Wisdom from a Refrigerator Door

Another Friday at my friend's ranch: a labor of love, never a chore. A storm just rolled through, the air is crystal clear. I can see Mt. Tamalpais from the window seat where I'm working in the morning sun. I grew up on that mountain and to say I have a connection is an understatement, but that's a story for another day.  

Today I've been going through papers and organizing spaces. One of the last tasks of the day is to remove some photos from the refrigerator door that friends have requested. I come across four words typed in capital letters on a piece of white paper stuck between pictures.

FUN ~ FREEDOM ~ FIERCENESS ~ FEARLESSNESS

  

What do they mean? No doubt something different to all who read them.

• For Trisha they were guidelines for one unafraid to pursue life and dreams on her own terms.
• They're learning tools for some, life can be pretty simple if we don't muck it up.
• My grandmother would say "Honey, leave your baggage at the door and get on with it. No time for regrets:  shoulda, coulda and woulda are only excuses for a life not lived to the fullest. What are you waiting for?"
• For me it means live every day with eyes wide open and a passion for:  

laughing at myself

"Hunting Ladybugs While Completely Invisible"

http://www.etsy.com/people/annya127

fearlessly taking on challenges, changes and chances

"Fearless"

http://www.etsy.com/people/CircesHouse

being a force to be reckoned with

"Bear"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SerendipDesignsJewel

and creating the freedom to chase my dreams

"Freedom Horse"

http://www.etsy.com/people/maiaart

Diane Ackerman "I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."

Bill McKenna "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW-- What a Ride!"

So take a look at your agenda and the mile long to do list. Now simply walk away from it and do something spontaneous that will make the day for someone.

Inspiration Sometimes Comes from Odd Sources

I was looking over a section of my friend Trisha's library yesterday and saw a piece of folded, yellow tablet paper stuck between two books. One of her delightful quirks was that she was never without a pen and a yellow pad. She was ecstatic when she found out the "note pad" on her IPhone was also a yellow lined pad.

We talked often of travel and adventures. Some adventures we took together, some were shared stories of adventures with other friends. Losing her last Fall was a wake up call to all of us on just how tenuous a hold we humans have on this thing we call life.  

Trisha was the hub of an extraordinary wheel and her friends the spokes. Through her loss we have found each other. As we have talked, visited and emailed over the last couple of months we find we are all on a similar journey: one that has us re-examining priorities, not sweating the small stuff and making plans for adventures, a "just do it" state of mind has taken root.

"Wandering"



http://www.etsy.com/shop/donnageissler

Here in lies the serendipitous and intertwining nature of yesterday's library find, a quote from Ray Bradbury.

"Half the fun of travel is the aesthetic of lostness"

"The Road"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverHorsePhotos

I've always been fond of the bumper sticker that says "I'm not lost I'm wandering" and to quote Anatole France "Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe."

"The Happy Wanderer"



http://www.etsy.com/shop/cedokter

No wonder my parents were on the road for a decade, they got it! How many wake up calls does one need? It may be a different truth or destination for everyone, but it is the journey that is important. Pass go, pick up your $200 and step off the Monopoly Board.

Day 4 ~ Coming Home

One of the things that always impresses me about driving across Nevada is that it seems there is only endless open space between you and the edge of the world (I found this incredible photograph after I wrote the words).

"Nevada's Edge'

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilloArts

When you finally reach that edge you realize it is a set of bluffs, or foothills or a mountain. The climb brings you to yet another crest and once again you are facing endless open space. It's a wondrous land: beautiful and dangerous, charming and unforgiving. Imagine coming across this vastness in a covered wagon or on horseback. 

"Magestic Mountains"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cinnamonowl

Visualize the emotions of reaching the Sierra's after endless miles of the sagebrush sea. A rare breed of fearless men and women explored, travelled and settled in this land including, I'm proud to say, some of my own hardy ancestors.   

When we drove from Reno to Elko on the way to the Gathering it was late afternoon and the sun was already behind the Sierras. The desert was beautiful but monochromatic.

"Nevada Desert"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/svdodge

When we hit the road this morning we are immediately taken by all the colors we missed coming in. The desert is now backlit with the rising sun and is totally three dimensional. Some of the hills and outcroppings are vivid colors, some black as coal. Some look like they have indeed been there for an eternity and others look as though they were just delivered. The landscape plays with your mind and your eyes.

"Nevada Mountains"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kateradkowski

One thing I forgot to mention is that we saw the legendary singer/songwriter Ian Tyson on Thursday. Though in his mid-70's now he continues to ranch, tour, record and write. Carol purchased his new book "The Long Trail" about his life. As we started the 300 mile journey to Reno she began to read it aloud. When the scenery was too good to miss I'd let her know and she'd put it down for awhile.

We stopped in Reno for gas and lunch and were treated to a hit and run hail storm. Once back on the road the weather lightened up and Carol read until dusk, then we listened to music the rest of the way home. I'm now after Carol to finish the book so that I can bring it home to finish the story.

A great adventure and plans for next year are already on the calendar. Life is short, take time out to experience something new and at the same time old. You won't regret it.

Cowboy Poetry Gathering ~ Day 3

It's a wee bit crisper this morning, 20 degrees, so we make it easy on ourselves and toddle across the parking lot to JR's for breakfast while the Jeep windows de-ice in the morning sun. We meet up with our friend Michael after breakfast and head out to the trade shows.

"Raku Vase with Horsehair"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wyopotter

The shows are at 4 different venues around town. A couple were easy to find, two were not: one in a small hotel conference room and another well hidden up the stairs to nowhere at Stockmans. I'm an artisan and have done fairs for over 20 years. There is something to be said for having all vendors at one place. It focuses shoppers on the artisans not the task of getting to the venues. It may be a matter of what space is available for the trade shows, with so much going on during the week, but I decided to email the Western Folklife Center and make the suggestion anyway.

"Bareback Rider"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/3LPhotography

The variety and quality of the work offered was astounding: handmade saddles and tack, quilts, cards, clothing and jewelry, custom boots and hats, furnishings and frames, lamps and sculptures, plus all varieties of wall art from photography to etchings. Each of us came home with a treasure or two.

"Desert Rose"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sedonaskye

We took the afternoon off to rest up for the evening concert. Carol and I discovered a great little Italian place for dinner called Luciano's near the center of town. The concert opened with poetry and stories and closed with Wiley and the Wild West.  Wiley is the consummate performer: he has a great voice, is an amazing yodeler and has more moves that Dwight Yokum and Mick Jagger combined. We were either rolling in the aisles with laughter or at rapt attention enthralled with lyrics that told amazing stories of the West, of ranching, of rodeo and the characters that made it happen. A perfect closing to a grand adventure.

"Abandoned House in Montana"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GeorgiesLens

No early night for us though, we again decide to play the penny slots and both Carol and I walk away with pockets jingling. Still not tired we decide to pack most of our stuff so we can get an early start in the morning to head for home.  Dreams of horses and the prairie.

Cowboy Poetry Gathering ~ Day 2

Bounced out of bed at 6am and hit the showers, 5 hours sleep and fresh as daisies. As we head to breakfast we're thinking heatwave, who needs a down jacket, it's up to 24 degrees this morning! The dry cold of the desert creates beautiful ice patterns on the Jeep windshield. Definitely not the wiper strangling sticky mush we get with frost in northern California, but we still need to crank up the seat heaters and defroster and patiently wait until we can get a move on. The strategy for tomorrow ~ park on the side of the hotel that gets first sun. Wise women learn quickly!

"Morning Ice Crystals"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhotosFromMichele

Coffee and breakfast then we're off the the Great Basin College Theater to spend the morning at the "Song Swap" with Paul Zarzyski and Wylie Gustafson.

Wylie

We're entertained with stories, poetry, music and how the collaborative process works. Wylie's new album "Raven on the Wind" features a number of lyrics written by Paul. The audience was brought into a discussion of how to keep the Gathering, and this genre of poetry and music alive. One woman asked if either artist was mentoring young performers, another suggested bringing stories, songs and poetry to the schools to expose students to a way of life most only read about. It's powerful to have those you admire listen to you and take an idea into consideration that may become part of a solution.

"Raven"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaintingPrints

Our afternoon was spent at the Elko Convention Center for recitals, lectures and readings. Each of the presenters reeled in their audiences hook, line and sinker: making us think and leaving us with a desire to learn more. 

   

After a relaxing dinner we head out to the G Three Bar Theater at the Western Folklife Center. The best venue so far and two great shows: at 6:30 Acoustic Poetry with Paul and Wylie (can you tell we love these guys) and at 8:30 a triple threat: young and talented singer/songwriter Adrian, cowboy poet and story teller Leon Flick and singer/songwriter Dave Stamey. Both shows bring the house down. 

After the concerts we toddle back to the hotel, to wired to sleep we entertain ourselves on the visitor friendly penny slots. Too much fun!

So are you starting to get the picture? It's been a 10-12 hour marathon and we've come away more energized than when we started. We run into friends from around the West at the different venues. The contacts are "more drive bys than visits" according to my friend Margo, but we all understand, it's the nature of this event. The gathering is hard to explain, it just needs to be experienced. Put it on your bucket list!

Oh, did I mention it was going to be 80 degrees in Sonoma County today. This is early February, right?

Cowboy Poetry Gathering ~ Day 1

Good Morning Elko, Six hours of sleep and 22 degrees: okay I can run with that. At least there's no snow, a rarity this time of year. 

Task #1: Carol and I sit down to look at the schedule of events (mind you this is a 15" x 18" ~ 8 column affair for each day of the Gathering). Our strategy is to circle events we have tickets for and then check out all the free events we want to see. Too many incredible options, but some how we make decisions for Thursday.

Task #2: Dressing for the occasion. This is an art form unto itself. Boots, Wranglers, belt, cowboy shirt, vest, jewelry, jacket, and a scarf properly tied. Yes, no, yes, no, perfect - we are finally ready to head out for breakfast with the girls. Most of us cross paths occasionally but rarely have the opportunity to gather in one place since we come from Idaho, Nevada and California.  

"Cowgirl"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KathrynElyse

Now fed, we dive into Thursdays menu for the mind: The keynote speaker is Judy Blunt - a gifted writer and eloquent speaker who captivated the audience with her story of growing up in a rural Montana ranching community and leaving ranch life to follow her dreams of becoming a professor. I look forward to reading her memoir Breaking Clean.

We attend a number of Cowboy Poetry sessions throughout the day. The audiences are supportive of poets young and old, first timers and seasoned professionals. There are reciters who bring historical poems to life with mesmerizing voices. We are taken on journeys that teach some and remind others of the dedication and tenacity of ranchers not only here, but around the world, who cling to a lifestyle that is often thought of in historical terms but in fact remains a vibrant way of life for those willing to take a stand. These small ranchers feed nations and survive against all odds, be it the weather, predators, or government.  

"Sundown"

http://www.etsy.com/people/BrucknerCowboyArt

One of our favorites is Montana poet Paul Zarzyski. We got a chance to attend several of his workshops. He's a former bronc rider, now a poet and entertainer. His work runs the gamut from historical to hysterical, sublime to ridiculous, sensual to lyrical. There is indeed something for everyone.  

"Bronc Rider"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KentSculptures

On the Western Folklife Center website there are pod casts from some of the performances and on the list of entertainers you can listen to a selection from each. Well worth a little of your time. The link is http://www.westernfolklife.org/

Elko footnote: Drivers actually stop for pedestrians, something nearly unknown in these parts!

The Road to Elko, Nevada

I've never been one for Interstate Highways, I've always preferred roads less travelled, the blue highways on maps. We were, however, on a 550 mile mission to reach Elko by early evening so that meant Interstate 80 was our choice.

Once you leave California and in particular Reno it's a whole different world, one of wonder and wide open spaces. The speed limit is 75 and calls for cruise control, a real treat for a California Girl corralled at 65 most of the time.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Joyannce

This is rough country ~ ruled by the elements and settled by a hardy breed of men and women who prefer rurality. The cowboys call it the "sagebrush sea" a land that is both desolate and beautiful, quiet and alive, charming and dangerous, and not for the faint of heart.

  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/catay

My travelling partner Carol and I are just getting to know each other, brought together by our late friend Trisha. A mutual friend of ours, poet and teacher Ken Rodgers, just published a new book of poetry called Passenger Pigeons. Carol brought it along and read it aloud. It was a great way to pass the time and when the scenery got spectacular she'd stop for a while and we'd just enjoy the road. By the time we reached Elko we'd finished to book.

We arrived in the early evening, unpacked, had some dinner and played the penny slots for a bit before hitting the hay around midnight. Thursday was going to be an event filled adventure beyond my expectations.

Road Trip

At O'Dark Thirty Wednesday morning my friend Carol and I take off for a 5 day road trip to the wilds of central Nevada. We're headed to Elko for the 27th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. I've never been before so this should be quite the adventure. Poets, musicians, artists, and cowboys. What more could a girl ask for? I'm taking my camera and a notepad and will report back on the adventure in the coming weeks. We'll see old friends and meet new ones. 

http://www.etsy.com/people/PawsFurAMoment

This wonderful photo speaks volumes, check out their website link above.

We've got tickets for a variety of performances so it will be total immersion for three days. I'm excited to see Dave Stamey and Paul Zarzyski. I was introduced to their talents by my friend Trisha who was a devoted fan of Cowboy Poetry, Western Music and the annual gathering in Elko. They are truly gifted observers and storytellers.

Dave Stamey - Singer/Songwriter

Paul Zarzyski - Cowboy Poet Extraordinaire

This event is sponsored by the Western Folklife Center whose mission "is to enhance the vitality of American life through the experience, understanding, and appreciation of the diverse cultural heritage of the American West. This mission is implemented through the performances, exhibitions, educational programs, media productions, research, documentation, and preservation projects that celebrate the wisdom, artistry, and ingenuity of western folkways". The website is http://www.westernfolklife.org/ if you are interested in finding out more.

Taking Risks

My husband and I are pretty laid back, our approach to life has always been to go with the flow and that's served us well for 30 years. When we head out on a vacation the first questions are shall we turn right or left and which blue highway beckons?

http://www.etsy.com/people/SpiritedWoodland

We lost an amazing friend in November. She was a delightful woman who made friends where ever she went, chased her dreams and made them happen and truly enjoyed life. She would sometimes wonder out loud why her life was so crazy and complicated. I'd simply remind her that she was the one setting the calendar and we'd just burst out laughing.

Out of this loss her wide circle of friends are getting to know each other and sharing thoughts, time and aha moments like: take nothing for granted, do what you've been meaning to do, live in the present without regrets, and (oh darn) it's my responsibility to take care of my body.

Our big Aha moment: It's so easy to become complacent and timid hanging about home territory. If we want to get to some of our Bucket List: like seeing the Aurora Borealis in Alaska, exploring the Maritime Provinces of Canada, seeing the US by train, and adventuring to New Zealand, it's time to get started. We need to start planning ahead, a new concept for us. 

Our Rogue River Adventure

Bottom line is that it's time to start taking some risks, I found this great little quote on the cover of a notepad. The author is Andre Gide an early 20th century writer and winner of the Nobel prize in literature in 1947.

 

"Man cannot discover new oceans

unless he has the courage

to lose site of the shore"

http://www.etsy.com/people/RPeppers

Time to get a move on folks, put down the remote, back away from the television, shut down the computer and follow a dream. I said that! You are no longer in the Twilight Zone but on the No Excuses Tour. What's on your list?

Musings from a Journal of Yore

In my 20's I used to keep journals.  Though life is an ongoing educational process those were the first years truly on my own; out of college, out of the nest, and away from home. A time for testing the waters and finding out about who I was. This morning I picked a journal up and opened it to no particular spot. Here is what I found:

January 10, 1971

Clear light, clear energy

A very seeing day

There is time and no time

Eternities and brief moments

Find no distinction

Soft awareness, no edges

Lightness

http://www.etsy.com/people/DonAshcraftImagery

Next to it was two quotes, the first from William Faulkner

"I believe man will not merely endure, he will prevail. He is immortal not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance..."

The second from Steve Miller

 

"You've got the power to open the door

You've got the power, it's been done before
Once you get there you're sure to see

You open your eyes and love will be easy"

http://www.etsy.com/people/InmostLight

 
Different philosophers, different eras, but meaningful none the less. Accept who you are and revel in that, but never stop exploring your boundries and the possibilities of your life.
 

Thank you once again to the talented artisans of Etsy who help me illustrate my thoughts.

Wednesday Wonders

A salute to the grace and beauty of wild horses and to my friend Trisha who now rides free with the clouds

Happy Birthday

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Diemoz

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildwindart

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotivationalArt

Cherish what is important in your life, sieze the day and forget about the little stuff that always seems to get in the way.

It Takes Two to Tango

My husband and I have been together for almost 30 years. We live in a small house and travel in a small camper. We noticed early on that we danced rather well together (literally and lyrically) in small spaces like the kitchen and love to be in wide open spaces.

19 Ought 80 Something

We also seem to share the ability to find what the other can't ~ the forest for the trees kind of stuff. We had Thanksgiving here for the first time in years and I pulled out my grandmother's china, crystal wine glasses for the table, the whole nine yards. I'd had almost forgotten how to set a table and had to borrow cloth napkins from my friend Nancy!

We decided to replace our old wooden salt and pepper grinder for the night and put them in the kitchen. After Thanksgiving neither one of us could find them. We looked in every cupboard, drawer, and pantry cabinet. We called our friends on the off chance they might have been put in one of the bags of leftovers everyone took home.

I came in from my studio the following Monday and Rod says "Where did you find them?" I give him this totally blank look and he pointed to the shaker and grinder sitting next to his knife rack on the center island. "I didn't find them anywhere, I guess they'd been there the whole time". We just fell in heap laughing.

This is known in our circle of friends as a Whippo and when one happens you must call and report it. It kind of keeps us all humble and provides great entertainment value as we age together.

"Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves

for we shall never cease to be amused"

Little Did I Know

November 23, 2010

Little did I know a laugh filled conversation with my friend Trisha on the 21st would be our last,

Lost Coast

Little did I know that the email I sent today about plans for her birthday and what she was bringing for Thanksgiving would never be read,

Little did I know that I would never again hear her voice, see her face, share her laughter or another adventure.

The Great Benbow Adventure

We wake up each morning with the reckless expectation, born from our own experience, that the sun rises every day and with it, the illusion that we'll always be there to see it. Take nothing for granted and live each day to the fullest as Trisha did. She went mid stride doing what she loved to do: working her ranch, riding her ponies, dancing and traveling.

 Excerpted from Henry Van Dyke

"I'm standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Someone at my side says ‘There she goes!’ Gone where? Gone from my sight...that is all. And just at that moment there are other eyes watching her coming and their voices take up the glad shouts ‘Here she comes!’” 

Talking with the Owls

We have several great horned owls that reside in the redwoods near our home. Sometimes when we're out in the back yard soaking our bones in hot water the owls start their nightly hoot fest and I've gotten pretty good at joining in the conversation. This local trio all chant the usual hoo~hoo~hoooooo.

Last night we were out in the rockers on the front porch relaxing when we heard a new voice. My husband at first thought it was our neighbor Mike messing with us. But we then we realized the sound was about 30 feet up in the redwood, not Mike.

I read up a little on Great Horned Owls when we came in. This is the beginning of the courting season for these magnificent creatures of the night. We think it is a female, because the hoot is deeper than that of the resident owls.

Heart Hill Forest

http://www.etsy.com/shop/trumblydesigns

Each time she hooted I answered back. She started with a deep hoo~hoo, then a hoo~hoo~hooooo, then hoo~hoo~hoo~hoo. This went on for a bit and then we were totally caught off guard by a series of different cadences that I repeated back (according to the reseach it isn't unusual for them to have a repertoire, but we'd  never heard these before). This "conversation" lasted about 5 minutes. The owl either didn't realize I wasn't another owl or was indeed playing with me. Her last response sounded like a hooted wolf whistle.

Perhaps she is new to the neighborhood or it's a young one finding it's voice. But whatever the story we were delighted by the magic of the experience. We are so lucky to live out in the country.

Change in the Weather

It's mid November on the North Coast of California. In the last week we've experienced everything from 85 degree sunshine with evening cricket serenades, 

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/BornBarefoot

to partly cloudy with chance of showers and awesome sunsets,

Photo from our front porch

to rain and wind,

http://www.etsy.com/people/colettedavis

and the chance of snow in the foothills tonight.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PassionFlower27

Part of the charm of this time of year is seeing what surprises are on the horizon in the morning. Part of the challenge is learning how to dress for it. Now go outside and play!

Marketing Close to Home - Part Deux

I did a blog on August 21, 2010 called "Marketing Close to Home" as a tutorial for artisans interested in doing craft fairs. I wanted to make a few additions after finishing my first two fairs of the season. 

Pricing: Make sure you add sales tax into your posted prices. You do not want to be dealing with adding it on at the fair. Trust me you and your customers will appreciate the effort. 

Credit Cards: Wow! I've doubled sales by being able to accept VISA and MC. I did my reseach on what was available and chose to go with ProPay. Most of our fairs are in small towns that rarely have wifi or cell reception. Problem solved, I purchased a portable MicroSecure™ Card Reader through their site that allows me to swipe credit cards and store information. I process the cards by plugging the reader into my computer at home. If you do have cell or wifi reception at your fair you can process sale on the spot.  

Special Receipt Book: I set up a special receipt book for my credit card sales with information for the customer on the original receipt and information for my needs on the yellow copy. I used address labels printed on the computer and add stickers to the receipt book before I go to the fair. It's much easier to fill in blanks than to remember what you should write down.

(1) Original receipt (customer copy) - at the top of the receipt add a label with your name and whatever information your credit processing company tells you will show on customer statements.  Point that out to your customers when you give them their copy of the receipt. With ProPay either your phone number or email address is going to be what shows so that's what I added to mine. 

(2) Your copy - add a label at the bottom with the following information and a "_____" next to it to fill in: customer name, phone number, email address, credit card expiration date and credit card code. The phone number is so you can reach them if there's a problem. When your process their card there is an option to email a receipt and the other information is or may be required to process the card.

(3) Detail what they bought and have them sign your receipt book, so it shows on both copies. This is your proof that they made the purchase. 

Mailing List: Several customers asked about a mailing list. There are a couple of ways you can approach this. (1) find a spot on your table for a small notebook and pen. Bring it to your customers attention if they'd like to know about pending fairs or sales. (2) I always copy my checks before depositing them so if I want to send out a postcard about upcoming shows I have a mailing list. (3) If you decide to take credit cards you'll have the customers email address. Caveat: Use your resouces wisely or you may drive away possible repeat customers. No one wants to get inundated with solicitations.

Business Cards: Make sure your website, blog or online store addresses are on your card. Post your fair schedule on those sites and let your customers know that.  I made a sale at a craft fair this summer and included my business card. She just made a purchase through my Etsy shop and let me know she'd met me at the fair.

Engage your customers: I don't know about you but when I go to a fair or bead show I always check everything out first before spending my hard earned cash. It's primarily your wares that will draw customers back, but sometimes a fun conversation is also a magnet. Keep a smile on your face and no whining (there's a $5 fine for that!)

Bring a tall stool to sit on: That way you're at eye level with your customers and your feet will thank you!

Now go out there, share your creations with the world, and most of all have fun!

The Fabulous Mr. Fox

We live out in the country on a dead end road. Our vegetable garden and a small patch of eating grapes are down in the pasture below the house. Just before I went to bed last night I heard an unusual barking and wondered if Mr. Fox was back. We hadn't seen him in a while. I stepped out on the porch at the same time my neighbor came out with a flashlight to see what was up. Sure enough we spotted him down by the grapes.

http://www.etsy.com/people/SillyHilli

He's a handsome little guy with a taste for gophers, mice and moles (a friend indeed). During the summer we've watched him groom down in the grape patch, enjoying the afternoon sun and periodically picking a bunch to munch on.

I was perusing Etsy this morning looking for a photo to illustrate my post and found instead these delightful creations that range from social commentary to flights of fancy.

http://www.etsy.com/people/Dragondust

 http://www.etsy.com/people/deannabachart

http://www.etsy.com/people/JuniperHouseStudio

Support independent artisans and take a minute to check out shop links to see more of their work. You may find something amazing!

A Halloween Tale

I simply had to share this Letter to the Editor published this morning in our Santa Rosa Press Democrat from Santa Rosa High School English Teacher Jessie Kroeck.

Beyond the smashed pumpkins, egging and over-turned garbage cans, I want to share a trick-or-treat story that shows our teenagers at their most creative and whimsical selves.

One of my students, Antone Cernokus, and his buddies Josh Bjorklund, Keane Kheva and Alonso Cisternas dressed up in family attire — one even as a baby. They then walked around the neighborhood carrying a door. After ringing a doorbell, they hid behind their door. People from the house would open the door, only to be confronted by another door with a sign that read, “Please knock.”

So they would knock. Surprise! The teenagers would open their own door and exclaim, “Look, we have trick-or-treaters!” And to the astonishment of the adults, these crazy teenagers would give them each a piece of candy.

The Fool Is In

We live out in the country on a dead end road and we never had trick or treaters until our neighbors had kids. Their ages range from 3+ to 5+ and they are a total delight. My husband is of course just an overgrown kid himself so preparing for Halloween is now a big deal: from carving pumpkins, to baking cookies, to putting together the perfect costume.

The Wizard Clown Fool in Boots

I wonder what he'll come up with for a new look next year?

He is a master with the pumpkin carving and his cookies are do die for so I'll give him a little slack for the costume. Are these guys cool or what?