QUIET REFLECTION SUNDAY

If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for
it is not to dream less, but to dream more,
to dream all the time.

Marcel Proust




Today I'm dreaming of Spring!
Hope your dreams are as wonderful.

QUIET REFLECTION SUNDAY

Winter is the time for comfort,
for good food and warmth,
for the touch of a friendly hand
and for a talk beside the fire:
it is a time for home.

Edith Sitwell

The Crock Pot Revisited, an unusual use

I have found a new use for my crock pot, as you can see from the pictures. I love to dye fabric but, I do not have space for an open fire and dyeing in the kitchen gave me problems with my allergies. So for weeks I have wandered around thinking what I could use to dye.

Recently I had my daughter and her family over for Sunday dinner. I dragged out the crock pot and made
a large batch of bolognese sauce. Unfortunately I was not happy with the results. I have had a love hate relationship with the crock pot. So after Sunday dinner, I decided to put my crock pot in the garage sale pile once and for all.

I'm not sure when it happened but a light bulb went off
and I decided to try the crock pot for dyeing. Why not? It has a long cooking time, I could use it in the garage and I did not have to worry about my allergies or a fire.

The process;


I filled up the crock pot with golden rod.
Added water and then the cotton fabric.
Add a good splash of vinegar to the water.
I added a rusty metal ring to weigh the fabric down.
Put the lid on and set the time for 8 hours.
After 8 hours I laid the fabric on the grass to dry.
When dry, I ran it through the dryer to set the color.
I then washed the fabric by hand and  hung it to dry.
And then pressed it again.

Couple of things, I over dyed some fabric I had so there
would be an interesting pattern underneath. When hanging to dry it will stain the floor. I will not be using the fabric for clothing as I am not sure if it will fade. The crock pot can not be used to cook in after using it for dyeing. If you don't want your hands dyed, wear rubber gloves.

If you would like to research natural dyeing I would recommend the master dyer, India Flint. She has some marvelous books on the subject.

Have fun and experiment!

Quiet Reflection Sunday

I
only went out
for a walk, and
finally concluded
to stay out till
sundown, for
going out, I
found, was really
going in.


John Muir

Quiet Reflection Sunday- a montage of summer

summer, sad to see you go

Quiet Reflection Sunday

Always be on the lookout for
the presence of wonder.

E.B. White

Quiet Reflection Sunday

The materials of wealth are in the earth,
the seas, and in their natural and unaided productions.

Daniel Webster


Visited Lake Erie this week, always a calming place to be.
I remember my parents would rent a home on the lake 
every summer. The best part of the experience was going to
bed. A circular stairway led to the upper floor, where the beds were lined up in rows. The windows opened out, so I could hear the waves splash on the sand. Every night the sound would put me
to sleep. Now when I go to the beach the sound takes me back.

Do you have wonderful memories of the sea, the ocean or the 
lake? I would love to hear your stories.

Quiet Reflection Sunday-Sandy Ridge Wetlands

I go to nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in order.

John Burroughs


Did you see the bald eagle?

These photos were taken at Sandy Ridge Reservation, Part of the Lorain County Metro Parks

Quiet Reflection Sunday

So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life,
you just think about adding additional good things. One at a
time. Just let your pile of good things grow.

unknown

Well I cannot believe it is the end of June already!! This month
has flown by. Goodness, I want to say wait a minute, put the brake
on, let me get caught up, so I can enjoy the summer.

This past month I have been busy in my garden. Prepping the soil, planting seeds and moving existing plants around. I planted my garden ten years ago, so plants need to be moved to new locations.

Pretty soon it will be time for dyeing. I like to dye fabric using the
plants in my garden and vegetables
from the farmers close to my house. I consider dyeing my experiments. Sometimes they work, sometimes nothing happens, but I love it just the same. I'm known for throwing many things from nature in the pot. One day my daughter stopped over, she saw the pot on the stove and asked if I was making soup because it smelled so good. When I told her it was my dye pot she just groaned.

Well I hope you all are enjoying the summer so far and have fun plans ahead. 

Quiet Reflection Sunday

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth
find reserves of strength that will endure as long
as life lasts.

Rachel Carson

Good morning everyone. Hope you are  having a wonderful Sunday.
We are finally going to have a sunny day in Ohio. 
I took the photo's above on a recent trip to visit my son in Dallas.
I was amazed at how large Dallas is, yet there is this oasis not to far from where my son lives. Such peace among the chaos.
For me, nature is where I am closest to God, where I feel alive and refreshed. Would you agree? Where do you go to refresh?
I can hardly wait to work in my garden today. My garden is ten years old and it's time to move things around. Plants have out grown their current spaces. So as I will be covering myself in soil, I hope you have fun too.

Quiet Reflection Sunday

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder...

E.B.White

Quiet Reflection Sunday

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.


Mary Ann Radmacher

Quiet Reflection Sunday

Raise your words, not your voice.
It is rain that grows flowers not thunder.

Rumi

In My Studio-Rose Painting

After a lengthy period of time, I finally finished this painting of a dear friend's rose.

Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the rose.

It is done on watercolor paper with acrylic paints.