family – Page 24 – Karla's Cottage

Florida Friends with Flowing Paint and eating from field to fork

Books, celebrations, dogs, family, Food and Drink, guncles, paintings

By Karla Nathan / September 20, 2018

While Karen, Regina, and Randy were here from Florida, we got together at the Cottage for some flow painting. I showed them how to make an ocean scene.

And we made some book covers.

They all got messy with me, and we poured paints in the garage.

This is a "swipe" technique. The colors go on over black paint, then more black paint is drizzled over it, and swiped across to make a pretty design. The paint needs to dry for a while, when it is done, I'll assemble the books, and show you how it turned out.

Here is Guncle Randy's other painting.

WOW.

I love it.

I wonder if he will notice if it isn't in the box I am mailing to him when the paint dries….

I'd planned a lunch for us and was happy to have a chance to use the fall tablecloth that I found at the flea market we all shopped at.

We had beef pot pie with puff pastry, salad, and rosemary garlic bread fresh from the oven.

With "paint pour" cupcakes for dessert.

But that wasn't it for the day…

Karen started her morning at 4am, dove hunting at the camp we had been visiting.

She brought them along to clean and gifted us with a whole flock.

It is not something I've ever done before, but intriguing. There is definitely a bonus to a meal that you have hand crafted, whether from garden to table or from field to fork.

And well worth it, those doves were tender and delicious! We soaked them in salt water for 24 hours, before marinating in Italian dressing.

While the dove breasts soaked up the flavors, we took a Labor Day spin out on the lake.

After boating, I wrapped the breasts in bacon, and my husband slow cooked them on the grill. We served it with a cauliflower mash, asparagus, fresh made bread, and a salad featuring tomatoes just picked from the garden.

Thanks, for being such a great shot, Karen! And for sharing your bounty!

Good friends, good lodgings, and goofiness

family, friends, games, guncles, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 9, 2018

Foofy, gorgeous, girly, Karen, is also an avid hunter and outdoors woman. She turkey hunts at Rawhide Camp Outfitters

It is in a beautiful setting, on a bluff overlooking a bend in the Missouri River.

And it just so happens to be a hop, skip, and a mini jump, down the road from my favorite flea, at Sparks, KS.

Since flea market season and hunting season do not coincide, she stays at the camp in August to go shopping, and is kind to invite some friends along for the trip. This is my second year there with her and I hope, not the last.

Some Birdsong friends, local and from far away, gathered to enjoy the hospitality of the home. We were all spoiled by Tracy's cooking, did some crafting, some shopping, lots of laughing, and maybe drank a bit of wine…

Angie gifted us with a vintage craft pack, and Beth made up a Flea Market Survival Kit, with wet wipes, mints, and tissues.

The home is owned by a super nice family, some of whom came by to visit.

The rooms are filled with trophies, and has a distinct hunting theme.

There are "sheds" everywhere. I was going to say hundreds, but I'll bet it is more like thousands.

This guy was our crating, buddy and watched over the table we worked at.

You can tell by the surroundings that the place is probably more used to Turkey and Deer Hunters than Vintage Junk Hunters.

I thought it was pretty clever, to use one of their empties for a soap dispenser. And to top off the popcorn with a light bulb when there was no lid for the jar.

And yes, there were plenty of empties…. NO, these were NOT ours. Like I said, we were daintily sipping wine.

And honestly, not that much wine…. goofiness sometimes just occurs when the opportunity arises.

And then it escalates a little bit.

Well, maybe more than a little.

See?

This is the room that Guncle Randy and I shared. I am lucky enough to have been a guest in the Crown Royal Suite two years in a row. I felt like a princess.

The views were dreamy.

I had a feeling that I wasn't in Kansas anymore.

It was the best!! Thank you Karen, and thank you to the Whetstines for hosting this fun filled getaway!!

The Pet Butler at the Flea Market

dogs, family, guncles

By Karla Nathan / September 6, 2018

Any place I go with Guncle Randy, he makes friends. He has always been so charming and interested in people that they are irresistibly drawn to him.

At the Sparks Flea Market he was visiting his brand new best friends more than he was looking at the goods for sale.

It isn't only humans that gravitate to his presence, all the 4 legged shoppers wanted to visit too.

As well as the 3 legged ones.

I can see why his business, Randy the Pet Butler, has grown since he began it not that long ago. He loves all the furry friends that he comes across.

He has been known to pet sit more than just dogs, of course, but I don't know if he has taken on piggies yet.

Although, if he did, it looks like they would welcome his care.

These piglets were for sale at the flea market, and we spent as much time squealing over their cuteness as we did shopping. I was sooooooo tempted to bring one back with me.

But, as sweet as Sugar is, I doubt if she would be all that nice to a new pig brother or sister. Or would appreciate the motto on the sign with the pigs for sale,

"Pigs are for LOVIN, not for the oven."

She was head over heels for her Guncle, and slept with him every night that he was here. When he left, she was searching everywhere for him at bedtime. He affects everyone that way, whether they have 2, 3, or 4 legs. We all want some Randy time!

I miss him too, Shuggie.

A Woodland Fairy Themed Birthday Party

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 1, 2018

Sugarwings hosted her 12th birthday party at her family's Kismet Farm. She, her sister, and I set up the cake table, and I brought a few of my things to use, as well as a stack of paper butterflies I'd gotten at an estate sale for a couple of bucks.

(I wish I'd gotten a photo of the cake her mom made, it was really something special! That lady has a magic touch with cake decor)

To go along with the woodland theme, the kids and I walked to the treeline and we gathered grapevine hanging from the trees, to craft fairy crowns and dream catchers from them.

There was a nature walk and scavenger hunt, time to play on a swing, then a picnic.

The kids got to do a circus workshop and learn some tricks.

And of course, we had marshmallows to roast for s'mores!

Our Hippy Chick brought a pile of hula hoops too.

But in my opinion, the best part of a party is to just let the kids play outside and have all the fun they can make for themselves.

There was camping for those who wanted to sleep overnight in tents, so the party favors were LED glow sticks and flashlights to play with after dark.

Walmart has these mini lights for $1 each.

We also gave out necklaces that Sugarwings and I made, using paint pours.

The cake table was outside against the covered patio wall, and we hung odds and ends of fabric remnants and curtains behind it, then layered old tablecloths and burlap onto it. The butterflies were pinned to the fabric and it was a pretty simple set up to create and to take down. I brought serving pieces that I already had, along with the $2 pack of butterflies, so we didn't put any money into the decor at all.

I didn't get a photo of the table with the cake or punch on it, but the cake was so cute. And the punch was berry juice mixed with lemonade. Sugarwings and I sliced up fruit and froze it into bowls of lemonade to make pretty ice that wouldn't dilute the punch as it melted.

What a nice evening!!

A Woodland Scavenger Hunt for a Birthday Party

celebrations, family, flowers, games, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / August 31, 2018

My son and his family now have a 13 acre home in the woods, and I think Sugarwings loves it out there more than anyone. So, when it was time to plan a party for her 12th birthday, this is where she wanted to have it. She suggested a nature walk as part of the activities and I made up a scavenger hunt list (spelling her name) for the kids to take on the walk.

Her dad mowed the trails ahead of time, and we walked along them to explore the woods.

It is a pretty time of year and there was a lot to see along the way.

Sugarwings stapled the list to sandwich bags for the participants to fill with their finds.

I was struck by how beautiful the trails were, and what a wonderful piece of property he'd found. He has been working on cleaning it up and making it a retreat for yoga, permaculture, and other workshops in the future and I'm looking forward to seeing this land become a growing business as well as a home.

And to watch the grand fairies grow up in the woods.

Even more so, after seeing how some of the "city kids" who came to the party reacted to being there. Many seemed unsure of how to handle themselves walking along a trail and few were able to find the items on the list.

All of my family spends so much time connecting to nature that it didn't occur to me that some kids were uncomfortable in it and happier on their iPhones than running through the trees.

One thing I noticed that made me happy, was that every kid did find a "TREASURE" from the list on the bags. They might not be used to woodland walks and seeing the details in nature, but they could still connect enough to know that an acorn, a rock with sparkles on it, or an empty snail shell was truly a treasure to find and keep.

And it made me so happy to know that our grand fairies, while they love screens and devices, like most of us in this world, still love being in the woods and the magic of finding a leaf with a hole in it and peeking through that peephole.

Lake time with Mr. Ray

family

By Karla Nathan / August 22, 2018

This summer has been HOT.

And DRY.

And things were looking brown.

It has almost been too hot to do much boating. But here it is, mid August, and we get unexpectedly, lovely weather, with some more mild temps, then much needed rain. I've had my windows open for fresh air, and have loved every minute of the breezes.

Before the rain began, we took advantage of the pretty day by spending an entire Saturday out on the water, staying out till darkness came, with just a small break to leave the boat and go downtown for lunch.

No picnic to pack, no mess to clean up, I was thrilled with just how perfect that can make a boating adventure. Normally, a lot of time goes into chopping, packing coolers, and serving a meal on the lake. This was so much easier, and more pleasant.

We had a new tube, that fits five people, or as here, 3 plus a dog. Twinkle loves tubing, "Grammie Style" which is barely fast enough to break a wake. She was a happy dog that day, enjoying every minute of her time out there. Her doggie grin was almost as big as mine.

But not as big as Ray's.

Ray is what we named him because he reminded us of Mr. Ray from Finding Nemo.

And then it was over….

family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 19, 2018

Somehow, summer is gone. Well, not the heat, and August is still here, but Sugarwings has started JR HIGH and Dewdrop has headed to NC to attend school there and be with her mom.

We tried to jam as much fun into the season as we can, so why am I so down? Except for an illness or two that slowed me, it was a lovely summer break with my grand fairies.

Somehow, I feel like it whooshed by me and I missed out on lots of things we wanted to do. I had travel plans and outings that never happened. But we did go to Topeka a few times to the Discovery Center, Zoo, and park.

And any place I go is fun with these two.

We went to Michaels Kid's Craft days so many times we were practically regulars.

And had plenty of craft days at home. Sometimes I think I have waaaayyyy too many craft supplies, until I look at the grand fairys' stash… They don't really need to go to Michaels for Kid's Craft days, but there is always a special feeling when you use new tools or learn a trick or two, especially in a setting with other creative people.

Although, they are perfectly happy hanging out in the garage and pour painting with me. Sugarwings is redoing her bedroom with the paintings she has made this summer.

One of my plans that didn't materialize was to go to the Omaha Zoo. I've been trying to get there for years now. I shouldn't feel bad about not getting to take them there, because every day with these sprites is like a day at the zoo. They are a fun couple of monkeys.

We've seen every kid movie that came out, we've gone to plays, and boating. We've gone through buckets and buckets of water balloons. Hours and hours and hours were spent in the studio watching the Disney channel and creating art.

It has been a very good summer.

But it simply was not long enough. I just want to hang onto these seasons with them as tightly as I can, but reality gets in the way, doesn't it?

Being a grandmother means knowing exactly how fast childhood spins away into adulthood, since we have lived through it once before.

Summer Fun

Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 3, 2018

The Grand Fairies and I had a little hitch in our summer plans, with my inner ear issues. We had to cut back a smidge.

Finally, I was able to get out of the house (and felt like I'd crawled out of a dark pit, after so long of feeling bad). They'd kept me company while I was down, we watched some baking competition shows and had our own contests with playdoh creations, and some ice cream concoctions. We had fun, but desperately needed a day out, I'd been in front of the TV for far too long.

So, when I finally felt up to driving, we headed to the zoo. And spent about 8 hours there.

It is a small zoo, too.

And we didn't even see all of it. But what we did do, we did thoroughly! We spent lots of time on the things we enjoyed, lingered over lunch while watching a baby giraffe, and they spent some time in the kids' zone, while I relaxed on a shady park bench with a good book.

The water flume where treasure hunters could mine for gemstones in bags of sand and gravel was a big hit. We also discovered that not all of the other kids were as dedicated to nabbing every last stone, and dropped quite a few in the mulch or in the bottom of the rushing water. Over the course of the afternoon, Sugarwings found as many crystals in the mulch as she did in the bag of dirt we purchased.

Yep, she was pretty into it.

We met some new friends too.

It was just the day out that I needed.

Van Go

celebrations, family, Sacred Circus

By Karla Nathan / July 26, 2018

Our town is lucky to have an organization like Van Go. Here is a snippet from their website that will explain them better than I can:

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

Our Mission

Our Mission: To improve the lives of high-needs youth using art as the vehicle for self-expression, self-confidence, and hope for the future.

Van Go is an arts-based, social service agency that employs at-risk youth ages 14-24, to make public works of art that are sold in the community. It’s holistic, year-round programming uses the ARTS to deliver in-depth mental health support, job training, health nutrition education, and life skills lessons. Van Go’s nationally recognized programming gives troubled teens a job, real world skills and opportunity to succeed.

A new camera!!!

family, photography

By Karla Nathan / July 14, 2018

Before my head decided to spin for a week, I bought a new camera. Well, actually, it is a phone, but who cares about that part, it is a great camera!!!!!!! I'd been wanting an iPhone 8 plus for a while, but my current phone didn't need replacing.

It was just too hard to justify that expense when it was just for an upgrade that I didn't really need.

Then, my husband was having issues with his phone, and it was no longer being furnished by his company, we were responsible for getting a new one. (hmm, that was causing a slight, bitter taste in the back of my mouth, he could care less about cameras and didn't even want a new one. I'd been day dreaming about getting one for a year or so, now we needed to pay for one for him).

I found out that my youngest boy and Katie Tree had trouble with service at their place. Plus, his phone had broken.

Since they'd moved to the country, they had no coverage and had to drive to town to make a call.

So, when I saw that AT&T had a sale where you get one iPhone free if you buy one and add a line… BINGO!

We added a line for the country mice, bought my husband the new phone he needed, and I got the totally FREE camera (I mean phone) that I'd been drooling over for months.

No guilt about replacing my old one, it got shuffled down to Miss Tree, hers went to her hubby, and with the change to AT&T instead of Verizon, they no longer have to head down the gravel road to make a call. Service is available from the comfort of their home.

And I'm thrilled with the portrait setting, all of these pics except the one of the house were taken with the new iPhone 8 plus. Nice, huh?