I'm in a mood...

And what does one do when that cleaver
North wind comes 'round
and stirs ones' soul...

Well, pie sounds like a good one to me...
and the rains have finally come and I
have changed the mood of my blog,
at least I think I have, my computer won't tell
me for sure, so I leave it to the cleaver
North wind and my Gypsy whims...

My flock stands on the edge of my porch
wondering what this strange stuff is...

My aloe takes a long soothing drink,
though the cocktail is laced with radiation from
our safe nuclear n coal power plants and the
round-up ready products that have ruined
all plant life as we know it...
it is a good day, after the rains...

and the pie...!

Treasure hunt...

Tiny little bones, this was my mission when I walked
into prairie, to find bits of bones for projects
coming up, not sure, but I think they may be bunny.
I walked ever so slowly looking carefully under
the cedar trees for bits of white glaring out at me.

Then I found it, the mother lode...
a deer carcass, was I excited, well bleached bones
just waiting for me to harvest. I felt like Dr. Leakey
on the planes of Africa, though not human bones
(thankfully)
they'll do in a pinch...
can you say HALLOWEEN...
now for the bleaching!

I had found the rack earlier in the spring,
so I wasn't really surprised to find these,
but happy...

Walking through my cedar thickets, exploring,
cataloging in my mind the different grasses
and other prairie flora, now gone dormant
due to drought, yet a warm, quiet beauty
surrounds me as I enjoy a summer's day,
not too many left,
while bunnies and field mice scurry around me,
I take it all in.

treasure hunting and scoring a find,

from the little creatures that roam this sand prairie
and the neighbors cats that cull the moles
and bunnies and birds...

my prairie and it's wonders for me to own for this
one lifetime...I am steward and
guardian...
this is my church, my faith of choice.

now this is why they call it a thicket,
which way do I go...
ouch!

Tools of a trade...not for the timid...

I've pulled out of storage some of the tools of a
taxidermist...in storage for over ten years,
they'll again be cleaned and put to the test,
as butchering time is the Autumn season...
sorry, but it's the way of it when you raise poultry.
I just happen to know a skill that will not waste
any parts of my birds...
There isn't a fine line between pets and poultry,
pets are pets and poultry are a food source, you have to
separate that thinking, sorta like growing a garden
for a hobby or actually living off your product.

I will show you some of my past art,
a Wood duck drake and hen, can you see her
peeking out of the hole, wood ducks nest in tree holes.

One of my first crows, stealing an egg...
I'm self taught, learning with each bird my craft.

A woodcock, badly shot up, but not wanting
to waste, mushrooms and a butterfly
help to hide flaws...

a flying Canada goose, very large birds, not easily
formed into place...

Common Merganser...

my very first job, a pair of crows...

Mallard drake and Greenwing Teal drake...

Wigeon drake...
Now I know many of you are grossed out
by taxidermy as much as I am about human
overpopulation, however, we as a species have crowded out
and sent to extinction many wonderful species and are
dooming ourselves as well, but I understand the honest,
natural culling to keep populations disease free.
My husband was one of those conscientious hunters,
one on one with the animal, no hunting in gangs
and we consumed every part of the animal, so
taxidermy was a natural for me, no waste.
I thanked every animal spirit for it's gift to me,
it was a ritual I performed on every bird.
My biz was called 'Feather in the Wind',
my ritual, releasing one feather back to the
Universe.

I am an animal lover, but I am also realistic...
wait till you see the bones I found on my Sunday
outing...SWEET!!!

Shadow Shot Sunday...which came first...

Omelet update...
the egg on the far left is a store bought
(from the Amish farms)
the 2 on the right are my girls pride n joy...
all 4 hens are laying now, it's so fun to go to the coop
and see all 4 heads peaking out at you...
then all at once they start clucking
announcing the joyous event to the world!
Their eggs will eventually get larger,
but for now...these' ll do!
BAWK...

After delivering stuff to Sister's Garden the other day,
I went to my truck to pack 'er up...
and this lil' surprise was waiting on my tailgate!
A gift from my bestest buds Barb and Deb...
all members of the sisterhood of junk
and we wear our badge proud,
thanks girls!!!

And speaking of members...
a tribe called 'shadow shooters',
check us out down yonder in Australia @
Hey,Harriet
FUN!!!

Summer jewels...

New soaps headin' for the Candle Shed...
spent the afternoon getting a bunch of faves ready,
Lavender Basil, this is a new scent with the classic
lavender base and a hint of basil, almost lemony...
the always popular Fresh Cut Grass,
Ed Hardy, which is also new and very manly,
Harvest moon, kinda smells like patchouli and apples,
Butt Naked, Love Spell

and the ever popular Lilac...
all are great sellers and sell out fast,
so my game never ends
and my house has the scent of dreams
on a clear summer's eve...
always!!!

Autumn's in the air...I'm in love...

Took my weekly trip to Sisters' yesterday,
Sister's Garden and Bloom
what a great place to sell my stuff out of,
you would just say...OMG...

The cutest settings abound, bringing in every
season with color and charm...

Talent for display and an eye for the trends
is what makes this place an icon in our world...
and Barb and Deb are always right on the money!!!

Just look at the detail in the colors...

perfect lighting...

remember that black table I painted...

YUMMY...

and adorable industrial...

Oh yes...and I believe I said I was in love...
OMG...check out this velvet sofa,
did I say I was in love, would that not be adorable in
my lil' shack...yeah, me too...
when I win the lottery!!!

Fluffing inventory...playing...

This wild thing's playground...

The making of a setting...
have you dreamed of owning a little shop
just outside your kitchen door...
a 30 foot commute to work...!
Yes, it is a dream come true, though I don't have
much walk-in traffic, it's the place I store my
newly painted pieces and gatherings
from a days journey.

A setting in the making, as the warm(hot) summer
breezes blows through the glassless door of a
cupboard, it gives a welcoming feeling
to all who enter...

finis...

I love using hay in my settings, instead of doilies
little piles here and there give it drama...
a drawer filled with hay and ironstone
bone dishes completes the look...
the hay on the floor also gives it that barn look,
everyone loves to explore in a barn for those
treasures...and I never have to sweep, just rearrange
the piles and swat the spiders...
sorry, I show no mercy when it comes to spideys,
ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Textures, decay, drama...it's how I roll...
not for everyone, but hey, I'm single,
a free bird and an eccentric loner in this
borrowed life...
the Universe has granted me this vessel to play with,
so come play in my fantasy-land...
the tea is brewing!!!

I guess you're right...

I am a lucky girl...
I do my part time job in the morning
grooming dogs, then I take time to rearrange
my back porch so my rocker now faces the outside...
now that's some important stuff...right!

then a trip to Good Will produces this cute lil' table...

a quick coat of black paint transforms, plus a cute lil'
knob gives it garden charm...

a bumblebee...it's goin' to Sisters Garden...

you could say I have my clucks in a row...

I have a great place to store and display my inventory,

while I decide where to take it next...

the cutest garage slash studio slash workshop
EVER...

a minimalist hen house, for minimalist needs...
without cable TV,
one needs some sort of entertainment and I feel
so fortunate to play out my fantasies
and farm dreams on my micro ranch,
but being alone makes it more
of a challenge, especially financially,
but it also gives me that freedom
to create on a whim with very little scheduling...

and a really good guard dog, one that's by
yer side day and night, always faithful,
and ready to please...
comes when called and lets go of the chicken
on command(most of the time)...
she is my champion and the source of my smiles
everyday...Scratchy, aka...no Scratchy no...

all in a day!