Welcome! I was hoping we would find each other! Can you stay a minute or two?
finding words for a blank slate
Just the other day, I was rummaging through a cupboard and came across my beloved grandmother’s slates that she used in a one-room schoolhouse in North Dakota. Can you imagine learning to write on a small 5 inch by 8 inch piece of slate? Really inconceivable!
Grandmother Ione's schoolhouse slates c.1910
One hundred years later…I am sitting in front of a “blank slate” ready to learn…ready to share ideas… ready to make something new from vintage, adored before objects…and ready to make new friends! Like Grandmother Ione as she sat in front of her slates and thought about what to write, I also wonder what words will be written on my 21st century blank slate this year. What new ideas will be shared? What lessons will be learned? What new friends will be met?
The Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm “slate” is a place to share ideas about cooking, gardening, home keeping, families and life. I hope to reflect on creating an inspired home, gardens and life at Rose Cottage. I will talk about lessons learned in the process, too. Will you share your inspirations along the way?
more about blank slates
Notice that Grandmother Ione’s well-worn slate is made from a single piece of quarry slate surrounded by a simple wooden frame. She also had slates without wooden frames, and they would become chipped around the edges as the years passed. One of these less-than-perfect slates is laying flat in the photo.
As a young girl making many mistakes (and they would happen a lot!), Grandmother would say “just wipe it off and start over on a clean slate!” In other words, just forget about it and try again! I imagine that this sage advice came from lessons-learned in Grandmother’s early years in that rural one-room schoolhouse while carefully practicing penmanship with a quarry pencil. When the slate had less than perfect letters, it was simply wiped off with a damp cloth and Grandmother started over again! The start of every new day gives each of us a chance to start with a clean, fresh slate. (I had to do this several times already today!)
Today, I am going to resolve to wipe the slate clean, and start anew on a fresh slate–filled with ideas, creativity, inspiration and joy!
Can you stay awhile and leave a comment or two on my slate so we can chat? I hope so! Thanks for your visit!
13 Comments
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Good Morning Debbykay~
I am VERY Excited – this is going to be FABTABULOUS!!! I have your site as my first favorites…. I can hardly wait to read more:-) You go girl hope you are feeling better today and if not sit your chari in teh sun and collect those warm spring rays!
I’m going to start my search for a picture fram for the Italian linen you gave me…
Love ya
Edie
February 12, 2009 at 12:08 am
Thanks for visiting with me today! Your words of encouragement are so appreciative!! You can subscribe to the Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm blog by selecting “Feed” in the upper right hand corner — either posts, comments or both! Come back often and we can chat!
February 11, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Dear Debbykay! How wonderful to see that you are sharing your creativity with others! It’s so exciting and I’m waiting to see and read about all the wonderful things you do with your charming Rose Cottage home — like your very romatic bedroom! I can hardly wait to see what’s new and old at Rose Cottage Gardens! Love, your Mom.
February 12, 2009 at 12:09 am
Hello Beautiful!
Stay tuned—there will be a post in the near future about seeing red and roses!
Love yah!
February 11, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Good luck with your new adventure!
February 11, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I love seeing you in person, but this is really neat. I feel like I’m “getting away” just looking at your beautiful Rose Cottage Gardens. I can’t wait to learn form you, you’re amazing!
February 12, 2009 at 12:11 am
Hi Karen,
Don’t we just need a respite during these gray, rainy/snowy days??!! I hope you will chat often after visiting Rose Cottage. You have so much to share, too!
February 12, 2009 at 1:31 am
Love your blog! I hope to get some sage advice from you about mine! I will absolutely link to yours, and anytime you want to write about Rose Mille would be A O K with mi!
Michelle
February 12, 2009 at 1:34 am
Hi Mi! You are so sweet! I just made Rose Mille one of my favorite links for inspiration! How about if I take a trip north and visit you on Friday or Monday? I will bring the camera. Do you want me to bring tea? You are the best! Debbykay
February 17, 2009 at 5:57 am
I love your blog! It is very inspiring and so good to see what is going on at Rose Cottage. Keep up the fantastic writing and beautiful photos.
February 18, 2009 at 8:11 pm
What beautiful millinery! I would never have the patience to make something so amazing. I feel like you sent me flowers! Thank you for brightening my day!
February 19, 2009 at 12:56 am
Hi Karen,
Thanks for stopping by for a chat! You brightened my day by your sweet comment! I am really pleased that the millinary magic made your day. I will try to send more bouquets your way in the future! You are the best!
February 20, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Ah, how lovely – MAGIC! And BELIEVE — one of my favorite words. I believe spring is coming, I believe in you, I believe in myself, I believe in God’s faithfulness.