PecanCorner

I live & work in a tiny house in a tiny town in Texas. I am a wife, mom, grandmom, mother-in-law, aunt, daughter, sister and friend. I am a Christian. I have three sons, all married and four beautiful daughters in law. I work full time, go to church, and do volunteer work. I belong to the AAPA Amateur Journalism Association. I mow my own yard. I am easily amused and never bored!

I love nature and natural history, reading, local history, collecting vintage, living vintage, gardening, putting food by, learning new things, decorating my home, and crafting. Letterpress printing is one of my hobbies but my press is in storage right now.

Current "special" interests (these change with the seasons doncha know!) are Postage Stamps, handmade books, boutique handbags and Western Ranch/Rural fashion. I collect old Mexican Pottery, books by people I have some connection with, WWI and WWII "Homefront" memorabilia, tiny baskets carved from fruit stones,,etc etc etc.! My husband will tell you I collect shoes but I don't :-),

I love reading - mostly non-fiction these days but when there's time I love British Mysteries: PD James, Elizabeth George, etc. Alexander McCall Smith's "Number One Ladies Detective Agency" series is a recently discovered passion! For Celtic fantasy, Juliet Marillier is excellent.

Old favorites I re-read every so often: Mary Stewart's Merlin series, The Secret Garden, The Story of the Other Wise Man, the works of Pearl Buck, Bambi: A Life in the Woods (the novel)

Best reference books: Readers Digest North American Wildlife - strange but true it is the best-all-round field guide I've found - accurate, easy to use, surprisingly detailed, nicely indexed and covers 99% of things we look up.

I've given up on TV and never watch it any more but oh I love having Netflix! Now I can watch BBC & Masterpiece Mysteries to my heart's content! Currently working through Inspector Lewis (perfectly continues what he began in Inspector Morse) and A Touch of Frost. Midsummer Murders and Poirot are perennial favorites, naturally.

For comedy, Corner Gas was just the best. And who doesn't love Hyacinth Bucket (it's BOOKAY!!! ;-) ) of Keeping Up Appearances?

I am wanting to try my hand at cutting linoleum blocks. I love block prints and that may be the next thing I learn. I have a letterpress printing press that is currently in storage following a move and I enjoy printing and making small books.

I don't scrapbook, but I love beautiful paper. That is what got me started in printing: a desire to use those gorgeous papers!

Things I have done in the past: native american-style beading on a loom with seed beads, Southwestern necklaces, painted clothing, drawing/making art.

Are gardening and preserving "crafts"? Maybe the preserving and cooking part is. I love storing food, and enjoy making jellies and jams, pickles & relishes, drying fruits and veggies, then finding lovely ways to use them.