G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

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If you would like to join us, see below. 

Our gratefulness feeds one another. 

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Throughout the week I've felt grateful for: 

-Learning some more signs. (And seeing this video, that reader Dani suggested.)

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-A friend sharing some coconut water straight out of the coconut. It was delicious (and felt luxurious and tropical all at the same time.)

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-The way I felt so loved when I was wrapped up in Jeff's arms. Love that man.

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-Having "my peeps" to talk to about stuff. I always feel better afterwards.

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-Being reminded- once again- that guilt is not a good motivating factor for making decisions in life. "Because I'll feel guilty if I don't" just isn't a good reason to do something, ya know? It feels good to make decisions based on what my heart says.

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-Finding local strawberries at a small grocery store when I was really craving them.

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-Seeing the bright white moon shining through the treetops.

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-Having the courage to "put myself out there" and ask for what I want. Then being delightfully surprised when good things sometimes happen when I ask for them.

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-Jeff reading aloud to us from 'The Egg and I' by Betty MacDonald. We've been cracking up, what a funny book!

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-Our old wheelbarrow to use while our new(er) one was out of commission (with a popped tire.) Even though it was so rusty it had a hole in it, we plugged up the hole and it worked alright.

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-Bracken being happily dyed with strawberries and dirt. Two good things. And being so content running around the yard that he was singing. That's when you know he's really happy.

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-Jeff chopping up celery hearts from the garden, with strawberries and apples. Yum! It was so good.

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-Following my inspiration (and my love for color) and creating Rainbow Color Boards on Pinterest. So fun! Just looking at vibrant colors is healing to me. Pinterest is such a wonderful place to gather inspiring things. (Are you on Pinterest? Want to create rainbow boards? It's so fun!)

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-A handwritten note from my sister in the mail. Just seeing her handwriting made me smile. Handwriting of people I love is very dear to me. 

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-Getting the new issue of Taproot!

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-Jeff jazzing up our regular salad dressing- of olive oil and apple cider vinegar- with some lime juice, sesame oil and raw, local honey. Mmm Mmm!

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-Bracken getting us to spend more time outdoors because he wants to be outside All. The. Time.

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-Lighthearted laughter. Pure and simple.

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-Learning to ask for help and to accept it (which is sometimes challenging for Jeff and I because we can be stubborn when it comes to wanting to do everything for ourselves.)

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-Winning a giveaway!!!

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-Watering the garden with Bracken at my side, holding his containers up to the hose to fill them up with water.

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-Deciding to be brave and speak up. I told someone that something they said made me feel uncomfortable. Even though their reaction was not one I would have wished for, I was still proud of myself for respecting myself enough to say something. 

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-Sitting out in the yard, eating fruit salad in the sunshine.

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-Being reminded of a wise saying when I was feeling uncomfortable. "When we're uncomfortable, we're growing." Something Sonia Choquette said (one of my favorite authors.) Those words have been quite helpful to me, many times.

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-The therapeutic effects of 'The Whiny Baby Hotline.' (Something my mom and I made up and use with each other and my sis. When we are upset we call each other on 'The Whiny Baby Hotline' and say Waaaaah Waaah and unload all that we feel like whining about. Why does it work? The laughter! It works magic every time. Try it, you'll see! (But to work, you've got to make your voice sound really silly, same with your Wahhhh.)
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-A weekend at home. What a treat.

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Like to Join Us in Gratitude Sunday?

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If you are a blogger, there is a link list below to add your link.

When adding your link...

Link the URL to your blog post and not to your main blog URL.
In your blog post, include a link back here, to this current post, so others who would like to join can find us.

Or..

Share your list (whether one or many) in the comments below.

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What have you felt grateful for throughout your week?

Wooly Moss Roots Sponsors for June!

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Armadillo Dreams

Handmade Wooden Toys

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Offering:

Waldorf inspired wooden toys including animals, figures, teethers, pull toys and other whimsical imaginative toys.
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Lauren Luquin
Intuitive Heart Sanctuary
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Offering:
 An online retreat for enhancing self-awareness within community and nature.
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Twist and Twine Yarns
Dream. Knit. Love.
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Offering:
 Uniquely hand dyed yarns- that are fun to knit with!
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Gift of Grace Handspun

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Offering:

Handspun yarn, homemade knitting and spinning tools.

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Twysted Thystle

Pure and Simple Botanical Infusions

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Offering:

Organic herbal teas, organic herbal body care products, and herbal art.

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Mountain Hearth Handcrafts

Handcrafted, nature-inspired goods from the homestead
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Offering:
Handcrafted faeries and forest creatures, felted wool wall art,
birds nests and homestead goods.
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Deck Family Farm

Pasture Raised Meats and Eggs

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Offering:

Grass-fed Beef, Pasture-Raised Pork, Pastured Chicken and Turkey, Chicken and Duck Eggs, Pastured Lamb, and Free-Ranging Goat.
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 Hope you all enjoy visiting these lovely places!
....Stay tuned for some awesome giveaways this month!
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  (Curious about sponsorship? You can find out more here.)
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Thanks so much for your support sponsors, our family is so grateful!
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P.S. We are not going to be at market tomorrow, we'll see you locals next weekend!

{this moment}

Today I'm joining Amanda at SouleMama for {this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


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Yarn Along

 Today I'm joining Ginny's Yarn Along, sharing what I am knitting and reading. 

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 That gorgeous green yarn from last week? I've put that on hold for now. Why? Because I had a vision of a cowl with cabling on it and got excited... then, at market, our friend Inge showed me how to cable and I felt... overwhelmed. I realized I have more learning to do before I dive into that project just yet. So I started a different project for now. I've got two knitting projects currently going, that blue bag I mentioned a few weeks ago (which has been slowly but steadily growing) and a new one in some grogeous handspun yarn in a color combo called 'Tahitian Sunset.' I'm making a pair of leg warmers! These yarns are so special and I feel pampered doing so much knitting for myself. 

I started a book called 'Baby Talk: A Guide to Using Basic Sign Language to Communicate with Your Baby' by Monica Beyer. It was a gift from my mom's friend while I was pregnant with Bracken. We've had friends who have used signs with their babies and we've been interested in it. We had been using the sign for 'hot' for a long time and Bracken loved it, but it was the only sign we knew. Recently someone said to me that they thought many toddler tantrums stem from frustration about communication and not being understood. It reminded me to finally get out this book and I'm so glad I did. Within minutes of showing Bracken the sign for 'milk' he was already doing it. We're learning more signs and loving it. What I love most about signing is the way Bracken's eyes light up when he does a sign and we know just what he means.

The other thing I've been reading (which I look forward to every year) is the Locally Grown Guide for 2012. I've written about it before, in Yearly Delight. I've been excited to see new farms listed this year and of course I've been checking out all the u-pick options because we do a lot of that. 

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What have you been knitting and reading friends?

Around Market

Last week I showed you around farmer's market. This past weekend, I brought our camera along with the intention of showing you around the art market. Remember this tour from last year? If so, you'll see a few of the same booths and a bunch of new ones.
Ready? (Be prepared, this is a long post folks! But it's mostly pictures.)

Our market day started out with Bracken and his grandma walking lots of laps around the market while Jeff and I set up. (This picture cracks me up because it looks like he had his grandma on a leash.)

Being held sometimes resulted in a serious face and a finger pointing down at the ground with insistence to start walking again.

But before he could be back down walking, I wanted to get a side view of his elf hat (so our friend Sheila, who had it specially made for him to match his dada's, could see while it still fits.)

After all his fun walking with his grandma, he zonked out and took a little nap on Jeff (who was quite delighted.) When Bracken woke up, Jeff hung out in our booth while my mom, Bracken, and I ventured over to farmer's market and then the art market, to capture some pictures for you.
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Alright, now onto some art: Let me first say that there is so much amazing art and creativity at the market. There are so many awesome booths. These are but a small sampling of things that caught my eye, in the order we walked around market. (If you are a vendor and don't see your booth here and would like to, come let me know next time you see me.)

Teapot: Bowls

Colorful Pottery by Amy Palatnick
 {Amy the Potter}
I love the style of Amy's pottery, part glazed in bright hues and part "raw" clay, with swirls and dots and whimsical designs. I like the variety of textures the combination gives.

Wind Chimes: Pendants/Key Fobs: Bracelets

Crafted from old Silverplate Silverware by Teresa
{Teresa's Phantasmagoria}

How fun are these? Bracken loves her wind chimes and we're delighted to have one on our front door. Teresa has some amazing deals in her booth: $9 windchimes and $3 pendants/key fobs (I love the ones that say peace on them.)

Tanks: Tees

Super-soft Hand Printed Tops by Amy Clancy
{Fancy Clancy}
I love seeing the new designs Amy comes up with and like her artistic style. My mom has a nice collection of her comfy tees! I'm digging her new lion tanks.

Paintings

Vibrant, Colorful Paintings by Shanna Trumbly
{Trumbly Designs}
Are these soulful paintings amazing or what? Jeff and I have been long time admirers of Shanna's artwork. We love to ooh and ahh over her newest works, always delighted by what her imagination comes up with next. Then when she shares the powerful stories behind each one, her paintings come to life even more. 

Clay Stones: Clay Tiles: Fern Plate
Earthy and Fun Pottery by Denise Davis
{Karmadilo Clayworks}
Aren't Denise's clay stones so fun? She sells them for $8. Not only great for the garden, but they have a hook on the back to hang up on the wall. Her creations bring happiness to our home and garden.

Utensils: Bowls
Woodworking in Oregon Myrtlewood by William Lee
We have some utensils we use as salad tongs and love them. Check out his $5 and $10 baskets for some great deals!

Wool & Leather Shoes: Knitting Needles: Crochet Hooks
Shoemaking and Woodworking by Bob and Daniel Walling
{Babu Shoes}
I'll openly admit that I've been known to drool over their shoes over the years. Yep. Who wouldn't? Besides their awesome handmade shoes, Jeff and I have always admired their woodworking too. This past weekend I was looking at the knitting needles and crochet hooks (and I love Bob's smile I caught in the background.)

Candles: Soaps
Incredible-smelling-stuff by Christelle Munnelly
{Moon Root Soaps}
Did you know Christelle is making candles now? One of my favorite things about her new candles is that she's dyeing them with natural plant dyes to get fun colors. I smell her lemongrass candle every time I visit her booth. (How can I visit without smelling something?) I love her new soap scent, Pacific Northwest. With the cedar and douglas fir in the mix, I think she captured the NW essence quite well. (I also love her new labels with the barn and sheep!)

Clay Magnets: Vases: Container
Nature Inspired Pottery by Elise Corin
{Einhorn Pottery}
We love her pottery. Since they're close-ups, you probably can't tell, but the vases with flowers in them are super tiny. I like to call them 'faery vases' and I have one in my dollhouse. (I have a love for tiny things!) I love the earthy feel and hues, and the textures in her work. 

Body Henna
Beautiful Henna Art by Emily
{Henna Creations}
I love henna. I couldn't walk by Emily's booth without taking a peek. She let me photograph her hand and I can tell that she has a natural gift when it comes to the swirling, artful beauty that is henna.

Drawers: Rattles: Boxes: Felted Wool Hats
Woodworking and Woolworking by Heather and Earnie Efforts
{Earnest Efforts}
Who doesn't love these drawers and boxes? I love the unique character of each one, they really bring out the spirit of these gorgeous woods. And their rattles? Only $10 and they make wonderful gifts. Bracken loves his (and Jeff and I use it too.) I also love Heather's felted hats and the way she puts colors together to make such great combinations. Each hat is an incredible work of art.

Handknits: Yarn: Wall Hanging
Wool and Fiber Products by Ingeborg and Wolf Krebs
{Timberwolf Farm}
The word that comes to mind when I see their yarn is.... yummy. Yes, their yarn is yummy! I'm in awe of Inge's knitting skills. And her sweet sheep wall hanging? So cute! Their booth calls out to all wool lovers, that's for sure!

Skirts: Overalls: Blanket: Sale Table
Handmade Clothes by Rae
{Whispering Willows}
Do those little overalls look familiar from this post? Bracken has some little overalls and shorts, made by Rae, that he loves. That organic cotton baby blanket with the moon and star is so sweet. I love the bright colors of hemp fabric she puts together. And she always has amazing sale sections.

 Hummingbird Feeder: Jars & Containers
Handblown Glass by Todd and Marlena Kelly.
{Infinite Cosmos}
Marlena told me about a picture of a hummingbird using one of their hummingbird feeders, which you can see here. (I'm so amazed they were able to capture that picture.) There is so much variety (and good deals) in their booth! Jeff and I are constantly in awe of how full their booth is, they are one hardworking family!

Kid's Clothes: Bibs & Burp Cloth Sets
Handmade Kid's Clothes by Kim
{Watermelon Kidz}
We've been a fan of Kim's fun kid's clothes for years. And Bracken has enjoyed them and gotten a lot of use out a few "staple" items. (Now that it's getting to be that time of year, I can't wait to get out his green sunhat again!) I adore the tiny guitar shirt in the top picture. And how cute are those little girl's tops and dresses? You'll find lots of incredible deals in her booth, that is filled to the brim with choices.

Journals: Bookmarks
Watercolor Paintings by Nancy Bright
{Bright Creations}
Nancy's art is so inspiring. Have you seen her most recent painting yet? Wow! I love it. You can see it here. What she does with water colors is mind blowing. Her images have a powerful, yet gentle feeling. And they all feel very healing to look at.

And to top of our day? We saw our midwife Anita! Seeing her is always a treat and I hadn't gotten a picture of her with Bracken for quite some time, so was happy about that. (For any local ladies looking for a midwife/birthing center we highly recommend Anita/Sacred Waters Birthing Center.)
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So, that was some of our day and some of the sights we saw at The Eugene Saturday Market. We feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing market, filled with so much creativity.
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What do you love about The Eugene Saturday Market?
Or your local market?
What types of booths do you gravitate towards?
Do you appreciate artists and the spirit of handmade things?