The Hiding Place...

Welcome & Happy Friday

needlefolk friends!

This past week we've had really warm

weather, actually hot humid days, then

wham bang old man winter showed

his face...really COLD today!

Early Maiden Workbasket Club Update...

I'm happy to say the model is all stitched,

and ready for me to finish!

This project will have a "Button" theme, so

I've been having fun picking through buttons...looking

 for just the right one!

Kits will include a special hand selected

"Pearl Button" to complete the project.

Do you know how antique pearl buttons were made?

When my husband was young he would go

clamming for clam shells, which is how

 pearl buttons are made.

Historically, river towns along the Mississippi River

were famous for their Pearl Button Factories...

Collecting the mussels is known as clamming,

then they would heat and open the mussels, 

removing the meat and any irregular~shaped

freshwater peals (called "slugs".) 

Hundreds of men worked in the cutting shops,

cutting blanks...the basic shape of the button from

the shiny inner surface of the shells.

While others operated machinery that carved

designs on the blanks and drilled the holes.

The four shells that I shared here today are from 

my husbands clamming days!

Over the years I've found some special sewing notions...

This is my antique collection of Clam Shell

thimble cases and trinket boxes.

The thimble cases will usually have

a delicate brass chain attached and lined

with velvet inside.

~::~

The Hiding Place...

I was about to take a picture of our Lilac's, 

but instead I startled a mama Mourning Dove

sitting on her nest!

Wow, after she flew away I was able to 

get a birds eye view of her beautiful nest...what 

a pleasant surprise!

So, instead of disturbing her too much,

I only took pics of our dark purple Lilacs...

The dark purple have always been my favorite!

Our back yard literally smells like a 

perfume factory...these are the Lilacs my

husband picked for my Mother's Day bouquet!

~::~

This past week the weather blew up a 

wild storm with high winds...

In our machine shed my husband discovered a

fallen "Pigeon" nest with two babies...just

waiting to be rescued!

He placed their nest down into a big bucket,

while we researched their diet.

After discovering that Pigeons eat mostly grains,

seeds, berries, and fruits and the diet for the babies

sounded a little to complicated...we decided to 

take them over to our local humane society 

where they would receive proper care!

~::~

Our back yard is full of "Hiding Places"...

This old "Bronco" is in waiting to be restored,

Sam discovered a secret hiding place up under the

front fender, just above the tire.

A Robin's nest with three sleepy 

headed little ones!

Mama Robin quickly discovered Sam and 

gave him a good scolding!

~::~

FARM SHOP WILL BE CLOSED
ON SATURDAY

This will be a very busy weekend for us, 

as our oldest military son and family are coming

for a visit before they leave for a two year 

assignment in Mauritania, Africa!

~::~

Weekend Soul Food...

"Thou art my hiding place; 

thou shalt preserve me from trouble;

thou shalt compass me about with

songs of deliverance.

Psalms 32:7

~::~

Well, I'm off to finish dusting,

vacuuming, cleaning etc...family

  is arriving on Sunday!

Enjoy a special weekend doing what

YOU enjoy most!

Kindly, Tammy