Around and about

Just a few things we've been up to lately here at d.a.s. bucks.

Planting oregano and dill seeds (and transplanting rosemary indoors). I found the boxes, seed and soil at the local thrift for $4.

Making autumnal jewelry

Collecting botanical specimens to create a "leaving summer, welcoming autumn" nature board.   Nate and I went for a walk through the field by our house. We collected all sorts of botanical specimens to create this nature board. We took a piece of foam board we'd previously used for drawing , covered it in a cloth napkin, and pinned our collection. I held the tack in place while Nate pushed it down. He placed all the items on the board. 

 We definitely plan to create another board later in the fall.

As well as lots of tomato canning to do.  Loving this weather...

The Gratitude Box

I have opened up a shop, called The Gratitude Box.  You can find it here.

The shop is a place where all items reflect gratitude and encourage a mindset of thanksgiving on a daily basis.  The core idea came years ago when I painted and oiled a wooden box for Andy to keep a few things of sentimental value.  Over time, I watched how he cherished the box enough to keep it in daily view.  When I asked him about this, he replied that the box helped him feel grateful. 

In the process of creating these boxes, I have observed how I have become more grateful. Gratitude doesn't have to be a public declaration of your life (though it can, if that's how it resonates with you); and in fact, I find it to be a deeply personal, often private way of connecting with who you are, your life, and your faith.

It will be a positive outlet for my creativity and alone time. And it builds on the concept of giving thanks through others, which I believe contributes some good to the world.  Working in charitable giving for years, it is also my hope to donate some of the funds to charity. 

Soon I will be opening a shop on the online marketplace, Etsy. I also hope/plan to sell locally at craft fairs and possibly local craft marketplaces.The idea has been something that I have wanted to do for years and have decided to act on it.  More to come!

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson