Moss, Terrariums and Children!

I was lucky enough last week to have been selected by an Etsy buyer to send Moss and a few variety forest items to Arizona where many of the  fifty children had not ever even seen moss! These will be used in a Church Camp for the children to make terrariums. I had so much fun collecting these special items for this project! I went way overboard collection as I usually do, but I wanted to get the perfect specimens for them to use. Of course, I walk the deer trails for what has been kicked up by the deer and use very few items I have to actually dig. Most of it is very dry when I find it but it rained the day I went collecting so it was easy to find, especially the lichen on the rocks was standing out like a neon sign.  I sent all I could get into the box and donated much of my time to this effort as I had fun knowing the end means and also spent two days cleaning it and getting out the pine straw.  There were some ting acorns, ( little yellow ones, only 1/8 inch in size if that big. That is the male cone that reproduces in the forest.

See the photo, I pulled them out of the moss for the photo.

As I over collected I used some of the left over moss to make a few terrariums of my own and listed some very small ones on etsy; well I am in the process of listing them. for those that do not want to do it themselves and I don't have room to keep them. They make a fabulous desk accessory to see some Zen , Fung Shui, and tranquility in the simple things as everyday life can get chaotic. 

It was in the low 70's here yesterday and spring is on the horizon. Last night as we came home from dinner out we heard what seemed like zillion's of frogs chirping near the creek. The minute we opened the car door to get out,  our Golden Retriever rescue dogs ran us down and zoomed away. Well, when they cam home they were black from mud and I suppose they went to find the frogs. Shame on them! Needless to say they got an outside night bath before they could come back inside.  No wonder we have dirt and dust we constantly battle!

Another neat thing that happened was went I went to the library for a special book I wanted to get. I went to a Demo day last weekend at the Valley Arts Guild in Murphy, NC and learned something about the "Underground Railroad". This is always fascinated me as the slaves made their way from the south to the North to freedom and how they did it."Harriet Tubbs" was called "Moses" to many as she led the way for numerous trips to help free over 800 slaves. I previously owned two photographs of the "Underground Railroad" and I painted the frames Black and sold them at the flea market we attended last year. 

As I walked back to my car window shopping and saw these prom dresses,  I suppose are in style now at Sassy's Shop!. I went in to browse another  nice shop in Murphy called , "Rumours" and saw a pair of winter boots on sale for 1/2 price so Yes, I got them. They are a size too big for me but with my insoles in I think they will be OK, also fat socks which I intend to add lace too.   I loved the various yarns and colors! 

Sassy's Store Window 

 Side walk display

famous Espispicol  Church of the Messiah" in Murphy, I have seen pictures of it on Pinterest so wanted to add my own version too! The priest at this church came to do the river ceremony I have spoke of  many times for my dog, "Megan and her daughter "Ally" my Grand-dog,  we came here to pet sit for for many years.  a the Hiawassee River. We later had "Jordan's ceremony at the river  too. Oh, how I miss them all!

The previous week at the Library I had got some books of Mosses and Gardening as spring is in the air. One book on Moss Gardening was very interesting and I wanted to have my own copy so I checked with Amazon for it and was waiting to have the $ to order it.  What did my eyes behold at the Friends Library Bookstore where you can buy books, There was the very same book for $2.00. Wow! I grabbed it saying I cannot believe my eyes! 

I was just outside having my coffee and reading a pamphlet I picked up with an article on Black Bears. They come out of hibernation in late March (close enough) and look for food, including being attracted to lip balm at campsites. So, I guess I better remove that from my porch as I do NOT want another encounter like I had last year when I found one on our back porch in the trash canister. No camera available at the time either. 

I have not feared wandering in the woods too much lately as I know the snakes and bear were in hibernation, also many bugs and spiders but I will have to be more careful from now on. I did look up in the trees when gathering the moss just to be careful earlier this week. I have learned to do that as I am normally looking at the ground.

Also lats week while talking to my Mother on the telephone, I saw a deer walk right out of the woods and down the street in front of our house. And, last night we saw a bunny hop into the woods as we came home. Lots of wild life, I also saw a blue bird this week.

Another thing I found recently was a Primitive Pussy Willow tree at the grocery store and then I found a grove of the so I did get my clippers and get a few branches, I sprayed them with preservative and hope the hold up . They will be great for crafting with mixed media! The wild ones and the grocery store kind are different. 

Isn't the above shelf just crying out to be a Curiosity box with my found nature items? 

I have several I need to get busy making.I have boxes of collected items as I collect everything! I even found these wire rusty crusty rings that could be fabulous Junk Queen Crowns.

 Or bases for lamp light base or pottery terrariums

Well, I have chatted your time away, so thanks for dropping by! 

Smiles, Cyndi