die Quelle*

It is finally springtime! If you look out from our large spacey porch you can see the daffodils, the dandlions, and a large white bowering bush that is full of fragile white blooms. We have been blessed with a host of sunny days all of last week, and this week seems to promise more! But by far, what I like the most during spring and sometimes winter, is a rainy thursday afternoon. For some reason, I just love it! Cozy up on the armchair, have a cup of Chai or Impra White Tea with honey, and a book in my hands or the knitting needles. It just so happens that my birthday is going to fall on a thursday, and you can't imagine my thoughts. Of course, a rainy birthday wouldn't be pleasant for some, but it means listening to a book on tape(last year we listened to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggles Birthday)cocoa, and sometimes friends over for some tea and games. My birthday is in May, and so I am extremely lucky, as it is about the middle of spring, close to the golden days of summer. I have been doing fine, my nearly-5-month cold seems better today than it was yesterday, so I am in gay spirits, as it is also spring break from ballet. Spring is definitely Springing! Avimar (* die Quelle, meaning Spring in German. Spring; The season in which vegetation begins to appear from March to May in the northern hemisphere.)

Me

This was taken at the college park right up the hill where we live. We live near two parks, and in the summertime it shall be especially fun! This picture should really be titled "it's a wonderful life!" Because it certainly is!

Assorted Notes

"Among the dusty looking array of needles, thread, pins, crochet hooks, and buttons, there stands out a tinware tray, filled with a crafter's delights and creations. Amidst the dust is laid tissue paper roses, brandished with beautiful sentiments and love thru its rakish petals. A purse of beautiful design with silver button sewn right next to a lovely white flower. Love it carries, memories it holds. A necklace of gleaming beautiful beads clash against the tin sides of the tray, sounding like fairy bells, in Neverland as it summons the wearer. Beauty is within these rakish, and forgotten creations, the maker has put within these things a heart of gold." How lovely and beautiful! If I were only fit for the description of a heart of Gold! How nice it is and sounds!It reminds me of the book Little Woman, the four young womanly figures who work hard to become the Little Women whom their father looks upon them tenderly.(You must be shocked at the sudden turn of the language I have been 'spouting'. Not to worry, I am experimenting with the old-fashioned words to better portray my characters in my little "Bursts of Color".) I did make a

heart-shaped purse at a dear friend's birthday party, and the tissue paper flowers(which I made in honor of this bit of poetry.) I am trying to get my hand better at sewing, as it is America's number 1# handcraft. Who is the author of the poetry which I started with? That is yet to be discovered! Avimar(Avi) Above: Me and Hetty with the tissue paper flowers! Aren't we chic?

St. Pat's 13

It is St. Patricks day again! Can you believe it? This morning we had forgotten and then suddenly I said, "Isn't it St. Patricks day?" It was such a shock. I a, in this post, showing you St. Patricks 13, a selection of to-dos on St. Pats if you have time. We all had ideas, Me and the boys, you can try some of these maybe. I am looking forward to your comments and suggestions! 1. Wear green(anything)! 2. Look for four-leaf clovers. (They are the lucky ones of the field!) 3.(Clem suggested this one) Talk with a highly emphasized accent. 4. Pray the rosary for Ireland. 5. Learn more about St. Patrick, things you didn't know. 6. Write a report on St. Patricks life. 7.Plant potatoes in the night for a lucky bumper crop this year. (They do this in Romania) 8(Clem again) Kill time by looking for snakes. 9. Eat boiled cabbage, corned beef, or soda bread.(Try green eggs? We did last year using green food coloring.) 10. Listen to Gaelic, or Irish tunes on Pandora. 11. Care to try Irish calligraphy? 12. Give up something(as it is Lent)special for St. Patrick's sake. 13. Learn some Irish, and have loads of Fun! Some people actually try green cupcakes, our cousins in Ireland tried Green eggs and ham last year as well as us, some have green jell-o at breakfast, some even dye their hair green, but that isn't really necessary for someone to have the best St. Pats you've remembered in a while, is it?. Anyway, just have fun! Happy St. Patricks day to You! Avi P.S. I want to wish a happy birthday to my cousin Pat who lives in Ireland, UK. Happy B-day and many happy returns Patty!

Above is a sample of one of the prints stamped from Dad's homemade carved stamp. It looks Gaelic enough.

Cousins, Cousins

Alex, Eph, Evie together with one tooth out. This was taken on New Years eve! I love the smiles and cheery faces! (These three will definitely win any smiling contest! Don't you think?) A beautiful sentiment.

Family Traditions Throughout the Year

In every family you have at least one different tradition than others. For one, you may have Lobster for Thanksgiving instead of the traditional turkey, you could have just one birthday present that would go on top of the cake, On Christmas you might have chowder instead of ham,the possibilities are endless really. Every family is different, in other words if the world had only the same type of families doing the same thing each year, the world would certainly be very uninteresting and not at all what the world is like nowadays! I am just going to tell you some of our old family traditions that we do usually. Some you might like to try even! Wait and see. Birthdays: Start with a snuggle with Mom or Dad, special breakfast with hot cocoa, fruit Kabobs, etc. The whole day we are free to do what we wish, No chores, and you can listen to a book on tape, plus throughout the day you get homemade cards that can't wait until evening! Altogether the day is lovely and amazing for you! Christmas: Stockings, breakfast, and then if we aren't going to Mass till later we get to open a few presents if not all. We start from youngest to oldest with the gifts. We don't usually do the christmas list to Santa Claus. Though we have set out chocolate cake and wine which was polished off mysteriously during the night. Easter: Dinner at the Grandparents, an Easter egg hunt with the cousins, and a Trading-candy-and-eggs-Post comes to order for any who are keen on making good deals. St. Patricks Day: Dinner at Grandparents, Boiled cabbage. Me and Grandma planted potatoes in the night as St. Pat will bring you luck to any small crop. WE had enough for scalloped potatoes in the fall. We also watch a cousin movie. Thanksgiving: Dinner with turkey, Thanksgiving play with the cousins,dessert, sometimes a fun movie. 4th Of July: Watch the Stayton Parade, have a barbecue/picnic, trade candies, read the Declaration of Independence New Years

,we have a dinner as well, This year we had a Mass at our house on New Years eve, sang carols and rang the New Year in. The rest are too long to list for the traditions in my family are endless! I only wanted to say some of our traditions.

The Lenten Season/ Lenten Crafts

On thursday there was a table scattered with tissue paper scraps, glue, tape, and various other things for we had the word 'creative' on the brain for the 2nd day of Lent. We started out with a bean jar, that when we do a good deed we are able to put a bean in the jar, and on Easter Sunday the jar will hold (transformed) jelly beans. Last year was our first year doing it and I can tell you we had a bumper crop of good deeds as there was a scramble for who could make the most deeds and have the most jelly beans. This year we are a little bit calmer with the jar for some reason. This post I am going to tell you how to make the bean jar, and our stained glass cross thats taped to the window to let the sun through. These crafts provide much help form the kids and bursts of enthusiasm for all. Bean Jar List: Tissue paper Mod Podge(glue) paintbrush jar Rip off pieces of tissue paper and with the paintbrush spread the glue over the jar and press the paper into place. Repeat this until you can cover the whole jar. Let it dry and if your using Mod Podge, it will be dry in about 30 minutes. Do not use hot glue! Stained glass cross List: Tissue paper scissors Contact paper Cut the contact paper in the shape of the cross and on the sticky side place ripped tissue paper, or if you want you can cut the tissue paper into strips for a neater effect, though the ripped edge looks more artistic. When you have covered all the cross, then place another layer of contact paper on the tissue paper that is already stuck on the sticky side. Hang or tape on the window, that way the sun can shine through the 'stained glass'. They give a brighter and cheery air to the house during the rainy, and dull weather and help you along through the Lenten season. How beautiful they do look as well! I am looking forward to your comments! Avi

Here pictured is our cross. We used the ripped effect.

(Advice)March comes in like a Lion, and out like a Lamb...

The old saying is explained when March, almost unnoticed 'roars' in and then it passes calmly into April. The only persons who are prepared are those that keep the calendar in their minds, and those who work in an office, who are not surprised at all. "Oh, its the first of March, Got to get my papers ready," or "Huh. The year passes pretty quickly." I was very surprised as I wrote in my diary March 3rd.(After looking at the calendar.) How beautiful it is though! I have seen a few robins and tiny little birds that are smaller than my fists! My dad called them 'little cotton balls on legs' since they are a bit fluffy and have little legs that run so fast on the dew-dropped lawn. They are described by my dad just as the little baby quails in Arizona. I am here to give you a little advice on how to spend the last days before spring. Yes, it is still winter, even though it is sunny here in Oregon! !. Read! I have been reading numerous good books! You can take a look at my booklist and see. I have finished reading about Mary Jemison and have been deeply inspired! look her up. 2. Start learning how to Crochet, Knit, or use the Nifty Knitter. I have have been having lots of fun making hats and I am working on baby blankets. They are super fun once you get the hang of it! 3. Make pretzels. Especially during Lent, it is a tradition in the Catholic church to make 'praying arms'. They are very good and make good sides for soups. 4. Memorize poems. There are many good ones out there, and It gives you enjoyment as well. 5. Study the preforming arts. On Easter there is always time for a recitation, play, or singing. Especially Grandparents love to watch Grandchildren preform with a bright smile on their cheery faces. 6. Composition. Writing makes a very good companion during the rainy season. It will also help your imagination work its way to the top of the mountain! Imagination is much needed nowdays in children and adults. 7. Start doing the traditional morning and evening prayer. A family Rosary gives you a Pleanary Indulgence to free a soul from Purgatory, and that way, when you are in Purgatory, all the souls you have freed with plead to God to bring you to Heaven! 8. Challenge yourself to do something you haven't done before yet, or in a long time. Try drinking soup in a mug, perhaps. 9. Drink tea. I love Thai tea during a cold day. There are also different brands you can mix. Once I had White/Winter Spice/Lavender/Peach tea mixed together and it is a lovely combination. 10. Have a nice time putting together a winter scrapbook which you can put away till next winter and enjoy it! Or you can make an every season scrapbook and enjoy it all the more. 11. Learn some new songs,Gregorian chant is always a blessing if you sing it in the home. It brings a monastic air in your house. 12. Reread old favorites. I have reread Narnia, The Hobbit, and all sorts of good old books! There! I have given you 12 tips to try this month! You are free to mention any other tidbits in your comments for I love to try out new things and ways.

P.S. Clem with his first Landscape at age 6, and my favorite Calico cats...they are sisters! AVI