kitties

We've missed you....

 What have we been up to?  you ask.

playing (Earnest with catnip toy)

helping (Earnest is keeping safe the shipment of chamois to tie dye.)

snoozing in sun puddles  (We are very talented at this!)

 

snuggling (Oliver)

So as you can see, we've been very very busy!

We are participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday.  Come and join in the fun!  You will be charmed, and you just may be enlightened!  See more entries HERE.  This week our letter is "K."  

I'm also linking up with my favorite kitty meme, Cats on Tuesday, hosted by Gattina.  Check it out HERE.

photos by me © 2010 and 2011

Baby Owl #2

Because Barry's re-nesting was so successful, we were  privileged  to re-nest another baby barred owl!  

This owl came from a nearby town.  The Raptor People put the baby owl in the plastic crate roped to a tree in our woodsy backyard.  It was hoped that new owl parents would adopt it.  By the next day, the owl was perched on the edge of the crate.  The following morning, however, the owl had disappeared!  Oh no!  By that evening we found it--high on a branch in another tree about 20 yards away! 

See the baby owl in the middle of the photo?  (click to enlarge)

Owls cannot fly at this point in their life (about 4 weeks) so it must have fallen out of the tree and somehow made its way across the ground to the new tree.  Then it crawled up the tree using its sharp beak and talons.  What an adventure!  This must have taken many hours to accomplish.

adoptive mother in nearby tree.  We don't know if this is the same mother owl as Barry's, but we assume so since owls are territorial.

The day following this adventure, I saw the baby owl hop up the tree to another branch.  They start doing this at about 4 weeks, but can't really fly till close to 6.

It's been such a joy to witness these young owl lives and the adults caring for them. 

See this link for Barry's story and owl links (including their vocalizations.)

Thanks once again to Cindy and Marc of RAPTOR, INC!

photos by me © 2011

....journal and journey....

In its essence, journaling opens doors to the creative soul within.  It is a journey. 

journey:  the act of traveling

journal:  the recording of travels:  an exploration of one's adventures, thoughts, inspiration, interests, observations, creativity 

Much can be said about journaling, but that is not my purpose here.  I am presenting some snippets only.

When my son was in 4th grade, the teacher had the students write in a journal everyday.  They could write about any topic and draw pictures, too. 

 a bit of a page from one of his journals

When my daughter was young, she and I shared a small book in which we would write back and forth to each other.

drawing by my daughter from this book 

Last year, I made a journal for a friend who is outreach and education director for an organic farm.

front cover

 a few pages

Earlier this year, the etsybloggers had a journal swap.  We were to journal every day for a month.  This LINK states each day's topic.  Judy, a team member, describes her experience and her feelings about her completed book.  "Definitely not perfect, but a good lesson for me to learn acceptance of imperfection; life is too short to agonize over small things!"  Read more about Judy's experience and see some pages from her book HERE.

Here's a photo of a journal in progress.  I've been working on this for quite a while.  (It's almost finished!  winks to A!)  

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "J."  Come and join HERE. You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 

photos by me 2010 

Devine Designs

Devine is right!  Cindy is the etsy blogger artist of the month for November.  Her jewelry is simply gorgeous.  Come see what I mean.

Creativity runs in Cindy's family and thus she has always been crafty.  Here's what she says about her current work.  "I try to take metal to the extreme by bending and twisting to make unique designs.  I use lots of wire to make twists, coils, and spirals that I add to my work.  I strive to form designs that have not been done before, original works of art jewelry.  I strive for perfection and high quality." 

Just look at some of Cindy's beautiful creations.  I love this turtle bracelet made with lampwork beads, Hill Tribe silver, sterling silver, and fluorite.

This lovely bracelet is made with copper, sterling silver, and ceramic and lampwork beads.  Look at the plethora of rich copper coils!

A one-of-a-kind original,this Four Elements bracelet is beautiful!   It is created from lampwork beads, red jasper, tiger's eye, Swarovski crystals, with spirals and squiggles of sterling silver.

Besides bracelets,  Cindy also makes earrings, necklaces, anklets, and brooches.  But I will leave you on your own to peruse her shop and discover more amazing divine-ness.

LINKS:

SHOP

BLOG blog where "you will find my everyday ramblings, rants, and raves about life in general and a 'so called' journey in the jewelry making process."

Facebook 

 etsy bloggers 

photos © 2010 by Devine Designs

Desert Delights

In which we explore several disparate but decidedly delightful desert displays.   Come!  Let the dreamy dance of the desert muse begin!

Sonoran desert

decorated by prickles

conserves its beauty

desert dwelling birds

fly high into prickles

create domiciles

ancient rock towers

above the verdant valley

to glorious sky

photo #1 & #2 Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona   LINK

photo #3  Zion National Park, Utah   LINK

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "D."  Come and join HERE.  Here is Ms. Matlock's submission.

If you click this link, you will discover so many creative takes on this letter.  There are about 85 as of this writing.  Now go visit! 

This post is also for SkyWatch Friday hosted by Wren, fishing guy, Sylvia, Klaus, and Sandy.  Come join us in this awesome meme, link up, and meet folks from all over the globe. 

photos by me © 2009 & 2010
haiku by me © 2010