At Esther’s Place, we try to make it a habit to do that. If you come in, please allow yourself time for a cup of tea. Gathered around the table, you never know what will come up, who you will meet, what you will be inspired by, how God moves and ministers to you and how your life can be changed. I want to share with you a few conversations this week….

I think our tea times are really more for me to reflect on being real and taking time to hear God’s voice in this busy world. Today I had in a mother who lost her daughter this year. Her daughter was around my age when she was diagnosed with a debilitating disease. She struggled and through it all was a testimony to the eternal hope and joy that God can bring even when suffering is unbearable and the future is unknown. Sitting here with her mom, listening to her share their experience of going through the days, months and seasons without her daughter was so touching.  It made me reflect on our relationships in life and how important they are. That relationship is more important than finding the perfect gift for that person this season. It is the gift of us.

I had someone else surprise me the other day. She has come out every holiday season, and last year when she came out, she sprang on me the news that she was moving to China with her husband. Turns out that, a year later, she has made friends with women from all over the world. Their common thread is fiber and in their knitting group, they share not common language but emotions, concerns and compassion in a way that no uttered word can compete. She stocked up on fiber and felting kits to take back and now our Christmas felting traditions are to be shared. And here in the shop we are enjoying tea brought to us; the same kind of tea I bet those women sip on while knitting in their group.

During our tea times, people become acquainted with old neighbors, former co-workers and complete strangers; in their conversations they find commonalities and connections. They learn from each other- hints about cooking, cleaning, politics, matchmaking, handwork, and all sorts of subjects. It’s delightful to sit back, sipping on a cup of hot tea, the flavors and conversations mingling, awakening and invigorating me.

That shrill of the tea-pot calls. As I pull open our tea drawer, and pull from the selection of china cups, every place I look is a reminder of people’s generosity and interactions. And it makes me smile.

Needless to say, this has influenced the types of roads I’ve driven around on because whenever a trip comes up, it’s always the “other options and avoid highways” button that we hit on Mapquest.  This has led us to all kinds of interesting places and through this small idiosyncrasy, we’ve discovered lots of unique highlights. So when we saw that our trip included a large stretch of Rt. 66 on our way to Bloomington, she says with a grin “Hey! Let’s get our kicks on, what do you say?” And to this, I answer with a laugh, slight roll of the eyes and a quick mental calculation of how many extra days we’re going to need for this trip. Most of the time, though the difference between a highway and a not highway route is less that an hour and so we take it. And I’m glad we did.

When we veered off of Rt. 47 and onto the iconic 66, we were kind of nervous, not having any idea of what to expect. But what we found delighted us. As we meandered through little town after little town, and we saw restored vintage gas stations, diners, murals, and a hearty slice of Americana, following those brown Rt. 66 signs. The biggest excitement (alright call us dweeby history buffs) was seeing the actual road, complete with bridges and all, running alongside us at points in our adventure.

We stopped in Pontiac and went to the Rt. 66 Museum because by this point, I was really curious about the road. What I found here answered all my questions. When was it built? Where did it go? When was the golden era of its glory? And why did we get our kicks by taking this route? It was Bing Crosby and the Andrew’s Sisters who made the song iconic, the road stretched from Chicago to California and was completed in 1926…. and I think the golden era is a toss-up. I’m told there are huge followings of Europeans who come to tour it in search of the American Dream. So its golden era could be yet to come!

But what impressed me the most is that by traveling this route, I went through towns, bought gas, ate food, shopped and otherwise supported small rural communities that are bypassed by the major highways that cut right through them. We supported the “little man” by choosing what route we were going to be taking. In an essence, by changing our driving patterns, we could make a small contribution to helping relieve our national economic crisis. We can help turn the tide for small business, small towns and small industry.

So as a small business owner, in a little town, facing our holiday season swiftly approaching, I hope you will make the choice to support the little man. It’s not much more out of your way, and maybe only a few dollars more, but I bet you will find a better experience, more knowledge and higher quality with the little man. Listening to country radio, I think Alan Jackson sums it up pretty well in his song. I found the video I wanted to share…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBh-m1yTZS0 

So Rt. 66 gave me more than kicks…. it helped me see my world in a broader sense and I’m thankful to my mom and her quirky ways for the opportunity. I’m even debating about taking 66 out to California for a show next year, and taking a fiber road trip along the way! You never know where the road ahead leads, but you know there will always be an adventure awaiting!

Here’s some highlights for being slightly “A.D.D” plus easily distracted with a bit of a sporadic personality.

- You’ll try everything once….and doing this you learn about a lot of new things! You also get a lot of UFO’s (unfinished objects). What the heck- what will the kids fight over when you are long gone if you don’t leave them all those UFO’s?

-You experiment and come up with terrific new ideas, concepts and perhaps even techniques. But you start something new and forget to use that really cool thing that you had booked marked in your mind on your next piece!

-You’ll never be bored. All you have to do is wander around and you’ll find half finished projects. If it is half done, that’s totally less work to finish it rather than start something new! That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

-I can probably think about more reasons but I’ve moved onto something more exciting….

Toodles! Got a new project to work on! Pictures to come soon….or better yet, stop in to the shop to see some of the new stuff we’ve been finishing up. New colors of Cheviot felting wool, new yarns, angora/ cormo batts, and new creations. And you can even see some of my UFO’s. They’re creations in the making!

-Natasha

P.S. Love to hear about your projects….maybe it will inspire us! Tell us all about it…..

But wonderful memories they are! It’s about our members, old and new who have linked up with our small family farm in supporting us while eating better with their families. I have had so many delightful conversations about recipes and cooking; it has inspired my culinary palate. Throughout the twenty weeks, I saw members come together, many from diverse backgrounds and interests with the common goal of eating inspired this summer with seasonal, local produce.

Speaking of seasonal, I can close my eyes and take in a scent of basil, or tomatoes or musky potatoes and it immediately brings to mind a certain season. Recollections of sounds, scents and tastes are now but memories associated with our seasons. Spring is cold air, clammy soil, bright greens; fragrant with the fresh newness of life. Summer is about hot baking soil, welcoming rains to wet the dust, surprises as the plants cycle through blossoming, producing and yielding. Fall is the overwhelming feeling of awe and appreciate for the bounty, the taste of richness and earthy-ness which reminds us the winter is approaching.

It’s hard to believe all these memories can be packed into one 20 week season, but twenty weeks of your life can be spent with far less impact on you and the world around you.

The way I look at it, we fed about 40 families and more with our land, and
that makes the endless, countless hours of toil worthwhile. Plus it got me outside, closer to the ground and nearer to our Creator.

You can’t put a value on that memory! Cheers to our 2011 CSA… thanks for the memories!

Had the best, most breathtaking moment the other day- standing in sun-soaked rain, eyes heavenward looking at a vibrant double rainbow overhead! The full color spectrum was spectacular and I felt for a moment like God was giving me a hug, reassuring us that He really is with us every moment. You don’t get promises like that every day!

Check back here for interesting stories from Esther’s! I’ll try to keep a little better updated because there is so much fun and fascinating fiber stuff going on here!

I have some exciting news to share! If you were here in January and February, you may have seen some of the art pieces I was working on, or heard about the shows I was jurying for. Well, after three long months of anticipation, I got news my piece “Fields of Enchantment” was accepted for the Yardage Exhibit “Enchanted” at Convergence in Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 22-25th. It is a large tapestry-style felted piece, 26″ wide by 135″ long and is a panoramic presentation of agriculture in the state, and has fields of peanuts, chili peppers, cotton, hay, onions and livestock that give way to mountains and a sunrise pushing the darkness out of the sky. I love to represent agriculture in a fresh perspective. I feel there is nothing more beautiful than nature and God’s great beauty that surrounds me each day. Sometimes I am too sleepy in the morning while doing chores to notice a stunning sunrise, or just to busy to take a moment to revel in the simple blessings that I tread on. Like dandelions. I’m sorry to those lawn afficiandos but I love that green and yellow joyfulness in a dandelion peppered lawn or pasture. Kinda like John Deere I guess I have that good old iron running in my blood I suppose.

I had the great opportunity to speak at Plum Grove Middle School in Rolling Meadows, IL a few days ago. I talked to four auditoriums full of kids about sustainability, renewable resources, fiber, farming, economic and art. It was great! I actually had their attention for forty minutes for each group, and I hope I started getting them thinking about their environment and how farms will play a part in keeping the earth here for another couple of hundred years! As farmer and an artist, and each role sees beauty around but interprets them differently. I believe that basically sums up a great deal of my passion.

So in a day, I’m planting dark purple opal basil, filling 10 water buckets (yep, each one of the mother ewes has to have their own bucket in their pen so it really adds up quickly!) and doing barn chores, tending the shop, dyeing, creating and teaching, and perhpaps hoeing a few rows of onions as the sun sets tonight. It’s a rich life, full of work yet with the satisfaction of watching the work of your hands prosper and grow.

Another one of my pieces was juried into the “Walk in Beauty” Fashion Show at Convergence so I’ll post a picture of that as well. I will also be in the Aurora Art Walk on Sat. June 5th from 2-7 pm. I’m in Ballydoyle’s - the Irish Pub on New York St. in Aurora. Currently, I have work in the Woman’s Work Show in Woodstock, IL at the Old Courthouse Arts Center until the end of the month, and in the Kaneland Arts Festival Show at the Sugar Grove Public Library until the end of the month (that’s where the “Fields of Enchantment” piece is right now!). Hope you can get a chance to check those shows out.

It should be a busy spring- lots of events and activities going on here and abroad! Hope to see you either at the shop or at a show.

Woman’s Work Show

March 4- May 2^nd

Old Courthouse Art’s Center

Woodstock, IL

http://oldcourthouseartscenter.com

My wearable piece, “Sailing into the Sunset” is shown here!

Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival Juried Art Show

March 26^th- April 30^th

Sugar Grove Public Library

http://www.sugargrove.lib.il.us/site/modules/news/

I have three pieces in this show, including my newest and largest piece, “Fields of Enchantment”!

American Girl Craft Day!

Make a felted Lamb Sachet

Sat. May 1^st 3-4 pm

Eola Public Library Youth Dept.

http://www2.youseemore.com/aurorapl/Default.asp?#top

We’ll be offering a class for the kids to create a sheep sachet with needle felting techniques.

MARK THE CALENDARS FOR OUR FARM DAY!

SATURDAY MAY 8th 10-4 pm

Farm Day!

Esther’s Place and Lamb of God Farm

Sat. May 8^th 10-4 pm

This is a day you will want to be sure not to miss! Come visit our little lambs, breath the fresh country air, sample local foods from farms here in the area with our “Farmer’s Market”, learn more about our CSA, browse heirloom seeds, buy transplants, and support local farms!

We’ll have farm tours at 10am, 11:30, 1pm, 2:30, and 4 pm, as well as lots of goodies throughout the day prepared by local chefs with local foods. Needle felt a veggie pin and, pet a lamb, and relax with a beautiful day out in the country. All tours start at the shop! No cost, all events are free. Hope to see you there!

May Fair Festival

Sat. May 15^th 10-4 pm

Chicago Waldorf School

http://chicagowaldorf.org/

This is a fun family event that celebrates creativity, Spring and the imagination! Good food and even a rummage sale… lots to do all day!

Gardenology

Sat. May 15^th 10-4 pm

Geneva, IL

http://www.genevadowntown.org/

Browse downtown Geneva, stop by our booth and make a felted pin! Fun event with a green theme.

Four Winds May Fair

Four Winds Waldorf School

Warrenville, IL

http://www.fourwindswaldorf.org/news/school-calendar/events

Lots of fun activities for the family and kids! A celebration of Spring that’s enjoyable for everyone.

Aurora Art Walk

Sat. June 5^th 2-7 pm

Ballydoyle’s – New York St. Aurora, IL

http://auroraartwalk.com/

Meet artists on this interactive tour around Aurora. I’ll be once again where the food is- two years ago I was in LaFrance Bakery. It’s a great event!

It is hard to believe Easter has passed and we are onto the glorious month of April. The flowers have bloomed, the trees are budding and it is finally starting to green up out there. We’ve had a few days of tempting Summer weather to leave us eager for what’s up ahead, and it is just so exciting to see new things going on!

It is officially six more days to lambing. I don’t know why I keep counting down with bated breath! It is something you look forward to and anticipate for five long months… and then it is going to be here before we know it. I’m sure the ewes know it, and as a customer said today, “You sure don’t want to be pregnant for longer than you have to!” I’m sure that’s how the girls are feeling these days. If you can imagine waddling sheep with swollen ankles, that will give you a pretty good picture of what they’re looking like these days. Once lambing comes, it will be a crazy couple of months around here. There’s never enough towels go around, hot water to go around and definately not enough sleep to go around. But that is just lambing season! And I am glad we do it in the later Spring so at least the lambs and I don’t have to go about freezing out there in the wee bitty months of winter.

That’s why I am trying to get a leap on the planting season, because I figure it’s going to be a bit of time before I get to more digging in the dirt. So, I have planted 200 broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage transplants, lettuce, spinach, chard, beets, onions, radishes and peas, and in the greenhouse- 1,000 transplants of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash and herbs. And I have another 1500 or so to get to. I’m looking for volunteers?!!??!

It is so envigorating to see growing things though. You must get out and see it whether it is peeping through a crack in the sidewalk, gracing a spacious forest preserve or just in your own backyard. Don’t let another day go by with out getting eye level with those growing things and savoring the rich smell of wet soil, humid rain and freshness springing forth. Spring dwells here.

The shop is awkwardly transitioning from the Easter stuff to Summer. I believe. It is the next season, right? Somedays have me tricked. I’ve dyed a great batch of wool for summer- vivid magenta, sparkling royal, bouncing yellow and royal purple. I’ve got more to continue with, so that should be fun! I love letting the things outside mingle with my ideas in my head to bring forth beautiful colors and textures. It always delights me to see what you all are going to create.

Friends of Esther- calling all helpers to a Thursday work day. Any takers? Would you like to hang out and help roll, clean, price or encourage here at the shop? It’s lots of fun! Let me know.

Love to have you in….Spring has sprung!

-Natasha

Maybe that’s a bit of an exageration but it is time to start into the process of barn chores getting ready for lambing in April, seed starting here in a few weeks and to put on a happy smile because- dare I say- Spring I think is visiting us! The sun is shining and I’ve had the pleasure of driving a few places this week just basking in that enveloping warmth and newness of an springtime sun.

We’ve had lots of fantastic help from Friends of Esther members in the last few weeks to get ready for shows and to take care of the shop. With my mom breaking her wrist about a month ago, it has been a bit of a set back in a lot of ways. But in many ways it is good. For one, it is getting me out of my routine and getting me into a more vigorous one. I figure getting up earlier and working harder and juggling more is healthy for the body, mind and soul. Perhaps I’ll lose a few of those hibernation pounds I’ve gained over winter and when we have more on our plates, we tend to just figure it out on how to handle the extra. Like I say, just get the extra big Chinet heavy-duty ones.

But I think it helps you to lean more on God each moment of the day if you are overwhelmed with the days ahead. He gives you strength for each moment, and before you know it, you are sailing through the days, weeks and months you didn’t know if you could pass through. At least that’s how I’ve felt through this whole period. God has blessed me in so many little and big ways and for all of them I am so thankful.

So, let’s look forward to the Spring ahead…here’s a few things going on and pictures of fun stuff we’ve got happening!

-Natasha