I just can't believe the year is gone already. I just finished taxes for 2007 and here I am having to start them again...I hate taxes. All in all, it has been a wonderful year for the most part. My heart goes out to those who are struggling with losing jobs and homes...let's hope 2009 is much better for everyone.
I changed my "favorite book" list...I am reading "Edgar Sawtelle" and I can tell already it is going to be a favorite. If you haven't read it, you may want to consider it.
My sale in my Etsy bead shop has gone quite well…thanks everyone! I have been busy at the torch and will begin listing new items today and tomorrow.
If you have plans for this evening….be safe and be careful!
I am city folk! Never in my wildest dreams did I think would be living on a farm raising goats...and you know what...I love it. We raise meat goats, a variety called "Boer". We have 11 females (nannies) and 2 males (bucks) and 3 new babies. There is nothing cuter than a baby goat. Once they find their legs, they act like they have springs on their feet...they don't walk anywhere, they bounce. Actually, goats are pretty cool animals. The first 2 pictures are of Libby and her baby. The 3rd picture are twins that belong to another nanny. These 3 babies are about 1 month old. The red & white baby was born in June and she is standing with her momma, Thalma. The last 2 pictures are of the "keepers of the flock", Jack and Jill. Both dogs were bought from the same breeder and were put in with the goats when they were about 8 weeks old and have grown up with the goats. Jill is the one sitting on the haystack and Jack is leaning up against the fence...they are wonderful animals and take really good care of the goats. We had a nanny last year that rejected one of her babies so we had to bottle feed it and Jack and Jill both took care of it...you never saw her without one of the dogs with her. They would clean her and sleep with her and she was always with one or the other of the dogs.
My plan is to feature one of my favorite Etsy artists every Monday; today's favorite is blockpartypress. As a metalsmith, I am always looking for unique items to set in a bezel and I found one here....actually I am coveting several pieces. Visit her shop at: www.blockpartypress.etsy.com
Well the rain and wind finally stopped and how can you go wrong when your day begins like this
Just a quick reminder that everything in my bead store, Sassy Glass Designs, is on sale, discounted by 20% or more.
OK...it is time to introduce Jake. We must have a penchant for strays or they know a good thing when they find it; this one showed up and has never left. I believe someone or something led him up our driveway and told him..."you will find a good home here". About a year ago we went out to feed the goats and there in the pasture with our two Great Pyrenees, Jack & Jill, and a herd of goats was this huge white dog. The goats weren't bothered by him nor were the other dogs; I think they all knew he was a gentle soul. Of course, we couldn't figure out how he got in the pasture...it is completely fenced in and the fence stands about 4-5 feet tall. After several days of trying to figure out how Jake was getting into the pasture, we finally found a spot where he had dug out under the fence enough to wriggle himself under it. I tried for several weeks to find Jake's owner but no one ever claimed him so we decided to keep him, named him Jake, and he has been with us ever since. He doesn't go in with the goats anymore...he got a little too close to a momma who was having a kid and Jill took exception to that; she is the protector of the goats and you don't get too involved when little ones are being born. Jake has become one of the family; he and Max are like brothers; they sleep together, eat together, roam together and have a ball playing together. As to Jake's breed, we believe he is part Pyrenees and part Anatolian Shepherd, both of whom are raised as working dogs. Without further ado.......
I began this blog thinking what a fun way to write about my life as well as advertise my Etsy shops. But, I have been told by several other sellers that your buyers do not want to know how many eggs your chickens layed or whether you received a tractor for Christmas. Well...I tend to disagree. I have made some very good e-friends that started out as buyers; not only do they continue to purchase from me but I have gotten to know a little about their lives and they about mine so I say...personal is better...not too personal, but some personal. With that, as I promised yesterday, I will begin to introduce you to our family...our furry family that is.
Taking center stage is Sonny, our 1-year old Schnauzer...my "little Sonny bunny". He is such a sweetie and quite the lap dog which is what I wanted. Here are couple of my favorite pictures of him at rest....which is not often. The first picture shows off the little man that he is and the 2nd is my favorite...asleep upside down in his bed.
Sonny's favorite game is to take his ball which is tied to a string and swing it by jumping around in circles. I was lucky enough to catch this on video and that night he spun so much he made himself dizzy and fell down..here is the video...
2nd introduction..Max, our Australian Shepherd. Max adopted us about 3 years ago. His original owner left him alone a lot so Max starting visiting us. He continued to stay for longer and longer periods of time. Joe, his owner, didn't seem to be interested in whether he was home or not. One day I called Joe and asked if he wanted the dog; he said no, but said we could keep him if we wanted; he told us the dog's name was "loser". I just about had a fit...Joe didn't know anything at all about this pup...loser this dog was not. No way was I going to call a dog "loser" so we named him Max. Max is a free spirit for sure...he spends his days roaming the woods, chasing squirrels, and sleeping. When Max joined our family we had a Rottweiler, Heather, a truly gentle spirit. She and Max were the best of buds and the picture of the two of them together is one of my favorites. Heather has since gone to that big kennel in the sky....play hearty girl!
There are plenty more introductions to be made but for another day.
ETSY SHOP NEWS: Beginning December 29 thru December 31, everything in my Etsy lampwork bead shop "Sassy Glass Designs" will be 20% off. I want to sell all my old stock to make way for fresh, new designs that I will begin debuting January 1, 2009.
I wanted to finish this post early so I could go shopping and take advantage of all the great sales but it is pouring down rain plus we have a tornado watch out; maybe I'll just stay in and work at my torch instead. Have a great day!
I hope everyone received what they wanted this year. My hubby says I got just exactly what he wanted....a 40-year old International Harvester tractor....it is a beauty but not exactly what I had in mind...I don't think it will fit on my finger. He in turn received a nice red IH hat he can wear when he rides MY tractor.
If you did not receive what you wanted for Christmas, check out my Etsy shops; I have a lot of items on sale and you may find just what you are looking for.
I thought I would use part of today's post to introduce myself and family. My name is Sandi and my husband, Jim, and I live in rural NW Arkansas. We moved here about 4 years ago from Texas and have never looked back. We bought 45 acres, moved Jim's machine shop with us and here we are. Although Jim has sons and grandchildren in Texas, our family in Arkansas consists of the 4-legged, furry kind...5 dogs, 17 goats, and 7 chickens (they don't have 4 legs but they are kid of furry). I'll write more about all of them later. Have a wonderful day!
Oh, if you are going to spend a quiet day at home and would like a good read...check out my top 5 books on the side bar; I think you would enjoy any of them.
Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has had a wonderful day with family and friends. This is not only my first blog post but my first blog so I hope you will bear with me. My husband and I live in NW Arkansas in a very rural area. We have a small farm where we raise meat goats...I'll write more about them later. We had a beautiful day today...almost 60 degrees and tomorrow it is supposed to be 70; hubby wants to go fishing. My parents were supposed to be here for the Christmas holidays; they live in Indiana and make the trip several times a year but due to some health problems, they didn't make it this year and we really missed them. We were invited to our nephew's home to share in their celebration and then my sister-in-law and her husband came over for a left-over ham sandwich and a rousing game of dominoes ....all in all, we have had a very nice couple of days.
I understand that tomorrow, Friday, December 26, is called the new "black Friday" so if you are going to brave the shoppers, I hope you can take advantage of all the sales and be careful. If you are looking for some unique jewelry and/or lampwork beads for your own designs, I hope you will visit my Etsy shops...links located on the side bar.
