New, Old, Fresh, Recycled, Spring......

This was a busy and creative week for me....I am anxious for spring....as we all are...and I have been trying to create spring in my photos...hopefully bring some bright, airy feeling and color to the still-drab early spring months...we are having here in Oregon.

Then, my husband has created a beautiful NEW frame...that I can't get enough of...so I am putting everything in it....these are made from beautiful blue pine...that has such unusual, one of a kind blue/gray markings.

...So each frame is an original work of art by itself....it is small and I think very contemporary...yet also...the grooves somehow remind me of art deco! Anyway...extremely proud of him! This wood is recycled.....which is wonderful!!!! Recycling is always FRESH!

Ducks, geese and chickens...are nesting...and the robins and others have returned to build their homes....all reminders of new life and SPRING....

Have been meeting many new friends all over the world, Europe especially, wonderful artists with their own shops on etsy and also customers, Norway, Sweden, Holland, London..France.it thrills me....Brings the OLD and NEW worlds together.....

Also, meeting wonderful people from Canada and US....all inspiring artists...

We moved our OLDest hen, Dexter...up nearer the house..in her own private palace...She is living in luxury....eating organic lettuce, millet, cheese.....loving her NEW home, away from the mean young roosters...When the two little indoor chicks are big enough..they will join her...for company....Meanwhile she has made NEW friends with 30 quail..that are sneaking in to join her gourmet feast...

I have changed the layout of my blog..to hopefully make things easier to see.....I am hoping to add more NEW features soon...as I would love to share more art and artists with you....


Needless to say....I am often up by 4:40 or 5:00 am....thanks to my neurotic cat, Veronica Lake and strange early morning phone calls from crazy family members (crazy in a good way)

As you can see...it is always interesting..here at Snowe Flake Farm...especially when I can curl up in my little nook and read haiku while the sun rises....fortunately, thanks to Veronica and my dad..this is often possible....

Finally, I would like to share three beautiful OLD haiku from Haiku master Buson:

Cherry blossom darkening,
and far away from my home
on a path through fields!


Plum blossom essence
ascending upward higher--
the moon's halo.


Flowers of the pear--
reading a letter by moonlight,
a woman.


These were written in the 1700s....yet how Fresh and New they are...reminding me...that any ART, true, beautiful and honest...straight from the heart..is always Fresh...always new....

Treasures: finding beauty in simple things!

Well...this week's blog....is inspired by my husband....whom I love to poke fun at in this blog...but he doesn't seem to mind....

Yesterday my husband brought me home a surprise....in his clenched fist.
"I brought this home for you" he said proudly as he dropped a tiny feather in my hand...Sweet, huh?

The interesting thing about this feather? It wasn't very pretty...it was sort of small and brown with a tiny white line running through it...it seemed to have become slightly crumpled and wrinkled in his jean's pocket.

We raise peacocks and gorgeous chickens, ducks and geese...Our farm has great blue herons fishing in the river and Chinese pheasants eating grain in the barn.... So, this little feather was a little ordinary...a tiny bit insignificant....

But, my husbands eyes were sparkling when he handed it to me...you would have thought he was bringing me a precious treasure....a delicate rose...or a beautiful leaf...a precious stone?

That is what impressed me....how we all find beauty in tiny, little, simple ordinary things.....how we are surrounded by small reminders of the subtle preciousness of life.

I've been digging through my treasures, a beautiful aqua vintage jar...moss attached to a branch, pine cones and shells...a fossil, also found by my husband.

Beauty is how you look at something...anything....your family, your friends, your pets, a poem, a tulip, a single blade of spring grass pushing up through the earth...or an old wrinkled feather....left by some tiny winged angel....building an early nest.

A Nook of One's Own

I thought that spring was just around the corner and it turned out, that last night we had 9 inches of snow followed by 13 degree temperature! What a shock!

This is nothing to complain about, as there is a crackling fire in the woodstove and baby chicks in a cat carrier on the hearth. Needless to say, my two cats are no longer unemployed and shiftless, but have regular full time jobs overseeing things.

Although I long for flowers, and blossoms and to be surrounded by bright foliage, I am making the most of my time and trying to get beautiful winter scenes for next winter...

I also have plenty of time for more indoor activities. My project this week, was to create a new little nook in the bedroom, for my morning quiet time. Like many people, I love to spend 30 minutes curled up, reading, drinking coffee, journaling, before beginning my busy day.

This project entailed moving some furniture around, so my little comfy chair could face the window. Outside, is a small pond, where I can watch the wood ducks returning to raise their families. Sometimes our geese and ducks are paddling around...occasionally a few deer stroll by...... munching on my tulips? Hey Wait!!

The important things about my personal nook are quiet, solitude....and a few of my favorite things scattered about. I love collecting vintage fabric, which I use for pillows or minor upholstering projects. I also collect vintage mirrors, poetry books and picture frames. I always like fresh flowers and a vintage portrait of my mother...near me...

This little project took about 10 minutes, but gives me a whole new outlook, or look out....and makes my morning time fun...and freshens the space.

My husband is not so big on moving furniture around. I thought he was getting used to it...when I caught him secretly moving one little table five inches to the left (Exactly where it was last week) He was hoping I wouldn't notice. Poor guy, as if the modern abstract paintings and hand made pottery from Finland weren't enough. Now, the man is tripping over furniture in the middle of the night...

Oh well, its domestic bliss and happy spring time...nearly here...we hope!!! "Hey you THERE! Step away from the TULIPS!!!"

Its that time of year....

The snow has almost melted and we already have 3 baby chicks...almost lost one today..but we found him again..he had slipped down a chute...I am trying to figure out how to get them to stay in a basket, so I can photograph them. You should see them..their 2nd day on earth, racing around with the "huge" bread crumbs I throw.

The geese and ducks are laying eggs...because the sweet males, who last year were calling me "mommy" are chasing me away from the pond now!

My dear friend Sydney got married last weekend. I was her matron of honor. Her entire wedding was almost ruined by a tragic case of "static cling". I hope she will be able to turn this into a short story--she is a very talented writer, who recently received some very prestigious literary interest. Fortunately, she is on honeymoon right now, or she might kill me for writing this.

Yesterday, I attempted to photograph some flowers. My cat, Veronica Lake, was very adamant about posing in some of the photos...My friend Dexter's cat used to do yoga with her. Cats really like to be involved, whether or not this is convenient.

My darling peewee, returned after a ten day absence. We have no idea where he was...he was very thin, dirty and matted. We had to get him shaved....We are so thrilled to have him back from the dead, and as usual he is keeping us in stitches!

I've fallen behind on this blog..there seems to be so much to do around the farm these days...I love receiving all your comments and am thrilled that you take the time to read this rambling....I appreciate your interest and support. I can't always return all your emails...as I get so behind..and they some times get lost in the "pile" But thanks just the same!

Have a lovely April!!! Warm weather soon...and hopefully, buds and grass and green things...

Here is a haiku by one of my favorite poets: Haiku Master Buson (1700s)
A camelia falls,
and the rain of yesterday
spilling out!

Some day I dream of going to Japan!! But for now...its just another day in paradise...
here on Snoweflake Farm...after after all, paradise is where you make it!