Lightening Doesn't Scare Me... from a distance

I spent close to an hour sitting on my bed and watching a lightening storm off to the south. I have the perfect window for viewing storms as it's on the 2nd floor and no building obstruct my view of the mountains that lie to the south of my little part of the world. The lightening was incredible. The sky never went dark (even though this was after 10PM) and strike after strike reached to the ground and through the sky with long, spindly fingers - as if reaching out for me. Thankfully I was safe inside. It was truly the best hour I have spent alone in a long time. I just sat there, watching, not thinking about work or about the complications life can bring, just enjoying nature.

I'm paying for staying up late now as I've been exhausted all day. I needed to come home tonight to work on some paper work for a shop I'll be featured in come next month, but I couldn't bring myself to doing that. I promise, I will work on it tomorrow. I also have a custom item to make for the person featuring me (she's paying me, it's all legit). I said I could have it done this weekend, so that is something else I need to work on... tomorrow.

I did manage to list the necklace you see above tonight. I'm calling it Orbital and it can be made in the sky blue you see at the top of this post or the striking red you see below. I can also make it in brown and green. Hopefully all of you will like it as much as I do.

Goodnight.

Those Ladies Are Naked

There is one thing that interests me more than crafting, gardening and cooking. I might even go as far as to say this one things interests me more than the three of those combined.

Music.

I love all kinds and even majored in it for 5 very expensive years at the University of Texas as a student of bassoon and music history. Music touches me, moves me, peaks my interest, turns me on, turns me off for that matter, angers me, inspires me, excites me, and so on. I just can't imagine my life or the lives of others without music.

I found myself going through my iPod tonight, creating play lists, adding music, and just listening to what is on it. I discovered a lot of music that I forgot existed. My favorite band is Barenaked Ladies. Aside from their geeky, goofiness - their music is great. They have been made famous with quirky songs like "If I Had a Million Dollars" (the first and only song I will ever sing karaoke to), "One Week", "Be My Yoko Ono" and so on - but they have a different side. Many of their songs are beautiful and really make my heart happy. I shall leave you all with a few of these and hope to add a bit of a smile to your day.

"Adrift" - Barenaked Ladies are Me
"Home" - Barenaked Ladies are Me
"Maybe You're Right" - Barenaked Ladies are Me
"Serendipity" - Barenaked Ladies are Men (yes, not me, men - different album)
"Half a Heart" - Barenaked Ladies are Men
"War On Drugs" - Everything to Everyone
"You Will Be Waiting" - Maybe You Should Drive
"Light Up My Room" - Stunt
"Call and Answer" - Stunt

and my favorite song they've done "Break Your Heart" - LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Actually, I'm not sure if it's the music or their groovy dancing (as seen in the following video) that I love so much. You be the judge.



What bands do you love that have some songs not known to the masses that are just as great as their hit singles?

YART SALE

Many Etsy shops are participating in an Etsy wide YART Sale ending on June 20. Not to be one left out in the cold, I've decided to jump on the band wagon. I've reduced the price of many of my items - some by several dollars. It's a great opportunity to do some shopping in my shop and save a bit of money in the process.

Go HERE to check out my sale.

I'm scared.

I'm a liar. I won't be posting anything of substance again tonight. Ghost Hunters freaked me out and I'm going to bed (the episodes filmed close to where I live always freak me out).

Goodnight.

Bliss

My 4 day weekend has officially begun. I started it off with some Jazzercise (fun times) and will move on a healthy and delicious meal from Taco Bell (don't you judge me, it's fast, easy, and cheap). I have plans to make some items for my shop tonight so I can get some pictures taken tomorrow and get them up in my shop before heading out to the woods for a couple of days.

I know I've mentioned this, but I am so stoked about getting to sleep in a tent this weekend. I love sleeping in a tent. If I had my way, we'd set it up in the backyard on occasion and pretend to camp. However, Sweet Boy won't stand for the fake camping. I just have to wait until we both have time to hit up our favorite camp site.

Perhaps I'll post later on with some information about new items to show up in my shop or my possible participation in the Y(art) sale taking place on Etsy this week. So, come on back and read a bit more before heading to bed.

The Return

Red, Red Wine Earrings - found in my Etsy shop

It feels like it's been ages since I've had time to write a blog post. I've been knee deep in the largest event I plan at Walton Arts Center. We have a yearly fund raiser that we call "Art of Wine". It's a HUGE event, tons of wine, tons of restaurants, and an equal amount of set up and prep. It's fun, it raises lots of money, but it wears me out and keeps me from being a part of the human race for a few days.

But I'm back, and I'm going to be putting a bit of time into my shop over the next few weeks. It might not mean new items, but it will be cleaning up some things, making sure my pricing makes sense, maybe a sale item or two, you'll just have to check in to see what I'm up to. I'm hoping a bit of attention is what my shop needs right now.

Things are a bit slow in Etsy land which I might have originally thought was the economy, but I think it's also the arrival of summer. I've found myself sitting here less and less and wanting to be outside more and more. I even bought myself a cute summer tank top today. I can't wear that just sitting here, can I? I must get out, enjoy the warmer evenings, and enjoy life. Sometimes, that means not spending time shopping on Etsy. Perhaps the same goes for everyone else out there.

As I look out the window, I realize this evening will not be one to enjoy the summer, it's raining and the lightening bugs won't be out doing a show. Ah well, I'll find something else to do.

Hitting the Road

I have been 100% stir crazy for about 8 months. I've desperately wanted to get out of here for a trip but been completely out of trip money. My sister's family has been planning a couple of trips that the sweet boy and I have been invited on, but they are just not affordable for our budget. We needed dirt cheap and in a bad way.

I think the dirt cheap part has finally arrived. In a week and half we'll be heading down the Pig Trail to the Ozark National Forrest for a little R&R under the canopy of very tall trees and next to the Mulberry River (pictured above). I'm sure there will be reading, swimming, grilling, beer/wine, talking badly about our site neighbors, rejoicing when they leave, and so on. It is a MUCH needed camping trip and I honestly cannot wait.

We're also heading down to New Orleans in July for an Edwin McCain concert (I think) with the sweet boys best friend and a couple of other people. The deal is that the 2 of us only have to pay $20/night for a hotel in the French Quarter. Remember the dirt cheap part of the scenario? You can't pass that up. Plus, it will be 5 people in one car and gas will be easier because of that. I'm looking at $500 for the whole trip between the two of us. I think we can manage that. It's not Canada or North Carolina (like my sister's plans) but it will have to do until I can afford to go across more than one state.

Ah, finally a summer vacation.