feeding chickens

Music!

Christmas day was different this year. It snowed. It was beautiful and calm. Kate been home gave us the treasure of singing with piano music once again. Everyone was happy ...even our little pets!*grin*

Prayer for a White Christmas!

I can never get over the beauty of snow. We normally get snow on February but never in December.As a matter of a fact ,I learned yesterday that last time snowed here in December, it was about 30 years ago.
My children have been praying for this snow every year, for years now. Today , Sunday, the church services were cancelled but as soon the children come inside we will sit by the fire , sipping on hot chocolate , sing and after our devotions we plan to talk about prayer. Prayer's answers are not always the way (or time ) that our hearts desires but they are all under God's perfect will and to learn to accept and truly rest on the Lord is a difficult task however; when we do , the rewards are enormous.
I pray that your day is a blessed one in the Lord!*grin*

Coming up at my Etsy Store- greeting cards!!

When evening pulls her curtain down

And pins them with a star,

Remember that you have a friend

No matter where you are.

Yours till the moon shines,

Old General store -Wip

This is my first illustration where I am using an old general store , actually a *Candy Store*!

I am not done yet but almost there. There is a story behind this but I can not share yet so for now I will leave you with the picture and hope you too can feel the simplicity of a time that will never go back.....

Special *Shadow Show* at NoWhere!!!

Do you have any plans for Dec 18 at 7:00pm? Oh please make some changes and come to a spectacular Shadow Show at NOWHERE! Admission is FREE !!! Click Here to enjoy a show that you will always remember and make sure you invite your friends and children too to have a wonderful time!!!
Tag ornament lovingly made by Anita
Have you been at the castles crowns cottages before? If you haven't yet, you *must* !
Anita is the writer/artist behind this blog and sorts of others . She is amazing and her post will blow your mind way. She is a French teacher with a very refined taste for beautiful things. Her pictures and writings will make you dream and on top of all this , she is an amazing Christian lady! I can go on and on about her but I rather you to see for your self. I promise you that this is a blog like no other and it will make your heart smile every time you visit her and (((please))) don't be a stranger.... let her know your thoughts, like me and most of us in blog land, She'll LOVE your comments!!!!*grin*

I will be sitting hopefully ((( front row))) at NoWhere and I am hoping to see you there too!!!

Recipe Cards and more!!!

I been wanting to make some recipe cards for while but I wanted to have few illustrations ready first.

All the little things in life are more precious to me than the real big things. *grin*

Here are some new art. Some will soon be greeting cards and postcards too.

The wood stove sketch is not new. I made last year. It is just like my own Majestic Stove!!!

This is such a sweet illustration . I truly thing that the older girl has baked her first cake and trying her best to deliver it without problem.....I am not sure about that!!!*grin*

Here my *real* sweet girl baking some goodies to give away!*smiles*

If you would like to buy some , they are available at my etsy shop for $7 for a package of 10 cards.

The recipes cards measures 5 1/4" x 3 3/4". They have lovely round corners too!

They come on a cello package with a handmade label that has been sew to the finish.

Now is time to enjoy some delicious cookies!!!!

Baking with momma!!!

Hello there~

I am pleased to share with you one of my latest work - An illustration of a simple , but precious moment - baking cookies with momma !

All of my children enjoys cooking and baking. I love it too, but is this time of the year that I enjoy the most. There is something * very * special about baking Christmas cookies and it brings out some of the sweetest memories to my heart.*grin*

My girls and I will be doing just that mid this week. I am very excited about it and I think they are too.

I cropped part of this illustration so one can see the details. You can double click to view it a larger too.

Momma has a very sweet expression. Been a mother of 7 children I always thought that "Patience " is one of the most precious gift a mother can possess because that leads to everything good.

When I had Kate , my second daughter , I found a little t-shirt that said "I think my name is no-no". I think all the children after her worn the same t-shirt!!!*grin*

I love the family gathering in my kitchen. My children are no longer babies but still young plus I have so many wonderful memories!

This print is available at my etsy store and it is part of a series of 4 that I will be sharing something this week. They are all part of my line of vintage style recipe cards!

what a blessed life!!!!

I have been spending most of my evenings by the fire.
The children specially enjoys to have their reading time sitting just as I am here or in one of my milking stools that I keep near my wood stove. Our entire kitchen is so cosy and smells diving....
Thank you Lord for all the blessings that you gave me today!!!!*grin*

I am just about done roasting these 2 birds on my copper kitchen. You have no idea what a TRUE roasted chicken tastes like until you try this.... ohhhh, it is delicious!!!! I marinated the birds with lemon and lots of herbs.....mmmm, I can't wait for supper.....*grin*



Although I have a desk in my room, I have been working near the fire. It feels so right and all comes to me like...... music! yes, Music!Harmony!
I have moved Hershey ( my dairy and very pregnant cow) to the pond pasture so I can see her with the sheep and feed her everyday. She is with a calf. Soon, I will be milking her again and making all kinds of goodies.... mmmm, I can not WAIT!


John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas

By Patricia Cabrera

It was Christmas Eve, the most lovely day of the year.

In a farm house , up a stubby hill and around the bend of a glassy lake, there lived a little girl named Isabella and her family. They were simple folk, and Christmas was the time of the year that brought forth great expectations from the children. Much effort was involved in making this the time of year that could be remembered and cherished in years to come.

On Christmas Eves past ,Isabella would try to stay awake in order to glimpse a sight St. Nicholas, but never was she able to…

Isabella had once been told by her schoolmates that St. Nicholas was not real. This news distressed young Isabella greatly.

This Christmas Eve was better and more special than any other Christmastide past, young Isabella told her family. In order to be able to stay awake through the wee hours of early morning, Isabella declared that she would take a very long nap.

Her older brother Andrew was listening intently to Isabella. He remembered the years when Isabella cried because she would awaken in the morning and, though she saw her presents , was sad because she had once again missed St. Nicholas’ visit.

Isabella pulled her litter sister Juliana aside and eagerly shared the news with her: “ Tonight I will stay up, Ju, you wait and see. I will not fall asleep until I see St. Nicholas!” And with a grin on her face , Isabella hopped to the kitchen to help her momma wash the supper plates.

Isabella hopped to the family sitting room and kissed her momma and papa’s hands good night, asking for their blessings. “ Blessing ,Pa? asked Isabella sweetly. “God bless you my darling” , said her papa. Then Andrew helped her to move the small sofa near the fireplace where she plan to sit and wait.

Isabella’s Christmas tree was a beautiful and everyone enjoyed , but it was the tradition of the family’s for each member to set their slippers at the end of their beds near the foot boards. St. Nicholas would then know which shoes belonged to whom and there he would leave their presents.

Isabella set her pair of newly washed slippers and looked at the fire brewing in the hearth and thought to herself, “I am not tired…. I am not tired at all.”

The little girl kept repeating the same words over and over and soon fell into a deep, sweet slumber.

It was still dark when Isabella jumped up feeling a cold sensation on her stomach. She looked to see if there were any presents where she had placed her slippers, and with dismay noticed two wrapped gifts. One large and one small.

All of the sudden, Isabella heard a loud noise from the kitchen and she yelped in surprise

Andrew came running from the kitchen in a hurried pace and asked Isabella, “You did see him, didn’t you?” Isabella wished she could say yes but she murmured with a sad face, “No, perhaps he is not real after all.”Her big brother grinned and replied, “Oh, don’t be silly ,Isabella. Of course he is real. Do you remember few minutes ago when you heard the loud noise? That was St. Nicholas leaving… I saw him.” Isabella’s face lit up. Juliana, who had walked in just a few minutes before with her eyes half shut, held up her teddy bear blanket in an offering , so that Isabella could dry her tears. “Did you REALLY see him?” asked Juliana anxiously to Andrew. He quickly hurried, “Yes, and he told me to tell you that next year he will try to meet you”.

Normally, these three children would run and open their presents as soon as morning came, but it was still early , and the only source of light was a little glow in the fireplace. All three children snuggled on the sofa and happily waited for the morning sun. This is a merry Christmas, indeed, dreamt Isabella, and in the near distance, a faint tinkling of bells could be heard above the wind.

May you have a blessed Christmas!! *grin*

Bunny talk - show & tell! :-)

I am so thankful !!!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

Special gift to 10 girls and a Coach

About 2 months ago , I started working on a little book that I title * Ten Stars*. This is almost a handmade book except that was professionally printed. This is not the big project that I spoke few weeks ago but again, it was *big* for me because the style was much different than the one that I normally do.
As an artist , the sky is truly my limit. I love the challenges although sometimes I ask my self ; " what was I thinking???", grin. These illustrations felt like that for the first few girls that I draw and painted because I wanted each one to be more like a portrait and yet , with a little of the magical feeling that I so love. I am definitely NOT a portrait artist!


Here they are. All the books now are ready and waiting for the right time so Becca ( my daughter ) can give to her 9 team mates.
Kate my second daughter , wrote the poems about each girl. I sent her enough information for her to write the poems. At the end, I am very pleased and I hope the girls will LOVE it.

Becca plays at MUFC, for Charlotte -NC. Based on the response to my last post ( A GIVEAWAY) , I can see that not many people comes around here, * sad Pat* grin, so I am doubting that any of the parents are reading this. This is meant to be a surprise for Christmas!*grin*

Here you can see one the first page. This is Taylor, a sweet girl that plays forward. I did all the forwards first then....

....Then mid-field, my Becca,grin. What a blast I have in seen these girls playing!

Last page was for the only man on the book. Our beloved coach Ben! Yeap! He has the hearts of 10 stars, that is for sure!*smiles*
ps. you may click on pictures to see enlarged!

Woolytales 1st GIVEAWAY!!!:-)

Here are the winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

((( Thank you ))) to all my participants.Winners please contact me with your choices of prints ( please visit my art shop ) and the Crockery will be a surprise!*grin*

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Please click on the picture above and save on your computer, then upload on your blog. Please don't forget to add a link back here!!!:-)

I have been wanting to do a giveaway for while and now is just the perfect time!
Christmas is my favorite time of the year... not because we , as a family, love all the fun things that we do here at the farm during this time but because is a reminder that our Saviour and Lord was born over 2000 years ago.
So, with a grateful heart for our Lord Jesus and all the blessing that He has pour upon us this year , I want to celebrate and give away something that I love to do!*grin*

Here is what I will be giving and few simple rules:

1. Copy and paste my giveaway picture on your blog side bar and add a link to my blog. If you don't know how , just ask me, it is simple.
2. Leave me a comment telling me what picture would you like. Please visit my print shop at my etsy store.
3. You don't have to be a follower, but you are mostly welcome here!*grin*

ps. If you don't have a blog, you still can participate; just leave me a comment and how to contact you.

I will do 2 drawings:

The first one winner will receive:

A print from my shop of your choice AND a pottery bowl from my 7kidsmudhole esty store.

The second winner will recive a print of yoru choice from my esty print shop only.

This giveaway is worldwide and *I* will pay for the shipping!!!

Have fun and thank you for visiting me!!*smiles*

My new cozy kitchen!!!:-)

((( You may double click on each picture , if you would like to see enlarged)))

After 3 months of renovations, we finally finished our kitchen.

When we first moved to our farm almost 9 years ago, our kitchen, living room ,and dinning room was way too small for a family of 9 plus all sorts of others that are always here *grin*. Since then , we have added a wonderful addition that is now our living room in which allowed us to expand our kitchen with the dinning room, however, I was *dreaming* to make the increase even larger so we could have more space not only for ourselves but also have friends and church family over more often.

Yesterday , I was able to lit my stove and heat up water for hot chocolate. The entire kitchen was so very warm and cozy, grin! Praise be to God , whom all blessing are from!

Our large table is 9ft long. It is about 120 years old.It is simple but sturdy.

These are the stoves that I cook everyday. they are both from 1920's. The left is a wood stove and the right is a gas stove.

Since we first moved here, I dreamt about having a window that faces my barn and the pond . Yes, I had this large doors that brings light but a window over the sink is something that I love deeply... don't know why...grin

I collect tin cans as you can see,grin, the green cabinet has its original stamp and is marked 1889. I keep my cups there.

Can you see my barn???*smiles*

I left for last to show you one of my pets that I just adore..... please meet **Loro**... my companion Amazon bird. He is so sweet and his favorite thing in this world is to be with me. He loves the children but he does not like Mark. Well, I think he IS a LOT like Mark in many ways!!!*grin*

I will leave you with a page from my sketch book. I did this ths morning at church . I already have the idea in my head of what the next illustration will be , but I still need to work on the children's faces after all, faces are very important.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11