Sunday, April 27, 2008

Good Stuff ~


This awesome Dragonfly necklace {that I'm totally in love with}


These Mahogany "Cocoons" that are just awesome.


This wonderful little Bone Tortoise necklace, which I named "Gui Ling", meaning "long life"


And last, but not least, our dinner from last night @ "The Square Root" – Coconut encrusted Wahoo Fish, Steamed Green Beans & Garlic Mashed Potatoes. It was wonderfully, scrumptiously delicious. And lucky for me, I have leftovers, the best part of any meal.

*Yay* ~ we are finally getting some much needed rain. All of our newly planted flowers & herbs are loving it, for sure. I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"If You Want The Rainbow, You Gotta Put Up With The Rain"

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Friday Post!!!


I know! It's Saturday, but THIS is the "Friday Post". And little Miss Lita picked #3 today, so Noura is the lucky winner of the fab earrings from last Friday's Post. Congratulations, Noura {aka Whirling Kaye}. I sure do miss all of my little "whirling friends". Our Friday nights around here aren't near as eventful. So I looked back at all the winners from my Friday blog posts and it looks like everybody that has commented has won something. With that being said and done, I'm going to stop the usual Friday post give away and just randomly have a give away here and there. But, since next Friday is my Birthday *yay me*, I will be having the last Friday give away then. And the lucky winner of my Birthday give away will win this awesome little Buddha bracelet:


And, of course, all you have to do to win is post a comment on this blog. Good luck everybody!! I know you will love this little fellow.

Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I just have to share a few things that have made me smile lately {besides Jonas the goat}. One of them is these awesome Duck eggs that I got from the farm the other day:


They are just sooooo yummy! And the best part - they are only $2/dozen and they are fresh from the duck butt, or chicken, if you prefer. If you've never tried them, I think you should. And if you ever come visit me, I'll be sure and have some on hand.

We went on another awesome hike Thursday and I do believe it was my favorite one so far. The hike started @ "Buckhorn Gap Trail", went up to the "Twin Falls Loop" and then back down the "Avery Creek Trail". The total hike was 4miles and just breathtaking. All of the wildflowers are starting to bloom and the creeks are full of gorgeous rocks and rushing water. I made a little video of the creek, so turn up your speakers and enjoy:


All along the trails these awesome little *Trillium* flowers {among lots of other little flowers} were popping up all over the place. If you click on the picture below, you can take a look at all of the photos of our hike on "Flickr" – I hope you enjoy them:


Off to make breakfast & enjoy the rest of the day. We have to get all of our little bird houses hung up today, so they can start being homes to the little birds we have here in the forest ~ Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"If you live according to the dictates of nature, you will never be poor; if according to the notions of humankind, you will never be rich." - Seneca

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Things that made me smile today :)


For one, it was visiting the farm down at the end of my street! The people that own it are just awesome. Most of the animals there are rescues from some place or another and then they breed & raise miniature donkeys, too. A new little fellow just entered the world a few days ago:


I made friends with a sweet little fellow named "Jonas" and he just followed me around all over the place. He kept trying to get the lens cap off of my camera (I think he wanted his picture taken). I tried to make a video of the two little fellows shown here in the first picture. They were hilarious! They were chewing in perfect sync with each other. But this is what happened when I shot the video:



It was a wonderful "Earth Day" ~ Wayne got my herb garden all built and filled in with dirt and then we planted all the herbs and got everything watered really good (I'll post pictures tomorrow). Then, when I went to the grocery store, I got a really cool reusable bag with "Earth Day 2008" on it! And, I got a gorgeous "Escargot Begonia" that needs repotting & some TLC ~ I'll post pictures of it in a few days, after I give it some much needed loving.

Off to watch "Boston Legal" and see how many votes I can get in for Jason! I think I voted like 30 times last week! I hope you all had a wonderful "Earth Day" and you had lots of things happen that made you smile, too.

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way!”

Monday, April 21, 2008

15% Discount ~ For Earth Day!!


I'm offering a 15% discount through mid-night tomorrow night - April 22nd {Earth Day}. The discount will apply to your total purchase and I will send you an updated PayPal invoice. So, when you purchase your item(s), don't pay through the regular Etsy check-out process. Wait until you get an invoice from me. Don't worry, though. If you accidently pay the full amount, I'll send you a refund of the difference. Now, the semi "tricky" part; be sure to indicate "EARTH DAY" in the "Comments to Seller" section of your Etsy transaction during check-out. I'm only offering the discount to my blog readers. So, I hope this offer gives you the opportunity to get something that you've been eyeing. It's my way to thank all of my readers & to celebrate Earth Day {giving back}…


Check out this new little necklace listed in the shop ~ I named it "Let It Bee", which is most fitting, I think.

Off to start making plans for our herb garden ~ Happy Monday!!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

…"My religion is kindness" -Dalai Lama

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Pollination/Copulation




I just had to share this with everybody - hope you enjoy it :)

P.S. Those dogs barking in the back ground are not Ozzy & Lita! They belong to the neighbors and can be very annoying @ times.

Earth Day Discount & A New Venue…


Hey Everybody! Happy Saturday! I've been meaning to send out an e-mail to everybody, which would have included a 15% off Earth Day Discount! But, with all of the canoe excitement:


I just didn't get it worked in. So, I will just post it here and let you all know how it will work. First of all, the 15% off discount will be good from right now, through mid-night April 22nd {Earth Day}. The discount will apply to your total purchase and I will send you an updated PayPal invoice. So, when you purchase your item(s), don't pay through the regular Etsy check-out process. Wait until you get an invoice from me. Don't worry, though. If you accidently pay the full amount, I'll send you a refund of the difference. Now, the semi "tricky" part; be sure to indicate "EARTH DAY" in the "Comments to Seller" section of your Etsy transaction during check-out. I'm only offering the discount to my blog readers. So, I hope this offer gives you the opportunity to get something that you've been eyeing. It's my way to thank all of my readers & to celebrate Earth Day!

And some more exciting news! If you happen to live in "Transylvania County" {where I do}, there is a tail-gate market from April to October. The market is every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7am to 1pm. So starting this Tuesday {Earth Day}, we'll be setting up over there and selling my jewelry and Shea Butter products. And come to find out, we have lots of native plants growing wild on our property, so we may start selling plants & seedlings, too. I'm really excited about it and it gives us the opportunity to get out and mingle with the general population and maybe do a little bartering. So if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by and say hello.

Off to make a few things for the shop - Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"I don't like work – no man does – but I like what is in the work – the chance to find yourself." - Joseph Conrad

Friday, April 18, 2008

Age is an Attitude!


So try telling that to my "spaghetti" legs! Seriously, they don't feel that bad and I thought for sure that I wouldn't be able to walk today after our hike up to the very top of Mt. Pisgah yesterday! Here's a picture of the "trail" and the view from the top:



The total hike was 3 miles and it was very strenuous in places, but so worth it! The views were awesome from up there. I'm trying to talk Wayne into starting a blog about the different hikes we have been taking. He would describe the hike itself, difficulty levels, plants you can see, what you should take, pictures, videos, etc. We think it would be a wonderful thing for visitors to this area, especially. They could log on and sort of lay out their day based on the hikes and how long they take. Don't you think that would be a great idea! I do, indeed.

Today we are going to pick up our new canoe and see if we can lift it onto the top of the car! I have renewed confidence in our abilities, after what all we have been doing lately! Wish us luck! After that, we promised Ozzy & Lita we would take them on a walk. Ozzy is begging to go for a swim and he deserves it, since he's been such a good boy lately. They have gotten to where they recognize the back packs and associate them with walks. So now they make us feel really guilty for taking hikes without them. When we get in the car to leave, they are both standing in the front window crying & whimpering. But we just can't take them everywhere because some of the hikes are way too dangerous for them {like Mt. Pisgah, for instance}. So now today is "make-up day". But before we go, it's time to announce the winner from last week's give-away and it's Charlie!!!
Congratulations!! Obviously, Ozzy's favorite number is #1, as it should be, since it officially belongs to Lita around this house! So for next week, being its "Earth Day" week, the give-away will be these:


They are a perfect accessory for any outfit, or occasion. And all you have to do to win them is comment on THIS BLOG POST. Next Friday, Lita will pick another number and if it's yours, you'll win! Good luck!

Off to list a few new things and then to go get the canoe! Hope you are all having a wonderful Friday!!!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"Youth is not a time of life – it is a state of mind…Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over a life of ease." – Samuel Ullman

Saturday, April 12, 2008

The Best “Things” In Life…


I don't know about that. I looked up the definition for "Things" and here's what it said: thing (th¹ng) n. 1. An entity, an idea, or a quality perceived, known, or thought to have its own existence. 2.a. The real or concrete substance of an entity. b. An entity existing in space and time. c. An inanimate object. 3. Something referred to by a word, a symbol, a sign, or an idea; a referent. 4. A creature: the poor little thing. 5. An individual object: There wasn't a thing in sight. 6.a. Law. That which can be possessed or owned. Often used in the plural: things personal; things real. b. things. Possessions; belongings: packed her things and left. c. An article of clothing: Put on your things and let's go. 7.
things. The equipment needed for an activity or a special purpose: Where are my cleaning things? 8. An object or entity that is not or cannot be named specifically: What is this thing for? 9.a. An act, deed, or work: promised to do great things. b. The result of work or activity: is always building things. 10. A thought, a notion, or an utterance: What a rotten thing to say! 11. A piece of information: wouldn't tell me a thing about the project. 12. A means to an end: just the thing to increase sales. 13. An end or objective: In blackjack, the thing is to get nearest to 21 without going over. 14. A matter of concern: many things on my mind. 15. A turn of events; a circumstance: The accident was a terrible thing. 16.a. things. The general state of affairs; conditions: "Beneath the smooth surface of things, something was wrong" (Tom Wicker). b. A particular state of affairs; a situation: Let's deal with this thing promptly. 17. Informal. A persistent illogical feeling, as a desire or an aversion; an obsession: has a thing about seafood. 18. Informal. The latest fad or fashion; the rage: Drag racing was the thing then. 19. Slang. An activity uniquely suitable and satisfying to one: Let him do his own thing. See Synonyms at
forte1. --idioms.
first thing. Informal. Right away; before anything else: Do your assignments first thing in the morning. see things or hear things. To have hallucinations. sure thing. Informal. 1. A certainty: His election is a sure thing. 2. Of course; certainly: Sure thing, I'll be there! [Middle English, from Old English thing.]

A very "Broad" definition, indeed. So, it looks like the best thing in my life today could possibly be these:


Or these:


Or even this:


So whatever your best "things" in life are, enjoy them, like this little fellow did:


Off to the grocery store & enjoy the rest of the day ~ Hope you are all having a wonderful Weekend!!!

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!" – {Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas!}

Friday, April 11, 2008

You Can Take The Girl…..


…Out of Louisiana, but you can't take "Louisiana" out of the Girl! Now who would have ever thought that you could take a hike up to a waterfall and then at the very top there would be a small pool of water with crawfish in it! That's what we discovered yesterday on our hike up to "Maidenhair Falls". Although I didn't see any quite big enough for a "bug boil", I saw several *lone* pinchers, so obviously something finds the small ones quite tasty. And this little fellow sure was feisty. He disappeared quite promptly once I put him back in the water. But, he sure brought back some good memories. When my Daddy was still with us on this planet, he lived out on the river and one of his favorite things to do was have big "Crawfish Boils" on Sunday afternoons, all during Crawfish season. I remember one time when Broc was little {he was about 5, I guess}, we went out to my Daddy's for a Crawfish boil and Broc made friends with one of the tiny little crawfish. It was so little, only about 2 inches long. Broc played with it all afternoon, getting it to pinch things and trying to feed it bugs, etc.. I told him to put it in the river before we left and he said that he "did". Broc fell asleep in the car on the way home and as soon as we got in, I gave him his bath and put him to bed. So a couple of days later I started smelling something awful, like dead fish. I finally narrowed it down to Broc's laundry hamper and low and behold, there was that poor little baby crawfish, which had succumbed to the warmth and sweatiness of Broc's cargo short pocket! I thought I would never get that smell out of his room. Thank goodness for summer breezes and windows that open wide. And now it's one of those things that makes me smile, just like this is:


The hike up to "Maidenhair Falls" was just breath-taking. I keep thinking that I've taken the best walk ever and then the next one seems to be better than the last. We really enjoyed this place. The waterfall was gorgeous and the rocks were monolithic, as you can see. I love the way everything gets that fine coating of green fuzzy moss around here – it's like living in a rain forest. Now we are trying to decide where we are going for our afternoon walk today – so many choices.

But before I go – I have to announce the winner of those gorgeous pearl earrings from last Friday's Post and it is lucky #4, which is little Ms. Lora!!! Congratulations, Lora – I hope you love them. So for next week, the give-away will be these:



They are a perfect accessory for any outfit, or occasion. And all you have to do to win them is comment on THIS BLOG POST. Next Friday, Ozzy will pick another number and if it's yours, you'll win! Good luck!

I'll also leave you with this gorgeous picture and hope you have a terrific weekend!


And to all of my little friends down in Louisiana, eat a "mud bug" {or two} for me.

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"My goal in life is to be the kind of person that my Dog thinks I am"

Friday, April 4, 2008

Green Eggs & Ham…


Well, all of my company is gone and I realize now how much more I love it here! After hearing all of the horror stories of what is going on in Baton Rouge, as far as crime, traffic, general BS & things like that I'm even more glad that I left! And although I love my family dearly, I realize the older I get, how little we have in common. I just knew everyone would be in "awe" over the wonderful waterfalls, trails, mountains, wildflowers, forests, etc., but they weren't. I think they would have enjoyed their stay better if I lived next to the largest shopping mall in the world that was open 24 hours and included an indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, tanning bed & day spa. In fact, I know my sister would have. Not that what she likes or doesn't like should be the same as me, I just wish she could learn to "suck it up" a little better and try to enjoy herself, regardless of the surroundings. It's very hurtful when you are trying your best to show someone a good time and all they do is complain and wish they were somewhere else. In any event, I'm so glad I got to see them and visit with them and I'll always love them all, no matter what. I'm sure I have my own little "quirkies" that only Wayne "loves". But at this point in my life, that's all that matters anyway, right! You're probably thinking, "I can't believe she's writing this, what if they read her blog". No worries, they don't read it. In fact, I'm almost 100% certain they don't even realize it exists. And if they do read it, it's one less thing "off my chest" that I didn't have to verbalize {thank you, very much}. One of the great things about their visit is that Lita got to meet her little cousin, Gitgit. She's a little "Shitzu" and Lita just loved her. They played & played all week. I think Ozzy was glad he was being left out, since it gave him a chance to rest. I'll post some more about all of that later, along with some pictures. Right now, I'm getting ready to open a bottle of wine and get in the hot tub and relax for the rest of the night and enjoy the company of my husband. But, before I go, I have to announce the winner of the awesome earrings from last Friday's Post and it is Jen!!! Congratulations!!! So, for next week, the give-away will be these:


And all you have to do to win them is post a comment on THIS BLOG. A winner will be chosen next Friday by Ozzy! Good luck everybody! Have a terrific weekend! Happy Friday – "TGIF"

Xxoo & peace always ~ Kathy

"I do not like green eggs & ham! I do not like them, Sam-I-am. You do not like them, so you say. Try them! Try Them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say." – Dr. Seuss {Green Eggs and Ham}