Grapevine Wreaths

After practically weeding the whole yard of grapevines and its a task. My hands ached for a couple days and the blisters, cuts where painful. I do not like gloves I like using my bare hands for feeling exactly what I am doing. It's worth it in the end result.

Handmade Grapevine Spectacular 5 foot Tree

I haven't had a whole lot of time with the Holiday Season upon us to write in my blog. However, thanks to a special Pat Catan's amazing employee, and someone I call a good friend, I post again.  Here it is for her to see an amazing Grapevine Tree which... I don't want to remake anytime soon.

It's not the best photograph and is much larger than it appears along with being much more beautiful. It actually measures 5 ft tall by 3 ft wide at the widest base. I went down the road and picked up tons of pine cones bagged for a few days to rid of bugs before placing them on the tree. Speaking of which the only predator I have right now is my cat, Bella, who seems to think it was made for her.

            If you notice it doesn't seem to be bothering her at the moment, sleeping away on her favorite pillow stand which is near the fireplace and the tree. I thought about yelling boo real loud...but feared she'd jump up and in to the tree. Amazing how curious this little girl can be and yet so smart too. I have had her since she's  been 2 days old which was amazing, she is currently a little over a year old.

I have just begun to add the lights for now. I designed the tree to be a bit see through as I add the pine cones it will begin to change. I plan on tying them one at a time all over the tree, I wanted it to be as natural as possible as I plan on keeping it up for a long time. Bringing nature inside really adds calmness to a room. Which I find soothing.

If you look on your left of the tree you'll see this basket of bunnies I knitted last winter. I thought about selling them but they're a bit too cute in the basket to part with, at least for now.

So above are the lights as I am putting them on...I took a photograph on many settings and this was the best one. Stop back a few days or so from now to see it completely finished.

To my friend at Pat Catan's your friendliness, helpfulness, incredible talent, and imagination always inspires me. Not to mention your passion for life in general. I end with blessings to you and lots of happiness to come in your new home.

Growing and Surviving Impatiens

My love for impatiens started years ago while being a stay at home mom.

I discovered gardening was a place where I found serenity a sense of calming.

A stress relief and rejuvenate in the small moments I spent gardening.

Spring and Summer became seasons I cherished, while fall and winter

were my times to study gardening, knit and or crochet.

Not being one that really like flowers, I found growing and taking care of them

outside, to be not only relaxing, but the effort so rewarding in there blooming.

Impatiens became a flower I seemed to plant everywhere. They are such a

forgiving plant. I don't think people realized these little cuties can be grown

nearly anywhere and right through the fall and winter months indoors.

Yes, Indoors!!

Simply take a cutting add a tiny bit of Miracle Grow Bloom Booster

to a glass of water making sure no leaves touch the water.

 Give them a few hours of light by putting a grow light in one of your lamps,

 or place them in a southern window. If they droop place them in a clear

plastic bag seal the top and walla there good to go.

 Don't you just love that little mason jar?

They come with a really good pesto inside. This sauce is awesome

and has so many uses. Great tasting simple sauce ready for dinner in no time, and

perfect for one or two people. And yes, they are Atlas Mason Jars 4 ounces.

Look familiar on the left?

I also like to use items like this small olive can.

I put black olives on my salads, the greens I get from my organic garden.

I keep the can a bit worn in appearance by leaving bits of the label attached.

 It gives character to the can and it's so adorable used as a rooting base

for impatiens.

 Again adding water and a bit of the Miracle Grow as mentioned above.

Once they root which takes about 2 to 4 weeks I will plant them in the same

small can, first, drilling 4 holes in the bottom adding a good organic soil like

 the one Miracle grow produces. I get it from Walmart at a low price.

Then, watch them grow through fall and all winter long.

Growing impatiens is truly easy.

Just keep them trimmed to the height you desire.

They are forgiving, should a piece of the stem get broken

off it has an amazing way of continuing to grow.

That same spot will produce new growth.

I suppose that's another thing I love about them.

No matter what happens to impatiens they are a survivor

and when broken they don't quit.

When I look at them I think if they can be broken and survive

 then why can't I....we all are living and breathing organisms.

I suppose that's why they are the only flowers I keep in my home.

They remind me no matter what happens in my life, surviving it,

learning from it, and moving forward is so important to growing....

I am a survivor! Are you?

Blessings, Daniella

Colors Around Me

Everywhere I look there is color.

Like these trees in a beautiful green, a gorgeous blue sky

with soft white cotton clouds. A sky with detail is wonderul to an artist eye.

When my children where little while riding in the car

we would look at the clouds, finding an image in as many as we could.

Do you see any images in the clouds?

My daughter with her love of mammoth yellow sunflowers, too, captured

my eyes and heart, with it's amazing bold color.

Notice the little bee pollinating the center of the flower?

Although bees do sting there is reason for there existence, a cycle of life.

At the end of the season we pull the sunflower from the centers

wash them then roast them in the oven. We also gather them to

feed the birds through the winter when food is scarce.

   This year I planted Cosmos in the garden they bloomed in a

gorgeous orange.      

I love the detail of this flower the way it grows in elegant layers.

Did you ever wonder how it does that, in such a uniform way?

    

Then I came across this pattern in a magazine, oh, such a gorgeous combination of colors!

Reds, blues, greens, a bit of cream throughout.

I am not one who usually likes these types of patterns, yet this one caught my eye straight

away. The design is just beautiful.

As the fall season approaches I love to knit and crochet for some reason

 it just seems to calm the soul during the cool evenings.

I am going to crochet this pillow yet with a bit of sudtle colors. Although I love the

awesome colors around me it just doesn't work for me in my home.
 I find comfort in the earth tones, shades of browns, creams,
and whites often with a touch of sage green.

So I think I will begin this pillow in shades of light brown with a touch of cream.
And leave the color around me to nature. What colors would you choose?

                                                                
                                                               Blessings, Daniella

A Toad in the Hole

Anyone who knows me is so aware of the fact,

 the strangest things always happen around me.

Hense, this little guy who thought he might just have a drink of water.

Not caring at all where or who it may belong too!

   Or for that, figuring out once he got in there, how he was going to get out.

Lucky for him the water was gone, funny for me, what if I would have drank him!

Of course, on a hot day in the garden water doesn't last all that long.

Thank goodness for me finding ones prince by drinking him was not my idea

of a happy ending.

          So the desire to escape began...

had I put my hand down in the cup I would have crushed him.

Why do I say him, for the same reason I suppose a man calls his car her.

As many times I gently put the cup upside down he would not come out. Amazing

how such a little creature can hang on...

After awhile of trying to climb up the cup he settled again. Me, I was talking to him as if he could process what I was saying...come on little guy..get up...I know you want out, I kept repeating.

Had he of answered they would have found me lying passed out on the ground!

Now I have no idea how long our relationship lasted but here we are starring at each

other. Either he thought I was going to turn in to his princess frog or I my mate.

Actually, I do believe he's trying to figure out what's going on...

In a final attempt to get him out of my cup without literally shaking it, I decided to put it

on the ground one more time. In a few moments you will find out what happened.

As you can see he eventually crawled out of the cup. Now again if you know me

strange things happening to me isn't abnormal. In fact, I had a deer follow me

walking down a side road. Indeed a car scattered the deer and the driver, well, he

stopped to ask me if I knew it was following me. I responded, "yes, but don't ask

just say it's weird to you, but for me, well lets just say it's me.

Out of the cup the little guy was heading right down

the end of the driveway to be road kill no one would see.

 I quickly grabbed him by the legs to prevent any harm.

Tiny isn't he? Now my hand well, I did say I was in the garden.

What I didn't say...should I kiss him or not? Does a toad really turn into a prince?

I didn't ask and of course he couldn't tell me! Or is it true you shouldn't kiss and tell?

I think the photograph says it all..he was just a toad in a hole.

my blog name

I thought it best to start my first post by explaining how I named my blog.

I spent my life much like a mother bird staying at home feeding, nurturing the young ones, really never knowing my own personal place, always waiting on someone just never myself.

I knew I was creative just couldn't figure out why or exactly what I was suppose to do with all the talent. Heck, just being able to sleep was hard enough when your raising children and we had a house full.

I felt like no one really noticed what I did, everybody just had a routine, passed by one another and went on there way. Times I did manage to sneak in a moment to myself I really didn't know what to do it seemed so few and far in between and always so short. Life was passing me by and I don't remember then just being in the moment.

Years went by the kids got older and things got more caotic. Teens are not the easiest humans on the planet. It really does get harder as they get older until they leave one by one.

I only had one girl out of 5 children it was easy to let the boy's go, but her, wow I didn't see it coming. The empty nest everyone talks about. She was a strong personality ready to go, I was ready for her to leave. I just didn't think about the empty hours that no longer would be filled by waiting on someone. I took her to college along with her father ( divorced we were) we both took her to her room got her settled when out of no where she announced we could leave.  Of course, being the strong personality it didn't surprise me at all.

Get away from the parent, well hey, I can remember those days long ago when I was young. Shut the front door I just typed in young Hallelujah! At least I can write it down.

So I drove back home listening to the radio no one fighting over the station thinking I'm free!! Free to do what I want, when I want, where I want, and how I want. Wait did I say divorced? Well at least I was free of waiting on someone. Now I had time for me!

Like the bird sitting on top the tree I could view everything, take in the air without hearing Mom. I could just be just sit like that bird and just be....I arrived home got myself ready for bed sat on the couch for a bit looking around and listening to the silence.  When out of no where I hear a sound yup, it was me crying my eyes out. What had happened! She was ready I was ready what had happened. It hit me without any warning, she was gone. The last little bird to leave the nest was gone. There I was thinking I couldn't wait to give her a push as I wiped my tears away. I sobbed and sobbed I even went in to her room laid on her bed and said out loud, she's gone. She's really gone!

Well, needless to say I spent two weeks in my bedroom laying on the bed getting up just to use the bathroom or grab a bit of comfy food. What had happened, I felt lost, depressed, alone, lonely, wondering what to do with myself. There was no one to wait on except me and that by far was something I was not use to, I had no idea where to begin. I had spent nearly 3 decades waiting on children and now it was simply me. It was the worst feeling in the world. I kept telling my friends I couldn't believe it would have happened to me. After 5 children who couldn't wait to be alone!

As you probably guessed I recovered and life goes on....time still passing just as quickly as when the kids where home. When you get older one becomes more aware of there surrounds thus noticing the clock more and just how fast time is truly going. I spent the new me time really getting to know exactly who I am, looking at myself in ways I didn't before, heck, ways I never thought about. I was becoming completely comfortable in my own skin, knowing my strengths and weakness focusing on how to maintain the weakness and build on my strengths. 

One night while lying on the hood of my truck 4 years ago listening to Kenny Loggins song this is it and watching the stars I felt a complete calmness. When all was over I sat up legs hanging over the window closed my eyes and just felt the breeze, listening to the sounds of silence. Amazing how every creature at night sounds if you really listen. Not one out of tune. I opened my eyes and began looking around me realizing I was really seeing the world for the first time. Every tree, piece of grass, the sky, the stars, the ground, everything. I was totally calm at peace with myself and knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Since that day I have traveled through nature, worked the land by planting an organic garden, and creating everyday. Loving every single moment of every day. I will be showing you pictures and video's of my travels through nature, places I go, things that happen quite unexpectedly. All so breathtaking and oh I am completely in every moment soaking it all in right down to the crazy, bizarre, things that happen in my life.

I did find a new love just look below....

Yup that's her...had all of her brothers and her since they were 2 days old. She captured my heart and there is a reason she did...someday I may tell you, all I know is miracles do exist.

and she's living proof!

Now just a little over a year old. Not to worry all her siblings have great homes!

As far as being an empty nester, well, I really am loving it! Like the bird on the tree, I too, am looking around me all the time, taking in every moment. In myself, I discovered I love words, there meaning when combined, I love life, my miracle cat, love organic gardening, adore creating, love my travels in nature, and I love birds... I am like a bird in flight... free to soar like an eagle making new discoveries... learning all I can, each and everyday!

 Until next time, blessings to all, Daniella