what would Beatrix wear?

Hello there, my dear ones!
As I mentioned in my previous post we've been enjoying somewhat cooler Springtime weather lately. This sort of cool & rainy weather always makes me think of Beatrix Potter. I like to imagine that this is what the weather she experienced in her beloved Lake District was like.

My apparel is oft times inspired by the weather.
{And I don't just mean by what the mercury reads - though that is a big factor.}
Say it's the middle of Summer & the sort of day you could envision yourself at a county fair eating funnel cake, sipping a lemon shake-up, & admiring the livestock.
I'll go for the farmgirl goes to town look. {Think Jeanne Crain in State Fair}
Or if it's a crisp Autumnal day fit for an apple picking. A couple scenes from
Anne of Green Gables might ramble around in my head and spark an outfit idea.
Or if it's a bitterly cold day of Winter when the sun hides behind clouds & the wind whips relentlessly through the barren branches, I may wear an ensemble that heavily features wool
inspired by Helen from All Creatures Great & Small.

Well, good ol' Beatrix was the inspiration for this particular ensemble.
I thought to myself as I smiled out the window at the delightfully gloomy grey sky,
"What would Beatrix wear if she'd been born in this time?"
Here is my answer. :)

 

A feminine hairstyle, wooly goodness, & earthtones combine for a look that is unmistakably Beatrix.
~*~
Outfit details:

~*~ Dress: Thrifted ~*~

~*~ Sweater: Handmade by me ~*~

~*~ Tights: Wal-Mart ~*~

~*~ Shoes: Thrifted {Clarks} ~*~

~*~ Necklace & Earrings: LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls {No longer available} ~*~

~*~ Scarf {in hair}: Thrifted ~*~

 





I think Mr. McGregor would heartily approve of my little trowel earrings. I'm so fond of Kohls' Lauren Conrad jewelry. Well, lots of the clothing too, but the jewelry in particular. Her jewelry is always so delicate & lovely. It more often than not will be rather kitschy too! I have a necklace with an antique sewing machine charm, pink ladybug earrings, vintage camera earrings, & a little pink teacup on a necklace - just to name a few! Since I love to play in the dirt er garden I get quite a kick out of these little trowels dangling from my ears. ;)
 

These brown suede oxford booties were quite a find for just $3 at my favorite thrift store. Oddly enough they are not my size, {a size & a half too small} but they fit quite well & are very comfortable. Perhaps they are incorrectly sized & that's how such a nice pair of shoes found themselves at a thrift store. In any case I'm so grateful to have them. I think they lend themselves well to the 1930s look in addition to my Beatrix attire.

 



My brown wool cabled cardigan is so snuggly warm. It was my very first cable project - made around 5 years ago. It's made of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Nature's Brown using this pattern. (I never made the sash that is supposed to go with it. I just wear it open.) It's a terribly useful sweater & I wear it quite a lot in the coldest weather. Having already acclimated to the warmer weather we had been having I was thankful to be able to pull out this old friend to chase the chills away.

 



While I had the camera out I simply couldn't resist taking pictures of the lilacs & the chickens.

You don't mind do you?
The chickens always hastily run up to the fence when they see me coming - they must assume I come bearing food. Unfortunately for them I only came bearing that shiny black doohickey that makes beeping sounds this time. That's Freckles the Speckled Sussex, Pepper the Barred Rock, & Oswald the Rooster {I think he's an Ameraucana, but I'm not sure.} You can just see Philippa the Ameraucana in the background & the ducks at a safe distance. They still don't quite trust me as they were a few weeks old by the time I got them from a friend.

 

I think one reason I really find a kindred spirit in Beatrix is because of her love for the country.
I recently watched the episode of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends featuring The Tale of Johnny Town-mouse. The story is the classic tale of a town mouse & a country mouse experiencing each other's way of living & each much preferring their own.  One line {a direct quote from the book} at the end of that sweet little cartoon caught my attention.

 "One place suits one person, another place suits another person.
For my part I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie."
~Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

To which I give a hearty "Hear, hear!"
Much like Beatrix, I wasn't raised in the country. I lived in a small town until I was 17. When we moved to the country I just felt it was home. {Though, I loved that little town & still do.} Perhaps it is because I have Farmer in my blood on my Mom's side that I love the country so...

~*~
 

Well, I'm planning this as an ongoing post series to feature other
"what would         wear?" outfits every so often.
More than likely featuring some of the aforementioned characters!

 

~*~

 

Does the weather inspire your attire?

 

Is there a person or character you're particularly inspired by?

Do you prefer the town or the country?

 

{Photos by me. Taken sheepishly with the timer.

 Hoping my family wasn't looking out the window & rolling their eyes.}

say hello to my little friends...

Here's another sure sign of Spring - little baby chicks!
 



 

Well, once again I didn't get any outfit pics taken this past week.

Kels & I had the best of intentions, but we got distracted...by garage sales...

So in lieu of a 1940s inspired thrifted outfit here are my newest feathered friends. :D

These six little cuties will lay lovely brown eggs in just a few months time!

I bought them Sunday at our local TSC while picking up the feed for my flock.

They had some little baby mallard ducklings as well, which were pretty hard to resist, but I did! ;) I can't remember the name of these lil chickies' breed, but I think the gal there said they are a cross between Rhone Island Reds & White Rocks. She said they'll be brownish - can't wait to see what they look like when they're grown. I need to start thinking of suitable names. Though I may have to wait until their personalities er chickenalities start to develop to give them appropriate names. :) I already have a Philippa, Lillie-white, Freckles, Pepper, Snowy, & Oswald {the rooster}.

That night our electricity went out! Eek! One essential of chick keeping is a heat lamp. When they don't have Momma Hen to keep them warm they need the constant source of warmth that a heat lamp provides. Thankfully we have a generator. Although it runs on gas & only had enough of that stuff to last until about 9:00 PM. I had brought them into the basement {from the outbuilding I had been keeping them in} so they'd be warmer. Praise the Lord the power came back on at about 11 so they only had to go about 2 hours sans heat lamp.

They're all warm & cheerful today!

~*~

Now for some random bits...

The newest blooming beauties around here a lilacs & wild bluebells.

I made this bouquet {a mix of bought & homegrown flowers} to take to church & now I get to enjoy it in my room. I wish I could attach the scent for you all to enjoy!

{Removing all allergens, of course, for those of you who suffer from them.}

{Lovely Lilacs}

 {Beautiful Bluebells}

 

Isn't this dish towel just the cutest? It's from Kohl's. They have some pretty cute home wares.

 

I got this yellow Lu-Ray Pastels platter recently at a garage sale for $1.50! Woo-hoo!

 I like to collect pastel dishes whenever I find them for a super deal. I have some Shenandoah & Moderntone pieces as well. {You can see some in the photo below!} It's so fun how they all mix & match since they were made in similar eras. The few Cath Kidston dishes I have go so well too. 

 

 

The past couple days we've had rather chillier weather than the weeks before.

A nice cuppa {tea} & something sweet to eat is just what the doctor ordered.

{Well, actually there's no need to mention this to the doctor...we'll keep this just between us.} ;)

You can find the recipe for these yummy lemon bars in this post.

 

~*~

 Here is what I've been working on lately!

 

{A recent custom embroidery order. All in mint green!}

I've just the sewing up to do on this knitted gift for my cousin's baby girl.

Isn't that color delicious? It's my very favorite to use for baby girl gifts - such a vintage baby pink. {It's Knit Picks' Flamingo.} This is one of the colors I've picked out for my Summery cotton version of "Your Victory Jumper".  If I ever finish the original one, that is! ;)

~*~

 

 Any suggestions for names for my new baby hens?

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

What do you collect?

{Photos by this girl!}

april showers & flowers...

Well, Spring has officially sprung in my neck of the woods!

They {the woods} are just bursting with new life!

I always anxiously await the appearance of my favorite little woodland flower -

Dutchman's Britches {or Breeches actually but we always pronounced it the other way}.

They are related to Bleeding Hearts which I've always been fond of as well. Note how the middle stem is slightly more pink that the others & these blooms have the slightest pink tinge as well. Interesting, n'est-ce pas?

When I was a little girl I thought they were called London Bridges & figured these sweet flowers must be what that song was all about! ;)

Don't they just look like little fairies' drawers hung out to dry?

 

Here is a wee "forest" of May Apples 

like so many little umbrellas opening to shield small animals from Spring showers. 

Next month they will have a little fruit (hence their name) under their foliage.

The fruit is edible, though I never have tried. Maybe I will this year! I have a field guide on edible wild plants for my area, and they suggest making a jam or jelly from them.
It's worth a try!

 



 

I ventured deeper into the woods to get some more photos.

One must wear their wellies this time of the year! 



 

I believe these are called Bloodroot. 

They are named this because the liquid inside their stem is red at the root. I'll have you know I had to get a little to close for comfort to a spider to get that shot, so you had better enjoy it!

You're welcome. ;)

 

To my extreme delight, while I was deep in the forest, it started to rain ever so softly.

 



There was no way I could capture the pure enchantment of the sweet Springtime shower with photos alone. Thankfully my camera also has a video option! So here is my first attempt as a videographer. :)
 

 

 



 

If you look closely at the photo above you can see a bumblebee enjoying something sweet from a Dutchman's Breeches bloom. Bumblebees are such cute little fuzzy creatures. I had the hardest time getting a pic of the little stinker! As soon as I got close enough for a good shot she was off again buzzing near & far. Mostly far because I lost sight of her after this shot was taken.

 

~*~

 

These next photos were taken a day later around the yard.

That morning we were blessed with another lovely April shower that moved on as quickly & quietly as it had appeared and left a glorious sunshiny day. I was even able to hang out my wash!

That sort of weather always makes me think of the song Perfect Day

from The World of Peter Rabbit & Friends. I actually found a CD of that soundtrack on eBay. It came free with a VHS of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I just love the music from those sweet cartoons so I was elated to find it. {For a great deal too which always makes me happy!}



 

 

Beautiful cherry blossoms against a blue sky.

This is an old cherry tree & the cherries are quite too high to reach.

They're very small too so they'd be quite a chore to pit with not much to show for you efforts.

The birdies put them to good use though! :)

The tree grows right by the chicken pen so whatever cherries happen to fall to the ground are immediately devoured by a frenzy of squawking foul.

It's more entertaining than most things on the telly I can assure you! ;)

 



 

These daffodils above were a birthday gift last year from my dear friend Taylor Ella.

She knows that daffs are my favorite Springtime bulb. They're just so sunshiny!

 

 

These little wild violets grow simply everywhere around our yard in the Spring.

 



 

These little cuties are now on my bedside table.

 

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.

His going forth is as certain as the dawn;

And He will come to us like the rain,

Like the spring rain watering the earth."

Hosea 6:3

{NASB}

 

~*~

 

Also, I was featured on the Modest Fashion Network again - this time front and center!
You can read the post here.

Thank you MFN!

~*~

 

What's your favorite Springtime flower?

 

Do you enjoy a lovely April shower?

 

Have you seen those Beatrix Potter cartoons?

 



{Photos by Yours Truly}

Profoundly Loved Blog Party q&a...

That sweet as sugar gal, Jessica, from Chronically Vintage
very kindly nominated me to take part in

The Profoundly Loved Blog Party.
I am to answer these 7 questions
and then nominate some others to answer them as well.

This is the first of that sort of thing I've been involved in so bear with me! ;)

 

1. Tell me about something you love and why?

Tea!

 A nice hot cup of tea with plenty of cream (well, half & half actually) in a pretty cup.
It's relaxation in a cup that's why!

 

 

2. What is one thing you do that makes you feel like "I could do this forever"?

 Investing in the lives of little ones.

I don't have any children of my own,
{I would absolutely love to have some one day, if the Lord wills!}
but I have 2 nieces & 3 nephews (& 1 little stranger on the way!) that I dearly love.
I'm also very involved with the little ones at my church.
A friend & I lead the children's choir,
and I help with the Jr. Youth Group which consists of young'uns ages 5 to 12.
I've always had a great fondness for children.
{Perhaps because I can act rather like one still, myself!} ;)
One's involvement in children's lives can have such a dramatic impact whether for good or bad.
I'm just so thankful to be able to do anything I can to encourage these wee ones
to love the Lord their God with all their heart. They're only little for a very short time.

 

3. What do you love about yourself?
 

 I'm a helper!

I've been told (& I think I agree) that God has given me the gift of helps or serving.
I just thoroughly enjoy helping out or serving other people. It gives me great joy!
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Let me wash your dishes for you!
Are you just plumb tuckered after working all day? Sit down, I'll fix you a cup of coffee!
You're moving into a new home? Let me help you paint!

 

4. What advice would you give to someone who doesn’t believe he/she is beautiful?

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
In my experience the people I find the most lovely may not always have the most attractive physical attributes. What makes them beautiful to me is their kindness, caring concern for others, & love.
Oft times a technically good looking person can appear downright ugly to me if they're completely filled with selfishness. Those only concerned with themselves with little to no thought for the well being of others in their path are hideous to me. Here are a couple verses that I think of in this matter:

"What is desirable in a man is his kindness" Proverbs 19:22a

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

 

5. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received about confidence?

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31
Ya can't get much more confidence than that!

 

6. If you were your own daughter/son, what important things would you tell yourself/them?

Wow, it's really hard to think of just one thing...
After some consideration what leaps to mind is
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."
Proverbs 29:25

We had a study on this subject once & one statement that the teacher made really stuck with me.
It was something like this: If we fear God then there is nothing else to fear.
(Fearing God meaning reverential respect & obedience.)
I would want my son or daughter (or me!) not to fear anything or anyone on this Earth.
Safe in the knowledge that they were bought with the precious blood of Christ,
and no one can snatch them (me) out of His hand.
(Which really ties in with the question 5's answer too!)

 

7. A verse, poem, sonnet, ancient-old proverb that inspires you to love yourself and others?

 Well I've already shared oodles of verses! haha! Here is a terrific passage on love.
 

 1 John 4:7-11
 

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  
In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through Him.  
In this is love, not that we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Well that's all folks as far as the q&a goes.
Now I'm supposed to nominate a few more people to take part in this par-tay!
I'd like to nominate:

Lily of Mode de Lis

Sarah of Lilacs and Springtime

Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose

Now gals, if this just isn't your thing & you don't want to participate - no sweat!
It won't hurt my feelings at all if you don't want to do this.
But, if you do I can't wait to read your answers!

Have a lovely day, my friends.

{Click on photos for Pinterest source.}

Modest Fashion Weekly Digest 4-5-15...

Hey look! I was featured on Modest Fashion Weekly Digest 4-5-15!
See those Miss L Fire shod feet? Those are mine! :D
Below is the post from Modest Fashion Digest.

Hoorah! It is finally getting warmer and the colors all around us brighter! The same goes for our moods and the clothing we wear! This week’s digest will be full of fun and colorful spring outfits from fellow bloggers. Say hello to the new faces who are joining us for the first time! If you have a tablet, go read these wonderful posts outdoors:

• The Atlantic: How the Internet Made Modest Fashion Cool
• Delightful Handwork: beach belle sweater & new shoes
• Minnie Muse: Confessions of a Fashion Blogger / Motivation & Pops of Patriotism
• Modest Budgetbelle: Modest Easter Outfits
• Natural411: Curly Christian: Sunday Grace. ..It’s all worth it!

Modest Fashion Network is a brand new global community for fashionistas who honor their bodies by clothing themselves with dignity and purity.
If you’d like to be part of our weekly digest, head on over to Modest Fashion Network to apply and submit your blog posts every week.
Please visit our sponsors: Attitudes to Women in Tech – Adina Designs (Where creativity, style, and dignity meet) – Deadly Vows by Robert Marsh (Amazon book)