Steamroller

Finally the day has come.
After 3 revisions this toy was crafted to specification one last time. Now with the mornings rain the pollen washed away the stage was set for photos to be taken. Barely able to contain my excitement I have been waiting for this opportunity for months. The chance to quote Rita Gray's book titled Easy Street.

"Roll it, roll it wheels so fat. Roll it down to make it flat."

Handcrafted by My Father's Hands ~ Wooden Toys

Day Trip

To celebrate a birthday we chose to take a day trip to a near by destination. After a short car ride and a much anticipated ferry boat ride we headed out on a new adventure to explore the jetties. We had arrived during low tide which allowed us to peek at the marsh periwinkles and oyster beds. The photo above reminded me of natures amazing ability to make man made things her own.

Puppy Love!

My eight year old daughter captured this image of our sweet pup Cooper. Looking through these photos it has just now dawned on me that our 2 pups, litter mates Lola and Cooper have been a part of our family for a whole year now. Before we adopted them, it had been 14 years since we brought a puppy home. We did not remember the paper training weeks and months that were in-store for us or the destruction that comes with the territory as baby teeth fall out and pups are aching for anything to chew on. These two have been Talia's favorite photography subjects and dress up play mates and many hours have been spent in their loving warm puppy dog company. We love you two!

My Fathers Hands Wooden Toys

The little seed has been planted and as Spring approaches it begins to sprout. First strong roots heading down to the ground for nourishment ~ our mission: To create natural, unfinished, hand crafted wooden toys. Toys that allow our children freedom of imagination filled creative play. Peace of mind for parents knowing the toys are toxin free. Joy watching and hearing our children play. Pride knowing that we will replenish natures gifts by planting a tree for each toy sold.

Next for our seedling comes the growth upwards toward the sky. Reaching up and then out with leaves of green: Our web site has launched for all to see. Now we wait for Spring to arrive bringing warm weather, some rain and lots of sunshine: spreading the word "...my father's hands made these toys."

For more information about our toys and our mission please visit
http://www.MyFatherHandsWoodenToys.com

19 hour Winter Wonderland

As anticipation built up, the long awaited event finally occurred. It snowed in our southern carolina beach town and the snow stuck! Some children got to stay up late as the snow started coming down and got to play outside in PJs and coats. Our little ones went to bed early as we chose to wake them before sunrise the next morning. After rushing through breakfast, we did some serious bundling up and then took a walk exploring our white blanket world. We enjoyed every possible moment of this beautiful gift from Mother Nature making sure we had snow tasting, made snow angels, had snow ball fights and built snow persons. After all, we knew it would not last long. And in deed it lasted nineteen hours at best.

Daddy, make something that goes...!

Those were the words our son used as he looked longingly at the stocks of rough wood.

What is a father to do but oblige?
So with wheels that were stashed in a long forgotten box and the wood that was left over from a project completed, a toy truck was crafted with love and with care.

The sounds and the stories that followed that day bring a smile to mind and a song to my heart. Oh, the creativity of imagination filled play.

Our House in the Trees

"Your house is the one in the trees" a neighbor once said. Indeed our home is nestled amongst beautiful Southern Magnolia, Live Oak and Sweet Gum trees, to name a few. The trees keep us connected to the cycle of life throughout the season. So bring on the pollen, the leaves and the work and don't forget the shade that we have and the birds we adore and the climbing and fun we enjoy all the more!