The Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we visited the pumpkin patch at Sutter's Ridge. Noelle talked about going for two weeks nonstop before we went.  She was so excited to finally pick out her "baby punkin". 

Here we are in front of the tractor that drove us out to the pumpkin patch.

Noelle with the three pumpkins we picked out of the patch.

A view from afar of the pumpkin patch on the hill.

Baby Blankets, Hats, and an Announcement!

We have a baby brother on the way!!!  He's due in January.  I knit the little boy a blue hat and matching blanket perfect for winter.  The yellow hat and blanket are for a friend whose baby is due November 1st.  They do not know the gender.

Of course Noelle needed her very own knit hat too. 

The baby blankets and hats were knit with Red Heart Buttercup yarn in light yellow multi and teddy bear and Noelle's hat is in carnival.

Noelle is very excited to meet baby brother and for him to wear his baby hat.

Rose O'Neill, her Kewpies, and more

Earlier this summer we took a trip to the Rose O'Neill Museum in Springfield, Missouri and to the Bonniebrook Gallery, Museum, and Homestead in Branson, Missouri. I am a huge fan of Rose O'Neill and her enormous body of work as an artist.

Rose was the first woman cartoonist, a prolific illustrator creating more than 5,500 illustrations, creator of the Kewpie, a painter and sculptor, suffragist, and children's book author.

Noelle and I in front of Rose's beautiful artwork at the Rose O'Neill Museum in Springfield, Missouri.

Kewpies first appeared in the Ladies Home Journal's Christmas issue of December, 1909. They were an instant hit! The public's desire for Kewipies lasted decades. The Kewpies also appeared in Woman's Home Companion and Good Housekeeping. Each issue that contained the Kewpie stories sold out as soon as they came off the press.

A Kewpie illustration at the Rose O'Neill Museum.

At the Bonniebrook Museum, I purchased "The Adventures of the Kewpies" book. This book contains Rose's illustrated Kewpie stories from Good Housekeeping from 1914-1919. I love this book and hope Martha Haut Melton, the person who compiled the collection, puts together Rose's work from both Ladies Home Journal and Woman's Home Companion and publishes them as books as well. What a wonderful collection to own!!!

Rose created the Kewpie doll in 1914. Kewpies became a merchandising phenomenon surpassed only by Mickey Mouse.

Noelle and I in front of a large collection of Kewpie dolls at the Rose O'Neill Museum in Springfield, Missouri.

More Kewpie merchandise at the Rose O'Neill Museum.

Part of the collection of Kewpie serve-ware at the Rose O'Neill Museum.

Although Rose was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, her family moved many times throughout her childhood. Her family eventually moved to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri while she was working as an illustrator in New York. When she went to visit them she fell in love with the beauty of the region and called it Bonniebrook. She settled there shortly thereafter in the 14 room house she had built for her family. She continued her work at Bonniebrook until her death in 1944 at the age of 69. The house is now the site of Bonniebrook Gallery, Museum, and Homestead.

A Kewpie lamp in the Bonniebrook House. 

Another Kewpie lamp.

And another Kewpie lamp. So lovely!

A collection of Kewpie felts that came with tobacco at the Bonniebrook House. Tobacco felts or flannels were often made into quilts.

Kewpie artwork displayed at the Bonniebrook Museum.

The dog flying in this illustration was called the Kewpie Doodle Dog inspired by the O'Neill's family dog.

More Kewpie Doodle Dogs and a couple of pictures of the inspirational family dog at the Bonniebrook Museum.

A beautiful Kewpie illustration featuring "Mer-Kewps" (kewpie mermaids).

One of my favorite Rose O'Neill drawings.

This Kewpie illustration shows the turkey dining with Kewpies and a little girl at Thanksgiving.

I encourage everyone to visit the Rose O'Neill Museum and Bonniebrook. There is just so much to learn about Rose O'Neill. If you are interested in seeing more of her work visit my Pinterest board Kewpie Kewt.

Sources:

Brewster, Linda. Rose O'Neill: The Girl Who Loved to Draw. Boxing Day Books, 2009.

The Bonniebrook website: http://www.roseoneill.org/mainpage.html#/

Apple Picking

Last weekend we took Noelle to Door Creek Orchard for some apple picking. We enjoyed a beautiful crisp fall day at the most beautiful orchard around!

Noelle was amazed at how many apples there were.

She loved filling up her basket.

This orchard is truly amazing. The views are absolutely gorgeous. It's a peaceful retreat that makes for wonderful memories. 

Noelle loves sheep! One of her favorite songs is "Baa Baa Black Sheep". She was so happy to be able to feed the Black Welsh Mountain sheep some grass. They sell the sheep's wool in skeins of yarn too.

Noelle is on the hunt for some more apples.

She got one!

The orchard also has a magical willow tree that we love to play under. 

Bayfield & the Apostle Islands

Last weekend we took a spontaneous trip north to the cute little town of Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior. We met Jeff's parents up there and toured the town and the Apostle Islands.

The clouds were absolutely amazing!

We took a boat ride out to Stockton Island and Noelle loved it. We could not get her away from looking over the side of the boat.

Once we got to the island we hiked out to the beach. After fighting off a flurry of mosquitos and biting flies we got to enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Noelle walked up and down the beach with her Grandma for two hours! 

The next day we took a ferry out to Madeline Island. The water was so transparent. It made you want to dive right in but you would certainly freeze in a matter of minutes if you did so.

The wind really picked up while we were touring Madeline Island. 

On our last day we hiked out to Houghton Falls. It was very peaceful and beautiful.

 I spotted a porcupine chewing on some bark.

Shedd Aquarium-Chicago, IL

 Last weekend we took a trip to Chicago and visited Shedd Aquarium! Noelle enjoyed the Amazon exhibit, especially the cardinal tetras.