Black Folk Dolls

Well known Southern Californian doll and Bear artist, Flore Emory taught us in a workshop her way of creating the black cloth folk doll.

This doll "Emma"was inspired by a friend who wore her hair in plaits and used different color rubber bands to tie them. It was very colorful!

Rag Doll Construction Company

In 1999 I joined as newly formed doll club, Rag Doll Construction Company, a group of women who create dolls from cloth.
I joined not because I wanted to make dolls, but I had a fascination in black folk dolls and this group knew a woman who is a known bear and black folk doll maker. I didn't want to pass up this chance, so I plunged in!

We are a sisterhood of girlfriends who share the joy of creating cloth dolls.
We meet monthly working on projects set up at the beginning of the year and have a yearly doll challenge.We collaborate with each other and take classes and field trips and enjoy each others company. Sadly through these years we have lost two members to cancer.They are still near and dear to our hearts, and greatly missed.

I m going to share some of the dolls I have made over these years.
I hope that you will enjoy the tours.

Some of My Favorite Things

Have you ever looked for faux bird nests to purchase at Michaels?
I cannot find them. Even searching online. I
I have collected quite a few over the past years at Beverly Cottage and I love their cozy feel.
I receintly made some centerpieces out of the ones I had collected and Vola!
I just love them!

Have You Heard?

The princess is coming over tomorrow!
This is what we did two weeks ago, What will we do tomorrow?

A VIEW OF THE CITY

This week we were invited to the city for a two day get away.
It is always fun to get away with friends and we jumped at the chance to be tourists in our own Vacation land!
We took in a rather dismal Padre game,but it was just fun to be in the ball park and view the players with the skyline in the background.
We lounged by the pool and walked along the Embarcadero.
Tuesday we lunched at Tom Hams with a delicious buffet lunch and great skyline view of the city, and then in the evening we boarded the Hornblower and cruised the bay with two of our favorite friends entertaining us and hundreds of others ina promotion put on by KPRI, Summer Musical Evenings.
Sara Watkins,and her brother Sean are friends of the family,and now that the kids are out of our home, we hardly have the opportunity to see them! What a great night it was to be among their fans and hear their music!
Sara has a new album out produced by John Paul Jones of Led Zepplin fame.
Lovely music, beautiful clear sweet voiced Sara.
Great evening! Great getaway, great friends!

This Week

For those who frequent Beverly Cottage, you might notice a new look. I hope that you enjoy the new design! I am new to this.
I have been requested to display some of my artwork.

Up to this point, only those who have come to Beverly Cottage have been able to see my creations.
I have uploaded some pictures of my quilts on Face Book, and I have opened an Etsy account, and yet I am not quite set up there yet.
I have been working on my photographs of Italia And Far Away Dream Places for a few weeks now and will try to post soon.You may find some of my photographs in past blogs. My archives are vast, and I have only scratched the surface there.

My son just bought a new home, the perfect place to display my pictures, and he greatly received them to display and own. I was thrilled to see them displayed and be able to re visit those wonderful places once again!

I will try to pull it all together soon, be patient. I am excited to see "What is Next?" ~M~

Summer Dreaming

This weekend we attended a wedding for a distant, longtime friend's son who lives in our neighborhood. Throughout the years we bump into each other and chat for a few moments and then wander out of each others lives. He is a single father and has raised his son to be a fine reflection of his own person. As I sat and gazed upon this child entering adulthood, I had a sweet smile remembering him as he was growing up and enjoying seeing whom he had become.
His father has always made us feel as if it were a privilege to be our friend and has made us feel our lives were special.

The invitation came later that expected and I wonder if we were put on the guest list as a last minute afterthought. In fact we would not have been at all disappointed if we had not been invited, yet when the invitation arrived, we felt that we should attend. There was a moment the week of the wedding I asked myself why we were attending and said to myself that they would not miss our presence, yet having had two of my children married, knew that it was quite improper to cancel after you have RSVP'd.

We arrived to this beautiful setting in San Marcos,the Twin Oaks School House, TWINOAKSWEDDING.COM ,and enjoyed the delight of color displayed in the floral decorations on the outdoor gazebo and the breeze that gently blew through the eucalyptus trees cooling a rather warm day. I was in wonderland looking at all the special places made for enjoyment, wandering through the grounds. We did not know anyone, so I felt that I had time to browse around.
There were grapewreath lined arches with clinging vines and wicker settings around a fountain
on the lawn, and a beautiful tent venue that had these great crystal chandeliers that resembeled jelly fish. The food was delicious and the table settings, beautiful.

We were seated with strangers, but quickly were deep in conversation. I had seen this woman sometime in my life here in town. I know that our lives have crossed. Isn't it interesting that we were brought together at this celebration?
The other man seated at our table happen to also live in our neighborhood. I was surprised when I realized who he was. A very handsome widower, an ex teacher. I never knew his wife, however, I knew of her and her life impressed me much in her walk with the Lord.

I wandered into the school house and enjoyed my exploartion along with being serinaded by the music being played within. It was such a pleasant expierence that I decided to sit and take it all in, as if this moment was made just for me. I don't know if anyone saw me, but I acted like I owned the room, closed my eyes and was just there.
What a wonderful day we had.

Summer Has Offically Arrived

My July-August issue of Victoria magazine arrived a week ago with the words "Create Your Own Summer Escape", with a beach scape on the cover, "Favorite Beach Finds" chalenges me to explore more than just my little town in Southern California, about 10 miles from the beach.

I feel as though the summer will slip through my fingers as the sand does when we grasp it , and then open our hands, not knowing if we will make any plans to escape to enjoy ourselves alone.

I feel drawn to the seaside as the article entices me,to sit and listen to the sound of the waves crashing and rolling into the shore. To feel the sun beating hot on my back and feel the sea mist depositing salty residue on my sun darkened skin, to read a book, and extend my polished toes into the warm sand, to dance with the tide as it enters and exits the shoreline, and at the end of the day, gather my belongings and walk hand and hand with my love to the local mexican restaraunt along the boluvard and eat a tostada in the shape of a huge bowl and experience the essence of summer in this beach town.

So often we just "live" our days repeating the everyday, tending to our handwritten schedules and miss the adventure of the moment.

I picked up a book, I am not sure where or how it appeared, but the title grabbed my attention, ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssAsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss Year By The Sea, thoughts of an unfinished woman by Joan Anderson.
It reminded me of a book, Gift From The Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindburgh, whose words are
quoted in the chapter titles. I must read this one again. To be able to sit with the sea within sight and write one's feelings and experience what the shore delivers and presents to one'ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss would be delightful. Would it become a chore to do these things?

I dream of the sand and the surf and the sunshine on my skin and the freedom to do nothing but enjoy it all.

Birth Month Musings

As many of you know, June is my " Birth Month".
I decided that I enjoyed celebrating with my friends rather that having "Birthday Parties".
It has been my pleasure to entertain and gather with those I call friends and whom I love.
It has turned out to be a fun time of enjoying each others company and a delight for us to gather.
On my "Birthday" my daughter invited me out to breakfast with my Grand daughter to "Thyme on the Ranch", a place in Rancho Bernardo in a cute little setting with delicious entries.
We enjoyed our muffins,fruit and tea sand cappuccinos, but the most fun part of the breakfast was watching my Grand daughter play and enjoy the flowers. My daughter's friend met us with her new daughter and it was fun to be able to meet her baby and visit.
My daughter's present to me was a beautifully handcrafted personalized crown made by another girlfriend, who has a business making these lovelies and more!
I was so thrilled when I opened the gift and there was the lovely crown. You may see me around town wearing this crown. Don't hesitate to ask me about it, I love it!
It has been a great year and I am sure that this year, even though another year older will be great too, because I am loved, feel loved and love all of you and that is what friendship is all about!
Call me and we will have tea! ~M~

The Most Precious Gift

Today at church, Pastor presented the beginning of a five part message on the Holy Spirit.
Today he spoke on how the Holy Spirit desires to dwell in His people.

Without the Righteousness of God , we are merely lumps of formless clay. When we receive Jesus and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we receive the promise of becoming a child of God. Jn1:12
God's original plan of creation was to create and dwell among us. We are made for His pleasure.
Sin changed all this. We made our own choices, thinking only about what is pleasing to us.

At the perfect time, God sent His Son to redeem us. The Holy Spirit gently nudges us to recognize we are not living the life as God created us to live.
We are not content, at peace,nor fulfilled.
We are given a choice, recognize our Creator and turn to Him through Christ's forgiveness and receive all His promises, or go it on our own in a dry and desolate land as the adversary would have it.
Once we make our decision for our Savior and to walk in the Lord's will, we become transformed;
"We are called out of the darkness we walked in and into His wonderful light"! 1 Pet2:9

Do you remember who you were in your darkest moment?
Your lifestyle, your language, your attitude towards others?
It is a dog eat dog world out there.

Christ calls on us to "love one another as He has loved us". Jn 15:12

The most important commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these." Mark 12:29-31
We are instructed over 13 times in His word to do this.

If we love the Lord as it is commanded, with all of our heart,soul,mind and strength, and are to love our neighbor as our self, I see that I am to be going about the Lord's work, helping those who are in need as He reveals this to me.

I struggle at this point, because it is not something that I always want to do, or the time is inconvenient,( Or it is something that will take me away from my schedule or my fun time.)
But, isn't this loving your neighbor as yourself? Being called upon in a time of need?
That is our design and purpose once we become a child of the Kingdom.
Our mission is to become Christ-like. Ask your self, WWJD? What is Jesus asking you to do for Him and the Kingdom?

People at churches everywhere are looking for theirpurpose and ministry. What has God chosen for you to do for Him? They don't know, they can't quite put their finger on it. I have discovered it is right in front of our noses! Reach out, get out of your shell, help in ANY way possible. It is through doing the Lord's work, you will find your purpose and ministry.

Before church, a friend presented me with a book as a gift. It is a delightful book. She chose the perfect book in illustration and font, as this is exactly what I love. It is me!
The book title is "Savor this Moment, Embracing the Goodness in Everyday Life", by Karla Dornacher.
She showed me how cute the book was with the darling pull outs and places to journal,. (I'd like to think that this is how she sees me ,because it IS ME, in my spirit, and as I see myself.

We then sit for the sermon.

To reflect back on our lives without our Salvation, the purpose that God has for us, and who we were and what we would be now without His forgiveness and guidance through the Holy Spirit, and then realizing the beautiful transformation that I have become through the Holy Spirit.

I gaze back through the pages of my life and look ahead and see His miraculous work and blessings upon me and those my life touches. Tears flowing, knowing where my purpose is and when the task is given, how I need to respond. I am being requested by the Lord how do I respond?

Later in the day I sit and open my beautiful gift, the book.
I savor this moment of Love, savor this moment of Affirmation, savor this moment of Gratitude, of Influence, of Hope, Rest, Joy, Beauty, and Comfort. The whole day and message has been tied together as a bouquet and handed to me by Him, the one that I love and who loves me.
All of these qualities I need to have as reminders I am where the Lord wants me.
He is soooo good!

After church, we go up in front to pray for those in need of prayer.
One of my ladies faithfully comes forward for prayer before her weekly chemo treatments.
What a privilege to be called upon to pray for her healing. He has placed me here.
I am watching God's work in progress. ~MK~

Patroitism

My daughter recently blogged about Memorial Day and was discussing what the day meant to my Grand son.
It is always endearing to hear thoughts from your children of their impression of their Grand father.
My father was my hero.
From a young age I remember the respect that was shown to him as an officer in the Navy. How the enlisted men at the base gate would strike into attention and salute as we pulled up.

As a young man, my father was intrigued in sailing upon water. This he said was the reason for enlisting.
After Basic Training he was sent to Hawaii to Pearl Harbor. Yes he was there that fateful Sunday morning watching the Japanese dropping bombs on the fleet from under a crane where he ducked for protection.

Shortly afterward he was assigned to the USS Grenadier a submarine.
While on patrol April 21st,1943,patrolling along the Malay and Thai coasts, the Grenadier spotted and was spotted by a Japanese plane.
The sub crashed dived to 120-130feet.
Thinking that they were safe from any attack,bombs rocketed the sub and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power and lights failed completely and the fatally wounded ship settled to the bottom at 267 feet. A fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room.
After 13 hours of sweating it out on the bottom, the Grenadier managed to surface after dark to clear the boat of smoke and inspect damage.
At dawn April 22 the crew abandoned ship after destroying confidential materials.Under battle and air attack, the skipper scuttled the ship,reluctantly opening all vents, watching her sink to her final resting place.A Japanese Merchant ship picked up 8 officers and 68 enlisted men and took them to Penang, Malay States ,where they were questioned,beaten and starved before being sent to other prison of war camps.

My father ended up in Ofuna Prison camp in Japan and was a prisoner of war for two years.
All but four crew survived their two years in Japanese hands.
Upon return to the United States my father married my mother and made the Navy his career.

Throughout the years we moved around the United States and my father rose in the ranks to become skipper of several ASR, (Auxillary Submarine Rescue) Submaine Rescue Vessels. His last tour being in San Diego as the Commander of Submarine Support Facilities on Point Loma.
What a huge achievement for a young dreamer, who lived in Oklahoma, wanting to "get in a boat and float on the lake".
In discussing Memorial Day with my grand son, my daughter looked up my father's name and found information on his capture . There was also a remark written by one of my dad's shipmates later in his career. This brought pride and remembrance of how great a man my dad was, as written by a friend and co-worker.
He was awarded a Purple Heart.
He was most handsome when dressed in his dress white uniform with his ribbons and medals.
I always feel proud of our military and have patriotism for my country because of these wonderful men and women who protect and defend us.
Thanks dad, you truly are My Hero!

Looking back to the Woman I Would Become

Looking back 41 years today, I became a mother.

I was an "unwed mother". The brand that no nice girl would want to carry as a badge on her life.

Love brought life into my body,but unquestionably extreme sorrow and huge decisions that I had to make as a young adult.

I felt disconnected to my family as my parents faced their own stress and marital problems, and although they were there for me when the inevitable became obvious, I removed myself to Hawaii to prepare for the birth of my first son.

Through many hours of good council, I made the decision to give this beautiful child to a couple that desperately wished to have a baby and could not.

We were together for 9 months. I would talk to him and love him as I nurtured him within the save environment of my body
I can still remember awaking to the first birth pang, the labor and his delivery; desperately requesting to see him before they whisked him away to the nursery.

The day I signed the papers for his adoption, his father said that perhaps some day the Lord would bring him back into our lives.

What seemed like a thousand years and through inumerous tears, but with the consolation of giving that gift of life to someone else, never knowing where he was or how he was doing, life went on.
He was always there in my heart, a part of me was missing.

Just short of 25 years later, God knocked on the door of my life and presented me with the gift of my son, restored to me after so many lost years!

We were an instant match. I have never been so blessed as with that day. It was like giving birth over again.

I cannot imagine that it has been 41 years ago that I, a young woman, carried this pain, but the Lord has turned this mourning to joy, unfathomable joy, that cannot be expressed.

We have been restored mother and son.

Each one of my four children are gifts from God. They are my most precious jewels that have been given to me to guard and care for and I am thankful for motherhood and the responsibility that it carried.

They are all grown now and building lives of their own. I smile and am proud of the gift I gave someone else, the tears that fell so often, even though it hurt so much, the gift God had given me has made it all worth it.

~ A Ginger Cat ~

I always wanted a Ginger Cat to sit on my lap as I sipped tea.
One that would find me as comforting as I would he.

He would curl into a soft little ball and purr so contently when he was so small.
I would find joy in this little gift, whiskers so tickely, pink padded paws,
What sweetness and love a kitten can give.

So majestic he would become in his years of late,
as he sat in the garden by the wrought iron gate.

Just beyond my reach, I desire to touch,
a wish, a dream, a desire of such,
a beautiful, red ginger cat did appear.
It is somebody elses sweet little dear.

Listen... Do You Want To Know A Secret ?

Two weeks ago, my husband and I drove out to visit our youngest son.
He lives near Palm Springs and as we drove we saw billboards for an upcoming concert that Paul McCartney was preforming.
WOW! Paul McCartney?? Was this a dream??

It seemed out of the question that I would be able to attend this event.
I mentioned it to my son while we were visiting, thinking that Paul must be playing at one of the Casinos out there, that he could accompany me to this event and that as a son who loved his mom, he owed it to me to do this one "little thing", and that was that.
Well forgetting about the concert, Steve was listening to the radio Saturday morning and they were mentioning it and this big music festival that they have in the valley out there.
Later talking to our son, my husband mentioned it once again to our son.

Last night as we were sleeping, the telephone rang and we are shocked out of a deep sleep.
Wildly reaching for the phone, wondering who could be calling, and fearing the worst, it was our son.

Bless his heart, he was calling to share the concert with me from his i -phone!!
There was Paul's voice singing "Blackbird"! I listened through three songs, the second a song "For John", and yet another that I did not recognize.
What a wonderful thing for my son to do! I had tears in my eyes as I listened to the perfect melody and music coming through his telephone broadcast! Even my husband could hear it clearly!

You see, 45 years ago , on February 11, I was a lucky young girl who lived outside Washington D.C. My mother bought 5 tickets for me and my girlfriends to go to the very first Beatles concert in the United States!!
It was at the Washington Coliseum. The tickets cost a whopping $4.00!! Actually the ticket cost $3.73 with .27 federal tax!!
We had orchestra seats in the 5th row!!!
Yes, I was one of those screaming girls in the documentary, although I have never been able to find myself and my group of young friends.

What a wonderful experience! Don't you think that Paul might want to meet a fan from the first?
How many times has he run into someone who has been to their first American concert??

Anyone who knows Paul might ask him, as this has been a dream of mine for 45 years. You see, Paul has ALWAYS been MY favorite!! ~M~

Castle Coombe

DREAMS

Have you ever looked into a picture and said,"I want to go there"?
Feeling the romance that the picture shares. The thought that you could be walking down that lane or crossing that bridge or even walking through that door?

I had this feeling every time I walked into Kinkos to have copies made.
I did not frequent this establishment often, but on occasion I have walked in and been awe struck by a certain photograph enlarged, most certainly to advertise that they do this work there. Perhaps you have seen this photograph there.
There was never any advertisement or price quote or even a hint of where this enchanted place was, but I was enthralled with the village that was it's subject.
I never once asked anyone working there if they knew where this enchanting village could be found, and truthfully, as soon as I walked from the store, it was forgotten.

On my many hours of planing this holiday to the United Kingdom, (see previous posts), I had collected some darling drawn postcards of the south of England. They seemed so quaint and dear to me, and secretly, some day I wished to be placed in that postcard setting.
One only had to turn the card over to discover the names of these delightful wall lined lanes with their rock faced cottages, look these tiny villages up on a map and bingo find a B&B in the area where we could call home.

Nettleton Mill was just the place for us!
This place was one of those you stumble upon on the internet and wonder, is this the place?
An old mill that backed up to a gorgeous golf course and at the other end the quaint village of Castle Coombe.

The directions to Nettleton Mill were as reads: Down the road, up the lane into the dell, and up the hill. Brillant!
Are you starting to feel a bit like Alice?

The walk to Castle Coombe was through the wood and the golf course into the village lane.
Daffodils were scattered blooming throughout the grounds and in my heart I longed to pick each one and carry them in my arms. We had the entire area to ourselves to explore and enjoy. Me with my camera, Steve wishing he had some golf clubs.

The village was so charming. Not a soul was to be found on the lanes or in the fields. Perhaps it was the weather,or most worked away from their village, we do not know, but we took that walk into the village twice. It was all our own!

Some months later I needed to have some copies made at Kinkos and as I walked into the store, there was the picture I so enjoyed looking at. As I looked this time I stopped in my tracks!!
This was the very Castle Coombe, our very own village we freely wandered through without a sign of an inhabitant! We were taken there through my wish, and I didn't even know it!

I hope that you are as enthralled with the pictures as I was being there taking them.

Puddletown, England

Four years ago we traveled abroad and one of our destinations was River Cottage, Puddletown, on the River Piddle in Dorset, England.
While preparing our visit I pulled out the atlas and map of the United Kingdom and searched over the south of England to choose our holiday sites. What excitement to choose a village and not really know a thing about it. Search out B&B's and locate one just right for you to complete your dream of dreams.

One literally feels like you are Alice in Wonderland, with directions and a map in hand following lines and going through the round about, perhaps twice to get your bearings to head in the right direction. It is a wonder when you find the very spot you have been dreaming of and planning for so many months. Surprised that we actually did arrive at the place!

Ariving at River Cottage was indeed magical.
Walking through the arbour and the wonderfully green, spring garden I felt like I was visiting my best freind's home.

The garden invited me to come and sit and enjoy the Jonquils and puddleducks that waddled through the grass on their march to the flowing Piddle River meandering through the property.
There was a white pidgeon who claimed the great white bird house. It gave me the feeling of happiness here.

Our hosts made us feel at home in their home, giving us suggestions on where we might like to visit and inviting us into their livingroom, sharing the warmth of their hearth and conversation.

Once in a while I hear from Teresa in an e-mail. I like to think that we are friends across the miles. I wish that one day we could host she and Tony, her husband here at Beverly Cottage.
The garden now green and the rose arbor in full bloom reminds me of our visit to River Cottage, not so long ago, but in a dream......