Fairy Crowns for Princesses

 

 

 

 

I've put these in the shop. They really are fun to make. I got a custom order from a Red Hat Society lady who wanted one. She was thrilled with the result.

Today, I will work on stocking http://allskate.etsy.com, which is my etsy shop full of vintage and destash. Its going to be a lot of working having two shops, but I am hoping it will pay off.

Dawson Forest Hike*-

 

 

 

 

We are looking forward to hiking with the girls, and this was a very tiny taste for them. This is a new trail at Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County, Georgia. Scott was in charge of building this ADA-compatible path. It was a perfect hike for the girls. We saw wildflowers, a water snake, loads of butterflies, some neat bugs, and a frog nursery. We found a pool in the rocks where a frog had laid her eggs. We all laid on our tummies at the edge trying to catch a glipse of her. (We did.)

We tried to pick strawberries but the place I found online in Dahlonega didn't open until Monday. Ugh.

The Best Yard Sale Find EVAH!

I found these this morning for ONE DOLLAR at a yard sale!

The World's Best Hamburger

This is the best hamburger in the world. Its the Messy Burger from Brad's Grill in Gainesville, Georgia. It has two beef patties, cheese, bacon, slaw, onions, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup. It is truly divine. Its so good that I can only eat one a year, and I rely on the memories to carry me for the next 364 days.

All Hail The Queen (Snake)

Yesterday, Scott was at Dawson Forest at the ribbon cutting for a new trail. He happened to see a little tiny head poking out of the river. Now, you must know that Scott cannot resist picking up a snake. (He has even relocated copperheads, albeit with his snake pole and a trash can.)

So, he managed to get this one which was a bit lethargic as the river is quite cold. Its a queen snake.

We have two snakes that live in the creek here at home. Lulu named one Crack Hole (it lives in the cracks and holes of the rip rap at the bridge - duh) and one Bethany. Both are brown water snakes.

Stabby McCatfish and Other Fun Stuff

The girls and I spent the weekend with my parents at Lake Oconee. The weather was wonderful. We managed to get in a boat ride, a Jet Ski ride for Lulu, and canoe ride for Fern and I. We came home in one piece but just barely. Fern fell at the park and got a big fat lip. I fell out of the hammock while snuggling with Lulu.

I suffered several jabs to the hand from the 15 catfish I caught with the girls. That was a lot of fun. The girls were very impressed with their mother. (To her credit, Lulu landed about 5 of them.) Oh, and I managed not to gut hook a single one. All were released safely!

Yesterday we took the girls up to the river at Lula Bridge. We thought we would be able to cross at a low spot since the water has been down so we could look for pottery pieces on the less-traveled shore. However, it was just too deep. But we found a nice sandy beach and the girls had their sand toys. We saw deer and turkey tracks, but no pottery this trip. It was quite a nice quiet spot. Next time we will bring a picnic and our fishing gear.

So Scott enjoyed his 2 days of bachelorhood. I came home to a nice and tidy house that was destroyed within about 4 hours, and a husband who enjoyed his break from us. I have to admit that I am looking forward to some 'me time' when Fern finally weans.

I've marked all of my hats down to $15 or less in my shop. I sold a slip and a hat today too!

Its Planting Time!

Well, it looks as if the last frost of the season is gone. Talk about late! Looks like this weekend Scott will till the garden one last time and them start planting. Last year, we grew tomatoes, green beans, okra, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, Swiss chard, zucchini, squash, watermelon, and corn.

This year, we will grow pretty much the same except that I have asked to cut the okra and add more Swiss chard. The girls loved it and no one ate the okra. He mentioned garlic and asparagus as well.

Scott also planted three apple trees recently. The grapes are looking good as well. And the 9 blueberry bushes are thriving. The fig - meh. Its slow going. I hav also asked Scott if we can plant some gourds for me to paint.

We've been talking about having chickens again too. I think it would be fun for the girls. Lulu remembers them from the last house in Covington.

So funny how Scott had to drag me kicking and screaming from my funky little intown apartment further and further away from 'civilization' and now I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, if I could have a cool loft in an old building in the country, that would be ideal.

Pretty Dresses

 

 

 

 

Just some of the vintage slips I've been working on. They are so pretty in person but I am having such a hard time taking pictures of them. I really need a dress form.

I am really getting discouraged with my shop. I think my lack of good pictures is really hurting my shop. I haven't made a sale in a while. I am bummed. I am hoping to get a better response at the Farmer's Market.

Owl Release

 

 

 

 

As happens from time to time, Scott brings home something wild as part of his job as a wildlife biologist. We've had a liger cub (tiger/lion cross), cayman alligators, degus, and more. Today, he was called to remove a pair of sibling owls from a local man's workshop. These were barn owls and they are gorgeous. We just released them a few minutes ago, just before dark. They are silent flyers, so stealth. What an honor to see these gorgeous animals up close. I think the girls enjoyed it too.

Noooooooooooo!

I have lost the memory card to my camera! I can't take any pictures of new stuff and I can't upload and list the stuff I did have pictures of. This is DISASTER.

I am in the process of making a few Monster Eye hats to list. I have had a few requests for them so I thought I would toss a few up. Its good to have the old hooks out again.

The Hall County Farmer's Market starts in early May. I am looking forward to having a book there this summer. I am hoping to encourage other local etsy folks to come once a month for an "Etsy Row" or to do an artist's market once a month.

Some pictures of our kitchen. It was so nasty before we redid it. Very country. I had always wanted a bright color for the kitchen and Japanese Fern by Behr was perfect. We also added the beadboard. The mirrors were my idea. They reflect gorgeous light. My next task will be to stain the parquet floors dark.

We went trout fishing this afternoon. FUN. FUN. FUN. It rained and we didn't care. We caught 4 nice trout. They are fixing to get grilled. We all got super muddy and wet. I had forgotten how much I miss fishing. We were using crickets and a ultralight pole in addtion to the Barbie poll. I love that my husband is confident enough in his manhood to fish with the Barbie pole in among the snooty fly fishermen.

The trout were clean and placed in tin foil. I add herbs, onions, Mrs. Dash, a little butter and lemon juice. We will also have baked potatoes, Silver Queen corn and broccoli. It would be so nice to share photos, and while I did take my camera, I left my card at home. Oh well.

But I did first in etsy style! I wore my red panda chainmaille earrings, my tina seamonster t-shirt, my own brimmed newsboy in hot pink and some mandarin bergamot body butter from ficklefaerie.

It was a great family day!!

Makeover and Chickens

Two new chicken paintings in the shop, both painted on old cookie sheets.

Gave my blog a bit of a makeover. It was time for a change. Mostly I just like playing with the color thingy.

Methcrack

I coined a new term today. I had to. I had to find the word to describe Scramble on Facebook. Its like Boggle. I can hardly tear myself off the freaking computer. My neck and arms hurt. In a sentence?

"Scramble on Facebook is methcrack - its that addictive."

In other news, I am about to lose it with trying to get my new slips photographed. Its been too windy or wet for a week now. I need a dress form or manny in the worst way. Its really the only way I am going to get the best pictures.

I actually dragged out the hooks and I am making a new hat. I can only describe this new yarn as bloody intestines. Its really soft, but it does look like bloody veiny intestines. Monster Crochet would love it.

And I have actually lost 10 lbs. according to the scale at the gym. I think giving up alcohol during the week, working out almost daily (sometimes 2x a day) and watching my food has paid off. I had to ask and make sure they didn't mess with the scale as part of some cruel April Fool's joke.