PEACE, LOVE AND HORSES

Thanks to The Buzz for featuring my Peace, Love and Horses denim lapis bracelet in an Etsy treasury (top left pic)...

Click here to go directly to the treasury for a closer look at all of these denim themed items.

This is one of my favorite designs. The pewter heart, peace sign and double horseshoe links are handcrafted by an artist in Pennsylvania.
I'm putting this bracelet on sale this week only for 20% off the price in my Etsy shop. If you're interested, send me an e-mail (link at the top left) and I'll send you an invoice for the adjusted price.

Wishing you a peace, love and horse filled week!

Bunny Sunday

Our bunnies are beyond spoiled. In addition to daily greens (parsley, cilantro, spinach, basil, etc.) they get treats on a regular basis. They love fruit and will come running and begging for their favorites --strawberries, bananas and apples.

I shared a tangerine with them one day. It was hilarious! And messy...

Sandie looks a little surprised by the juicy, tangy treat... You know that sensation you get when you eat something sour...like your saliva glands are working overtime? This is what Digger looks like here...

Messy bunny close up -- tangerine juice overflow...
As much as these bunnies love treats, we really do only give them in moderation! Good bunny moms know "too much of a good thing" is not good at all...

Mind Over Matter

It is HOT here in the desert. When the forecast for the week looks like this: 101, 103, 102, 101, 100....you know you are in trouble... I'm usually ok UNTIL it reaches 100. High 90s, no problem. When it gets over 100 I start to get a little tired of the heat.

I found this picture of our one day of snow in 2009:

Ahhh..... crisp and cool. Can you see me in the middle of this, making a snow angel, in my shorts and tank top?

I feel better already!

Cowgirl Wisdom

And I'm sure they understood her and talked right back!

My mornings sound like this as I walk out to the barn...

"Hi guys! How's everyone doing today?" (Hrrr hrrrr... nicker, nicker)

"OK old guy, hang on, you act like you've never eaten before" (Hrrr hrrr hrrr)

"Hi goaty, goaty, goaties". (mmmeeehh eh eh)

"Hello Sassy, Sassy, Sassy"

"Bandy Boy, waitin' for your chow?"

"Pipey Brown! You're turning into a big girl"

And on and on and on.... I'm sure the neighbors think I'm the crazy animal lady. But that's quite alright. I'll never be lonely!

Bunny Sunday

~Besties~ (that term cracks me up!)

Summertime!

~~~Thanks to everyone who responded and snagged a pair of my Cowgirl Flops for my very special summertime price!~~ Yee haa cowgirls, you got yourselves a deal. :) If you missed grabbing a pair for yourself, you can now find select styles in my Etsy shop. ~~~

Normally, my feet never see the light of day. I have a closet full of boots and my feet are usually in a pair. Except in the summer. I love to go barefoot and have been known to go out and clean the stalls with a pair of flip flops on! (Kinda gross, I know..)I love the cute cowgirl flip flops I've been seeing in catalogs and online. Of course, being the crafty person I am, I said, "Hey, I can make those". So I did. I made myself a pair. And then I got on a roll and made half a dozen other pairs in various sizes. Initially I thought I would put them in my Etsy shop, but changed my mind. I sent a pair to my friend in New York as a birthday gift. And I have 6 pairs left. What to do with them?

Well.... if you are anything like me, you love these little cuties but don't want to pay the cute pricetag that usually comes with them! So here is what I am going to do. I am going to offer these "Cowgirl Flops" to you, my blog pals, at what it cost me to make them (plus $3 shipping added in to each price). Such a deal!

Here's what I'm offering (please excuse the less than fabulous pics - the crystals really ARE bright and sparkly, they just don't show in the pics!):

Brown cowgirl flops with purple Swarovski crystals and brown cross conchos~$24.00~ (size 9) ***SOLD***

Black cowgirl flops with pink Swarovski crystals and coordinating heart and horseshoe conchos ~$28.00~ (size 8) ***SOLD***
Brown cowgirl flops with pinkish-orange Swarovski crystals and coordinating square star and steerhead conchos~$25.00~ (size 9) **SOLD**
Black cowgirl flops accented with clear AB and jet black Swarovski crystals and a silver floral concho ~$23.00~ (size 9) ***SOLD***

Brown cowgirl flops with brown and clear Swarovski crystals and AB crystal star conchos~$27.00~ (size 7) **SOLD**
Black cowgirl flops with light sapphire Swarovski crystals and heart conchos~$23.00~ (size 7) **SOLD**
Treat yourselves cowgirls! If you see a pair you can't live without, send me an e-mail (link at top left of my blog) and I'll send you an invoice through PayPal or we can work out another payment method.

Happy Summer everyone!

Bunny Sunday

This is our Mama Bunny. She was a rescue that I brought home and 2 weeks later she had 5 little babies.... I had no idea. She was only 7 months old and way too young to be a mama.

Here are the babies at about 5 days old. They are born completely hairless and pink! I found them in the bottom of the litter box one morning when I went outside to clean. Imagine my surprise...WHAT THE HECK?And here they are about 10 days old. They look like little hamsters at this age. So cute! (Left to right: Bulldog, Digger, Sandie, Ginger and Turbo).

Pile 'O Bunnies... (this is my favorite pic of them) Getting bigger! At about this age we had them all spayed/neutered. As cute as they were as babies, we definitely didn't want any more! All grown up now! But they will always be babies...
This picture was taken in the outside "bunny casa" at breakfast time. I like to sit there with my coffee and listen to them crunch their pellets. It's the same scene everyday but I never grow tired of it!

My Lizard Buddy

We have a lot of lizards around our place. Small ones, green ones, brown ones, striped ones....

And big fat ones. This is my buddy who comes out into the back courtyard every morning. I can see him while sitting at my desk.He likes to sit on the gate soaking up the sun...He has a friend who looks just like him, but that one is missing half of his tail. Wonder what tried to get him? Maybe one of the neighbors' barn cats. I'm glad he escaped! This guy seems to have a routine, he comes out at the same time every morning and then goes back to his hideout under the patio. I should name him. Anyone have any suggestions?

More Cowgirl Wisdom

I thought this appropriate for a Monday.... Have a great one!

Bunny Sunday

This is Patches' favorite lounging position...

I can never resist taking a picture when I see her like this! So cute. Can't you just see a little pink bikini on this butt???
This is her secret hideaway -- behind the sofa. She looks a little annoyed that I'm disturbing her siesta! ("Get away from me with that camera! Geez, can't a girl get any privacy around here?")

Out of all of our bunnies, she is really the only one that likes to lay like this. They definitely all have their own personalities. Makes me smile every time I see it. (I bet it made you smile, too!)

Cowgirl Cookin' in Style

Introducing another "tricked out" creation from the Good Hearted Cowgirls wearable art apron collection - we call this one "The Tad".

If you know even a little about old time cowgirls, you've undoubtedly heard of Tad Lucas. She is considered the greatest rodeo cowgirl of all time and is famous for her fearless and innovative trick riding. She is also the only person EVER to be honored by all three rodeo halls of fame: the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1967 (she was the first woman elected), the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Prorodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.

All of the aprons in our collection are named for historic cowgirls. Included in the pocket of each apron is a little bio about that cowgirl...The Tad apron is embellished with crystals, rhinestones, a stone heart charm and pink turquoise beaded "fringe". The leather belt is removable for hand washing.All of the aprons from Good Hearted Cowgirls are wearable art and are designed for everyday use and are meant to be displayed in your kitchen while not in use. Whether you are wearing it while preparing a special dinner for friends or it is adorning the wall in your kitchen, this apron will definitely be a conversation piece!Collectible and one-of-a-kind, get 'em while they're hot cowgirls! The Tad can be purchased here. More to come soon!

We Have Rust!

Finally!

I was starting to get a little impatient waiting for the metal panels of the courtyard wall to rust to a nice patina. They still looked too industrial for my taste (see the panel on the far left).
I did some internet research and found a "recipe" to get immediate rust~ just what I was looking for. Mix together 1 pint hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 T. salt. I tried putting it in a spray bottle but it clogged up the sprayer. So I ended up putting it in a bucket and using a paint brush to apply it. Within 15 minutes I had rust! The recipe doesn't go very far, though. I need to buy more peroxide to finish up... And I also need to apply it on the inside of the panels, as well. (oh, and wear gloves if you are going to do this!) You can really see the brush marks until you rinse it off (I let it sit for about an hour).

Once I get the look I'm going for my plan is to spray with a matte finish sealant. I love the rustic look. What do you think?