a time to give thanks...

These November days are worth enjoying to the fullest...shadows of flying geese, woodpiles and woodsmoke, the sweet busyness of country life. So much to be thankful for; here's a little walk around the farm to share some of the things I'm grateful for this season...

Catching a sunset at just the right moment...

Amazing spiderwebs in the grass...

A vintage hay wagon...I feel so lucky it came home with us (love those colors!) It was such fun to see the kids & their friends take it out for the first time.

Bittersweet tucked in my favorite color pail...

Handmade greetings...

to welcome the magic of fall.

A time of harvest, home, and hearts filled with sweet memories. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours.

life is short...learn to fiddle!

Yes, we all know time flies...somehow the days turn into weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to years. And although many years have passed (I'm not saying how many!) I've never lost my desire to learn to fiddle.

See this?



This is a violin made in 1890 - yes, 126 years ago. I love anything old, so when the chance came along to make this mine, I was oh-so tempted. But first, I had it looked over from top-to-bottom. It had already been given new strings and a new bridge, so I took it to someone who could play...ahhh, how he made it sing!

I was sold, and so it came home with me.  That was May, so it's been six months...and while it doesn't always "sing" for me, it's a step toward one of my dreams. I'm polishing up old tunes such Amazing Grace, Red River Valley, Old Joe Clark, Come, Come Ye Saints, Lead Kindly Light, and Ashokan Farewell. 

Yes, most days when I play I still hear the dreaded squeaks and squawks from either too much or too little bow pressure. But some days, when I have the pressure just right, it does "sing." That just makes me want to learn more! I'm practicing daily and looking forward to a "jam session" with a young friend who loves the fiddle as much as I do.

And so today's post is short and sweet...time does fly, so do what you love, you're never too old to learn something new!