A Project Begun. About Creativity and A Visit To Ohio .... Life as I Know it

I'm sitting at my desk working on this post 

and Sunny is on my lap.

If you aren't sure who that is, 

you can visit my previous post and see a picture.

He's my sweet, adorable and 

very pokey bearded dragon. 

haha...

AKA Sunny Boy or Dragon Boy.

He's just the sort of pet I wanted.

He's my little friend that will sit near quietly while 

I work on projects or writing;)

I worked outside some this morning, transplanting

and watering. 

I'm almost back to square one where my

  gypsy camp gardens are concerned.

I was pretty discouraged at 

first but it's slowly fading

and excitement is filling my 

heart as my vision grows.

 I read in Mary Reynolds' book,

The Garden Awakening, that

nature is more powerful than nurture.

I experienced that first hand this past year.

I poured my heart, soul (and money)

into gardening this past year only to 

meet with losing many plants. 

There's one thing that grew...

My frustration!

But all is not lost.

 I'm learning to persevere

and to use my creativity and I'm thankful for 

 the abundance of resources that are available.

More about that later.

I'm just getting over a cold, 

so getting a post done will be

perfect while I rest up after 

playing music last evening.

I just wish my house wasn't in

 such need of attention.

But life is so rich and full 

and I am very blessed.

*********

I have some photos to share of a 

project that I started

recently. I am a collector of all sorts of things.

My wheels get turning and 

I can't throw things away

sometimes! This time it's empty boxes.

Match boxes, candy boxes, a Royal Crown box, 

which was a Christmas gift from Jeff.

There's a wooden cigar box 

that someone gave me.

(Even my friends collect cool stuff for me. 

Bless their hearts!)

My table is quite scattered about with bits of 

fun as I think about what I want to use.

If you are the creative type, you know how that

works. But goodness... 

My table doesn't always look like

this. I have to tidy up between times that I sit and work.

I'm almost finished with all 

of them and I'll share soon.

Below is a photo of one that's finished.

It's my least favorite.

I love the paper but was less than 
satisfied with the way the 

leaves looked after I was done.

But creating is like that.

Do you ever feel that way with a

finished project? 

But we keep at it.
 That's the only way.

I read this and I can see how this could work against creativity. 

One of the worst enemies to 
creativity is self doubt.

I have also read that overthinking will squelch your creativity.

It's all a learning process so if you have an idea, just try to go with and not think 
or plan it too much!

And naturally, some projects need planning out. 

That's part of the learning, too.

Isn't it a peaceful place to be when you finally

come to learn that it doesn't have to perfect and there's

SO much room to grow?

**********

In March, it worked out for Jeff and I to visit our

daughter that recently flew from the nest.

Oh how we miss her and we 
had such good times visiting.

We took some lovely walks, 

played music together

and did some shopping. 

Ate out and had some good 

heart to heart talks.

HMMM....

 Let's take a poll!

Which one of us does she favor?

We had a fun time at Country Bits.

It has antiques, cards, handmade 
candies, and other goodies. 
SO much to look at with many different vendors and there are two levels with many 
rooms upstairs and down.

If you're ever in Cambridge, Ohio, 

you won't want to miss this place!

It's one of our favorite places.

It's also one of my favorite places to go junking.

It's quite dangerous! 

My daughter is the Queen of Sarcasm 
and she found these tiles. 
This was one of our favorites ;)

I took a drive one day. 

When I'm home, I can't help 
but to drive around on 

the dirt roads where I grew up. 
Do you ever do that?

It's so peaceful and while I'm driving, 
I think of the people that were in my life then and the experiences that I had. 

Sometimes, it makes me sad but I never

want to forget those special people and times 

that made me who I am today. 

I often long for those days.

Do you like to visit favorite
 places from your childhood?

I learned to drive on our Ford Tractor 

putting up hay.

I was 11 and my dad's first farm hand. 

I loved it.

 Then he bought a tractor with power steering 

and that was so much easier.

Before I got my license, I would 

drive it on this road to my 

friend's house. My parents didn't know...

for awhile that is. But my dad never said anything.

Country living is the best! 

Downtown Cambridge is still thriving and has some of the most beautiful buildings. It has some of the quaintest stores 

and specialty shops. 
This one is near Kennedy's Bakery

 where my daughter now works.

We had such a wonderful time. 

It was very hard to leave. I was so thankful for the time with my daughter and family but sometimes seeing them makes me miss 
them more. 

What do you think of  the new font? 
I think it looks pretty
but is it harder to read? 
I always want to keep my blog as reader 
friendly as possible. I used the largest font size so maybe that will help.

Thank you ever so much for coming by 

and following along with

my reminiscing.

Blessings,

Tamara 

XO

Follow Me Down the Wild Path... Magical, Gypsy Camp and Gardens ~ PHOTOS GALORE!

Hello and welcome.

What a lovely day it is and I'm excited to get started with it!

Do you feel like that when you wake up?

SO much goodness awaits the day that you can hardly wait to

get on with it? Sometimes, I tremble with anticipation.

Truly.

Tonight we play music and it's always a joy to see our friends

 there and to share in some 

warm conversation. Bringing

happiness to those that come to dance and

 listen makes me happy, too!

I have plans today to have a gathering of herbs and flowers to dry.

I have found a lovely, old ladder to hang them from.

I'll share later :)

*********

And now, away we go down the path to one of my favorite places 

in my world. I have said so many times that I would live here if I could!

It's rough and wild.

Not a formal place at all but

it's full of adventure, magic

and BEAUTY~

A place where miracles happen.

 Wild animals visit

 and baby birds live here.

Bunnies hop across the paths.  

Elk and deer come 

to eat the pumpkins in the fall.

Little snakes and mantis' live in

the tall grasses.

And we do a lot of living here~

 I hope you enjoy your visit.

You might find Brutus nestled into the Catnip.

 There are two little gypsy princesses that 

come to visit often. It's 

one of their favorite places to explore.

 You can hear their  
laughter and merriment ringing 
through the trees.

It's such a work in progress~

as am I.

I wish to love more, be more kind and patient 

Keep thankfulness ever before me.

I want to bring more:

 Beauty to the world.

Inspiration

Creativity.

Honesty.

Authenticity.

And LOVE...

most of all.

{It seems to me that we can never

give up longing and wishing 

while we are thoroughly alive.

There are certain things that

we feel to be beautiful and good

and we must hunger after them.}

~George Eliot~

Long afternoons resting in the cool of the pines~

 Peeking into the faery world

as she tends her little garden.

  A quiet place to listen to our hearts...

I'm going to make everything around me 

BEAUTIFUL~

That will be my life.

Elise De Wolfe

 And a place to read...

To get lost in another world and to 

know people that we never met~

 It was SUCH a wonder watching this little one's egg...

It's a fledgling Mourning Dove.

What a little miracle to watch an egg bring life 

to this beautiful bird!

The Mama bird was ever so patient watching 

over her charge as we disturbed her careful work 

so many times.

We tried to stay clear but 

sometimes we'd forget.

If you look in the center, you can make out a nest. 

It's literally made from a hand full of sticks!

You can see right through the bottom of the nest.

And there was one egg. 

When it hatched out, we were able to watch it grow!

 And when it was time to fly the nest,

 it was a moment filled with awe and 

gratitude for me. I found the little one flitting around 

in the catnip. I was able to scoop up the bird and take it to 

a safer place far removed from the cats.

I checked the next morning and the sweet thing

 was still safe and sound tucked away on

 it's little branch in the tree. 

I love these experiences; they make life so rich.

Isn't life amazing filled with so much wonder?

NEVER LOSE YOUR WONDER, 

and keep ever-searching for the magic,

DEAR ONE~

I gather these treasures whenever I can. 

I store them in jars to enjoy their

beauty when it's cold and gray~

Even the dried petals are so special pretty to me.

I have several jars from different kinds of flowers.

 Brutus...

You'll find him in the oddest places!

It was NOT easy for him to get up there.

 My quirky and cute garden cat.

So much love~

I love the weeding, watering and moving

 among these garden places.

It brings such peace and has taught me so much!

I was NOT a patient gardener when I started years ago.

Oh my! Not at all.

 Morning light dancing in the Gypsy garden.

All good things are wild and free.

Henry David Thoreau

A rare appearance by Sir... 

or Burly.

A quiet, serious one.

 Fresh basil...

It's aroma is heavenly.

The Gypsy Camp protector...

 she is always ready. 

 Yes ...

and every now and then you see a 

GYPSY resting near the fire... 

 And you can hear her strumming 

on her guitar or mandolin and singing ;) 

 To what mysterious place is this bridge leading?

Somebody is coming back from an adventure...

If only he could tell us what's on the other side!!

I suppose someday, we'll have to see for ourselves ;)

 Let your dreams soar! 

The sky is waiting for you.

(Gypsy cat photo bomb! haha!)

 A tiny bee working it's magic

in such a beautiful place!

Gypsy jewel colours!

 Found and gathered treasures.

What do you like to gather?

Really.. 

what delights your heart?

There are so many things to delight us..

aren't there?

Like the giggles of children...

A hug from a loved one...

Celebrating the accomplishments of others...

A lovely sunset...

A good book...

A daring adventure?

Whatever it is, I hope you find something

delightful in your day!

 This lovely, vintage pink pansy 

is going to be pressed

 so it's beauty will be preserved 

for a long time to come~

 Is your hope renewed when you see a rainbow?

Night is falling on our

  Gypsy Camp world.

and it's time for dinner...

We made HOBO DINNERS.

Have you ever had them?

They are SO fun for kids and easy to make.

That will be my next post.

Sometimes I come here in the evenings with my journal.

Here is a link to a short video to watch 

Django Rhinehart's early years.

You can listen to him playing his

 Gypsy Jazz.

I do so appreciate you coming by.

I'm so thankful for each of you that 

take the time to visit.

HUGS~

I hope I didn't bore you too much with all my photos

and stories of my enchanted Gypsy Camp and Garden.

Now it's time to start fall festivities! 

I have already added some fun things around outside and in.

Happy Fall! 

I'm not sure what the weather will hold for us this fall.

We had a freeze warning tonight and that's very early.

That's mountain living.

So my yard and Gypsy Camp gardens are spotted with

little ghost-like coverings.

 OH my!

I'm hoping to get a few more weeks 

of enjoyment from it all.

Wishing you lots of loveliness and peace.

And always, always thinking of and praying

for those that need our help and support.

Tamara

XO

linking up 

Dishing it and Digging It

 Won't you join me?