don't follow the directions

This is what happens when you don't follow the directions, which said to thin the plants as seedlings sprout. This was a "butterfly mix" and I didn't even look to see what flowers seeds it included. What a wonderful surprise to have most of it grow up to be bachelor's buttons!

transitions

Life is all about change and transition. Sometimes I hate it and sometimes I love it. For nearly a year now I've been "transitioning" the bulk of my jewelry for sale from eBay to Etsy. I like the huge audience that eBay draws and I will always appreciate my success there. eBay makes it completely easy to contribute to charities so I will always maintain a presence there to support my favorite charities. But I'm loving the artsy community of Etsy. I've dubbed it my online street festival place. Friday, July 22, was the most fun day yet of my life on Etsy. One of my necklaces made it to the front page of Etsy, the page where you go when you type in www.etsy.com. The curator, Fabric Fascination, will always be one of my best Etsy friends! Woot woot - THAT was exciting :)

a garden is a good thing

This is the second year for our squirrel proof garden. We have an over abundance of ground squirrels so the garden is lined with chicken wire even 2 feet below the surface. It has been a cooler than normal spring and summer for us in the Northwest. Our garden is liking everything about this year's weather. So far the garden has given us radishes, romaine, beets, carrots, green onions, basil, parsley, swiss chard, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme. And the flowers... omg, they are off the scale this year. A garden is a very good thing.

thwarted nuisance rodent - last year's garden

the squirrels aren't even trying this year - instead we get seranaded

the first of the produce

not yet but soon

swiss chard in all it's glory - delicious

string beans reaching for the sky

bachelor's button

as good as it gets - fresh strawberries

growing our very own Walla Walla sweet onions

incredible color - I love me some snapdragons

For those of you interested in my jewelry... everything in my Etsy shop is 30% off through the end of July. Use coupon code JULYCHRISTMAS when you check out :)