Horses!

I have been a horse fanatic since I was two. Where our backyard fence ended, a stable began. If my Mom couldn't find me, she knew I'd be standing with my face pressed up to the fence, watching the horses. I love everything about these awesome animals.

I have two real horses, Dozer and Belle.

And I've recently listed two horsey stuffed animals in my Woolies shop.

In case there is anybody in your family who loves horses too.

:0)

Tragedy in a life

Do you have time to read a story? It's sad, so be prepared.

When we first moved here, I remember being told a terrible story about two children, a brother and sister, being killed, quite a few years ago. They were on an ATV, going down a dirt road (that is just a few minutes away), and they didn't stop in time where the dirt road ends at an intersection. Not a busy road, but there was a car coming. They were hit and both killed. There is a small memorial there. I heard the story from a few different people, and it has haunted me. I heard the story from a woman whose husband was first at the scene. We often ride our horses that way, and pass the memorial, and pause, and say a prayer. Can you imagine ?

Fast forward -
on Good Friday of this year, my horses broke the fence in the arena overnight, and got loose. Typically, horses would stay near to home. This time they did not - I blogged about that morning here:
http://woolies-woolies.blogspot.com/2008/03/great-escape.html
We found our horses safe and sound, at the home of a wonderful woman named Cathy. I just instantly liked her, and we've begun a friendship. We've had a few lunches together, went to some yard sales together. Today I had lunch with her, and I found out that she is the mother of those two children that were killed. I just sat in the restaurant and cried. I cannot imagine her pain, her suffering, her immeasurable loss. I cannot imagine her strength. Her children were ages 12 and 9, gone, just like that, in a flash.

And it seems that a destiny has brought us together. Why in the world did my horses end up in her front yard?? I've sensed, since I've known her, a sadness - a grief - in her. I've wanted to ask her - "so, you never had children?", but something has always stopped me. Maybe I was waiting to hear. Maybe I knew.

Now I cannot do anything this afternoon but think about her; her loss. I cannot imagine.

And I wait for my kids to come home, safely, from school.



Hug your children; hold them close.

This is my tribute to Cathy, and her bravery.

Apple Blossom Design Contest!

You have to meet Apple Blossom! She has a great shop - here is my favorite from her shop:

And her prices are great too!

But today, she has offered this FANTASTIC design for my giveaway

Unique, unusual and adorable!

Meet Brianna Bug. She loves anything pink!

Her favorite pastime is flyingaround the meadow searching for the prettiest pink flower she can find.When she finds it, she takes it home to mom!

Don't you want to take Brianna home today?

Brianna is made from glass beads and purple and black colored copper wire.

She hangs from a necklace of pink seed beads (of course!) and is finished off with a sterling silver spring ring clasp.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Please VISIT Apple Blossom Designs!

2. Pick your favorite item.

3. Come back to my Woolies blog and leave a comment with your favorite item.

4. NEW RULE: you must leave your email address, or blog address. If you do not want to post it here, you can contact me privately at either of my shops - here are the links to them:Buster and boo, or Woolies.Just because you have registered with blogger does not make your email address visible. If I cannot reach you, you cannot win.

5. Contest will end one week from today, September 2nd at 12 midnight.

6. Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Good Luck!

congratulations to the winner, #33!

Cherry Moon Winner!

Random number generator chose a winner of the Cherry Moon contest, and it is #43, Judy Brittle!

Please contact either myself or Cherry Moon to claim your winnings!

Thanks to ALL who entered!!

:0)

Smitteniche!

found a very fun new site - it's just getting up and running. Please come visit Smitteniche!

In fact, I'm offering a giveaway of YOUR choice of whichever Buster and boo pendant is your favorite, along with a ribbon necklace. So come on and visit this new site!!

Contest Winner!

The winner of Whimsy Pics prize is #30, Charlotte.

Winner is chosen by random number generator.

Thanks to all who entered!!!

Earring Giveaway!

If you're a reader of my blog, you will know that I love earrings! Bracelets, ok. Rings, not so much. But EARRINGS! I love them.

You have to see this new Etsy shop - D'Elle Juwelen Jewelry!

She has absolutely georgeous work - every single item in her shop is beautiful!!!

She has offered up a pair of earrings for a giveaway. They are sterling silver with sodalite gemstone. Beautifully and expertly crafted.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Please VISIT D'Elle Jewelry

2. Pick your favorite item.

3. Come back to my Woolies blog and leave a comment with your favorite item.

4. NEW RULE: you must leave your email address, or blog address. If you do not want to post it here, you can contact me privately at either of my shops - here are the links to them:Buster and boo, or Woolies.Just because you have registered with blogger does not make your email address visible. If I cannot reach you, you cannot win.

5. Contest will end one week from today, August 31st at 12 midnight.

6. Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Good Luck!

New Scrabble Tile Pendants

I'm always searching for new designs for my scrabble tile pendants, and I have a LOT of new ones, with more on the way.

Here's some, for your viewing pleasure.

They will be available in Buster and boo, so please come visit!

SUMMER in Tucson, Arizona

We moved to the southwest. From the east coast. To be near family. I wanted my kids to know their grandparents. Mission Accomplished. Now I'm done. The summertime here is just ridiculous. Beyond hot, and humid besides. Monsoon season. Mosquitoes, tarantulas, scorpions, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, poisonous desert toads (don't let your dogs touch them, often fatal). I hate to be inside; I want to be outside. I sat outside the other evening, with my horses. I can't count how many bug bites I have. It is not pretty.

BUT

Here is some desert pretty:

Southwestern thornapple?

Juvenile giant saguaro cactus, surrounded by 'nurse' trees. The saguaro doesn't grow arms until it is 40-50 years old.

I'm not sure if this is a creosote bush or brittlebush. All of this stuff just grows wild.

Rabbitbrush? I think......

Back east, I knew the names of most flowers and shrubs. Too hot to learn them all here.

And here's a shady thicket of different shrubs and small trees. That's prickly pear cactus, with fruit on it. I have a friend that makes a syrup from the fruit, it is delicious. And javelina (wild roaming animals that look like boars, but aren't) love them too. You can always tell when they've been around, because there will be mashed fruit all over the place.

So, it's a wild place to live. And one day, in the not too distant future, we will leave for higher ground. And cooler climate.

:0)

Farmers Market Basket Winner

Good Morning! We have a winner - chosen by random number generator - #28, deedee.

please contact me with your address!

thanks so much to all who entered!

Cherry Moon Contest!

I love cute! And Cherry Moon is chock full of adorable! Her shop is full of personalized art gifts. Wait until you see! (my personal favorite is the spaceman placemats, but that is cause I have boys - boys that are way too old to care about spaceman placemants, I would just like to mention). sigh.

ANYWAY!

Can't you just see your little girl loving this??!!

Details:

Personalised Teatime Placemat

A lovely gift for little girls, their own personalised Teashop design featuring ANY name you choose, Street name and number of your house.

A clever way to encourage even the fussiest of eaters to enjoy meal times with their own place mat.

Personalised Teatime Placemat has a wipe clean, laminate design to tackle spills with safety round corners.

Each mat measures approx 42cm x 30cm.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Please VISIT CherryMoon.

2. Pick your favorite item.

3. Come back to my Woolies blog and leave a comment with your favorite item.

4. NEW RULE: you must leave your email address, or blog address. If you do not want to post it here, you can contact me privately at either of my shops - here are the links to them:Buster and boo, or Woolies.Just because you have registered with blogger does not make your email address visible. If I cannot reach you, you cannot win.

5. Contest will end one week from today, August 25th, at 12 midnight.

6. Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Good Luck!

Giveaway!

I love discovering new shops that do amazing work ! Found one today! Melissa at Whimsypics makes beautiful one of a kind scrapbook albums, paper crafts and altered art.

She has also agreed to offer one of her fabulous creations as a giveaway on my blog!


THEORIES ON MOTHERING Altered Box and Mini Album:





This fun mini album and altered box set make a perfect gift for any Mother on your list - including yourself!



The box measures approximately 3.25" x 4" and has been embellished with patterned paper, cardstock & machine stitching.



The box has been sealed for added protection and durability.



Inside, the mini scrapbook has 5 double sided 'pages' for pictures and/or journaling.



A fun look at mothering theories and techniques, this mini book is sure to put a smile on your face!



All edges have been sanded for a slightly distressed look.





CONTEST RULES:
1. Please VISIT Whimsypics
2. Pick your favorite item.
3. Come back to my Woolies blog and leave a comment with your favorite item.
4. NEW RULE: you must leave your email address, or blog address. If you do not want to post it here, you can contact me privately at either of my shops - here are the links to them:
Buster and boo, or Woolies.
Just because you have registered with blogger does not make your email address visible. If I cannot reach you, you cannot win.
5. Contest will end one week from today, August 24th, at 12 midnight.
6. Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Good Luck!

THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!!

Tedde Bears

On their way to Tedde.com

dollies

I'm addicted. These are so much fun to make! I'm always searching for cute fabrics...stay tuned for dollies made from organic sherpa fleece - just waiting for it to arrive!

This is Petunia.

And this is Polly.

They are both available in my Woolies shop, just waiting for somebody to love them!

An Award??

My friend Rose has bestowed an award on my blog! I am amazed, and surprised, and so happy that somebody likes my blog! Rose has THE most wonderful blog, I highly recommend visiting:

Click HERE to visit her blog.

Now, I have to think about who to bestow this honor upon. There are so many blogs that I love reading (look on the right hand side of page. scroll down a bit, you will see a very long list!)

But, right off the top of my head are these two favorites

Barefoot in Tennessee

and

Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm.

I'll let you know if I decide on any more!!

Thank you to Rose!

Farmers Market Basket Giveaway!

Fresh from the garden! A fabulous basket of goodies!

This basket includes carrots, peas in a pod, mushrooms, strawberries and plums! All have been needle felted by the wonderful member of our Natural Kids team, The Polka Dot Dragon!

Also included is the basket! Wouldn't your child love to play with this pretend food? He or she can feed it to their friends (stuffed or otherwise), play market, play gardening - so many open-ended imaginative play-times can develop!

All food is made from wool of sheep friendly farms. Core of food is 100% organic wool batting.

This wool food has been needlefelted - I have the UTMOST respect for needle felters, having stabbed myself numerous times during my attempts.

Wool food is best for children who are age 3 and upand who no longer put toys in their mouths.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Please VISIT The Polka Dot Dragon's shop.

2. Pick your favorite item.

3. Come back to my Woolies blog and leave a comment with your favorite item.

4. NEW RULE: you must leave your email address, or blog address. If you do not want to post it here, you can contact me privately at either of my shops - here are the links to them:

Buster and boo, or Woolies.

Just because you have registered with blogger does not make your email address visible. If I cannot reach you, you cannot win.

5. Contest will end one week from today, August 18th, at 12 midnight.

6. Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!

Good luck!!

UPDATE: this contest is over, and the winner is #28, deedee, chosen by random number generator. Thanks to all who entered!!

Pound Cake

My in-laws are coming for dinner tonight. We cleaned the house! Not to say that we don't clean the house unless people are coming over, but when people are coming over, we clean EXTRA hard! I mopped all the tile floors (kitchen, dining room, hallway). Recently we ripped up the disgusting carpet in the living room, and we will be tiling that soon (I hope). I Hate Carpets. They collect dirt, they never feel clean after the first day. They collect dust mites and cat hair, that you can never really get rid of. I want ALL my floors to be bare! I'd rather mop than rent carpet cleaners!


So: what is the menu for tonight?

hamburgers, on buns (personally, I could do without, but everybody else likes them)

Giant Salad, with everything on it, and a homemade dressing that my husband makes

Chips (it's summer)

Ice Tea (again, it's summer)

My 13 year old son, the chef, is going to make strawberries dipped in milk chocolate - YUM

Mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, rasberries)

and

POUND CAKE! With home-made whipped cream.


A Paula Deene recipe. You can find it on the food network website.

2 sticks of butter, 6 eggs, heavy cream !!! My son and I licked the bowl. It is still cooking.....


YUM!

Winner!

Thank you to everybody that entered the contest!

The winner is Jennem - chosen by random number generator.

Please contact me with your address!

Natural Kids!

I've mentioned previously that I belong to a WONDERFUL Etsy team, Natural Kids. It consists of many shops that make items for kids using natural materials.


Please visit our blog, NATURAL KIDS, and read all about the incredible shops and designers.

For example:



Unwavering Faith - just a sample of what you will find!!

Knitting TWENTY of them!

I am awash in white teddy body parts! This teddy will be headed to New York - with all of his/her relatives. I can't yet reveal name/favorites/etc. Also, there will be a little tiny heart embroidered on his/her overalls.

This Teddy is based on a fuzzymitten pattern - but with many differences. He/she is rounder in body and head (the head is actually quite different), and the ears are different too - again, rounder.

The overalls are also different, as I tend to lose patience when I have to pick up stitches. Besides, I dropped my little crochet hook under the couch and haven't yet been able to retrieve it. Husband needs to move the couch for me, and we just haven't been in the room at the same time lately!!

When everything is ready, I promise to let you know where you can purchase this special teddy.

Tummy Mountain Winner!

Random number generator chose #115, which is Charliegurl57 - congratulations!!!

Please contact me with your address!

Thank you to all who entered!!!