One of Those Weeks

Aghhhhhhhh!!!!

It has been one of those weeks. One of THOSE weeks, where you get out of bed and think, what the heck is going on here? Then, you just get back in bed and cover your head. The above freaky picture was taken by me, a few years back, on a trip to Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari, located in Gentry, Arkansas. The place is a trip...it's a must if you want to really mess with your kids. Ha! It is really a must, your kids AND you will love it. It used to be a favorite trip to take with my friends when I was in college too, so there is really no age limit.

Back to this week, nothing has gone right. Not to bore you with tons of details, but simply, everything I have attempted to do online has gone horribly wrong. I tried to post the chat notes for the AREtsy team chat and it vanished. I upgraded my website so I can sell directly from the site with ease, and it erased my previous website. I worked an entire day on the AREtsy website and it's gone too. I am slowly relearning the new software to update my website and hopefully will have it all back in working order soon.

On a cool note, I have been getting ready for camping next week. It should be a blast! I also started knitting a sun hat to hang out in during the summer. It feels really good to be knitting again, I will post pics later. AND lastly, the yarn shop in Russellville, Knit 2 Together, is OPEN!!! I am planning a small road trip tomorrow. They have contacted me about carrying my yarn, which is very exciting! Will post more later....off to learn a new program with a better outlook! ♥

Day Three- The Tortoise and The Hare

This morning, I opened up the front curtains and peaked in on the baby birds. To my surprise there was a turtle sitting right under the tree. The funny thing is, we have been looking for a turtle forever. In California, they sell box turtles for enormous prices. Like $40 each! Seriously! In moving to Arkansas, we always hoped to find one in our yard. And here it is: Being that we are from California and all, we decide to "tag" him. "Tagging" means to put graffiti on something.
Not really! Come on, we are not THAT strange.

But really, to our shock, the turtle turned around and I saw a peace sign on his back. I was stunned. From inside the house, it almost looked like his shell had formed the sign on its own. I ran outside and picked him up and noticed he had lots of "markings" on him...poor little guy. Seems whoever "owned" this turtle named him Speedy and wrote it right on his shell. I went ahead and put him down so he could be on his merry way.

After a quick refill of coffee, I had another look in our flower bed and there was another surprise. A baby rabbit. It was our very own version of the tortoise and the hare. Quite honestly, my money is on Speedy.
Here are the baby robins today. I am a bit afraid there are only two. I could not get the best photo today, but what I did get, looks like there is only two. Maybe tomorrow, a better view will provide us better insight.

A quick favor to ask, please keep the Hennel family in your prayers. A dear friend of ours passed away from a massive heart attack last night. He has two young kids, who are struggling to deal with this tragedy. Thanks so very much! ♥

Day Two

Here are the three babies today. The Mama Bird has been coming and going and from our dining room table we can see a couple months pop up and get their meal.

I read a little about Robins and learned they only lay one egg a day and only up to four eggs. Rarely, they will have five. So I am thinking the bird underneath is a day behind the other two or just the runt. It looks a lot less developed then the two. I hope it's just a day behind! We shall see with tomorrow pictures. They are totally strange to peak at for sure! I can't wait until the have feathers and look a bit more bird like.

Above is some handspun yarn, I adore it. Totally girly pink and great. It is the next thing I have planned to list on Etsy. Hope you all have a wonderful Friday evening. ♥

Three Babies

For the last couple weeks, the boys and I have enjoyed watching a beautiful robin build her nest and then take care of the eggs. Today we noticed little heads bopping up and the mama feeding them. I very carefully took my camera, on my camera stand...set the timer, and ever so gently held it above the nest. This was the result. Three Babies!

The mama bird and daddy bird have been very busy tending to these little ones! I believe they were born either yesterday or early this morning. The eyes are not yet opened and they are quite naked. I will try to snap a few pictures over the next few days so we can share how they are growing (hopefully a bit better quality).

A rainbow array of roving is waiting to be posted to Etsy. Most of them are all under an ounce but a few are over. The next few days my shop will be over flowing with colorful yummy-ness once again. I have felt a bit like the baby birds and that my shop was a bit naked and striped down. The shop will grow with the babies!

I do also have several handspun yarns just hanging out in my ready to sell stash. Today, I did get the handspun listed from the roving Jeanetta painted. It had to be named after her, since she did the dye work and all....here is Jeanetta Spun.

Last night's AREtsy chat was great! We covered a ton, and now, I need to weed it down to the good stuff and get it out to the group. Hope you all have a lovely evening! ♥

Cotton Cotton everywhere is Cotton

Save the Planet, use cotton as stuffing. Several months back, I stumbled upon some cotton, and by some I really mean LOADS of it. Pounds and Pounds of cotton that filled up one of my closets. The plan was to spin it, but I really have much more than I ever will need or be able to use. Jeanetta, took some and tested it out as an Environmentally Friendly stuffing alternative and has found it stuffs beautifully!

I now have quarter pound bags listed in my Etsy Shop for you to save the Earth by using. The bags are $3.00 each and I have many of them. If you want more than one bag, please send me a conversation and I will give you a price break and combine shipping.
I am just totally enamored with this sticker. It has a grainy texture and you just have to love the little bird sitting on top of the "Y"
A fellow, Arkansas Etsy Street Team member, dogwoodlane, has started her very own blog: "OnDogwoodLane". I just love her work. Recently, one of her wallets was a must add addition to my collection. It really has room for everything under the sun. I highly recommend her products to anyone!

This is a picture of the wallet I purchased from her and I truly adore it. Check out her Etsy Shop as well.

There is an ArEtsy Chat tonight and I am really excited about all the things planned to discuss. Has anyone heard of SEO before? I have my thinking cap on again and am in full research. I will have to share more on this later. ♥

The New Wheel is Here

Today, sitting on my front porch was a glorious sight. An Ashford Wheels & Looms box. Bet you can guess what was in it... Ta Da! A brand spanking new spinning wheel. An Ashford Joy Spinning Wheel. It was so exciting. I almost cried. Yes, I am a big spinning dork...I know. She is so very pretty! Check her out.
The wheel folds up flat for easy travels. Also has a build in lazy kate. Ashford is engraved on both sides of the wheel.
I love the way she spins too. No fussy treadles and slipping wheel. Just smooth, smooth spinning.

On a different note, just in time for Memorial Day, I am listing some Americana funky painted yarn. Very bulky and super unique. My mail was ever so exciting today. I had a couple cute things sent to me as a special thank you and this was one of them. Cute sticker!

Off to enjoy my new wheel! ♥