For Amber Waves of Grain

I remember in elementary school that we sang. We sang a LOT.

We started each day with the pledge - led over the loudspeaker by the principal, and then there were songs that we would sing together throughout the days and the weeks.

I remember one in particular that we would sing in the fall and it was soooo spooky! It was sung in sort of a minor key. I loved its creepiness. Here are the words.

There was a woman all skin and bone
Oo-oo-oo!
Who lived in a cottage all on her own,
Oo-oo-oo!

She thought she'd go to church one day
Oo-oo-oo!
To hear the parson preach and pray,
Oo-oo-oo!

When she got to the wooden stile
Oo-oo-oo!
She thought she'd stay and rest a while
Oo-oo-oo!

When she reached the old church door
Oo-oo-oo!
A ghastly ghost lay on the floor,
Oo-oo-oo!

The grubs crawled in, the grubs crawled out,

Oo-oo-oo!

Of its ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Oo-oo-oo!

Oh you ghastly ghost, she said,

Oo-oo-oo!

Shall I be like you when I am dead ?

YES!

Scary right? And so fun.

And we also sang many patriotic songs. My Country 'Tis of Thee (take that England - we stole your tune!), the Star Spangled Banner, and my very favorite - America the Beautiful. My artist brain notes that there are four colors listed in the song, and I think that's part of what makes it so fetching. Amber, purple, white and gold.

I always got vivid images in my mind when we sang it, especially on the amber waves of grain line.

There's really nothing more beautiful than a prairie, and a prairie with wheat - well that's the cat's meow right there.

My friend and co-worker Lori lives amongst the wheatfields, and so her challenge this week is all about those amber waves - I love it. I happened to have the perfect stamp too. (Imagine that!)

link to supplies

InLinkz.com

To get the sort of dreamy look, I stamped four of the images from Concord & 9th's Give Thanks in Delightful Dijon. Then I took my wash brush and just painted clean water over the whole page, activating the ink, blurring the images and coloring the background.

When that was dry, I stamped more wheat in So Saffron for the ghosts in the background.

Then I stamped that big splashy Thanks and added "give" in Versafine. I heart modular greetings.

I know that for some reason it's in vogue to say you don't like your country right now. That's mystifying to me. I love mine.

I give thanks for our alabaster cities and our amber waves of grain daily - no matter what's on TV.

Have a happy Monday!

Loveyameanitbye.