Filled With Possibility

"Aaah, summer...

that long anticipated 

stretch of lazy, lingering days,

free of responsibility and

rife with possibility..."

~ Darell Hammond ~

"Time to rise and shine and get ready for school you two!" My son popped right out of bed, while my daughter needed a little more encouragement. Without opening her eyes, she groaned, "How many more days?" I said, "Oh, summer will be here soon enough." I then kissed her forehead, and lovingly whisked away the covers. They went through the routine of eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing hair and teeth. My son was excited about going to the zoo, and produced a zoo-themed art project to praise. My daughter reminisced about her own 1st grade zoo trip and summed it up with, "You're pretty much gonna love it." We prayed together, then they ran to the end of our driveway to chat and wait. I poured a cup of coffee and heard the bus slow and stop. I waved and they waved back as I lost sight of them down the road.

Where just minutes before there was hustle and bustle, now there was only silence. I looked down and noticed the wisps of steam rolling off my coffee. I admired them while appreciating how the pretty blue and white mug warmed my hands. Glancing out front at the garden, I noticed more purple blooms than yesterday, as well as more green. Note to self: pick flowers and pull weeds... after finishing coffee.

This morning routine will only last for a few more days, then we'll be on to summer vacation. I'm relieved. Although I appreciate the quiet and regained sense of independence when they're in school, it'll be nice to have the kids back home in the nest. There's another kind of freedom and peace in that. Most days we'll have nowhere to be. When we stay home, we'll have a picnic lunch or go for a nature hike in the woods. We might take a bouquet of flowers to the neighbors and return with a bag of green beans or a carton of eggs. Other days, we'll go swimming with friends, go to a 4-H meeting, or a learning activity at the library.

Aaah, summer - that season when I am reminded of the younger years: younger kids, a younger me. It'll be good to slow down and savor these: the long, lazy days, childhood, and motherhood. All filled with possibility. 

Our Jack O'Lantern...

"It's cold and we are sleepy,
the air is cold and still.
Our jack o'lantern grins at us
Upon the windowsill..."

~ Unknown Author ~

My 9 year old daughter created this

original artwork! I transformed her sketch

into digital images to share

 

Above, printable bookmarks or tags in

brown and orange hues. They look great

printed on cream-colored card stock.

Below, printable bookmarks or tags

for kids (or kids at heart!) to color...

this was my daughter's idea.

 Below, an 8.5" x 11" printable sheet of 

journal or note cards in 2 sizes.
Nice texture and shading on this jack o'lantern.

Here are the free graphics
& sources used in these images:

*The Graphics Fairy*
Torn paper texture

*Shadowhouse Creations*
Softly aged sepia texture

Thank you for stopping by!

A Little Love & Kindness

Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
Help to make earth happy
like the heaven up above.

~ Julia A. Fletcher Carney ~

 Vintage clip art image of little girl
with baskets full of flowers,
and 8" x 10" pretty spring stationery.

6 sweet tags or bookmarks:

Black & white clip art version

of the little girl with flowers:

Below is an 8.5" x 11" printable coloring page:

Here are the free graphics
& sources used in my artwork:


*TuckDB*
Little girl with flowers

*The Graphics Fairy*
Apothecary label frame

*UFDC*
Starburst pattern endpaper

*Vintage Feedsacks*
Perfume label

(Please note: The website Vintage Feedsacks
appears to be no longer active. I've provided a

link to the perfume label image via Pinterest.)



"Miss no single opportunity
of making some small sacrifice,
here by a smiling look,
there by a kindly word;
always doing the smallest right
and doing it all for love."

~ St. Thérèse de Lisieux ~

Thank you for stopping by today!

The Birds' Christmas Tree

I designed most of the images

to be cut out together (as seen below)

then folded and glued (I used a glue stick). 

Sit under a heavy object for at least 10

minutes to prevent the paper from curling.

It's sweet to think of others this time

of year - including the local birds! We like

to put out extra birdseed and hang suet

cakes in the tree by our living room window.

If you're already putting

together a gift basket for a gardener,

or just looking for a simple gift

for teachers, etc. Buy a few suet

cakes at the store (or make homemade

bird tree ornaments with your kids)

place in a brown paper bag, fold down

the top and punch 2 holes.  Weave

jute or ribbon through, and add one

of these cards or tags ~ done! 

Here are the free
graphics & sources:


*TuckDB*
Postcard image ~ robins

*The Feathered Nest*
"The Birds' Christmas Tree" poem


Thank you for stopping by!

In a Winter-Wonderland

"Now we don hats

and mittens; take our loved

ones by the hand, as we

all become children

in a winter-wonderland."

~ Janet Martin ~

3.5 inch round graphic
and printable with 6 (below).

Snowflakes are from this free font.

3x5 inch, postcard-size graphic
and 8.5x11 printable stationery, etc.

Tag with little girl on sled,
and printable sheet of 6 tags in 2 sizes:

 Original, unaltered Christmas postcard

from my collection:

"Childhood Winters"

I sit and watch the white snow
Piled up outside my window.
And I see in my memory
Red mittened hands and rosy cheeks
Of the child of long ago.
Building snowmen and laughing
Against the wind.
Such simple pleasures
For a child to enjoy
Making snow her winter toy...

~ Rasma Raisters ~



Hello, and thank you
for stopping by!

October's Party ~ Clip Art

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds

came... The Chestnuts, Oaks,

and Maples, and leaves of

every name. The sunshine

spread a carpet, and

everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

~ George Cooper ~

I made the printable papers for

my kids to color & cut out. I've also

included the individual clip art

leaves for you. Sources:

Ivy leaf
Laurel leaf
Maple leaf
Oak leaf
Oval leaf

Thanks for stopping by!!

You're Sweet...

I made these colorful

conversation heart Valentine's

Day cards for my kids...
and yours!

Here are the free images I used:

Heart
Pure glycerine label

Hope you enjoy these sweet printables!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Matching Game

Did you enjoy playing

memory/matching card games

as a kid? I made a version using

vintage images, to play with

my two.  Just print 2 pages with

the images below. Cut out and

arrange in rows, with the image

flipped over. Take turns

making matching sets.

Player with the most cards wins.

My 7 year old daughter played this

with me a few days ago.  Before we started,

I asked her to tell me about the pictures. She

recognized a few things, but thought most

looked funny. We talked about how people

lived differently long ago... and thought about

some of the modern conveniences we take

for-granted. Came upstairs tonight to find

her teaching my 5 year old son how to play.

They were entertained while I made supper.

All illustrations used in this project

are from The Graphics Fairy:

pocket watch

electric fan

sewing machine

old-fashioned tricycle

spectacles

tea kettle

A Little Patch of Dirt

As a little girl, Dad gave me ownership over a shady corner of our garden. I could do whatever I wanted there. That usually meant play in the dirt and plant an occasional flower or two, while Dad worked nearby. It was never really about growing anything as much as it was about giving me a place to play - keeping me occupied while spending time together.

Years later, I wanted my children to grow up the same way. As soon as they could go, I took them for walks to see what was growing, to hear the birds, see beetles and butterflies. We've spent a lot of time outside together.

When my daughter was about 4, I asked if she'd like her very own garden... she was so excited! Sunflowers, zinnias, daisies, daylilies and a butterfly bush have all grown there. She used to have a brightly colored birthday plate she loved so much. She ate her dinner on it almost every evening. Then one day, it slipped out of her little hands and broke. She was devastated... until I suggested we use it to decorate. It's been out there a little over a year now, and she still points to it and tells people about her favorite plate.
                                  
My son has a garden also... although it's not as big as his sister's.  It's a little triangular plot, about the same size mine used to be. Right between sidewalk and gravel driveway.  We always put our pumpkins and squash there at the end of autumn, and by the next spring he usually has dozens of sprouting seedlings.  This year has been so dry, it's nothing but dried up grass and dirt.  Up until today, he's used it as a construction site for his little tractors and backhoes.

Now it's a rock garden.  Olivia informed me of her plan this morning, and the three of us went looking.  Some were gathered from my flowerbed borders. Others were found in daddy's freshly plowed vegetable garden.  The finishing touch was a bit of hay placed around everything.

I've been sad my son's garden didn't grow... even as he happily played in the dirt of the construction site, completely oblivious to my concern.  He did ask me why there weren't any pumpkins this year, but then said, "It's been too dry, huh mom?"

Next year his garden may go back to being a place where green things grow. Maybe not - we'll figure it out. Today it was nice watching my kids work together, have fun, and not stress about things not going as they usually do. All thanks to a little patch of dirt.

The Light of Life

For at one time you

were darkness, but now you

are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light.

~ Ephesians 5:8 ~

Last evening, as my daughter walked ahead of me, she spotted one of the most treasured of summertime creatures. "Did you see that, Mom?  The lightning bugs are out tonight!"  Just like that, her walking turned into bouts of chaotic running, jumping and diving... until she'd captured one! 

Carefully she cupped her hands as children do and walked my way.  "Let's take him inside for a while. Please?"  It was beautiful out. Glowing dusk after a day of needed rain - but on mugginess we happily closed the door.

Once inside, she wanted to draw and so put down her tiny treasure.

"Mom, I think he's got a hurt wing.  He's not flying very well."  She found a potholder with an open pocket, and placed it inside.  "I just want to keep him safe."  She started drawing away, but every few minutes she'd check make sure everything was as she'd last left it.

The boys soon walked through the door, and before long it was getting to be bedtime. "Mom, would you please let my lightning bug go?  I don't want to keep him from his friends."  She ran away upstairs, ready to be tucked in for the night.

As I stood in the doorway and opened my hands, I watched as the little bug walked to the tip of my finger and flew off...

Do you ever wake up with a song in your head? For me this morning it was, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."  There are a few other verses to the song." Hide it under a bushel?  No!  I'm gonna let it shine..."

How selfish it would've been to keep the magical little bug for ourselves, inside (in a potholder no less!).  Wouldn't have been able to share its light with the world, as it was created to do. Same goes for us. We were made to encourage, lift up others, share.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." ~ John 8:12

"Dare to reach out your hand

into the darkness, to pull another

hand into the light."

~ Norman B. Rice ~

Box of Treasures

The kids and I stopped

by for a visit with our

neighbors, and came home

with a box of treasures...

Was thinking we should stop by for a visit

with our neighbors. Driving by, Glenna

smiled and waved to us from the garden.

It was my sign to take

the kids down for a visit!

We walked down the strip of grass

between the pasture and road connecting our

properties. Soon we heard their dogs barking.

Glenna swung open the screen door. She stood

there smiling, arms open & ready to give hugs!

We sat on her glider and talked as the

kids played with their dogs.

 Soon everyone was thirsty, so we made

our way inside to the big farmhouse kitchen.

Olivia motioned to a small cardboard box,

and Glenna told her it was full of old recipes.  

She looked at me and asked, "Do you want

them? I was going to bring them to you,

but since you're here..."  She told me they

were from one of her longtime friends,

and neither had use for them now.

She seemed a mixture of surprised and

pleased as I so happily accepted her offer.

Later we said our goodbyes and walked

back home. Me with my treasures, the kids

with their candy.   Once in the kitchen, I

began sifting through the hundreds of recipes.

A labor of love... much like the effort it

took to create them in the first place. 

Here are a few:

 The back...

Scanned a plain lined recipe card,

and added aged, torn paper texture

I made with an image from

The Graphics Fairy:

Added a collage I made a while back:
French script & white roses...

... and a yellow Catherine Klein rose.

An Amazing Place

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

~ Psalm 118:24 ~

I've been spending more time outside, enjoying beautiful weather.  Sunday afternoon I asked for help clearing out some weeds from a front flower bed.  After much-appreciated shoveling and pulling, I was left to the fine-tuning.

Sitting there, my hands and thoughts were busy.  I was thinking about my sister-in-law and her newborn son.  It brought back memories from when my children were babies. There were sleepless nights and times of worry, but also laughter and many tender moments. I felt a twinge of longing and a bit of sadness.

Just as I was getting lost in those thoughts, my little boy of 5 years ran over.  He didn't say much, just plopped down next to me.  Like he sensed I could really use his company.  After catching his breath, he asked what I was doing and if he could help. With that, he brought my focus back.

"Children have neither past nor

future; they enjoy the present,

which very few of us do."

~ Jean de la Bruyere ~

He grabbed a shovel and was able to get some dirt turned over here and there.  Then he looked for worms.  Soon, he was just there, sitting next to me.  Out of the silence, I heard, "Mom, I like being with you."  It made me look up at him and ask, "Why?"  With his green eyes linked to mine, he said, "Because... you're so Mom-like."  Then he smiled and went back to his dirt.

If I ever needed to hear those words, it was in those moments. Yes, I've raised my babies but they're still my little ones... they'll grow into bigger children. Teens, adults. But they'll always be mine, and I'll always be "Mom."

There are still the occasional sleepless nights and times of worry... they will exist, as long as my children and I are together on this earth. But for all that, there's still so much laughter and many tender moments yet to be. We've come through much to end up where we are. Right now the present is an amazing place to be.

"Rejoice in the things that are

present; all else is beyond thee."

~ Montaigne ~

Mason Jar clip art & Kids Printable

 There are 2 images of

Mason jars on The Graphics Fairy

site. I had an idea for an activity with

my kids, but needed a canning jar

with no lid. So made this version:

I printed out the page below,

gave it to my kids, and asked what

they would use to fill it.

 

My daughter said buttons and flowers,

and my son said fireflies, but then those

would escape since there's no lid.

 

We're going to have fun with this today!

 

How would you use it?

Spring Math Worksheets

My kids are 5 and 6, and

they like when I make them

worksheets. These are the

latest additions for math:

Here are the free graphics

& sources used in my artwork:

*Vintage Images*

Pink rose

*Vintage Ephemera*

Egg illustration

*The Graphics Fairy*

Watering can

*The Vintage Moth*

Bunny

Butterfly