Thoughtful Thursday: New Year's Eve

One of My Drawings, Siochan Leat (Means Peace Be With You)

Another year over, this wants thinking about. Many things have come, some have stayed, some have gone. Brennan and I are planning a quiet night with just the two of us. We bought a bottle of wine (nothing crazy expensive, just one we haven't tried), and I'm going to make a simple but nice supper. We'll probably watch a movie, maybe play some video games.

I probably won't stay awake to ring in the New Year...I know it sounds weird, but I'm more into fixing things as they come up, making plans throughout the year instead of making a bunch of resolutions at the beginning of the year. I don't know, it always sounded weird to me...how is the new year going to make me more determined to do something?

I don't think we should get all uptight about 'turning a new leaf' for the New Year. We need to relax a bit and put less pressure on ourselves. Make peace with ourselves. We are good as we are, even if we have beer bellies or worry a bit too much. Self-improvement is good, but not for the sake of it. Needless to say, I don't do "resolutions" each year...I think that is setting myself up for failure and more unnecessary guilt. I do try to set goals throughout the year, and yes, I re-evaluate at the New Year, among other times. I like goals - they are reachable, but if I don't stick to them, I'm not going to beat myself up about it (okay I will, but it isn't as bad, I swear).

Here are a few of my goals for 2010:

Walk Arwen every day it is above -10C and below 35C (we are getting boots in early January, more about that later)

Spend more time with Brennan

Give away more jewelry/drawings/photos. I like to do it. Hopefully you like to get it!

Make at least 2 pieces of jewelry per week, blog them, photograph them and list them for sale

Work out more. I know I like it....eventually

Entertain more. I love to cook. I love to cook for people.

Crochet/knit/draw/sew for a few minutes each day. Just a couple of minutes. I can do that!

Relax. Seriously. I'm driving myself nuts with how uptight I am. I can't imagine what I'm doing to everyone else around me...have I driven you nuts yet? Probably.

I could probably go on and on, but I won't bore you further. These are GOALS after all, and not essential to being kept, though I know how good I'll feel when I do keep them. Which I will...

I hope.

I wish you all a very safe, happy, healthy and FANTASTIC New Year. May you be blessed with laughter, joy and the very best of what life can bring. Just for being you.

Peace Be With You.

(and Arwen too!)

Arwendnesday: What Arwen Got For Christmas

Hello, it is me, Arwen the Wonder Dog here to show you more of my Christmas presents! Yesterday you saw me get to open my pressed rawhide bone, above, but now you get to see the rest of them!
Grand monna and Grand daddoo got me this squeaky orange standing toy. Mommy thinks it is hilarious, though no one else seems to think it is as funny as she does. It stands on its own two feet and is squeaky and rolls and bounces so I like it. Mommy says she is surprised I haven't destroyed it and left it a tattered mess of tiny pieces all throughout the house, but hey, mommy, I've only had it a few days and I've been pretty preoccupied with my other gifts you know!
I also got a box of some of my favorite treats. Mommy likes to make mine, but sometimes she treats me with these Wellness Wellbars. I like the peanut ones, but these are a different flavor - yogurt and apples and bananas - some of my favorite foods! I Looooove them....
Especially when mommy puts a smush (a technical treat word) of peanut butter in my Kong toy, and then seals it up with a few of those Wellbars treats!
I also got a Nylabone. Now, mommy doesn't like me chewing on plastic, but I am a VERY powerful chewer and these are the only things that last....for a bit. She even tried getting me one of those "Galileo" plastic bones...that are supposed to be indestructible...they aren't, though they did put a few good dents in mommy and daddy's nice hardwood floors (it's a good thing I'm cute, rah rooh!). Anyways, after the Galileo bone that was very expensive and was, in fact, destructible, mommy went back to the Nylabones in the hard plastic. Mommy got it in chicken flavor ("How do they make plastic taste like chicken?"..."I don't know mommy, I'm a dog!") and I also loooove it! Thank you mommy, daddy and grand monna and grand daddoo for my Christmas presents! Spending time with you would have been enough, but I sure am not going to lie and say I don't like presents, because I do, a rooh rooh rooh!

Have a great day efurrybuddy!

and Arwen

Tuesday's Treasures, Or, How to Make Arwen Happy

Note: You can click on the individual photos to enlarge them - I needed to shrink them so as not to bog you all down with the numerous doggy photos ;-)

Hey Arwen, look at our tree! We are so blessed to be able to give presents to our loved ones at this time of year. And speaking of which....what is that little pile of presents wrapped in green paper? Why don't you go and check it out??

Oooh there are three green-wrapped packages with your name on them Arwen! Why don't you pick one out to show everyone? Yes, the middle one looks good. Here, I'll help you open it.

Good gracious! Someone must love you very much (psst..it's me)! Let's take this item out of the plastic bag (the only way I could keep her from smelling and opening the present as soon as I wrapped it) and see what it is....WOO! A GIANT pressed rawhide bone from our favorite local pet shop in Kemptville! Yes, smell it and then lick your lips, this is going to be one good (albeit messy) time.

Aww sweetness, you don't have to thank me, but you are very welcome all the same. Why don't you take your new bone and have at it? Here you go! Note: you can really see how white her winter coat is in the winter in the first shot here - she gets very white on her undersides, from her neck right down her belly and under her tail...her legs go a brown as well. Come the spring, it will all shed out and she'll be back to black with well defined white spots again. Interesting isn't it?

And here we have it: a very happy dog... What the photos don't show is that by the next morning she had chewed up rawhide stuck in her beautiful chest fur and I needed to take a damp cloth a la a mother to her toddler's chocolatey face and wipe her down, much to her displeasure. She got over it soon enough though, and has gone from being my shadow to my glued-to-me dog carrying her new bone everywhere with her in the house, being sure to get her rawhide bone-breath in my face as thanks whenever she can. I love her so :)

Tune in tomorrow to see what else she got for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who left comments on our last post. We did have a wonderful, small Christmas with our family and we have been having a few lazy days, which certainly is a change! I let the housework go for almost a week but eventually had to give in...I suppose old habits die hard and I am now back to cleaning a little bit every day, lol.

Arwen and I hope you all had a great Christmas and look forward to seeing you more now that we've had a much needed rest.

Hugs and prayers,

and Arwen the happy dog :)

Merry Christmas: A Bit of A Break...

Arwen and I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, whether it is Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or others.

I've been having some health issues, and combined with the Christmas rush, it has made me rather negligent with my blogs. Arwen and I are going to take a little break and when we come back, we'll have many new posts and (hopefully) interesting stories for you.

So be happy, stay safe and healthy, and we'll see you very soon!
and Arwen

Sweet Saturday: I'm Dreaming Of...

Marie Antoinette Pink Daisy Lace Necklace by LittleStudioJewels

...A PINK Christmas! Inspired by my Marie Antoinette Pink Daisy Lace Necklace, here are a few more of my favorite items...maybe they'll inspire your gifts for a special lady as well??

Almond Mocha Mate Tea by LiberTeas

For most women, happiness is curling up under a favorite blanket with a good book, some tasty nibbles, and a warm cup of comforting tea, like the Almond Mocha Mate from LiberTeas.

Small Round Hand Built Porcelain Damask Dish by Raquel Masri

Tasty nibbles are always tastier (and less fattening!) when on a pretty, no, make that beautiful, dish. This is a hand built porcelain dish by Raquel Masri, and it fits the bill perfectly.

Lidded Teacup on Leaf Saucer in Vanilla Bean by DBabcock

A good cup of tea is always made better by a fancy mug, and this is a graceful version (complete with lid and saucer to keep everything hot and tidy) by DBabcock.

Shopping Basket (English Style) by JohnToftBasketry

Finally, no shopping trip would be complete without a beautiful shopping basket to carry your favorite goodies. Alternatively, use this beautiful basket to store and show your magazines or yarns while you are sitting curled up by your fire. In cream and rose, this is feminine without being too girly - the perfect compromise for those with manly men in the house, lol!

I hope you enjoy these beautiful items as much as I do. Have a great weekend!

Fabulous Friday Features: Comforting Christmas

St. Francis - Handsculped clay Art Doll by mandreacarreiro

This week's Friday Features are a few of my favorites on Etsy. These are items that are cute, comforting and, to me at least, what Christmas really means: being comfortable, warm and feeling fuzzy on the inside. The sculpture above is simply adorable, and great for any animal lover.

Elegance Hooded Scarf - Made to order (cashmere blend) - Free U.S. Domestic Shipping by Shendara

Being warm is of paramount importance to me during the winter, and what better way than to warm up in a hand made cashmere blend hooded scarf? Simply gorgeous and warm too!

Crys MultiStrand Glass and Gold Bracelet CharityItem by LittleStudioJewels

Having something a little bit glamorous is great on those days you need a pick me up. I love my Crys multiStrand Bracelet - plus a portion of the sale goes to charity! Look good and feel even better when you wear it!

Women's Knit Slippers (Available in several colors.) by WeeKnit

Cold days mean colder toes, but not with these hand knitted booties to keep your feet nice and toasty. Get a pair in a different color for each day of the week!

Swirling Hearts Tea Set ( Teapot, cups, plates) OoaK by HeartMarks

And of course, what could be better than sharing a warm cup of joy with a friend? Well, having that warm cup of joy in a beautiful tea set! Just gorgeous.

I hope these items have helped put you in the holiday spirit, I'm off to warm my fingers up by the fire :)

Tuesday's Treasures: New Mod Dangle Earrings!

So Mod Silver Curved Dangle Earrings

Here is the latest addition to my Etsy shop, just for you! These are the "So Mod Silver Curved Dangle Earrings". I took custom made sterling silver earwires (to prevent allergic reactions) and from them I suspended 3 silver plate rings which each hold a silver plated curved tube bead. I placed a silver plate round bead on either end of the tubes and made sure that they hung facing towards each other, and in mirror image to the other earring (every little detail counts!). All in all, these are pretty, mod, and super-cool!

Available in My Etsy store, along with many other unique and beautiful pieces, perfect for keeping or giving away.

Have a great Tuesday,

Soulful Sunday: Getting into the Holiday Spirit...

From http://icanhascheezburger.com/
I thought it might get you into the spirit.... :-)

Sweet Saturday, Part 2 - Blog Feature!

Check out the above necklace, my Earth and Fire Pendant Necklace, featured here: http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-gift-sites-to-see_12.html

Sweet Saturday: Playing in the Snow

As the Official Doggy Blogger for this blog, I am taking over today as mommy writes the grocery list...hey mommy?? Don't forget the treats for my pawesome self! Now, as part Husky, and all Wonder Dog, you should know that I love the snow...come on mommy! Play in the snow with me!
Here I am, trying to chase the snow under mommy's feet. She always laughs really hard at this, because I try to dig at the snow under her shoes and boots quite furiously. I do, however, like it best when people throw snowballs up into the air for me to run after and catch with my teeth. Too bad this snow wasn't warm enough...when mommy tried to make snowballs, it just stayed as powder.
I love the snow so much I get covered in it as much as possible before coming back inside! Mommy stayed at the back door to take most of these photos, as we were having a big snow storm and it was very cold and windy (to her at least, I felt nothing in my thick, beautiful, shining furs!).
Another thing I like to do is stick my head in the snow. I like to stick it right down to try and sniff any moles, voles, mice, squirrels, or anything else that might be hidden under there. I sometimes bury my head right down until it is covered by the snow! Then I jerk my head up and stand on three legs. Here you can see I was eating some snow, as is evidenced by my snowy beard. Never fear! I'm still a girl! I just like getting covered in snow, rah rooh!
Here mommy caught me with a face full of snow. Sometimes, if the snow is warm enough, I get a little snow ball stuck on the tip of my nose, which never fails to put mommy into hysterics. I don't see what the big deal is, I'm just playing!

I hope you have a fun Saturday, but as for me, I am off to run around some more in the snow!
and Arwen

Fabulous Friday: New Bracelet!

Wow, where did Thursday go? I know I was busy cleaning the house and doing yet more holiday baking, but to miss a blog post?? I'm very sorry! I was also working on this beautiful new Viking Weave bracelet...maybe that is where the time went.
I do apologize for the rather crummy photos, but I will have this listed with better photos very soon. I used a beautiful round lamp work glass bead by my favorite glass artist, Louise Ingram of Fireseed. I wanted to complement the 15 feet of sterling silver wire that I carefully wove into this gorgeous Viking weave bracelet, and this big, heavy bead was the perfect match. It does make the bracelet a little top heavy, but it will be perfect for someone who likes to play with their jewelry when it is on...like me! Okay, I will list this for sale, but I do like it an awful lot...
I also hand forged a sterling silver "S" clasp and attached two silver plate jump rings to attach it. All in all, this is a soft, heavy, gorgeous piece and I hope you like it. I can't wait for it to find its forever home :)

Have a great Friday,