Country Bohemian Home

Well we finally got out of the city. We found a rental property with a lot of acreage and cows and wild turkeys are included in our view out the windows. We are loving it so far. At night we can see the stars, so many stars. I had forgotten how many there were. There are no sounds of traffic or sirens or even dogs. It is my idea of heaven really. And most exciting of all, I finally have a flock of chickens. Well, chicks right now. Four little White Leghorns and two Barred Rocks. The place cam with a chicken coop that just needed a few repairs and updates. Sorry for the photo heavy post, but I wanted to share my joy.

 The creek

 View from the kitchen windows

 Turkeys in the morning

 Cows and green everywhere

Spring fed brook

 Living room stone fireplace

 Sophie

 Kitchen

Other side of living room

 Chicks!! They are growing fast.

The dogs love their new found freedom.

Becoming a Drummer

I have always been a dancer. As a child I danced to any and everything, any time and any where much to my parents chagrin. As an adult I danced with my husband every chance we got, and as a mother, I danced with my children on my hip and then holding their hands. Finally at 30 I took belly dance lessons and loved it. The djembe drums were always what I loved dancing to the most. I danced at festivals around huge bonfires and the live drumming was what kept me coming back, they fascinated me.

At one festival, when Sophie was only two. She began mimicking a drummer on a small djembe. She was so good at it that I bought her a tiny one of her own. I loved it myself, but the size was not easily played by an adult. Friends I knew had and played djembes and I longed for one of my own.

Finally, I have one. Found at a pawn shop of all places. I have no idea why someone decided they needed to a pawn this beautiful instrument. But I am glad that they did. I cleansed it with sage and now it is mine.
My church has an informal drum circle that meets every other Saturday and I recently attended my first one. It just happened to be the one where the musical director sat in and decided that he wanted us to play with the choir and band the next day. Play in front of an entire church congregation!!!! Me!!!  Well, since I have long ago decided to stop saying no to things that I later regret, I did it. I showed up the next morning early to practice and we played along to four songs and a full choir. It was so much fun and I felt great afterward.

It is a strange feeling identifying myself as a drummer, a musician. I have always felt un-musical, so to speak, never really learning an instrument completely. Always dancing to the music. Now I am the one making the music. It is a really nice feeling.

Peace, Yarrow

New Bohemian Home!

We finally found the perfect home for us. It is just right, on a beautiful piece of fenced property in the school district that we wanted to keep Sophie in. It has space, space for all four of us, and for the four pets, as well as the puppy that Sophie is requesting for her 10th birthday next year. I am so thrilled with it. I was at work today thinking about how the light shines through the many windows in the living/dining room and catches the sparkles in the sun catchers and crystals that hang there. I was wondering what my hubby was doing in our lovely new home. I have so many bohemian plans for the space, and especially the garden/yard. More on that to come. Peace.

TIny Bohemian Home

 

 

Finally got the photos of the house to load. The first one is the kitchen as you walk in the back door.

 The next one is the dining 'room'. viewed from the living room

 Then we have the living room with two furry friends relaxing there.

 The best part of the house I think, is the fire place, so awesome during this cold weather.

 The living room looking into the hall and the kids room.

 And finally, the living room looking toward the front door.

Next I will share some photos of the bedrooms and bath, also outside. This little house is taking some aadjustments on all our part, but it is cozy.

This Bohemian Life

Things have been busy around here. I have nearly finished my patchwork cloak that I began two plus years ago. :) It has turned out fabulously, in fact I am extremely proud of the accomplishment. And I think it is gorgeous. The fact that it is all hand made and has all my energy and power in it is just great topping. I will have photos soon. I only need to stitch in the lining and hem it. Some long time readers may recall it's beginnings and WIP.

I have also made another skirt. I was inspired by a little shirt that Sophie outgrew, that had an embroidery saying Pretty Hippy on it. So this skirt, done in pink patchwork is based around the Hippy embroidery patch. Lovely, I don't know whether I will put it up for sale or keep it. Again photo soon.

I have been doing a lot of work on my herb gardens, adding to them and changing them up. I recently added red Bee Balm (Monarda) and Purple Cone flower (Echinacea)to them. My cone flower was choked out last year by the spearmint. Hard lesson learned there. :)

I am trying to spend more time with Sophie in our herb study and especially in the spirituality teachings. She is ready for more in depth learning about our path.

I also plan to begin teaching her to knit/crochet and embroider this year. She will be seven in December and that is in the Waldorf tradition when those types of handwork are begun. In first grade. She can already stitch a good seam, so we are well on the way, she is ready for more detailed work. I am looking forward to it. I want her to have a well balanced education. So I will have much to teach her outside of school. She is attending a very good public school , we were very pleased with it for her kindergarten year. I am on the PTO committee this coming year and planned to be more involved in the school activities.

I am looking at a full course load this fall at RSCC. I am getting a little nervous about it. About how we will continue to manage without a reliable income while I go to school. But we have been doing it, by the grace of the Great Mother for over two years now. And I know that some way it will work out. I do feel like if I could just find a part time job, things would be a little easier. We went without power for two months this spring due to no money, and would not have it now if it wasn't for the generosity of family. So I continue to look for work though the level of unemployment here is approaching ten percent. There is poverty all around, people without power, people selling all their property to make the house payment and buy food for their families, people digging for scrap to sell. It is a little scary when I see it all around me. When will things get better with the economy? We certainly are not seeing it here. How is it around the country? Anyway, things can only get better, I hope. I am thankful for my family and friends, my strong marriage and my beautiful children. I am thankful for the continued roof over my head despite the lack of rent money, I am thankful for the food on my table and growing in my garden. I am thankful for the strength to persevere when I might have given in to the desperate desire to run away that I have felt several times over the past few months. Thank you Mother Goddess for it all. Blessings to you all.

Recent Boho FInds

Here are a few new additions to my bohemian home;

a fabulous table runner, I think, from India. I am going to use it as a wall hanging its just so gorgeous. David brought it home from the thrift store, he knows exactly what I like.:)

Here is 'Ericka' former beauty school head turned hat model in my living room.

And another awesome vintage Samsonite case. Once I have a couple more, I will make them into a night table.

Blogland Catch Up

It's been a while since I posted so I
thought I would just play a little catch
up today.


First up is an interesting pentagram shaped tomato. It was the best tasting one that I got out of my garden...umm, I wonder why that is.


These are some of the bracelets that I made out of recycled belts from the thrift store. They are so boho and fun. I am putting some of them up for sale. Let me know if you are interested. The two on the left top I made for me though.

As the wheel turns.....this is the sunset on my sun wheel that I made from honeysuckle vine last year, what a lovely sight this was.

This morning I was greeted by my two sweeties enjoying some alone time together, while they let me sleep in. A great two-fer that was, Sophie and her dad got to catch up and enjoy each other's company and I got to sleep in for the first time this week!

Last but not least, I started on fall classes this past Monday. A full class load; art appreciation, algebra, world literature, Spanish and world history. So far it looks like all the classes are going to be very interesting with interesting and entertaining professors.

Boho Thrifting

Check out these thrifty finds from yesterday's outing.....a gorgeous quilted shoulder bag...gotta love that big flower.

A fabulous alligator clutch wallet (David believes it is real, which doesn't thrill me, but....), a brand new patch and ribbon set to customize jeans, and a lovely Guatemalan worry doll headband for Sophie, its a little too small for me. :(

Also found these three card games in perfect never been played condition. They all sound like so much fun, especially the Storyteller one. Can't wait to get the kids together and try them out.

Bohemian Rugs (?)

As everyone knows, bohemians love animal skin rugs. Apparently, my furry friends wanted to help me out, since I do not love real animal skin rugs, bohemian or not. This is the view that greeted me in the kitchen this evening.........

Bless their hearts....they really tried to help....LOL!!!!

My Bohemia

Hey there, just wanted to share some of the bohemian~isms that can be found around Witchwood.

First, this is my favorite piece of furniture, and it's an heirloom. It belonged to my grandmother, it dates to the forties, I think. Anyway, when she was put into a nursing home around 11 years ago, I inherited her dresser. It means a lot to me and the kids are on strict orders to be very careful around it. It resides now in my room, after living in Emily's until she moved out. I love it!

However it does not hold a lot and so......

.....much of my clothing has to be stored in this old vintage Samsonite case. Its very cool I think.

Here in the living room, is a folksy art piece of a sun. Has a sort of Aztec or Mayan feel to it to me. It goes quite nicely with the vintage leather painted piece of Ixchel. (photo coming soon)

This is the fabulous lamp in my bedroom. I don't know how old it is, but it has the 70's written all over it. (not literally of course)

This is another piece int he living room, it is actually a framed piece of upholstery fabric. Love the art deco horses!

That's it for now.....more posts to come.

Night Out

Last night David and I had a rare evening out alone. We decided to check out Moondollars Cafe
and Bistro. A little place here in town, that a friend turned us on to. He plays drums in a band called PBR (Poor Boyz Revival), they are really good, with an awesome guitarist/vocalist. He did some Hendrix and it was amazing! We really enjoyed the atmosphere of the place too. They
have great food. I recommend the Fresh Seasonal
Hummus, OMG, it was definitely fresh! And the pita wedges that were with it, were warm and fresh too. Yummy! Moondollars is an open and friendly, generationally diverse and has really nice atmosphere. If you are in the area do go check them out. You won't regret it. We will definitely be going back soon.

Thrifty Hippie Find

Check out this awesome suede patchwork jacket that I found at the local thrift store. I am so loving this thing! It is so retro looking, but I believe it is fairly new, though I can't find one online like it anywhere. It is suede patchwork with faux fur around the collar and cuffs. Love, love , love it!!! It so fits in with the boho style I have embraced.

Boho Hippie Style

What is it about the spring time that makes my passion for bohemian/hippie style arise anew? I don't know, but I have been really into it this past week. I have pulled together a lot of my vintage/retro stuff, and turned my living room into a boho paradise. Well almost.....I am also embracing the bohemian/hippie style of dress. I admit that I have always loved the style, but never had the guts to wear it and be myself. Now, since turning forty, i have no such problem. I embrace who and what I am and I love it! I don't worry about what anyone might think, if I like it, I wear it. I am sure that you can expect to hear and see more of this kind of thing in the weeks to come.

I have also been working on some new designs for my hippie skirts. Here is one I like. And this great piece of artwork is right up my alley.