Blossom Sundries

You can now find me at www.blossomsundries.com

See you there!

Imaginative Play and Crafting with Kids

Being invited to enjoy a great meal our friend with Pete a few evenings back was quite a blessing, in a few different ways. Pete teaches programs for Full Spectrum Farms, a residential facility for autistic adults. It's an incredible learning environment that within the last year has added a farm/homestead to their program, giving the kids more hands on practical learning without being indoors all the time. Pete herself is quite a wonderful and facinating person, incredibly creative and just being around her sparks my creativity.So when she offered to show and tell her latest adventures and library full of naturally creative books, I was all about it!

I poured through her unique collection of books, most of which you won't find any more in any bookstore. I have always loved natural eduction, a sort of unschooling. Practical application of hands on activities {thus my love for handmade} and imaginative play is great for kids of all ages. And it wouldn't hurt some adults to remember to play more often as well. Anyhow this subject has been on my mind eversince.

Since the subject of creative play is so near to my heart and my backgorund is in childcare, I thought I would share a few great books/websites on my radar lately. Although my boys are into more sophisticated play now days, this is where their seventeen and eighteen year old minds began not too long ago and we were knee deep in crafting costumes made of scraps and filling our days here on the farm with the most interesting moments. The best way to help your child form a creative mind is just to let them play.

Action Pack. "A mini mag for kids who like to do".

 ImagineChildhood.com

 

Amanda Soule, aka Soule Mama writes a really cool blog, about everyday creative discovery with family. Here's one of her three books, all very well written and full of ideas and creative play projects. You can see her other books for sale on her blog.

these days

 

 

An evening romp on the farm

Every evening when it cools down the goats and sheep come out and the younger ones have the best time romping through the field. 

But patsy is still going it solo, like a little wallflower :)

Hope everyone is having a good evening. 

White Christmas in July Soap Sale...All Soap Half Price!!!!

 

Almost forgot about my July Sale, so to sweeten the deal how about....Now through July 31 all soap is half price in my Etsy Shop!! Now is the time to stock up and help me make a little space for new Holiday Gift Making.

 

 

TGIF ....what an understatement

I almost skipped this post entirely, but for those of you who ask about my baby goats from time to time I felt I needed to go ahead and let everyone know, I had to say good bye to one of my sweeties a few days ago....and it just breaks my heart.

Like most goats when they get sick, Bonnie was fine one minute and severly ill 12 hours later. I become a bit frantic when my animals don't feel well...pace the floor, wring my hands, google information and pray...alot! Thank God for my husband who keeps his head about him and is kind enough to help me with everything. I'll skip all the details, but just to say we did everything we could to help her out and bring her back around, but goats are fragile creatures and this little darling gave a good fight.

Because goats are social, like people they get very lonely if they don't have a companion so Patsy will need to go in the big barn with the rest of the momma goats and other babies fairly soon. I had kept them seperated from the heard until they were big enough to take up for themselves and I think that time has come. Of course she has been getting extra attention from me these last few days.

Within a day of loosing Bonnie our little dog Honey, who we thought had been bit by a snake became very ill. Not eating, drinking and then she wandered off and it took us 24 hours to find her...she was near the creek and her face was badly swollen. The vet said she had a abcess {not a snake bite} and gave her penicillan, antibiotics and drained the infection. However, it looks like more needs to be done. In times like these sometimes I regret {if only for a second}, living on a farm and loving animals so much. But two seconds later I'm off to the barn to spend a little time with the goats, they make good listeners {animal therapy i guess}. Sounds silly, but I have often heard of programs where animals are brought into hospitals to make patients happy and calm...truely it does work. So go hug your cat or pup and be thankful for the little rascal.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and please keep this little farm in your prayers my friends.

 

His favorite spot in the whole house, is in my studio. There's no need to create a space for him, he finds his own and usually that's between the glue and stamps as you can tell. He's the boss.

I have only 4 rose bushes and every year I look forward to picking the blooms and using them... working on a few new aromatherapy blends for you. Something light for the hot summer months.

Grandma Elsie we're thinking about you and love you, thank you for sharing your love and kindness.

All Natural Oatmeal and Honey Goat Milk Soap

My handmade Oatmeal and Honey Goat Milk Soap, now in my Etsy Shop. This particular bar is one I have been making for over ten years now, it's a favorite for both men and women alike and a soap staple here on the farm. Great exfoliating power and still very gentle. I load these bars with Shea Butter and Goat Milk, leaving your skin feeling great...no need for lotion after a shower.

I also have personalized soap favors available for wedding gifts, baby showers or just to give a nice thank you.

Juicy Summer Colors on Etsy

Summer time has ignited in me a new love for fresh, bright colors and Etsy is where you can find them popping up in full bloom! Here are my picks for the week, be sure to check them out! Of course it's hard to look and not buy, so #4 was my ahppy little purchase for the day.

  #1 Lynn Cardwell Pottery, #2 Aprons2tie4, #3 daisychestnut and #4 laksaware.

Exciting News to Share

I wanted to share my exciting news with you... the girls are now eating goat chow...and they love it! Patsy Sue {on the left} and Bonnie {on the right} have graduated to eating goat chow and the bottle feedings are slowly dwindeling...yippie!! I also lead these two darlings out to the field with the bigger goats to pick in the field during the morning and evening hours, they are growing up so fast.

 

Well, Tom is always somewhere close keeping a watchful on the both of them...they seem to be pals.

Goat Babies from lulu on Vimeo.