Can't wait!

Iron Mountain Michigan Art Show "Art For All" 2010 Art Show Iron Mountain, Michigan, June 26, 2010 Bay College West on Highway US-2 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2010 will be the 43rd year for the "Art for All" show. The show is sponsored by the "Dickinson County Council for the Arts". The show will be held at Bay College West on June 26, 2010, in Iron Mountain, Michigan. This juried art show attracts people throughout the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and the midwest. There will be food vendors and entertainment so stop by Bay College West and enjoy the show. Artists from all over the country will be displaying and selling their art work. There will be Fibers, Acrylics, Oils, Sculptures, Jewelry, Wearable Fibers, Ceramics, Pottery, Metal Craft, Basketry, Stained Glass and many other works of arts. The judges will be awarding cash prizes in various categories, including a "Best of Show" award. Along with the art show exhibit and sale, there will be a student art show representing area high schools. These students are some of our up and coming budding artists. This will be our very first Art for All in the Iron Mountain area and we are very excited about being asked to participate! Hope to see you there!

By the Bay Lilac Linen Water and Lavender Linen Water

By the Bay is pleased to introduce to you our very own line of Linen Water in two scents Lavender-very therapeutic and relaxing and Lilac- the very essence of spring time freshness.

Linen water is traditionally used by French women to perfume sheets and also linen water is a subtle way to add fragrance to your home.

The aromatic fragrances of Lilac or Lavender help ease away stress and anxiety promoting a peaceful sleep. So spritz those pillows before climbing into bed after a long and tiring day!

Linen water is also soothing on skin helping your to cool down and freshen up!

Here's that rainy day...

Maybe I should I have saved those leftover dreams.

Funny, but here’s that rainy day.

Here’s that rainy day they told me about.

And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way

Where is that worn-out wish that I threw aside

After it brought my love so near

Funny how love becomes a cold rainy day

Funny, that rainy day is here

Where is that worn-out wish that I threw aside

After it brought my love so near

It’s funny how love becomes a cold rainy day

Funny, that rainy day is here.

Mary Engelbreit Magazines for BARTER!

I just LOVE Mary Engelbreit---

Up for barter Farmgirls-------- 2 issues dated 2001!

Perfume------1915

The year was 1915 and the perfume of choice included;

Bay Rum

Crab Apple

Lily of the Valley

Sweet Pea

White Rose

Lilac

and Chantecleer Lily................

The little wren----

She is a tender, little, but plain brown bird with an effervescent voice. A common backyard bird found over nearly the entire Western Hemisphere. Her sweet song is a rush-and-jumble song in the summer and you can find her zipping through shrubs and low tree tree branches snatching at insects with grace and delicacy.

I have several house wrens that swoosh down and feed from the suspended bird feeder swinging lazily from one of my newly blossomed apple trees not far from the gardening shed.

Amish Quilt Auction in Bonduel

I attended a familiar quilt auction in Bonduel, Wisconsin today. Twice a year the Amish community puts on a quilt and craft auction for the benefit of their school. Several years ago I had a few of my quilts listed for auction at Bonduel and have been attending ever since. Actually, our very first By the Bay Soap show premiered at Bonduel!

Today, it was very cold and windy with small patches of snow still on the ground from the storm we had last night. The auction tent panels huffed in out out for most of the morning. The quilts that were up were so beautiful! I believe there were over 300 listed for auction. The detail and expertise in these quilts were beyond compare. Texas Star, Nine Patch and many, many appliquéd quilts....

They were breathtaking!

The Farmgirl History Project ----Blog

http://www.farmgirlhistory.blogspot.com/

I finally pinned down some time this afternoon and started a blog about collecting farmgirl histories for a book I want to write.

So far, the response has been promising and the stories are anything but typical.

Keep the questionnaires coming farmgirls...

Clary Sage with just a hint of Jasmine!

I was busy this morning make some handcrafted soap--Clary Sage with just a hint Jasmine. The house smells so good!

Later....Tea Tree!

PLUM TREE IN FULL SPRING SPLENDOR

I am awestruck at the beauty of a simple plum tree blossoming in early spring. Breathtaking!

And the scent! My son Elli says it smells like a giant grape jelly sandwich---typical 14-year old response!

A trip to Eric's!

Picked up some herbs and flowers this morning at my favorite nursery...Eric's.

Lemon Verbena, Lemon Thyme, Rosemary, Peppermint, and two beautiful red Geraniums. Now if the weather would just cooperate!

"American Red Geraniums"

by Sidney F. Willis

Beachcombing

Took Truman for a walk along the shore....Bay flies were horrible, but once we hit the beach the breeze coming off the lake kept them away. I found a lot of sea glass, broken shards of blue and white china and small bits of driftwood.

Earth Day----

Whose garden was this?

It must have been lovely

Did it have flowers?

I've seen pictures of flowers

And I'd love to have smelled one.

Whose river was this?

You say it ran freely

Blue was its color

And I've seen blue in some pictures

And I'd love to have been there

Tell me again, I need to know

The forest had trees, the meadows were green

The oceans were blue

And the birds really flew

Can you swear that it's true?

The Great Oral History Project

Well...it's begun!

The Great Oral History Project/Farmgirl Histories from Near and Far

I have several farmgirls that have contacted me over the past few days saying that they are willing to share their history with me. I will finally begin a project that I have been wanting to do for a very long time and one day I hope to publish this collection.

Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

7:11-22

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no, not be a zeal for God. Be not conceited of thine own abilities; nor find fault with ever thing, nor busy thyself in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upon by the fear of God, and the dread of hell, will avoid sins which ruin their health and estate, and expose to public justice. But those that truly fear God, have but one end to serve, therefore act steadily. If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves. Every true believer is ready to say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Forget not at the same time, that personal righteousness, walking in newness of life, is the only real evidence of an interest by faith in the rigorousness of the Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak well of thee it will feed thy pride if ill it will stir up thy passion. See that thou approve thyself to God and thine own conscience and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier to pass by twenty affronts than to avenge one. When any harm is done to us, examine whether we have not done as bad to others.

Flax seed, lavender, and lavender essential oil neck rolls....

CJ---Flax seed neck rolls!

Apple tree...

She looks bare and forlorn but there is the promise of apple blossoms!

Lincoln's Tomb-Springfield Illinois

I just stumbled across this photo of Elliott taken at Lincoln's tomb several years ago. I think his expression captures the essence of what he saw.

Antique Piano Headboard

Our headboard---Antique hand carved oak backboard from an old piano!

View of my parlor and the potting shed

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009

BY THE BAY SOAP COMPANY
Mary Jane....If you go into my blog archive and scroll to the above dated post you can see my parlor and a snap of the potting shed....