Almost Wordless Wednesday; The Great Mother Lode Pet Photo Contest

Carl won 3rd place in the local newspaper photo contest (out of 500 entries).



"Yes Carl, you're a handsome dude... congratulations little man."

Creepy Visitors

"Carl, I need to tell you something. This is the time of the year when the Tarantulas start moving around outside. It's a big spider that's searching for a mate and you will see them walking around everywhere. I don't want you to touch them or try to bite them. You be a good boy and stay away from them. No barking at them, either, because they won't hurt us and we don't want to bother them while they look for a mate."

What Carl really heard..."Carl, Blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah blah..., walking, blah, blah...,good boy, blah, stay, blah, blah.. no barking, blah , blah, blah....."

And they have come...., like an army of creepy crawlers, looking for love.
This is a variety of the Desert Tarantula. There are over 30 species found in the southern U.S. and up to the dry foothills of California. The female lives up to 20 years because she stays mostly under ground only coming out to grab some unsuspecting mouse that walks by the burrow. The poor male, for all his efforts, doesn't live long. He wanders around searching for a mate from sunset until dawn, then hides during the day.
This one was in front of the goat house last night when I went out to give the goats some dinner. It rained two nights ago and it's been very cold. This change in the weather always seems to bring them out.
Annibel (our cat) and I noticed him at the same time. I had to shoo her away and then I ran into the house to get my camera. When I came back Anni' had gone off to terrorize the chickens. She didn't even seem that interested. Maybe she has had this confrontation before. It's like she knew to leave it alone.
I have to tell you that I'm arachnophobic and if this big fellow greeted me in my house somewhere I would probably have a heart attack. But, outside, and for some reason as big as they are, I find myself more interested than fearful. This spider has one aim in life and it's not to bite me. He's just looking for a female Tarantula and he is very one minded about it. He has purpose. He's in far greater danger from a hawk, turkey or a fox around here. I think that he would crawl right over my hand and keep going if I stuck it in front of him but...., that is NEVER going to happen. He may be furry, like Carl, but he's still a SPIDER.
I actually have to say that I like this guy. I kind of feel sorry for him..., being driven by all those instincts and male urges. I hope he finds what he's looking for.



When I finished my chores and went back into the house, THIS is what greeted me......
"Carl! What's the matter boy? Why are you hiding? Those spiders can't get into the house. They will be gone, soon, anyway. Come on sweetie. Wanna biscuit?"
Carl didn't come out right away..., but he wagged his tail.
What Carl heard was, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, hiding? Blah, blah,blah..., biscuit?"
All of a sudden he was turning around and flying out from under the bed. It was not only "biscuit" time, but "dinner" time and "sit on the couch and snuggle" time too.

Oh, the joys of having a puppy.

Wonderful, blissful weekend

Sis came up for a couple of days. Sometimes I think she just wants to have some peaceful "away" time...., with CARL. There is definitely a mutual admiration going on here. When she holds the pupster close to her I see the cares of her world fall away. This puppy is all about the warm cuddle and the extra lap.
The Prospector went on a fishing trip for a week so we had a "girl" weekend. Someone I know didn't even get dressed on Saturday..., wore her PJ's all day. In her defense, they were very fashionable, almost street clothes looking, PJ's.., but pj's none the less.
We had our coffee, toast and "stinky" cheese breakfast and then spent the entire day talking, laughing, crying, resting, playing with Carl and making poly clay jewelry. There is something about having uninterrupted time. Time that is only yours..., for whatever you choose. That was our gift this weekend. Other than my "rounds" with the farm animals early in the morning and after dinner , we had all day Saturday to just PLAY.., with our imagination and Sculpey polymer clay.

My little works of art are above, Sis' are below. I made the "boo" crow necklace for her to wear for Halloween. She will be hosting a party of friends in a few weeks and needed something creepy for the occasion. That's a real claw ,attached to it, from a dead Dove that I found on one of my walks. (Thank you, oh immortal Dove.)
She made me the charming beauty( on the left, below) with framed words ("blessed sanctuary") under a faceted glass bead and a small bluebird hanging from it. How beautiful is this?
The rest was just experimentation and fun.


We did all this with Halloween in mind and had so much fun with it. Poly clay is very versatile. I plan to do a tutorial soon on making one of these pieces with flat sided craft marbles instead of resin. It's an easier and faster way to make pieces of jewelry. We also used pieces of mica for glass. Mica is a nice change instead of something clear. It gives the window an antique look.
They were not completed. They still need a protective coating of Mod Podge or varnish of some kind, and the small skull , bird and hand ornaments need to be attached. This was a very easy project when you have all day to play and all the useful jewelry making equipment. What do you think? Didn't they turn out "charm"ing and unique?

We needed this weekend. It was a well deserved gift of time. It was a small moment of refuge...., and Saturday night? IT RAINED. Our first heavy, dust disappearing, air cleansing , fire quenching promise from Mother Nature that a change has finally come and Summer is over. Hearing the rain, Saturday night, outside my bedroom window was so reassuring. .., like someone holding my hand in the dark.
Today it's cool and windy but sunny...., and everything smells like wet, clean clothing drying in the sun. Maggie is lying on the front porch gathering up the warmth and Carl is looking for my sister(who left yesterday afternoon) and wondering where she might be. I am letting the house go for another day...., everything is going to be just fine.

My Beautiful "Moke" plate

I got a package in the mail yesterday!! MY PLATE IS HERE. My beautiful Julie Whitmore plate that I had Julie design and make for me. Julie is the pottery artist that lives in Cambria, California and wrote the lovely poem about Murphy, my sensitive and magical goat. This is the first piece of pottery art that I have ever ordered from Julie and I can't begin to tell you how I feel about this plate.
The plate is in honor of our dog, MOKE, who died early this year. He was a German Shorthair Pointer that we found in a Mokeulmne River campground, tied to a tree. We brought him home with us. He was starving, had heartworm and was a very sick dog..., but he survived. We slowly nursed him back to health and he was the love of our lives for many years. This is a tribute to him and I'm so pleased with it.

Thank you Julie. This plate is wonderful. I love it. I love you for making it...., Farmlady, the chickens, the clouds, the colors and our beloved dog. Thank you so very, very much.

Vintage Thursday: More Lovely Memories

This little silver cup (with most of the silver gone) was my grandfather's. His name was Ludwig Lytjen. I suspect it was a baby cup, although it could also have been a shaving mug. It was a very fancy little cup, no matter what it was used for, and has his initials L.L. engraved on the side. He was born in Denmark and died in Berkeley, CA. ( in 1922, at the age of 30) when my mom was 5 years old.

This small cut crystal pitcher was my grandmothers. Mom didn't use it too much unless we had a very big fancy dinner, like Christmas, and then she would bring it out for cream, with our coffee, after the big meal..., and always a delicious dessert. Later, when Mom got too old to fix the big amazing dinners, I remember it being used for small bunches of fresh flowers, and dried roses. These roses are dried "double delight" rose buds that I brought her (from my garden)a few years ago.

As far back as I can remember Mom wore these bracelets. They were the beautiful "dress up and have a party" ones..., the "lets go to the Opera" ones. Lucite and rhinestones..., beautiful memories.

Thank you Colorado Lady for hosting Vintage Thingie Thursdays. I have enjoyed showing everyone Mom's beautiful memories.