Wednesday, October 01, 2008

It's that time of year again...

Last Saturday, we had some visitors to Cranberry Cottage. Two of my quilting friends, a mother and daughter, came to visit us and see the cottage and its surroundings.


Saskia was the first person to call when I placed a flyer in a quilt shop to join my quilt group. She decided to take a photo of us sitting on a bench. She walked in the woods and put her camera on a stump. I did not even realize what she was doing until Joke (pronounced 'yo-ka' for those who do not know Dutch) and I saw her running towards us. We were laughing so hard that I am surprised how nice a photo the tree stump took for us. *grins* If you enlarge the photo, you can see it better but it is Joke on the left, Saskia and then myself on the right.


Joke's husband Gerard is very talented with colors and shapes also which is fitting since his wife is a quilter. He made me this beautiful suncatcher as his hobby is making stained glass and Tiffany items.


And yes, it is that time of year again. I love spending time in the woods searching for toadstools. I took too many photos to share at once so I will show you them on and off in the coming entries.


When you take a walk in the Dutch woods, it is never hard to understand how Rien Poortvliet came up with his stories and drawings of gnomes. If you have never seen his artwork, it is well worth looking it up.


The beauty that can come from one tree stump left in the woods. These were growing on the right side of the stump...


...and these on the left.


Toadstools are like jewels in the woods to me and it is shame that they don't last long. I try to look for them each weekend while we are up at the cottage. Holland is a country rich in various types of toadstools due to its damp climate.

9 comments:

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

What amazing toad stools you have there in Holland. We don't see them like that here. Such a treat to get to see them through your eyes.

Glad to hear you had a delightful weekend. Good to get away sometimes.

xo
Becky

Pondside said...

What a happy blog posting Heidi!! The photo just says "These women are friends and they are HAPPY!" I loved it!
The toadstools are amazing, aren't they? We have many in our forest as well, and people come to pick them, especially the chanterelles (spelling?)but I'm afraid to pick and eat as I don't have enough knowledge of what's safe. When I was a child I truly believed that ferries lived under the toadstools.

Judy said...

What a lovely walk among the toadstools. I don't think I knew there were so many different ones.

Nancy said...

Noooooo way, now you found a BLUE
toadstool. Are you sure you aren't paying gnomes to paint these for you. I bet you are. Great photo of you three quilters. That is so nice they could visit you.
Love you, Mom
PS: You can turn off the alert, I am not missing. I am home now.

Ragged Roses said...

My children love going mushroom hunting, armed with their books they love finding them! I love your suncatcher Heidi, it is so pretty. Glad to hear you had such a good time with your visitors, isn't it wonderful when we can share surroundlings with friends
Kimx

Kristen said...

They are wonderful! You should make a collage with the pictures that you have taken. :)

Annemarie said...

WHat a terrific picture of the three of you! You look like regular wood nymphs :o)
As for the toadstools: I have a theory about them that Mr. Poortvliet wouldn't have agreed with, but I think I'm right (not that he was ever wrong, mind you). Kabouters *do* live in toadstools. I see them every time I take a walk in the woods!

Unknown said...

What a cute picture of the 3 of you. The stained glass is beautiful and those toadstools are all so different and amazing. A little treasure from nature.

Hugs - Karen

Rhondi said...

Those toadstools are amazing. Sch beautiful colors and interesting shapes! The three of you look like you're having a great time!
Hugs, Rhondi