Dear Log Cabin friends:

Is spring really “just around the corner” as everyone keeps saying? I wish this was a spring newsletter but that will need to wait until April after the first day of spring has arrived. Winter seems so long regardless of whether it is mild or bitter cold. We still have a ways to go here in Nebraska, but the robins returned early in February. The tulips have pushed through the frozen ground so there’s always HOPE we’ll have an early spring, leaving winter behind.

The shop was closed in February so we took a little winter get-away trip heading south of Tucson to Green Valley which is close to the border of Mexico. It was a change of pace & scenery & THAT is always good for the heart and soul. The warmer temps were an added bonus - it was 77 degrees the day we left making it a bit harder to head our car north towards Nebraska. I’ve been asked “what did I like best in the Southwest?”

The very old adobe mission churches fascinated me, the cactus in bloom (many were – we needed another week for the desert to be in full bloom) spring time in the Southwest where the fruit trees were blooming, & picking fresh grapefruit & oranges on trees outside our door.

I “fell in love” with the courtyards in front of the adobe homes with adobe fences & a doorway to enter (see picture following) thinking I’d like to do just that. It just looked so peaceful and comforting.

The saguaro cactus , many standing 30 ft. tall , that the Native Americans felt were like people with spirits, were neat. I really enjoyed the little “out of the way” town of Tubac with arts/crafts shops – full of the flavor of the Southwest.

And I love the genuine turquoise of the southwest. I am partial to Navajo but searched for Zuni. The majority of turquoise sold now is not Native American or genuine so getting directly from the source is the best thing. (Did you know most of the turquoise sold in shops today is ground up turquoise dust mixed with resin & still sold for big prices?)

I missed seeing lots of birds – very few there because of lack of trees I think & perhaps water. Seeing the cactus wrens sticking their heads out of a hole in a large cactus was quite comical though.

If you are going to the Southwest, be sure to take in a couple of desert tours to learn more about the desert, and visit the Saguaro National Park. This was our first trip to this part of the U.S. & tours helped us understand how people could survive in this area. The Southwest is a good place to visit, but there’s still no place like Home. We may complain once in awhile about the weather, but all in all, it’s really OK and trips away from it make one truly appreciate where we live.

Be sure to check out the calendar with dates for when the shop will be open. I am on the “countdown” now to the shop closing. (<My groups will still continue to meet long after I close my doors). We’ll have sale tags posted on some items but many of our things are finding new homes. (I have layaway through Christmas on bigger items or even smaller things grouped together).

I’ve also found a few more things to add to the shop as well & we’re putting “spring” out! See you soon. Blessings of peace, love & abundance. Twila , Cabin Keeper

The stormy March has come at last,
With winds and clouds and changing skies;
I hear the rushing of the blast
That through the snowy valley flies. (March, William Cullen Bryant 1794-1878)

The Saguaro in the desert & dear hubby too

The old adobe church in Chimayo, N.M. Enchanting like the state I thought. Built in l631 & still in use. It’s the place where many are healed they say – from the “dirt” they feel is holy- on this spot. A wall of crutches attests to it & it was pictured in last issue of Time magazine, in article on Faith & Healing. (Notice the courtyard)

MARCH CALENDAR
(The dates in this calendar show changes I’ve made from last newsletter)
March 6 --OPEN Friday 1-6 p.m.
March 7 --OPEN Sat. 9-3
(March 8 – Spring ahead, daylight savings time begins)
March 12- OPEN Thursday 1-6 p.m. (this is an added date, replacing Friday the 13thnow)
March 14- OPEN Sat. 9-4
March 16 – Newbies Woolkeepers, 6:30 p.m.
March 20- OPEN 9-12 a.m. only
UFO (unfinished projects) 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
March 24 –Oldies Woolkeepers 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
March 24 – Log Cabin Herbs Study Group, 6:30 p.m.

APPLIQUE CLUB

NO APPLIQUE CLUB THIS MONTH – Dates for April are April 16 for # 1 & April 23 for #2.

Mark those dates on your calendar if you are a member of our clubs. The project will be a 16x32 mat called Spring Flowers. Please plan to bring Sharpie extra fine point in black, lots of stickpins, 2 sizes of scissors & the time will be extended a bit 6-9 p.m. I really enjoyed doing this mat that I will make into a large pillow for the bed.

HEARTS ON LINEN was so very popular! All extra kits were sold immediately. I will be doing up more kits in April so if you are interested in a kit, reserve one now.

WOOLKEEPERS
Please check to see if you are down for refreshments in March. After not meeting for a couple months either due to weather or shop closed, it will be good to get together again exchanging ideas & to show what we’ve been working on. New wools here too.

LOG CABIN HERBS STUDY GROUP
We’ll meet Tuesday evening, March 24th , 6:30 p.m. Please be on time. Topic is Elderberries & leader is Dianna .
Elderberry is a wild herb and a native plant we are all familiar with but we’ll learn so much more !

And there will be more interesting things to share ! The group is open to those that want to learn more about herbs, in our gardens and wild-- how to grow, what to do with them etc. Please join us if you are interested in working with herbs.

RE-CYCLE
There are many things we can all recycle. If you are throwing away the following, would you consider bringing along when you come to shop or I can pick up too.
Glass pint and quart jars for canning
Bagged fallen leaves
Grass clippings that have no seeded tops nor had herbicides/pesticides on them (no buffalo grass)

I am starting a stack of magazines/books by the front door also to recycle. Feel free to add & take to/from the stack. It is ALWAYS good to recycle!

LIVE SIMPLY, SO THAT OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE --- UNKNOWN

Don’t you just love the blue painted door at the entrance to the courtyard of this adobe home?. I felt with that country twig wreath on the door a “kindred spirit” just had to be living on the other side of the door.. I could not resist stopping to taking a picture!   (Open by designated hours or appointment) (402)792-3178

End of March, 2009 newsletter. --- Content property of The Log Cabin & Prairie Woolworks.

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