camera shy........

just as dear as my record collection, is our collection of cameras..............

and me fixing up "the room".........pheasant feathers, Saint Anne memorabilia.......cloches.....

having a blast with my camera.......and realizing I need a haircut

hope you are enjoying your weekend.....they sure are going fast lately........

I'm not French.......

i was once approached by a very nice man in the grocery store asking if I was French.......with that 'babushka' on........(I blushed) and told him "no" - but something about that compliment made me "feel" French......

i think a lot of us associate France, and all things French with an air of uniqueness......

And most certainly anyone who loves fabric as much as I do, can agree, that the best linen comes from France.......the antique linens........the feed sacks for crying out loud are even amazing......

for any country to go from nubby texturally woven sacks that last over 100 years unscathed, to the finest in gilded framed chairs graced with the softest linen you would swear it was silk, well, my hats off to the French in that manner........

and thus, my little French room is blossoming.......all because of fabric........and a hutch......

Here's the before.........just look at "Elizabeth"........all alone..........poor dear........

and my new hutch..........

it's somewhere I am using all the things I love (besides the obvious ones), like my grandma's silver, my old locker baskets, and all my favorite linens......

.......i'm working on all the details and can't wait to share it with all of you!

Be inspired! by the things you love!

p.s. a great Thank You! for those ladies who ordered "Elizabeth" already........

nature and prayer..........

my soul is like something high and warmly grounded all at the same time at home.......

Melting all the things I love about life, within my spirit...with life experiences, such as a time with my husband on vacation one year to California.........

We had the privilege to be where Mother Teresa stayed......prayed in the private chapel

.........and walked in solitude...........and prayed in silence.........

there is something very powerful about nature and prayer............

this tour wasn't with a group or anything, just my husband and myself and our brother.........he knows the people who live here, and was allowed to roam freely with us, like the generosity of true peace......

there is a life size station of the cross on their private grounds..........

I'm sure you are all on your way to a better "you" with Lent upon us..........or just because you strive to be like that no matter if it's Lent or not.......but rather, just because.......

There is nothing more enhancing in one's life than to feel like someone who is flying........feeling the rush of wind.........yet going nowhere physically.........just within your own spirit......

to me.........that's found only in nature, and when I looked recently upon these photographs I took it rushed through me like the cold winter wind..........

*Peace*

She made it!.......

"Elizabeth" is now available here......

the response from you all is just wonderful.......and to answer some of your e-mails.....

yes.....I will be making a shorter version........soon, called "Miss Elizabeth"

yes.....it is pure linen

yes....I made the pattern myself, and it was SO exciting to see her finished!

and yes.......I will post pictures of me in "Elizabeth" with my t-shirt and denim skirt!!

cow dreams and rosaries......

some girls dream of silk dresses

(*ahem*....yes...me....well, actually, I'd rather have the silk than the dress, so I can make it myself.....)

some girls dream of hosting a fancy "soiree" in their barn (*ahem* again)

and then you have some girls who dream of this guy.......

one of your very own.....breathing up against the barbed wire (with that cute ol' grass hanging in his mouth) while telling me with those eyes (dreamy).......

you want one Anne Marie.......

you know you do......

I have to forget that guy........because I'm in the desert see.......trying to be better.......to sacrifice more......give more.........

but part of that to me, is doing this:

a little quick decorating that brightens up my spirit.......and surrounding myself in my home with who I am.........through a slight touch of red on the hemp heart.......my own dried sage........a favorite crystal rosary......and who doesn't love an old shutter I pulled from the barn, and totally didn't even know I had this wire basket that my lovely sister didn't want (thanks sis).......

Only here..........at Na-Da Farm Life.........will you get dreams of Cows.......and Rosaries........and Marie Antoinette in a wire basket on an old shutter on the same post......which I got here....

Hey

that's how my mind works........

see? doesn't that explain so much??

tee hee

and I know this sounds a little strange as well, but since I'm posting strange today, I might as well say: "I hope your are having a good Lent"........I hope you find yourself........spiritually......

Most Sincerely, and totally weirded out today,

Your ever most faithful,

Elizabeth.......

She had kept me busy for a few days........ I really like sewing with linen.......there is nothing finer to me than quality linen......

Looking for something chic......

something unique to wear is difficult out here "on the frozen tundra",

but Elizabeth was created........just for me...... without a pattern I designed her every tuck and ruffle, and adorned her with a rose.........

here's the result........

When I did take Elizabeth out for the first time, other people like her too.......

and so do a few other people.........and now, I have a few orders for me to make them an Elizabeth of their very own......

i wore her with a long denim skirt and white ruffled t-shirt underneath......but she would look great with just about anything.......

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING YOUR OWN Elizabeth, contact me at ndfmama@gmail.com

she needed some accessories, so.......

~a gray pin with vintage soft blue ribbon and a miraculous medal~

(a.k.a. "Marie")(the sheet music is not part of the pin - just part of the packaging)

Did you all have a wonderful weekend?

It was sunny here....I even drove with the sunroof open....and the sun felt awesome........

until tomorrow.......

Tomorrow is a new day........

my card......

a simple thank you just won't do sometimes.........

we recently were invited (the whole lot of us) to our friend's home who graciously extended the afternoon meal into an evening of stimulating conversation and lots of laughs.....

so, I up-cycled an old card, cut out the 'thank you' and hand cross-stitched it into place.....

I also took some heavy brown paper (from my journal) and cut it down to size, added a couple of scrapbook brads, and used that like a flip up notepad as my 'paper'........


I sketched things here and there on the paper for fun (as I was daydreaming with her note on my bed really)

I do also want to say "THANK YOU!" for everyone who has ever stopped in at
Na-Da Farm!

Much love to you this day......

fuzzy.......

(photo entitled: "fuzzy love")



I spent an amazing few hours yesterday at a "new friend's" house (more on that later) but she had this dog........I love dogs...........and I miss our dog Sam..........

This picture sums up so much! today...........love is curiosity.........looking at each other in the eyes and being truthful..........and always not caring what the other person looks like......it's what is inside..........

all of these things are what we celebrate today.........

(the picture is of Sam, our Tibetan Mastiff, and little baby Gilberta)
(and yes, I love Holly Hobby :)..........didn't you as a kid?)

a moment.......

I love my baby......... (I know you might have seen this photo on my sidebar, but it's sums up so much of me)

well, he's not a "baby", he's 2, but he gets called that alot (by a certain mama) quite often.......

The early morning sun is up.....so let's have some tea.........while I talk.........


as I hold him close after cleaning up the kitchen, and the rest of the kids are in bed, he snuggles right up to my neck and kisses me and starts to hummmm......and sing......softly......


I always sing to my kids before bed.........

I could live without my guitar and flute, but could not live without music.......

one of them, little miss darling (most endearingly named without joke) when about 2, was being held by me, before bed, and as I was singing to her gently, in my most motherly singing voice I could muster, stopped me short..........looked up to my face...........put her hand on my mouth.......and said "no mama".........pushed me away........and pointed to her bed........

no, she's not at all independent...........(because there's no possible way I was singing terrible right?)

anyhow, back on subject......I had my baby last night in my arms, all cuddled, and at that moment, all these thoughts came rushing through me........but one particular one jumped at me, like a "duh" moment:

I am a mom to 5 children..........and THAT is my vocation.......
Not like I didn't know this before........but sometimes it just feels different.......you see it changing......you look at yourself from outside of yourself.......

I spend so much time 'wanting' other things for the garden..........kitchen...........my sewing basket........


Can any of you relate??


There's always these projects, recipes, crafts, organizing, etc, and with the net here, well, if you knew me, you'd say "step away from the computer" because I already had so many ideas before seeing all the talent (good thing I don't watch TVright!).......

let's just say I have lots of saved files on my computer, with a big ol' inspiration board I frequently look at.........that changes all the time.........
I'm always doing these "things" around the house, that I enjoy, and I sometimes feel like I have my foot stuck in the crack of the door, waiting to throw it open and say "hi there world; look what I have done" and everyone goes crazy mad for it!

I'm a mama to five children

my first and foremost job is to love my husband, and then my kids - which if you are a mom, you know what I mean........

and no, I don't have to cook organic, have a Potager, bake my own bread from scratch, while sipping on my homemade hot cocoa from real chocolate..........and sew my curtains and stitch my own clothes.......while home schooling them all........

I'm a mama to five children


I do it for them

I do it for Him

I would do it for you if you walk through my door

I do it for me,

and that is just who I am...........

and sometimes people say I do too much - I don't think I do enough -

I am a constantly changing individual, who is a mama to five children.

~Here's hoping you are embracing your vocation~