Friends, made with love. And straw. Plus some old clothing.
From the first time I ever saw autumnal or harvest figures in New England, I was fascinated with them. They are a distinctly New England “thing.” They don’t seem to have any history or mythology. They simply sprang up and began appearing. People just create them out of whatever they happen to have on hand. They sit them on benches, hang them in trees, tuck them on porch swings and on rooftops.
I wanted to make my own and this year, I did.
I bought a bale of hay and I went to the church yard sale and bought some old clothing. I found some of my own unused clothing and brought that out. I took a couple of pillow cases to use for heads.
On a sunny October afternoon, my granddaughter, her best friend, me and whoever felt like wandering into the yard and helping built our two friends. My granddaughter drew the face on one, her friend drew the other. We all stuffed. I found a couple of brooms. We plopped them on a bench and tucked them in amongst the forsythia.
They seemed tired, as if they has just brought in the whole harvest on their own.
They were made with love, hemp cord, old clothing, straw … and a good dollop of imagination and good cheer. Made with love. Enjoyed for a whole season and through one winter and into the spring. Is this Meraki?
I do most things with love. I write with love, I take pictures with love. I care for my family, my friends and all of it is love because there is no other reason to do it.
But these were not ONLY love. They were also fun. That’s a special kind of love … love with a light heart.
For anyone who wants to make their own figures, warning: you need a lot more straw than you think. Get two bales of hay, not one!
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Categories: Entertainment, Family, Friendship, Love
Very, very fun! Did they have names?
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Granny and Gramps:-)
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How awesome! I love them. 😀 I’ve made some of these myself, back when I lived on a farm, and you’re right– you can’t make a real sized figure of a person without putting some of yourself into it– it’s a hefty project that only works with love and energy. 🙂 Great job with them, I love how cozy they look!
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Garry thinks they look like us 🙂 It was a lot of fun and took a whole family. I felt a strange affinity for them as if they were a piece of me. Like making a puppet and having it develop a personality of its own. Strange, isn’t it?
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Gee, do they resemble anyone we know perhaps? Just kidding…
Really a wonderful idea and fantastic it was done all in the name of love!
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Gramma & Gramps?
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Us?
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Love it!! 😀 Or should I say them!
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I felt quite personal about them :-)They did look very tired and they got a nice long rest on the bench along the back fence. We shall have to build anew in the fall. But right now, I am still hoping for spring!!
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Me too! It snowed again yesterday. 😦 Still I like your two Meraki’s they can help keep an eye out for the advent of winter so you don’t have to! 😀
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And they are totally loyal. They will never run off to live in someone else’s yard.
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LOL
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They speak well of you, too.
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LOL!!! 😀
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