Pray for Kate

There is a little girl who is sick. She has a brain tumor. Her name is Kate. I read about her on another blog, and started following her story on Caring Bridge.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Caring Bridge, by the way, is a wonderful way for family and friends to keep up on progress of somebody who is ill. In the past, I have followed 2 others - close friends - with critically ill children, and BOTH of those stories ended happily, with the children growing and well. I pray for the same outcome for Kate.

If you want to help her family, they have opened a shop on Etsy, for the purpose of selling Pray for Kate bracelets.

You can find them here.

Thank you!

Lots of Woolies

Goaties, Snow Bunnies, Lots of Apples and Girls. For your viewing pleasure....

My girls

Just 2 of my silly adorable dogs. Why are they resting in perfect formation????

A little Visitor

Oh! It is such fun living in Tucson Arizona! Last night, I asked my son to take the dogs outside. It was dark out, and luckily, he thought to turn on the patio light *before* he opened the door. You never know who might be lurking.

You can't tell from the picture, but this is a BABY snake. No idea what he is, but he does NOT have rattles, so that is a very good thing. He wasn't more than 9 inches long.

Anybody know what kind of snake he is??

We very kindly relocated him back to the desert - not too far away, but OFF the patio.

What worries me is - where are all his baby brothers and sisters?

UPDATE: my husband says it is a Thornscrub hooknose snake. (??? how does he know ??)

From the top of the mountain

Have I ever told you how H O T it is in Tucson? Summer lasts about 6 months. You wouldn't want to see my electric bill. Our central air conditioning has broken twice this summer. I go into complete panic mode until the repairman gets here. How much does it cost? Who cares!

Well, escape from the heat is possible.

Tucson is surrounded by mountains. The biggest one is Mt Lemmon, with an elevation of 9100 feet. You can drive up there. It takes about 1 1/2 hours from my door to the top. You leave the desert at around 105 degrees (at 10am, lol), and start driving. With each elevation marker, you watch the temperature go down. Pretty soon, all the windows are open and you are hanging out the windows. You're in a forest of 200 foot tall pine trees, then aspen groves. It smells spectacular. You bring a picnic, and take a short hike. The temperature hovers in the low 70's. AHHHHHHHH

There a little town, well, you couldn't really call it a town. It's called Summerhaven.

Then you drive up the last little bit to Ski Valley. Yes, there really is a ski resort here. I think it is the southern-most ski resort in the US. And they have the chair lift open year round, for the msot spectacular ride E V E R.

We saw a flock of wild turkeys, with their babies! (didn't get a good picture of them....)

It is so peaceful. Quiet. The wind rustling in the pines. It smells glorious.

Then you get to the very tippy top. Six years ago, there was a fire that burned the mountain. Although the trees are growing back - here is where you can see the most damage, still.

And, it's always good to know that someone is watching out for you......

Chickens

HA! I knitted a chicken! Spent a few days taking care of my friend Cathy's chickens, such lovely, well-mannered ladies, and then found an awesome pattern for a knitted chicken - rooster - fowl.

Check him out!

You can read more about him HERE. He was a ton of fun to make!

Natural Kids Team

If you read my blog, you've heard about the Natural Kids Team of sellers on Etsy. My shop, Woolies, is part of this team. I admire everybody's work SO much! Imaginative, clever, beautiful, toys and other things for children. The team is made up of wonderful, supportive people. I love this team, and just thought you might enjoy some items -----

Gnomie needs a Homie by haddy2dogs

Giving, Saving and Spending Tags by Mamaroots

Bunny Teething Blanket, by Dayanra

Gnome Home, by Mamakopp

Waldorf handwork doll, by Oritdotandolls
I want all of these (for myself, my teenage boys sadly have no interest!)

Please enjoy visiting all of these lovely shops!