Taking a Sabbatical.....

2 posts in one day but I had contemplated which one I would do. I have posted both with this one nudging me to just do it.

In recent times, "sabbatical" has come to mean any extended absence in the career of an individual in order to achieve something. In the modern sense, one takes sabbatical typically to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or travel extensively for research.

So that is where things have led for me.

I'm not sure where I go from here but after 5 years I need to walk away for a while.

It has been a consideration for some time but I kept pulling away from the idea. After a wonderful heart to heart with The Captain I feel it is the best thing to do.

If you do not already subscribe to my blog, receiving it as an email, and wish to be alerted on future posts & news, then please do so now.

See ya around.

Sweet dreams,

~Tammie

Oh and I might turn off all comments at some point since I will not be checking email as often as I have in the past. Just a heads up.

moments in time..

An amazing encounter with a fawn in our backyard, walking right up to me:

Standing within 10 ft before scared off when the children began coming out the back door:

The next day we took advantage of the clear yet over cast day, & spent it enjoying Lake Erie beach. The waves were a bit choppy, but I knew a spot that I call "the lake lagoon", which pours out into Lake Erie.

We hunted for Beach glass and Heart shaped rocks, walking away with a few nice pieces.

Now for some not so great moments..... Feel free to skip it.

The Spring has been off the charts crazy. I am sick of the constant rains & all that has come as a result from it. On top of that I have been trying to come up with solutions to a situation a company has put me in. They are not a sponsor for the videos but were going to be one of them. After months of promises they back out last minute leaving me dry on the promises I have made to others no time to get things done in time. And I mean back out as in not returning my phone calls or emails after multiple conversations confirming they would supply the main needed items for the small scale grain growing series. They are a well known company and are into the organic movement. A company I will not publicly oust but...SHAME ON YOU. I have kept mum on this in hopes I would find a last minute sponsor but have come up dry. Now I must alter things that will also bring the end of the videos. Calling it frustrating is being kind.

I'm working towards some more changes {when am I not doing so} and FINALLY have some answers and Cooperation with the captain. Hopefully the nudge {O.k more like a grab the bull by the coononies}will stop the circle we keep running.

Anyone looking for a mid level management guy with a B.A in industrial logistics & 11 yrs exp that actually pays good?
Man this job market gets harder and harder with each passing year. Thankfully the horizon has been opened to include the Carolina's.

More rains coming this entire week so I'm evaluating the supplies and planning the new creations.

Sweeter dreams,

~Tammie

Join me down the Rabbit hole...

Imagination. Fantasy.  Enchantment & Whimsy. From the freedom to roam, romp & play as a child to the magical moments that very well may take your breath away. A perception so unique to the individual that others who might share the "space", may very well not be able to feel or see as you do & have.

Children, unlike adults, do not have the inhibition's. Maybe not as many children as there once were, but, it is the place adults need to nurture for the joys of childhood. Playing with a child, they envelope you within their world. You can "see" the non see-ables. You can hear the "silence". YOU... are in their WONDERLAND.

I have not lost my child self. She still climbs trees & swings her sword. Fortunately, I have 3 other children to keep her alive. That's where my love of costume making can come into play.

So what has all this rambling & Jibberish have to do with today's post?

I have been coveting all these wonderful mini top hats & fascinators that have been trending for some time now.

Picture of items made by Topsy Turvy Designs via Styleamor

{Styleamor, linked above, has a very nice post from 2009 on the mini hat and fascinator trend surge}

I fell in love with the whimsy Vintage inspired accessories, searching for more styles online. So I got in the zone, looked up a few tutorials that eventually formed the outcome of the Felt Top hat and my burnt edge fabric flower.

I'm rather content with how it came out, being my first try at this whole Hat stuff.

  Is it wrong to have enjoyed playing with the candle, burning the edges of the fabric

flower? Kinda soothing during the wee hours of the morn.

I whipped this mini top hat up for the purpose of Camera fun with Frog & Panda. I still have a few more to play with as well as some of those fun Feather fascinators! Think of all the fun Tea parties these could accompany! The different outfits and locations fueling more inspiration!

 I'm thinking up some Fun style Ties for Lil man & a few other whimsy Boy theme additions as well. So many Photo ideas flying through my mind, I just HAVE to satisfy them while I can.

Are you feeling inspired for some crafty fun but prefer them in fabric with cardboard?

Then check out this easy version of the Mad Hatter mini top hat can be found here:

http://diyfashion.about.com/od/diyhats/ss/Make_a_Top_Hat.htm

Mine is made from felt squares which I shaped on a Mayo Jar. Yep. An old school mayo jar, a blow dryer and some watered down Elmer glue. If you prefer the felt version, then just do a search for how to shape & stretch Felt into a hat formation. Even the subject of fabric flowers will bring plaenty of How to's.

 If your coveting the Mini top hat & Fascinator look but do not have the Craftability, I Suggest checking out Topsy Turvy linked above for adult size but if your looking for mini size, I say head over to Lisa's mini Mad Hattery. The original start to my must have desire for a mini Hat.

Sunny Dreams,

~Tammie

Calling all shutterbugs!

Just a heads up to the amazing, heart throbbing, leave me dreaming Giveaway over at the Soulographer.
Blog Giveaway link : http://www.soulographer.com/

Can ya tell I am oh so stoked for the chance to win?!

Of Late, my thoughts have focused on Photography. I even DREAM about it! Finding Skye Hardwick Edmonds has sent my inspiration into a whole new realm.Her Work as a Childrens photographer is top notch!  Seeing all the talented and amazing people who are participating in the giveaway has made for some enjoyable Rainy day down time. The laundry may be lacking but when I get to it, I now have plenty to entertain my thoughts.

I envy the winner of the prizes. Skye's professional experience Workbook with posing guide, the Photo editing actions. The brilliant accessory & prop option delights and so much more.

So what are you waiting for? Take your creative Photography to the next level and Check out the Soulographer and the participating companies in the giveaway! {oh, should you have problems getting the page to load, try using an alternitive browser connection like Firefox. You can also check out more on her Work of Heart project on the Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=467068d04b04df941708ef947760c2cf&#!/Soulographer?sk=info   }

Sunny Dreams,

~Tammie

Blind as a ...Mole?

Moles are considered a pest in most Countries due to their shallow tunneling of the earth. Lawns can be destroyed, garden plants left dead from the root disturbance and  other species such as weasels and voles may use mole tunnels to gain access to enclosed areas or plant roots. Contrary to popular belief, moles do not eat plant roots.

Over all, not something positive to find just 10 ft from my garden.
*Post Correction: Thank you to Secret Creek who shared with me these are not moles, but rather Voles. Something I had never known on what the difference is between them, nor seen a picture identifying the difference. She shared: "These babies are Voles...see the rodent looking feet. They live above ground like mice..just a bit bigger than a mouse. Moles have almost no eyeball either."
Thank you Secret Creek for the correction. {Hopefully I'm not the only oddball in the room who never knew the difference. lol}

We were working on the last part of my garden fencing when The Captain lifted one section revealing a Garter snake. O.K, no big deal. Just let our Lil Man the snake charmer grab it and release in the other direction.

Then before he lifted the second panel an adult mole come running out. Hmm. Thats wierd. A snake & a mole in the same spot?

So then we lift the third panel just 8 ft away and found the above. Now it all clicked. Momma Mole was most likely luring the garter snake away from her nest and now here we are disturbing the home she made.

5 baby moles all snug in this above ground spot now exposed to the elements and predators. I know what your thinking, at least most of you. So what did I do?

I told them I would spare them and in return I expect exclusion from their presence in or around my garden. If you choose to disregard this immunity pact your life shall not be spared so kindly as it has this day. Enjoy your freedom, far away from this spot and may we never meet again....

O.k not exactly what I said. More like "I just cant kill 'em. I just cant. Dang me for having a heart!".

Some may think that was a great thing, others may be left shaking their heads. After all, baby moles grow into adult moles and we are not exactly sparse in that department. I feel I interrupted nature enough with the moving of our fence panels. We laid some rocks around the spot so we do not step on the nest and will let Mother Nature do what she does. Maybe my good act of Karma will return as a great garden year. Maybe the moles will selectively destroy the roots of those pesky weeds, bypassing the veggies and fruits. Maybe things will work out in my favor....Maybe.... Hey a girl can at least hope!

Sunny Dreams,

~Tammie
P.S Although the mole can be eaten, the taste is said to be deeply unpleasant. Has me wondering if that snake was either very hungry or just in the wrong place at the wrong time... 

the Garden gives, beating the heat & row boat paradise...

Frog harvested her first bit of french breakfast Radish, which is only enjoyed by her & The Captain. Whats nice about these is the quick to harvest timing. Gratification for small children who do not have the capability to think months ahead as with items like tomatoes & melons.

I am re thinking the whole garden after this years experience with weeds, taking in previous year issues. At the end of this year I will bite the bullet and by the thick black plastic for ground cover. The cloth has done nothing to stop the growth of grass & such. It's to a point I'm throwing my hands up and do not even want to be in the garden anymore. I am that sick of weeding and it's only the first half of June. Not that the garden looks like I have done anything, making it all the more reason I am left frustrated.

So what better way to take a break from things and beat the heat?

Grab the kids off the buss and pack them{and dog} up for some fishing!

The breeze coming of the lake while standing on the dock was better then air conditioning. {Which I refuse to use unless it becomes unbearable}. Lil Man was in the lucky spot and caught 8 bluegill in 45 minutes. Yes, I know those things are easy, but for an 8 yr old boy, actually catching fish is the bright spot.

Our dear Ming who does have some peculiar behavior around strangers, like walking as far away from them on walkway as possible, looked to be enjoying herself as well. From trying to intimidate geese 4 times her size to wading into the water which she quickly discovered the shore is far enough.

Instead of a dog bowl, she has a child size china tea cup she drinks from. Rather funny to see being she is so small and such a tiny cup fits her needs perfectly.

I am determined to find an aluminum small boat for rowing around the lake this summer. I do not mind sitting back and watching them fish. I have my own plans on making the small boat style I have in mind comfortable for lounging as well. A good book and a large parasol...

I can see myself going out on the lake alone as well, just to read and float about...

Sunny Dreams,

~Tammie

Being a part of a community & importance to family

This was my post for after memorial day which I had not published. I am late in sharing but the message is still valid.

Now that we are back in the community we have participated in from afar through the towns Jaycee's and which happens to be my husbands hometown, I see even more of the importance to the structure of family.

We live in a small town, a farming community rich with history of families still here, tied back to it's forming back in the late 1700's. Families whose ancestors have streets named after them. Houses and Farms that are still in the family namesake, created up to two hundred years ago.

We spent our memorial day helping out the township league {no longer the Jaycee's which  had a limited age of participation}. From 8 am at the Boy Scout Pancake breakfast to the prepping of the parade. We hung signs, prepped the flags lining the street on every electric pole and in between, someone handed me their camera & asked I get some good shots of the day for sharing on the towns league site. The kids were with us all the way and had a blast doing it. Their task was to be sure everyone had a flag from one end of our main street to the other.

Frog & panda handing them out by our fire department, next to Town Hall:

And when the crowd really started to fill out, it was time to ride in the golf cart, reaching the far ends of street  a mile down. They especially liked this part {and of course the driver went slower then we could walk but just all the more reason for the kiddos to ride}:

Our children were taught many important lessons this day. They learned about community, the hard work put into such town events and our proudest point was the enhancement of understanding one should have for the American flag. To see war Vets who fought to give us the freedom we do have and to respect them for the sacrifices they have made as well as for the soldiers who are doing so now. They have had problems understanding why their Uncle Army was so far away and could not call very often or come home to see them. The importance of his role and ALL soldiers in trying to keep us safe back home became more clear with the days activities and involvment. It's not about politics. It's about Honor, Respect & Responsibilty.Family & Community.

By being a part of our community, participating with volunteer work that gives not only us, but our children a feeling of Pride. Pride in their community & Pride for their country. Something that can not be taught with just words but actions and involvement by those who are the role models and Parents.

This is their Home town and by example we are teaching them many important life lessons that will carry on into their adulthood. Honesty, truth, dedication and commitment. Things we see lacking in many of those with each new generation. If a child is raised without the feeling of responsibility for more then just to themselves, it will come into play as adults. A Man's word can no longer be trusted as it once was. Responsibility to family & community can only be taught through example and not just by one's words. They learn by example.

After all their hard work we ended the day with family friends. To see so many smiling faces, children running through the sprinklers & playing with water guns in the 90 degree day. Adults enjoying great conversation with good company.A fitting end to a great day.

Full of lasting memories of a happy childhood.

School is almost out for the Summer and the Skies have given us the Sunshine we have been begging for. Time to make more great Summer memories and have some Family fun.

Sweetest dreams,

~Tammie