Putting on the Apron

I bought a new apron the other day.  It is not, however, really an apron for 'cooking and cleaning." 

I like to put an apron over whatever clothes I have on for the day. It gives me a freedom of being able to load up items in the skirt or pockets - if the apron's design includes pockets - and carry them from one place to the other. I like, in the winter, the extra 'insulation' of an apron. In the summer, I can wear whatever flimsy tee and not worry about 'show through' when I throw an apron over top.

I wonder if these women also thought the same thing.



I think I see a flimsy tee shirt or two. Prairie style...



My cooking/cleaning apron, I purchased from Anthropologie years ago.  It is wearing through in parts. I love it, though. I guess, I can find some flower fabric at the thrift store and patch up the holes. The basic integrity of the apron is holding up.

I'm sure I won't be the first to patch an apron.

The one that I just bought is from an Etsy shop called  CreoleSha. I love that is a tee shirt type material.



I love a Spring Garden.

 

I don't think that their aprons are made of tee shirt material.



The apron that I wear in winter is made of wool. I bought it on sale online on the Anthropologie site. It was larger at one time.....

I liked the pink color and to be able to add just another layer on top of a sweater and jeans in the winter to keep the chill off.  I really like the pockets as well.



Her pink apron looks warm as well.



Another full apron I have I purchased from the same place that I purchased the dress that the aprons are wrapped around: consciousclothing, on Etsy. The apron is made of hemp and linen. It wraps around the back. 

Did I tell you, I dropped my camera a few days ago?

Ever since, it seems more difficult getting the camera into focus..

A good hemp/linen apron will last for many, many years.



I also have a work apron that I put on when I work with the terrariums or with other rather messy projects. I originally bought it to replace my flowered one, but it didn't happen. You can see why.

This is an older photo. I don't have dreads (baby dreads) anymore...

Lastly, what about the half apron? I don't really like to wear one. I do have a little red one that I may wear with a skirt or with jeans to funk up the outfit. It is another Anthropologie buy. I bought it many years ago, when Anthropologie was a ten page catalog!

Again, out of focus. Sorry. But you get the general idea of the Oriental print. It is silk with a velvet trim and has a little floral applique. A fancy apron!
Speaking of funky aprons, check out this one from Calamity Kim's website. I would trade my flowered apron in for this one!



Gypsy pockets apron

I know that women wanted to free themselves from the apron; the assigned job of cooking and cleaning and child rearing. I look forward to the times when I can unencumberedly put on my apron and have the time to prepare the foods for the week; to bake breads; to set up the dehydrator. I love picking vegetables from the garden and including them in the daily consumption of the family. I know it is because I have help doing these things and they don't have to be my sole identifying persona. The fact that I can  continue with my "career," or take on the responsibilities of the "homemaker," makes the "putting on the apron" so appealing.

I can not even imagine what it must have been like to not have had these choices. I thank all the women who went through the struggles of women's rights all through history. Thank you for the contributions each has made in creating an environment for women, for me, that allows me to be joyful when I put on my apron.

I had forgotten that aprons are really a "rage" craft at the moment. I remembered when I Googled "aprons." 

I loved finding these pattern images.




circa 1970's -- NO ruffles, please.




circa 1922




sunbonnet and apron all in one.



Here is a link to 24 free apron patterns. I think I'll make number 6. I can get the recommended material from the thrift store.
http://www.tipjunkie.com/free-apron-patterns/

Enjoy your apron or lack of!

Peace.
Brianne

Keys Locks and Doors

I recently added feathers and beads to skeleton keys that I bought on EBay. One, I made for the house, and I added two hawk feathers, clay "bones" and symbolic pieces for Tom and I. The other one I made for Tom as a gift for starting new employment. It has three feathers: a hawk for watchfulness; a blue jay for tenacity and a parrot feather for gregariousness and getting along with people. Anyway, while I was working with the keys, I realized that our society has over the last decade or so, lost our connection with the art of the key and lock.

We now have fobs and cards that swipe our entry. Yes, it is more convenient than having the heavy keyring, but so much less intriguing. So, I have put together a post dedicated to the beauty of the key and the lock and the doors that elude character and beauty and charm.

                                   

              

                    To the Key and the Lock and the Door!

I hope this post has inspired you to "characterise" your favorite or a secret door and to keep a key to a lock with a symbolic meaning that will give you strength and inspiration.

Peace.
Brianne

Garden Pictures for Mother's Day

Thoughts for Mother's Day, and some pictures of Gardens.

Some may hear the call of a father in the wilds of their heart. I, however, have always heard the call of the mother. I have heard the call of the mother in her winds that will take my breath to the old Florida racoons and the running white tailed dear of the forest and woods. I hear the call of the mother in the sunlight streaming through her canopy of trees that will carry my drink through rain and snow and quench the thirst of the great grizzly bear and the great northern raven so many wingbeats away. I hear the call of the mother in the gentle twisting of the giant live oak as the acorn takes root within my body. We are dust to dust. We do not live on the Earth. We live of the Earth. We are the Earth. We are to return to Earth; Mother Earth; Gaia. She, unconditionally, gives to us her trees which bear us fruit, her plants that bear vegetable and grain; these her offspring for our sustenance. She pours forth her essence in rivers and lakes and aquifers; her water for our drink. We share these with others of the Earth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. There is nothing so beautiful. The cycle of Mother Earth. Whatever else may, may be. But we will all cycle back to our Earth.

So, in celebration of Mother's Day and Mother Earth, I post pictures of beautiful gardens. Pictures of  the celebration of our connection, our oneness with Earth. How happy we are when surrounded with flowers and plants and trees.

Happy Mother's Day to All who have created Children, Ideas, Thoughts, Paintings, Crafts, Great Meals, Artistic Movement; Song, Dance, who have loved animals, birds, and nurtured others to make this time, this Earth Dance more beautiful.

Garden rooms...

Inside Gardens....

wildflowers for flower children

 blue door and garden path

 symmetry in nature

 iron and wood

 natural

 evening garden toast

Peace.
Brianne

A May Day Walk in the Yard

I start out this blog to show the beautiful Gardenia that has been offering blooms these last few weeks. I think that she has only a week or so left of this glory; so I wanted to capture it on film. I have done so over the years and she keeps growing; as do I. We have grown together as we have lived on Sugartown Street. I moved here at 21, and she as just a 12 inch plant with three or four leaves. I honestly didn't know if she would survive as I planted her in the ground. But, the soil here was (and still is) rich and fertile. So, for a May Day blog, I show her, the Gardenia, and Tom, and Masala, and myself along with the joys of our gardens and trees and flowers.

This is her, the Gardenia, and you see how she gently bows over the front walkway to the front patio.

May Day is a time for Love. I'm holding Gardenia's blooms. Yes, Tom picked them for me.



And, since the weather is so beautiful, a walk around the yard, under the Moon Gate; another pose.

The staghorn, above, was a gift from our neighbor, Sue. It was just a "horn" last year, and is growing really well this Spring. It is hard to see, but the wisteria is beginning to grow over the Moon Gate. The terra cotta pots in the back right of the picture above are growing lavender. The East breeze brings the smell into the house.

Tom hung up these little wicker bird houses around the house. He hung two in the corners of the house along the eaves. A house wren has taken up residence in this one. In and out, she brings the decaying leaves into the nest to create her perfect design. No fads or magazines or HGTV necessary.

These are pictures of flowers in the back area. I like to put some in pots and sow some seeds in the ground for a more wildflower look. There are so many pine trees and oak trees in the back that the natural mulch on the ground make it hard for seeds to grow; well all except weeds, but, if they have a flower, we keep them. You know, 'the well placed weed.'  The terra cotta pot has 'butterfly plants' and we do have many, many butterflies in the yard!

Our garden is just starting to bear fruit and vegetable. We have had a banana pepper or two so far. As you can see, the eggplant are almost ready, however, the tomatoes have a way to go.

 Tom showing me his "eggplant." It really is an exciting May Day celebration!!

I love the anoles. The "cuban" lizards fight with them. It seems that every year there are more of the brown "cuban" lizards and less of the anoles. Here is an anole sunning in the garden.

Some years ago, we planted three fig trees. We had to move them, for some reason I can't recall. I think, actually, we had to move them twice. Needless to say, two died. One, has taken a few years to come into it's maturity. This year there is an abundance of figs. I thought I would like the fruit, but I am not that keen on the texture. I will need to change my ways this year.  Maybe, dehydrated....

To all, some thoughts from Walt Whitman:

Roots and leaves themselves alone are these,
Scents brought to men and women from the wild woods and pond-side,
Breast-sorrel and pinks of love, fingers that wind around tighter
than vines,
Gushes from the throats of birds hid in the foliage of trees as the
sun is risen,
Breezes of land and love set from living shores to you on the living
sea, to you O sailors!
Frost-mellow'd berries and Third-month twigs offer'd fresh to young
persons wandering out in the fields when the winter breaks up,
Love-buds put before you and within you whoever you are,
Buds to be unfolded on the old terms,
If you bring the warmth of the sun to them they will open and bring
form, color, perfume, to you,
If you become the aliment and the wet they will become flowers,
fruits, tall branches and trees.

So, instead of a May Pole we hung another set of Prayer Flags. I think the Earth needs some extra prayers right now.

Love, Joy, Peace.
Brianne