 years ago. I could not have done it by myself. It was by the grace of God and the people in my path who helped me. The most important of these was a Franciscan friar who didn't know me or my family but was able to hear the desperation in my heart, that day I sat down and talked to him--(I actually ended up doing way more crying than taking--and for those of you who know me--you know I don't normally just sit down and cry in front of a total stranger).

At the time, I had no understanding of what was really wrong--I just knew my life was unbearable--it wasn't until several years after I left that I discovered that what I experienced  is quite common among women who grew up in similar families--and that there are names for the things my parents believed and practiced.

I applaud Jennifer's goal of starting a house to help young women who grew up in similar circumstances. It is very difficult to leave, but having a place to come where there is support and understanding would go a long way to make the transition so much easier for women who are leaving this very specific type of abusive situation.

So please click the link, and vote for Jennifer's essay, and help her make this goal a reality! Then, please share her essay on twitter and Facebook and encourage other to vote for her.


********
Jennifer blogs at Out of the Chrysalis. 

If you are interested in learning more about Quiverfull/Christian Patriarchy and the harm it does, especially to the young women who grow up in this movement, I recommend these two books:

Quivering  Daughters by Hillary McFarland is written from a Christian point of view, and the author also has an excellent website for young women leaving the this system.

Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce is written from a secular point of view.

Made to be Cherished

Today was one of those rare November days that are made to be cherished. 70 degrees and sunny, with a gentle breeze. I spent a good part of the day outside, just walking my 13 acres, now that the leaves are off the wild roses and autumn olives, and exploring those all those corners and crannies that are so hard to get to in the thick of summer. 

I was delighted to find a stand of one of my favorite wild flowers--pearly everlasting. We've been here four summers now, and though it is a common plant throughout the United States, this is the first time I have seen this plant on my property. There were at least 40 plants, with their dried seed heads still quite pretty. This flower gets it's name from the pearly white flowers, that if you pick them right before they are in full bloom, they dry perfectly without loosing their shape or color. 

pearly everlasting

I also spend part of the day working on a basket made from twisted dutch iris leaves and willow, with a grapevine handle and frame. Warm spring and fall days are made for picking willow fresh from the garden and weaving it into a basket on the spot. When I was cutting the willow early this morning, a pair of trumpeter swans flew low over my head. We have sand hill cranes and Canadian geese in abundance, but seeing a pair of swans in flight is a rare occurrence and was a moment of pure awe. 

willow, grapevine, and dutch iris basket

Now that the leaves are gone, my two little goats are starting to eat whatever bushes they can get their hands--er--hooves--on that are closest to the house. I'm not sure that I approve of this...

Sherlock getting a mid-morning snack made up of Rose of Sharon...

Linked to Macro Monday and Country Homemaker Hop.

Fairy Dragon

There is magic in the forest floor

dampness hangs in the air

with the lingering earthy perfume

of moss and moldering leaves

treasures to be found

enchanting to a little girl

acorn caps and gold thread roots 

vines of princes' pine

to weave into garlands for her hair

mossy rocks and slippery snails

and here a magic feather from 

a  great hooting owl

but the greatest spell of all

is cast by a little lizard 

a fairy dragon--

the little Red Eft as he scurries

from mossy rock to moldering leaf

on his magic fairy mission. 

Linked to Real Toads--where the challenge today is write a poem about animals of the temperate forest.  Red Efts are a fond memory from my childhood. I spent hours upon hours of my childhood playing in the magical and magnificent hardwood forest of upstate New York. (The photos in this post were taken in Vermont two years ago. Sadly, I have never seen a Red Eft in Michigan, though I am told they do exist here.)

November Morning

British soldiers

Red oak leaves

Almost leafless trees