Suzula Sez

When you take a walk in the country on a misty summer morning, always take your camera!! Even when the roadside seems parched from the sizzling heat and drowned from the recent torrential rains, there's beauty to be seen. Just keep your eyes to the ground and your camera on macro and you'll be pleasantly surprised...

Backroad Bouquets II

2011-06-24T08:13:00.004-05:00

FINALLY a morning not too hot, not pouring down rain, and me with some energy. I ventured out around 6:30AM, and although the weather has not been conducive to flowers, I did manage to find these Queen Ann's Lace and Echinacea. Pretty!!

Completion!!

2011-05-23T16:51:00.011-05:00

This weekend, following his wedding, my son got the cascade and waterfall up and running. Now my pond IS complete and I can spend the summer enjoying it...

If you're ever in my area, stop by and sit a spell... :)

Eleven Years To Perfection!!

2011-05-01T17:23:00.014-05:00

The goldfish pond/water garden that my son and I started in 2000 has finally become the landscape feature I have always dreamed of. It took the first five years to complete the pond itself and the next six to finish the rock work and landscaping in the surrounding area. It was worth all the hard work and waiting to me; not sure about my son... :)

Previous pond post; June 2010. Click here.

Backroad Bouquets

2011-04-28T17:23:00.004-05:00

This evening when I took my walk, I noticed the huge variety of flowers (weeds?) blooming along the roadside, and decided to start a mini blog called "backroad bouquets". This is the first, and consists of red clover and wheat from my neighbor's field. Watch for more in the days to come... :)

Pretty, isn't it??

Egg Huntin'

2011-04-25T06:23:00.021-05:00

For several years when the grands were little, we had Easter egg hunts up on the hill behind our farmhouse. Always SO much fun!! This Easter, I decided it was time to renew the tradition. My son's upcoming marriage has provided us with three "new" great-grands, and yesterday they were welcomed into the family...

Hope you all had a blessed Easter!!

APRIL Pretties from ETSY

2011-04-04T07:13:00.027-05:00

APRIL

(click here to go to trej and visit these shops)

I recently made this welcome-to-April treasury on Etsy and realized how much I like this color combo. So I decided to search the shops of my wonderful Etsy friends from TEAMEPE EtsyProjectEmbrace for more selections. The links under the photos will take you to each of the shops where you can read about these items and browse others.

All of these artists/crafters donate a portion of their proceeds to the American Cancer Society or the American Hospice Foundation. They are just a few of the 200 plus sellers who make up this very loving and caring team!!!

Spring Fever

2011-03-30T19:15:00.011-05:00

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
~Mark Twain

Spring fever, for me, is an uncontrollable urge to get outdoors and dig in the dirt. When my friends tell me of their concerns with spring cleaning - washing windows, scrubbing walls, and cleaning out closets - I can think only of cleaning out flower beds, moving plants, pruning trees, and mulching. The need to breathe the fresh air and enjoy the changes taking place is very strong within me.

Last evening, just before the sun was setting, I walked up on the hill behind my house to see what was new and in less than five minutes I took these photos.

"Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment."
~Ellis Peters

"In the spring, at the end of the day you should smell like dirt." ~Margaret Atwood

Awakening

2011-02-27T17:45:00.012-06:00

"First a howling blizzard woke us,

Then the rain came down to soak us,

And now before the eye can focus -

Crocus." ~Lilja Rogers

"Autumn arrives in early morning,

But spring at the close of a winter day."

~Elizabeth Bowen

Twelve Months of Beauty from EtsyProjectEmbrace

2010-12-31T17:48:00.070-06:00

I am a proud member of EtsyProjectEmbrace or TEAMEPE, a group of Etsy sellers who give part of their profits to help in the fight against cancer. This is just a sampling of the wonderful artists that, along with vintage and crafting supply sellers, make up this great team.
The beautiful fabric origami cranes are available from Asianexpressions. Links to the wonderful TEAMEPE jewelry artists are at the bottom.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Jan. atlantisak

Feb. GlitzGlitter
Mar. ErikaPrice

Apr. dbsj
May lisadjewelry

June kasiablue
July littlebugjewelry

Aug. adornbyamysingley
Sept. Studio1980

Oct. LimeintheSky
Nov. cherryandviolet

Dec. Colettesboutique

Where's Cricket??

2010-12-19T12:43:00.002-06:00

What's On Your Tree?

2010-12-16T07:31:00.026-06:00

I have ALWAYS loved Christmas!! I've been collecting decorations since I got married, and needless to say, I have way too many. Each year I drag out the boxes and decide which ones I will use. One year the theme is cranberry and silver, the next is red and gold, and some years it's just the earthy, natural feel like this year. Since my tree is in the livingroom, that is where most of the decorations are, BUT I also do the other rooms, in colors to match their decor. I am nuts!!

Up until three years ago, I always insisted on a real tree. But age finally brought me to my senses, and I no longer wanted to clean up the "needle mess" and deal with the strings of lights. I came upon a 50% off sale at Hobby Lobby and bought myself a prelit tree that really does look real. The only problem is that it is SO heavy that only my big strong son-in-law can drag the three sections down and up the stairs each year. Fortunately, he does that. I also have lots of tree ornaments and sometimes use glass balls and sometimes not. This is a not year.

My favorite ornaments are the handmade ones. Many years ago, when she was still a teenager and I was into gnomes, my middle daughter made me a hand stitched felt gnome and it still holds the place of honor on my tree.

Several years later, when she was into scherenschnitte, she made me a set of paper ornaments which I also cherish.

Recently I received another special one, sent to me by a dear Etsy friend, Liz of twolefthands. I have admired her work and her patience for "tiny work" for so long, and am honored to own a piece of her art.

I hope you have all enjoyed "visiting" me this holiday season and that you will have a happy, healthy Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Through My Window II

2010-12-13T11:53:00.002-06:00

Standing at my kitchen sink, again...

She Has A Name!!

2010-12-03T20:21:00.003-06:00

"Her" name is Cricket and she is mine...

Thankfulness

2010-11-26T07:05:00.012-06:00

As I went to bed last night, tired and stuffed after yet another Thanksgiving Day, I kept thinking of all the things I have to be thankful for. As I was thinking, it occured to me, "WOW! I have a blog now where I can share ." So, here goes:

1. First and foremost is family. My husband of 52 years has stuck with me through the good times and the bad, and has dealt well with my independent nature. I'm sure it has not always been easy. We have three daughters and a son and their spouses/SOs. Some live nearby; some do not. But all eight of them are always close to my heart and much loved. Among the blessings they have given me are six grandchildren; four girls and two boys, all now grown as well, and finding their way in this huge world of ours. The eldest has gone on to give me perhaps my greatest gift so far; a beautiful, funny, wonderful great-grandson, now three. He lights up my life!!

2. Next comes friends. The "old" ones are the best. One I have stayed close to since high school days in NJ and she's still my best friend here in TN where we both settled. Another who was our best man at our wedding now lives with his wife right around the corner. And others from different phases in my life still remain close, thanks to email. New friends also are a blessing. One in particular who lives a world away in Australia and who I have never met in person is especially dear to me. We "met" on the internet several years ago and have come to know and love each other. Many of the friends that I worked with for 26 years remain friends even though I have now retired. Then there's the one who recently stepped in to help with a family crisis. I will forever be grateful to her...

3. Good health is next on the list. In spite of my advanced age (LOL), I feel very well most of the time and am able to do and go as I wish. The cancer that threatened me nineteen years ago is not quite forgotten, but is just one of the insignificant hurdles that I have overcome. Hopefully, I will pass this healthy outlook on to my family.

4. America!! I am SO thankful that I live in this country; the home of the free. It has its problems, many of which are frightening at times, but there is no where else on earth that I would rather be. And all those brave and selfless young men and women who fight and sacrifice to make it all possible, for them I am eternally grateful.

5. A warm home on a cold day and a cool home on a hot one are also on my list. As is good food, good company, the 4-legged kind included, and good sense, which I sometimes lack. And, I must not forget a great computer (son built) and a more than adequate internet hookup which make it possible for me to run and enjoy my internet business, SimplySuzula. I know I could go on and on listing everything I'm thankful for, because I am truly blessed, but this will do for now...

The Cure

2010-11-12T21:15:00.005-06:00

As most of you know, I have been very sad for the past week or so because my beloved Cassie was hit by a car and killed. I cried and moped and felt like I had a hole in my heart. Finally on Wed. I decided enough was enough. Surely there was a cat somewhere that needed me; a cat to fill that hole. After a phone call or two, I got a lead and headed off to see what I could find, and I found this!!

This little orange furball was left in a box by a dumpster with its two litter mates. Luckily someone good picked them up and took them home and I got first choice. I had some misgivings when I saw how tiny it was. I have not had a kitten in so many years. Most of my cats have been rescue cats; already grown when I took them in. As soon as it started purring in my arms, though, I knew I was hooked.

I had the vet check it out and he was unable to determine its sex as yet, so "it" has no name. It weighs 15 oz. and he thinks it is about 7 weeks old. It uses the litter box and eats Purina kitty food and plays with shoelaces and sleeps and purrs. When I am at the computer, it climbs up my leg and curls up in my lap and purrs. It also shows great interest in the monitor, following the movements and purring.

I was somewhat worried how Bella, our 75lb. dog would react to such a tiny creature, but I did not have to worry for long. She loves it!! The first day, kitty hissed every time Bella came near her, but now they are the best of friends. I hope to get some good photos of the two together in the days to come.

I will always miss the years of love and comfort Cassie gave me, but somehow the pain no longer hurts so much. I think this little one and I were meant to find each other.

Hopefully in a week or two, he or she will be given a name. Let me know if you have any suggestions. :)

Tonight From My Front Porch

2010-10-23T18:32:00.002-05:00

Through My Window

2010-10-18T21:10:00.007-05:00

This is the view I see when standing at my kitchen sink, looking out the window. :)

Fallin'

2010-10-08T10:26:00.012-05:00

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness
and color and a time of maturity; but it is also
breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can
stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the
span of his world and the meaning of the rolling
hills that reach to the far horizon?" -Hal Borland

Of all the seasons of the year, fall is my very favorite. The bright yellows and reds of summer fade into the muted shades of gold and garnet, the fertile green fields change to a golden splendor, and life itself seems to calm down and slow down to prepare us for the cold, dark winter to come.

As I went walkabout the past two mornings, I could see the changes taking place before my eyes and tried to capture their essence...

"The leaves fall, the wind blows,and

the farm countryslowly changes from

the summer cottons into its winter

wools" Henry Beston, Northern Farm

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

Albert Camus

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face."

John Donne

Mammo Mia

2010-10-04T21:31:00.022-05:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and no one knows like I do how important it is to get your yearly mammogram. In 1990, I went for my very first and a small malignant lump was found. In early 1991, I had a mastectomy followed by chemo, and last month I celebrated my 70th birthday. So, don't put it off; make your appointment today!!

I am part of EtsyProjectEmbace, TEAMEPE, a group of Etsians who give part of their profits to fight cancer. This month, we've been challenged to make treasuries alerting others to the importance of early detection. Here are some of my favorites:

And mine:

Enough Already!!

2010-09-18T07:15:00.003-05:00

I promise after this one, no more fungi; at least for a while. :)

Received this in an email from my eldest, fishlegs aka fisheye, and just had to share.

"We had rain in the evening and in the morning the whole front mulched area was covered in little delicate mushrooms. Once the sun hit them they disappeared."

Fungi Treasury

2010-09-11T17:14:00.010-05:00

My previous post with photos of fungi inspired me to make this Treasury of beautiful items offered for sale by Etsy artists. Links to their shops may be found at the bottom of this post.
Click anywhere on Treasury to enlarge.

L'esperance Tile Works
Eyvind's Alchemy
Banana Strudel
AntiGenre

Caliber Couture
S. N. Phillips
Wicked Pen
In My Minds Eye

2212 Jewelry
Crow Biz
Nice Harpy
Eva Bon Rivk

Anchovy Knits
Caged Tomato
Peiffer Studios
JoLynne Martinez

Fungus Among Us

2010-09-01T19:03:00.006-05:00

No bugs, no weeds, just a collection of fungi, all found on my 25 acres...

Still Looking Down

2010-08-27T19:51:00.007-05:00

Once again on my morning walk, I turned my eyes to the ground. This time my target was not bugs, but rather WEEDS!! Every day I pass them by and discount them as nothing but ugly wild vegetation, but this morning I looked more closely and found beauty.

Sometimes we just need to take the time to really look. There's just no end to the surprises that await us...

Don't Bug Me!!

2010-08-23T19:27:00.012-05:00

I'm proud to say, I have walked six out of the last seven days for a total of about eleven miles. Even though I've been a walker before, I always seem to start out well and then slack off. This time I am determined to stick with it. Not only do I know it is good for my health, but I live in an area where walking is pure pleasure. The hills are sometimes a challenge, but the lack of traffic makes up for that.

Since I am limited somewhat to the five miles surrounding my home, blogging about my walks requires a little creativity. There's only so many photos of horses, cows, and scenery before it starts to become redundant. So, on this morning's sojourn, I spent my time looking downward at the sides of the road. My target was the creepy, crawly, fluttering creatures that hide among the roadside vegetation.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting my new found "friends" and I know you can hardly wait to see what's next... :)

Walkabout

2010-08-17T08:20:00.033-05:00

The first early morning in a very long time cool enough to walk; 72°! Left my Tennessee farmhouse just before 7:00, camera in hand, while the mist was still lying over the valley. The corn fields have already been turned to silage and the soy beans are ready for harvest. Our extremely hot summer has taken its toll and given the entire area a tired, sleepy appearance.

About a half mile from the house, I saw my first neighbors, tranquilly (word?) dining on their breakfast of green grass. These particular cows are Black Angus and revered for their tender cuts of beef. I prefer them peacefully grazing in the field...

Proceeding farther down the country road, almost at the one mile point, I came upon more friends. These are some of a large herd of horses owned by a long-time Hickory Valley farmer whose wife works in New York City. Now that's what I call commuting!

Although my spring strolls always provide me with many wonderful wildflower shots, I was hard pressed to find any on this end-of-summer morning. This is the best I could do:

If all goes as planned, I will be doing a lot more walking and will have more stories and photos to share. :)

Simmering Summer Sampler

2010-07-13T10:49:00.012-05:00

This summer has been exceptionally hot here in Tennessee. I have not been able to spend as much time outside as I would like, but it's always a pleasure to walk around my yard, camera in hand. These photos were taken earlier this evening.

MY BUTTERFLIES

MY POND

MY NEIGHBORS

Naturally

2010-06-14T12:41:00.018-05:00

Today was my cleaning day, made even more interesting by the fact that we are in the throes of remodeling our only bathroom. The plumbers were here over the weekend, a lovely porta potty is out under the big maple tree, and tools and supplies are everywhere. After two hours of attempting to make some progress, I decided I needed a break and sat down to make an Etsy Treasury. I have made MANY since becoming addicted :), but I think this is one of my favorites:

I love linen, and to my way of thinking, it is at its best when left natural. While searching to fill my treasury, I came up with the perfect vintage linen ensemble. See if you agree...

These and more listings may be found at the following Etsy shops:

cookiesandcreme
fisheye
portalsandprisms
mamaleanne22

Pondering My Pond (and Rocks)

2010-06-06T19:22:00.023-05:00

In my front yard, just below the old stone wall, is my beautiful goldfish pond/water garden which my son and I built in the spring of 2000. Never an easy job, it was made even harder by the fact that I live on the side of a mountain. Once we dug the initial hole and the plant shelves around the edges, it was necessary to construct a retaining wall along the back and a concrete edge along the front. Luckily, there is a wash beyond our pasture full of wonderful rocks that replenish themselves every time we have a hard rain. My son made many trips filling the back of his truck and piling rocks at the site. Once construction began, I realized how important perfection was to him. Each rock was selected individually for its specific place in the wall, forms were meticulously built to pour the concrete, and scaffolds spanned the hole to provide access for him to work.

Needless to say, work progressed at a rather slow pace, but eventually it was finshed and filled with 1,000 gallons of water and a couple dozen comets. In 2002, he decided to add a cascade into a smaller sub-pond above the original to provide "water music". This smaller pond would then empty into main pond via a waterfall. Once again, perfection took over and time moved slowly, but the finished product was well worth the wait.

As the years went by, the fish multiplied, we landscaped the surrounding area, and Rich continued with his rock getting. He has added stone walls above the smaller pond and stone walls to form tiers for planting behind the pond. For 10 years now, there has always been piles of random rocks, waiting to be worked into the project. Although I often think how nice it would look if all the debris required for a work-in-progress could finally be cleared away, I have come to realize that some projects are just not ever "finished". And I think that's OK...

Visit my "old" website and read all about this project. My Pond

Earth Laughs In Flowers~Thoreau

2010-05-17T19:44:00.016-05:00

Just an afternoon stroll through my yard, down by the fish pond...

Pond photos coming soon!!!

For the Love of LILACS

2010-04-23T08:25:00.024-05:00

I grew up in a seashore resort in the Northeast where most of the homes were old, three story, and VERY close together. Because of this, backyards were small. Mine, however, was framed in large old lilac bushes. I can remember as a child, sitting under them and basking in the sweet smell. To this day, whenever I encounter that scent, I am transported back to those long-ago days...

Now that I am in the south and my home sits on 25 acres, I once again have lilacs; this time in many different colors and varieties. As I write this, the bouquet on my diningroom table has filled my home with sweetness and memories.

While browsing the Etsy shops of my fellow EtsyProjectEmbrace teamates, I discovered that they, too, love lilacs:

SilverNutmegStudio

French Lilac Earrings

BeiMondi

Lilacs In Spring

botanicalbird

Lilacs and Pearls

sharonclancydesigns

Lilac Mist

decoratethediva

Lilac Bouquet

adornbyanysingley

Lilac Blossom Earrings

Still Walking...

2010-04-09T20:13:00.019-05:00

Another day and another walk in the woods. Our colorless winter mountain side has suddenly been transformed into a thing of beauty, thanks primarily to the wonderful redbud trees. I'm not sure why they're called redbud as they're definitely not red, but a glorious shade of lavender pink. They fill the woods around my home; an awesome sight this time of year.

At the exact same moment, or so it seems, the dogwood burst into bloom, offering the perfect contrast. Like the redbud, the flowers appear before the leaves, turning the recently bare branches into a showcase. This is a tree that is every bit as lovely in the fall when the leaves turn red and the berries appear.

Wandering farther up the hill, pushing the matted leaves aside with my foot, I came upon what is probably my very most favorite wildflower, the Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I've never seen one that was not absolutely perfect, and this one was no exception. These are a native perennial herb usually found in moist woods. Here in Tennessee, they bloom in April and last only a week or two.

From time to time, I encounter clumps of tiny white flowers which I have named Fairy Flowers because of their delicate appearance. Their actual name is Wood Anenome and they grow in colonies from a root system that creeps just below the ground.

In the 28 years that I have lived here, I have never tired of exploring the woods around me. Each new season brings new discoveries and makes me feel blessed to live out in the country.

Thanx for walking with me... :)

Walk With Me...

2010-04-05T18:55:00.028-05:00

This evening I took a walk up in the woods behind my house where suddenly everything is waking up. A few short days ago, there was nothing on the ground but a mat of dried leaves left over from the fall. Now everywhere I looked there were wildflowers peeking through.

Covering the ground in large areas were tiny white flowers with fern-like leaves. Not sure what they are, but they are very dainty and delicate.

I have always been fascinated by trillium, a perennial herbaceous plant that seems to be very prolific in this part of Tennessee. I found several groups of them as I continued my stroll. The most common one, at least here in my woods, seems to be the one with the dark burgundy bloom. I also found one that has a greenish white bloom.

They are just in their bud stage right now, but hopefully I will be able to get some shots when they are in full bloom. I recently read that there are 39 known species, but these are the only two that I have had the pleasure to see. Makes me happy that I have the moist, shady, woodland areas in which they thrive...

Violets, of course, are quite common this time of year, but I was happily surprised to find three different varieties; pale lavender, purple, and white.

As spring progresses and moves into summer, I look forward to taking and sharing more photos of the lovely wildflowers that grow here on my mountainside.

On Becoming G.G....

2010-03-26T17:20:00.014-05:00

Way back, many years ago, I had a child, followed in rapid succession by three more of the same. They were wonderful, it was hectic, but they all grew up. Next came grandchildren, six in all. They, too, were wonderful, and their parents handled the hectic part.

Then, two and a half years ago, wonderful took on a new meaning with the birth of my first great-grandchild. I soon began to understand the use of GREAT as a prefix. Those of you who follow my daughter's blog, the hellhole diaries, know him as t-willie. To me he is just plain Toby.

I was waiting outside the delivery room when he was born and held him in his first hour of life. I've watched him grow from a tiny baby to an active toddler who surprises us every day with his antics. Unlike the grands who grew up living far from me, he is only 15 minutes away, and always accessible. He calls his mother, "mama", his grandmother, "gammie", and me, "G.G.", short for great-grandmother. When he wants to see me smile, he calls me "geej" or "geejer"...

He fills my life with wonder and my heart with love. In the years to come, hopefully there will be many more great-grands, and they, too, will be wonderful, but I'll always remember that it was Toby who taught me the true meaning of GREAT!!

Flutterby

2010-03-25T21:11:00.024-05:00

Flutter by and check out these great butterfly creations from my TEAMEPE team mates. All of these shops are part of EtsyProjectEmbrace and donate to the American Cancer Society. Click on the above links to see how you can help.

botanicalbird-garden themed jewelry

beckandcallgirl- fiber arts supplies

blacksheepdesigns-be different

caelum-handmade paper goods

Rough Magic Creations-handmade in Maine

5gardenias-vintage

adornbyamysingley-unique artisan jewelry

Butterfly photos were taken by me in my yard last summer.

The Colors of Nature

2010-03-22T19:40:00.021-05:00

I'm not sure why, because I neither knit nor crochet, but I just love all the handspun, hand dyed yarns on Etsy. I often search them out and use them in my Treasuries. While trying to think of an interesting way to post some of my macro flower photos, I thought of how nature is so often the inspiration for colors:

SPRUNG?

2010-03-11T15:24:00.008-06:00

Spring has sprung; finally!! Is there really such a word??

After the coldest and snowiest winter in many years, temps are mellowing and bulbs are sending up their pretty flowers to make us smile. All along the old stone wall between my upper and lower front yards, the daffodils they call buttercups here in Tennessee are multiplying daily. As soon as the snow melted, there were four inch budded stems just waiting to be uncovered. I sometimes wonder just how many years they have been returning to put on their show. I've been here 28 years and they were here long before me.

As I walked around the yard this morning, observing all the yardwork that I will soon have to tackle, I couldn't help but think how the changing seasons are something we can always count on. Used to be when I was younger, fall was my favorite; a time to relax after the long hot summer days of gardening, picking, canning, freezing, and trying to stay cool. But now I don't do much of that any more, and my AC follows me from home to car to work. So, as beautiful as fall is, I do believe that spring now takes first place for me. Seems that every day there is something new to catch my eye; tiny pink buds on the redbud trees, soft green ones on the maples, and emerging flowers everywhere.

I am very fortunate to live on 25 acres of mostly wooded mountainside overlooking a beautiful valley, and even more fortunate that I love to work in the yard and dig in the dirt. Last summer, I finally began to realize that my flower beds were too far-reaching and somewhat beyond my ability to care for them all. Not to worry! I just began digging up plants and moving them closer to the house. I really can't imagine a home without flowers or a year without seasons...

"Old" Friends

2010-02-13T18:08:00.026-06:00

Among the more than 200 caring members of
TEAMEPE, there are several vintage sellers including me. Although we do not claim the artistic talents and creative juices of our handmade sellers, we do cultivate the knowledge required to search out, identify, age, and price the treasures we sell.

(Thanx KarmicBook for the use of your "OLD FRIENDS" print!)

Here are a few interesting listings from some of my favorites:

opendoorstudio

ProsperosBookshelf

goldnuggets

5gardenias

terabg

tmariepenrose

Antiqueish

The Other Bella

2010-02-11T19:04:00.009-06:00

Bella came to live with us several months ago, soon after we had lost our black German shepherd, Heidi, to diabetes and blindness. We had come to love the breed, and so would settle for nothing less. It took some extensive dog shopping, but we finally found a white German shepherd that we felt would fill the gap. Since Bella weighed in at almost 60lbs. and could put her front paws on my shoulders in jubilation, I never quite accepted the fact she was just a puppy. It didn't take long, though, for that to become apparent. All she wanted to do was play!! With me, with my husband, with the cats, and with anyone who happened to stop by. The first time she saw snow, she raced around the yard snapping at the flakes and sliding down the hills. Anything left lying around the yard was fair game to Bella; a bucket, a rag, a newspaper. She soon began gathering her "toys" into a pile on the hill behind the house. EVERYTHING was a game to her...and still is.

Now that she will be a year old next month, she has become an integral part of our family. She is often too rambunctious, always unruly, sometimes troublesome, but through it all, full of unconditional love. I've had one dog or another through most of my life and suspect I like it that way...

Hickory Haven

2010-02-08T18:52:00.017-06:00

Way back in 1998 when I bought my first computer, long before the days of blogs, my son taught me html and how to make a webpage. I titled it Hickory Haven since I live in a rural community called Hickory Valley. I started out with a bio and moved on to my flowers, my pond (which he and I built), and eventually, my travels, including our unforgettable Australia trip in 2000. It now has 25-30 pages, lots of photos, and a couple of slideshow/photo albums. My only regret is that the earliest pages include photos taken before I owned a digital camera. Recently I added a page telling about my Etsy shop, and last night I included a blurb about my team, Etsy Project Embrace or TEAMEPE.

Now that I'm a blogger and have discovered the ease of an html editor which does most of the work for you, I wonder at all the effort it took to complete these pages. Looking back, though, I feel an immense sense of accomplishment, far greater than that I feel when google helps me add a new post to my blog.

Just Jewelry

2010-02-03T20:03:00.030-06:00

Among the almost 200 members of TEAMEPE are lots of wonderful jewelry artisans who donate a portion of their sales to ACS. Donations to date are just under $7,000! Here are some samples from just a few of them:

GlitzGlitter

Nyblaque

visionquest

envejewelry

WildWomanJewelry

kathiroussel

KneeDeepOriginals

3squares

Click on their shop name to see more of their creations!!

Back From the Tropics

2010-01-28T18:42:00.026-06:00

I returned Tues. night from six days in Cancun where the weather was in the 80s and sunny. Now two days later, I am preparing for a winter snow/ice storm. What's up with that?

The first morning in Mexico, I looked out of my hotel window just in time to see the sun coming up over the ocean. There's nothing more beautiful...

I opened the window and let the balmy breezes lure me awake. I was anxious to head downstairs and enjoy the sand and surf. I spent my childhood on the beach and now that I live far from the ocean, I never seem to get enough of it.

Unfortunately, it was quite windy and the waves were more than I felt I could deal with, so I took advantage of the several pools just feet from ocean. Many hours were spent lounging and reading and sunning and relaxing, and swimming when the urge arose. All in all, it was everything a vacation should be.

These are views of the beach and pools from our eighth floor window.

As wonderful as it is to get away now and then, coming home is wonderful as well. Earlier this evening, I looked out my front door and saw this spectacular winter sunset.

Friends and Family

2010-01-14T18:05:00.072-06:00

Not only am I proud to have an Etsy shop, but several of my friends and my daughters also have shops. I think it's time to share my favorites from theirs.

My eldest daughter has two shops, fisheye and fishlegs. The first showcases her lovely upcycled handmade items and the other, the vintage finds she loves to share.

My youngest daughter has a shop, gatonegro, where she upcycles
t-shirts, belts and thrift shop fabrics into great bags and totes.

My middle daughter's shop, aurorafedora, is temporarily in limbo while she reorganizes her life. Here's her totally awesome blog: the hellhole diaries

Since becoming a part of EtsyProjectEmbrace, I have made SO many new friends!! The following are just my favorites from a few of them:

moonovermaize

maclancy

adornbyamysingley

dancingintherains

creativelytangled

I plan to include many more of my TEAMEPE friends in future posts.

Snow Wonder

2010-01-08T10:01:00.029-06:00

Here in middle Tennessee, we don't get a lot of snow, but when we do, it's well worth the wait. It snowed much of yesterday and is flurrying this morning. This is the view I see when I stand on my front porch. I live in an old farmhouse on a wooded mountainside with a beautiful valley spread out in front of me.
As a rule, the snow we get in a morning is usually gone by afternoon, but since the temperature today is hovering around 17°, that will likely not be the case.

I wouldn't want to live where there was NO snow, but perhaps this is enough. :)

Etsy Project Embrace

2010-01-05T21:06:00.017-06:00

I am very proud to be a member of TEAM EPE (EtsyProjectEmbace), a constantly growing group of Etsians whose purpose is to raise awareness and money to help in the fight against cancer. Started by a small group in support of Laura Slocum of Creatively Tangled who is right now dealing with the disease, we have raised over $6,000 for the American Cancer Society and now boast more than 150 members. Some shops select individual items whose proceeds go to the cause; others give a percentage of all their sales. We now have among our membership others who are dealing or have dealt with cancer, and we offer support in many ways to them as well.

Etsy is SO much more than a selling venue. It is truly a community...

Cassie, My Cat

2010-01-03T09:29:00.010-06:00

OK. Let's start with Cassie. I've always loved cats and have had many in my lifetime. Several years ago, a neighbor moved out and left a bevy of cats to fend for themselves. We live out in the country where neighbors are few and far between, so this was very sad. Every day as I passed by, I would see cats sitting on the porch, waiting... One by one, they seemed to disappear.

One afternoon I pulled my car up in front of the house and did my squeaky kitty, kitty, kitty routine, and low and behold, out came this beautiful long-haired pastel tortoise (my personal description). She got into my car, curled up on my lap, and began purring. She was mine!!

In the years we have had her, she has been the perfect companion and friend. Although my husband claims to dislike cats, Cassie lies on his lap, or usually his arm, every evening in front of the TV. When I tell her I am going to bed, she gets up and goes into the bedroom, ready to lie at my feet for the night.

She, like us, is getting "on in years", but I'll always be glad I stopped that day.

Time To Start A Blog!

2010-01-02T19:22:00.004-06:00

For several months now, I have read and enjoyed the blogs of both friends and strangers and have finally decided it's time to have one of my own. Now if I can just figure this all out...