This Week's Featured Artisan!

This weeks Featured Artisan is Regina Plummer McDonald, better known as Gina, owner and designer at Chrysalis Designs by RM. Gina has beautiful creations and are all true works of art! You can find Chrysalis Designs on:





Website

Etsy

Artfire

Twitter

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Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

Our First Baby!

We went to see the herd yesterday and we thought we were going to get to witness the birth of our first cria! Patience was due in a week or two, but when we were there yesterday, she looked like she was going to give birth. Patience is the one cushing on the right.

Here are a series of text messages we got mid-day today:

"Look what I found. Your first cria, a little boy born this morning at about 9:45 a.m."

 "Trying so hard to stand."

 "Mom, this is really hard work!"

"O.k., I'm up, now what do I do?"

"Figuring it all out."

 "Looking good!"

Isn't he handsome! They asked us if we had decided on a name yet and we have decided that he shall be Timothy. In Timothy, the Bible states that "Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life".(1 Timothy 1:15-17, NIV). We can't wait to see him!

The Last Day of Summer

We are so fortunate to live in an area that has 4 distinct seasons! I have lived in the northeast and as far south as zone 10! Most people think zone 10 - which is sub-tropical - doesn't have seasons, but it too has 4 seasons. They just aren't as distinct and they somehow seem backwards! But you know when the Poinsettias are blooming in the landscape on Sanibel Island, FL that it is winter!

Dahlias from the garden in fall.

Fall arrives in Central Virginia tomorrow at 10:49 a.m. and although I am not a fan of cooler weather, I do love to see the changes that take place. The dogwood trees have just turned a beautiful crimson red  signalling the beginning of the end.

I will be heading out to a spinning retreat tomorrow - and it will be all things fiber - but for today, I think an ode to summer is in order!

The fiddle heads in spring.

Summer's lush foliage.

 Afternoons by the Koi Pond.

Little feet...sigh

 The Chickens

Goodbye, summer. We will miss you!

"Never give up,...

...for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe

This is one of my favorite quotes. I have had this quote on my fridge for so many years, I can't even remember how long ago I put it up there. It is a pretty little magnetic picture that I bought from Hallmark, but for some reason the quote is attributed to Anonymous?

Like the tides, we have seen many highs and many lows over the course of the 17 years since we moved to Central VA from South Jersey and I have to tell you, those words have lifted me through many a low tide! I truly believe that God puts us where he wants us to be at every turn and how we rise above our trials determines our next journey.

We bought our small farm over 8 years ago with the sole purpose of raising Alpacas and fresh herbs. It needed so much work, that anyone that had looked at the house before we bought it would now probably not recognize it from the inside out. It is beautiful now, and we have reached the point that we are finally ready to focus on our dream. I have believed through thick and thin - and there has been a LOT of thin over the past 8 years - that God would not have led us to it if he didn't plan on taking us through it and I am here to bear witness to God's great gifts.

We should always look forward, never back, and over the past 12 months, the tide has turned at precisely the correct place and time! Things that we had only dreamed about have been happening in our lives. Things that we have needed to prosper us have been showing up exactly when we need them and on November 10, our herd of Suri Alpacas will be making the journey to Old Cedar Knoll Farm! I have never stopped believing that God would provide a way for us to fulfill our dream and this past summer, he put the correct set of people and circumstances in our path.

Here are some pictures of a few of the herd from early August. It was a beautiful day and we had our grandchildren for the weekend, and the sellers were just lovely to them!

 Our grandchildren, Lyla and Tate with one of the male cria - that is what baby alpaca are called.

Two male cria, Joab and Canaan (the 2 on the left)

 Some of the girls.

I just want to hug them!

 

The current owner giving the girls some direction.

 

 And last, but not least, my two greatest gifts!

Today is my oldest son's 37th birthday! I honestly don't know where my life has gone! And although we can never hope to know what the future holds, I am happy in the knowledge that I am truly blessed with the present. We will be opening a Kickstarter Campaign shortly to help us "Bring Home the Herd" so keep your eyes out and maybe you too can share in a piece of our Joy!

California Dreamin'

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray....

Grey Fingerless Gloves ... zeynepstyle $24.00	Deep Chocolate Brown Sw... LottiesTrinket... $20.00	Bamboo Yarn Handmade Kn... OakliesFashion... $25.95	Pointed Bowl Set YumikoKugaPott... $120.00
Driftwood Carnelian Nes... annamei $65.00	You Melt My Heart Vinta... ZurDesigns $49.00	Bronze Czech Fire Polis... LaserBeads $2.80	Gothic Gift Tags Set of... SiriusFun $7.85
30 Gunmetal Shimmer Tag... ShoestringCott... $2.75	Fall brown mens necklac... seragun $15.00	Kindle Sleeve/Kindle Ca... KraftyGrannysH... $14.50	darkly beautiful - 8 wa... thewoodlot $16.00
Hand Knit Scarf, Aragog... bpenatzer $84.00	Natural Blue Gray Agate... KapKaDesign $53.00	Pearl Earrings, Brown, ... StoneLinkDesig... $25.00	Hand Knit Ruffle Scarf ... BlissfulFiber $15.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

This Week's Featured Artisan

This weeks Featured Artisan is The Chickadee Tree.

She has wonderful creations that are made with love!

You can find Chickadee Tree on:

Artfire

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Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com
Grab the code for your blog HERE