MARCH OFF INTO APRIL......

I hope that the month of March brought much goodness to all....as we see bits of Spring in parts of our planet, and reminders of winter in others!! We have it all here in Colorado, at the 6,000 foot level. Today will bring up to TWO FEET of new snow for some here in The Great State of COLORADO, but not here for me!! I love the snow, though, and have been disappointed in the little that we have had this year. It's not over yet, though.....I remember April 30th, 2005......sad day in the castle as I gazed out at the giant snowflakes, still not adjusted to the changes in climate after so many years in Austin, TX. This shot is my fav old backyard bike, with a frosting of snow from during the night last night. No sun yet today, so the snow might last awhile...but it is only 1/2" or so.....and the current temp is 38.2. Happy Last Day of March to all, as we rush with the listing deadlines, to welcome in April 2008!!

CROWS IN THE ATTIC ETSY SHOP IS OPEN!!!

Happy nearly the end of March, everyone!! I feel GREAT accomplishments this week!! I have my CROWS IN THE ATTIC Etsy shop open!! Yes!! I did it!! In fact, I did it twice!!! My ANNABELLE'S ATTIC Etsy shop is also open!!! Whew!! Two big tasks crossed off my loooong "TO DO" list!!!

Now to get all the other immediate deadlines met, with the listings at Glitter and Grunge and Lemon Poppy Seeds and another new site that I will have my raggedies on.....Dandelion Darlings!! Double whew!!! Never a moment with nothing to do...thank goodness!! I do love being busy, but take plenty of time for bird watching, reading, stitching, and all kinds of other "ME" things!!

I hope you will take a moment to stop by and visit my new Etsy shops!! Thank you so much, and have a wonderful weekend!! Hugs, Trudy

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!!!! HOW THE BUSINESS NAME CAME TO BE.........

I was tagged by Donna of Moonchild's Primitives to play this fun game of "How Did You Get Your Business Name"!!! How fun!! But....sorry to say.....I don't have much of an exciting story to share, but here is the story of how Crows in the Attic Primitives came to be named!!

I already had taken the business name Annabelle's Attic for my raggedies and such, supplies for doll making, etc. When I decided to begin selling my more primitive items, I thought....hmmmm.....I want something with Crows in the name. So I made a list, did an internet search to see what was already being used, and came up with two things that stuck with me....crows....and attic....and that's the story!! Pretty sad, huh??!?!!!!!

I wish it was more of an adventure....a fantasy....a really cool story....such as: Once upon a time, a very long time ago, when I was a little curious child, I came upon an old, broken down, abandoned house. I could not stay away. The house just tugged and pulled at my curiosity, until one day I gained the courage to venture in. I heard the soft call of the crow, and it seemed to be coming from the attic. Although the stairway was very decayed and unstable, something made me take the risk of venturing up the stairs to see what was going on with the crow up there. When I got to the top of the stairs, and saw the beam of sunlight shining in through the broken roof, there it was.....a HUGE nest of crows, with the elegant mother and father standing by to protect the young.......or something like that!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!! No such story!!!! Oh well!!

I now would like to pass this award on to my friends in blogland to share their stories of how they got their business name!! I award:

Tonya of Back Porch Pickins

De of Bowls-n-Annies

Cathy of Hazelruthe's

Renee of Crows Roost Prims

I can't wait to hear their stories!!! Thank you again to Donna, Moonchild's Primitives, for tagging me!!! Hugs to all, Trudy

BIRDS AND FRIEND.......

Following a couple inches of snow last night, we had a most gorgeous day today, with high temps in the 50's. After dinner we took a little drive, a hike in one of the many wonderful parks in the area, and I got a few shots of some animal friends!! Enjoy!!

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!

MORE PRIMITIVE PEARS!!!

Still being in pear making mode, here's another set to share!! You can scroll down a few posts and see some others that I made recently, using a pattern by Renee of Crows Roost Prims!! The pears featured here were made with my own design, and are painted a bit with a primitive yellow, and have been grunged, baked, and sanded, of course!! They have a couple good coats of my really grungy sauce, with lots of cinnamon, making it is nice and thick!! The pear stems are pieces of hardwood twigs, imported from the East, and the "leaves" are stained and baked strips of cheesecloth. These pears are about 7" tall, not including the stems, and 4" or so wide at the broadest point. These are fun to prop on a shelf, or display in a crock, bowl, or basket...either alone, or in addition to some other prim goodies!! These pears can be ordered from here on my blog for $18 a set of three, plus $4.60 for Priority Shipping in the grand ole USA!!

TAKING TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS........

PASSING IT ON!!!

I was so graciously awarded the "You Make My Day Award" two times, and now will pass on my second award, given to me by De of Bowls-n-Annies!! This award is being given to those whose blogs I love to visit, who inspire me, make me feel good, and bring joy to me and others!! Please pass this along to someone that "makes your day", dear friends in blogland!! I will now share this award with these great bloggers! Please know that if you have been inundated with awards, or don't care to play, that's okay!! Just know that you truly do "MAKE MY DAY"!!! Also.......disclaimer ......this is not an inclusive list!! There are many, many many whose blogs inspire me and make my day!! Just trying to share the joy here, and I noted that some of you have received this award a bunch!! So....I will get you next time!! Hugs to all, Trudy......with a special thanks to De for the award!!!

Missy of Crafty Carnival

Nicole of Raggedy Old Annies

Renee of Crows Roost Prims

Katie of Kates Kountry Kottage

PRIMITIVE PEARS!!

I am always fussing that I need to learn to work a season ahead.....so guess that's why I have this need to make pears these days!!! Or maybe these are Spring pears???!!!! Not sure, but I am having fun!! I've made a variety of pears from several patterns of other designers, and a bunch of my own, too.....all of which are in various stages of completion...you know my routine!! HA!! Piles and piles of this and that awaiting the finishing touches!! These particular pears turned out reallllly cool!! I love them!!! I used a design from Renee of Crows Roost Prims, but asked permission to reduce her GIANT size pears to a smaller version. Aren't they great????!!!!! These particular pears are just about 9" tall, made from muslin, and grubbied up twice with my cool grunging sauce and baked to prim pear perfection!! I gave them "leaves" of grunged and baked cheesecloth, and their cool real wood stems are from some great hardwood I imported to Colorado from the Northeast!! If you just have a have a set of these pears yourself, just email me, and I'll get them in the mail to you!! A set of three, including shipping in the USA, are a mere $18. Such a bargain!! I'm sure I will list them somewhere, but probably for a bit more.....we shall see!! And if you would rather just make your own, stop on over and get a pattern from Crows Roost Prims!!

ANOTHER BIRD FRIEND!!!

I wanted to share some shots, although not the best....still working on the moving object, far away target skills!! But here is a bird friend that I watch on Saturday morning, up above us a bit in Daniel's Park.........a favorite spot to bird watch.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Well, if I were really blog-crafty, I would be using some cool Irish graphics here....but instead, I'll show you my flowers on Sunday, March the 16th, and then the same flowers on Monday, today, March the 17th!! So sad.....we didn't get any snow compared to what was forecast....only a couple inches or so. It is still snowing a bit, and perhaps some more accumulation throughout the day...but not the BIG DUMP that was predicted....not here at 6,000 feet anyway. Happy St. Pat's Day to all!!!

NEW LISTINGS ON LEMON POPPY SEEDS!!!

I hope that you will stop by Lemon Poppy Seeds and take a peek at my newest listings in my Poppy Shoppe ~ Crows in the Attic Primitives!! I have a new Americana Liberty Angel, and a couple other new primitive dollies! And while you are there, please stop by my raggedy Poppy Shoppe ~ Annabelle's Attic, too!! Thank you for stopping by!! Prim Blessings, Trudy

I HAVE BEEN AWARDED!!!

I feel so honored to have received this "You Make My Day" award from Cathy of Hazelruthe's!! This very special gift arrived for me yesterday, and I must now pass it on to some other friends in blogland that "make my day"!! There are many!!! Also, before I could get to the task of awarding my friends with Cathy's award.....I got another award from De of Bowls-n-Annies!!! LUCKY ME!! I feel very special, and very honored!!! Today will be passing on my award from Cathy, and here are the rules!!

The rules for the “You Make My Day” award are to present it to those whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on.

I could award soooo many wonderful people, but here are a few of "My blogland friends whose blogs bring me happiness and inspiration, making me feel happy about blogland"!!

Deena, of Can I Be Pretty in Pink?

Johanna, of Johanna Parker Designs

Martha, of MJ Ornaments

Jean, of In the Garden with Miss Jean

Hugs and happy blogging to all, and a special thanks to Cathy for my award!! Trudy

WORK OF THE SQUIRREL.......

Although the squirrels have done damage to the bulb inventory this year....I do enjoy their antics!! This morning Mr. Squirrel worked sooooo hard to get to the bird feeders, and seemed very annoyed with me every time he heard the click of the shutter!! At times he is foraging on the ground, surrounded by the flock of pigeons that come to visit, and just appears to push them away to get to what he wants!! It's a hoot!!

THE NEW BABY!!!!

She arrived today!!! The new baby!! The newest addition to the family of stringed things that we both love, and Mike plays so well!! This wonderful guitar has come to us from across the country, and everyone can now breathe and sleep again!! Her journey is over, and it was a fast and safe one!! She was VERY well packed inside her BIG box home, created for the journey. Miss Del will now find a comfy place here with us, as Mike fills the castle with melodious notes of the gypsy jazz variety!!

First Flowers of the Upcoming Spring!!

As the last snowfall has quickly melted under the intense sun at 6,000 feet.....the first blooms have shown their heads!! Sadly, some blooms will not be appearing this year...due to the scavenging performed by Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel. These little guys, planted by a former resident some years ago, before we began to occupy our castle, are always the first to appear!! Enjoy!! Without doubt, they too shall be soon covered in snow once again!! We shall see!! But while it lasts...we are enjoying the day with the current temp being 64.5!!

SOME FURRY CRITTERS!!

While out yesterday enjoying the day, here are a few shots of some of the critters we came upon................some wild, and some not-so-wild!! Isn't the baby shaggy cow precious????!!!!!!

BEAR CREEK CANYON...ANOTHER OF MY FAVORITES!!

Another of my favorites drives is the road from Morrison, CO, up through Bear Creek Canyon to Idledale, Kittredge, and beyond.....eventually arriving in Evergreen and Bergen Park. The modern day roadway follows the creek through the canyon, perhaps on the same path that the wagon road followed back in 1872, built to bring timbers down to make railroad ties. Enjoy the scenes!!

SOME FAVORITE SHOTS TO SHARE!!

Thought I would share some of my favorite shots of the local area!! These are from the Pike National Forest, and down along the South Platte River, one of my favorite weekend outing routes!! Enjoy!!