ducks in a row or, you know, not

Do you ever feel like the week has just flown by and your chicks are still not lining up in long, neat rows?  Hell, the first of July is the day after tomorrow and I'm thinking an entire month has flown by and my chicks are off dancing in the grass with no conga line in sight.

:: sigh::

But hey-- what's the fuss, right?  Maybe if we sink into the rhythm of farm life we will all breathe a bit easier and feel a bit less pressed for time.  Hence my reason for sharing the video above.  It is a wee glance of Jen Elliot's lovely farm in North Sandwich, NH -- Forrest Acres.

I met Jen a number of years ago and I remember clearly what I said, "how does it feel to be the mother of a future president of the united states?"  You see, her son Forrest was a huge help to me and to Squam in the early years when I lived in Sandwich and I am lifelong member of his fan club. (For those of you at the Squam Art Fair Saturday night in June-- you might have noticed Forrest helping out at the raffle booth).

Jen has recently launched a beautiful knitting & yarn shop in Center Sandwich:  Lupine Blossoms Fiber Arts. 

It's a marvelous place that provides a venue for local fiber farms to sell their products and for fiber enthusiasts of all abilities to learn about wool processing from the farm to finished product.

Local wool fibers and yarns, luxury yarns, patterns, notions, spinning wheels, looms, fiber processing equipment, and local hand made gifts are offered for sale-- there's even custom spinning services, lessons and workshops.

Everyone who came to Squam in June was gifted with a lovely skein of yarn thanks to Lupine Blossoms and I thought it would be so fun to say thanks and have an excuse to watch chickens and sheep and butterflies.

photo credit:  Forrest Elliot

:: :: :: ::

In other happy news, we finally have posted all the extra goodness of activities, workshops and whatnot going on this September at our fifth year anniversary gathering.  There will be not one, but two fabulous writing workshops Saturday morning as well as a book discussion Saturday afternoon, for the first time ever THAI MASSAGE will be available (only a few sessions, so first-come first-served), there will be gorgeous yoga set up around the beautiful fireplace in Deephaven Dining Hall, and we have a fabulous OPEN STUDIO space brimming with art supplies for you that will be open from 9 am - 4pm on Saturday where you can hang with friends, play, and practice all the wonderful techniques you learned in classes.

Whew.  Probably best I don't tell you about the celebrations happening Friday night and Saturday afternoon-- I don't want to overwhelm you with goodness.  But then again, the question I love to ask . . . how much pleasure can you take?

Here's wishing you a sweet weekend with lots of ease and laughter.

bisous, e