Under a Copper Sky

Duck poop...

There are people in this world who

eat all clean, healthy food and do "soft" exercising.

There are people in this world who go all out

hard core exercising

and eat whatever they want.

I wish I could find a happy medium between the two.

Our new and permanent way of eating has been easy.

I really do enjoy eating clean.

But exercising is about as much fun as

sitting on duck poop.

I used to run when I was younger.

I loved running.

It kept me out of the house for hours,

I got to be in my own little world for a while.

But my knees eventually said "enough"

and I had to stop.

It was the only form of exercise I enjoyed.

Since then I've tried a little of this and a little of that.

Nothing really made me happy.

But now I've seriously had to revisit the whole

idea of being healthy through movement.

I've reached my plateau.

Those 30 pounds dripped off like butter,

then came to an abrupt stop.

Hiking on the weekends just isn't enough.

So my personal trainer, uhm, err, husband

has come up with an exercise regimen.

And it's about as much fun as sitting on duck poop.

The other day, after working out legs

then picking up and rearranging flagstone for two days,

I seriously could not walk.

Duck poop.

But I have to get over my griping,

moaning,

complaining

and just embrace it.

I've changed my eating habits because I want to

live longer, 

be healthier,

be happier.

That means I gotta do the exercise thing too.

Happy medium.

Embrace.

Duck poop.

=)

 

Happy Tuesday

 

Don't forget about my auction for RUFF.

If you don't want to participate but

know of someone who might, please pass it along.

It's for a very good cause.

Auction time

I've never done an auction so I'm quite excited about today.

RUFF is one of our favorite organizations on the planet.

Every year, a few times a year,

Robin and I try to give the cute, furry creatures,

waiting for adoption,

a bit of food, blankets and whatever else they may need.

It warms our hearts knowing we can feed a few little bellies.

Help just a bit.

So today I'm auctioning off this necklace.

(Sodalite encased in copper, with a small piece of linen.  Top layer

of copper has been fused with Sterling Silver.  Recycled, black, silk sari

runs up both sides and into the copper chain.  18" in length.)

All proceeds from the auction will go to RUFF.

I'm going to start the bidding at $25 because I know that will buy

a big bag of dog food and a big bag of cat food.

Yummy!

If you want to participate,

the actually bidding will take place in the comments section below.

First comment should be the bid of $25,

second comment will be the second bid.

Got it?

Easy peasy.

Bidding starts now and will run until

Friday, March 2nd at 12:00 pm est.

Let's see how much we can raise for these folks - 

these wonderfully kind souls

who have enormous hearts.

They are the foster families to

sweet creatures who need a temporary home.

They are good, good people.

Go visit the RUFF website here.

If you don't like the necklace but want to help

you can find their list of needs here.

If you can foster, find details for that here.

Or, even better, if you want some cute, little

fuzzy creature of your own,

you can find them every weekend at their

adoption events.

Let the games begin.

 

**Just a side note, I do not work for, 

nor am I affiliated with RUFF.

If you have any questions about the auction

please don't hesitate to shoot me an email.**

Not a slacker

I know most of you think I've lost my way to my studio...

You'll be happy to know that I have not.

Should have these on Etsy next week.

Stop back by here on Monday.

I'm having a very special auction.

Happy Friday!

Home

Robin and I have been living in this house for 2.5 years now.

We moved in 1 month after my birth mom passed away.

Since then we've gone non-stop updating, adding to,

and embracing this place with a lot of love.

When we were in search of a new home we did a drive by of this place.

And even though I couldn't even see the big guy through the trees,

so far off the road,

I knew this was my home.

He called to me.

And the first time I stepped foot through the front door

this house had my heart.

Within the first two months we had replaced the

pink toned builders beige with

dessert camel,

winter mood,

blue fox,

grey porpoise,

and marina isle.

Wallpaper ripped down and replaced with color.

Touches of us added.

This house was twelve years old and none of the

four former owners ever made changes.

None.

Nada.

Never showed this big guy the attention he deserved.

Until we came along.

Floors were replaced, box-woods ripped out, stone mulch replaced,

decks built, plants added.

We aren't pretentious and, in fact,

we painted over the marble fireplace.

No fancy smancy here, only cozy warmth.

We are quite proud of this place.

I have thrown my gypsy ways out the window.

Here I have planted my roots.

This is our home.

There is still so much we plan to do.

The house will go from white to grey, roof from shingles to steel,

more and more landscaping.

The kitchen will be completely renovated,

complete with new appliances and concrete countertops.

All bathrooms will get a facelift.

The attic will be finished and made into a proper Izzy studio.

And a new shed will be built out back.

Bit by bit.

By bit.

For now we are busy with this.

This, my friends, is 40 cubic yards of mulch, pine straw

and two pallets of flagstone.

Still trying to finish off the beds around the deck built last year.

Slowly we go.

Loving every minute of this job.

Happily showing this big guy all the love it has shown to us.

Our home.

 

Visit from Felix

Felix lives in Pennsylvania, but has come here

to Fuquay Varina for a short visit.

With the warm weather

he has preferred to hang out here on the couch

on the screened porch.

We took Felix hiking.

Tucked him in at night.

He made friends with Moose.

Took naps on the day bed with Sammie.

Since Felix is leaving tomorrow, he won't be able to help

with all this mulch and rock

that was just delivered today.

Tomorrow Felix will head on down to Texas.

We will miss Felix.

Thanks to Staci and her daughter Julia

for letting Felix visit.

Jumping the gun...

It's February 20th and we got our first snow.

I'm also going to assume our last.

And when I say snow, I mean a very light dusting.

I do mean light.

But I'm grateful that old man winter dropped in, 

if only briefly.

 

Owl update.

I guess you could say we were "jumping the gun" a bit

when we assumed Hollie was already in the nest with eggs.

I snapped these shots of her this morning.

I guess she's just "nesting",

getting ready to lay those precious eggs.

She's definitely "plumped up".

Much bigger than when we saw her last.

Still very cute.

You can tell a big difference between her and Ollie.

She is short, plump, and her front feathers are much lighter.

Ollie is tall, thin, and his front feathers are much darker.

(Isn't it amazing what a difference a cloudy day

vs. sunny day can do to a photo.)

I will continue to keep you updated

as the love story unfolds.

 

 

Here we go...

Looks like Hollie is in the old tree

hanging out on the nest

with her precious eggs.

And Ollie (sleeping with one eye open)

is in the tree just behind the nest

keeping watch.

Another 28-33 days and the little babies

should be hatching.

After that, we wait another 35-40 days

to see them start leaving the nest.

Here we go...

Bigger than the house...

If I don't reign in my husband's

grandiose plans for a garden shed,

this is what will exist in our back yard...

(doodle by Andre Jordan)

Just passing through...

First the guys visited this morning.

Then the girls.

And they all left the Allhart Cafe

with full tummies.

They're back...

The other night,

after seeing a wonderful play,

my husband and I arrived home

to hear a bit of a ruckus in the back yard.

So we quickly ran out onto the screened porch.

There was squaking coming from Hollie and Ollie

in the old tree that we've never heard before.

Followed by a lot of cooing.

There's no doubt in my mind that Hollie and Ollie

were making a little whoopee.

I was so happy that I almost cried.

Yes, we felt like we were intruding a bit,

but I'm sure they didn't even know we were there.

This old, dead tree is where all the magic happens.

This is where the Hollie and Ollie nest.

Right up there in the top, inside the tree.

This poor old tree only has a few more years left in him.

Then we fear he will fall.

So we are working quickly,

making plans,

and picking new real estate for our little owls.

Prime location is here.

Robin is going to build a mini masion

to sit right up there in the "v".

Perfect spot.

Only worry is how we plan to get it up there.

An owl house ain't small...

To give you some idea of the height of that tree,

look at the very bottom of the photo.

Yep, that's the top of our four foot fence.

We have to get the game plan together soon.

The earlier it goes up, the sooner Ollie and Hollie

will warm up to it.

And a final shot of the fat puppy,

enjoy a bit of sun.