Restocking my Etsy library

All summer long I was negligent in restocking my Etsy shop.
Much too busy with kids, their activities, travel
and getting the shop up to date with tagging for relevancy.

So, now that the boys have started school,
I'm back on the thrifting trail, plus
organizing the stash of goodies I already have
and photographing/listing new items.

I started with renewing my shop's library of books

with loads of 60's vintage Peanut paperbacks,
a 1973 edition of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,"
history books from the first half of the last century
and literature like the one by Poe on the bottom.

Wild turkeys roaming the neighborhood

We spent this past weekend at "Hotel Aunt Mary"

but weren't the only visitors in the neighborhood.

This rafter of wild turkeys (yes, that is the correct term)

walked from yard to yard early one morning.

Good thing both dog visitors were in the house.

They were a bit perturbed by children

and crazy adults with cameras chasing them.

(Click each image for a larger view.)
 

Crochet dishcloths

Back to my roots again by crocheting up dishcloths,

just like my great aunt used to make.

And just what my sister taught me to make

when I picked crocheting back up a few years ago.

This time, I am making them in double crochet

but putting the stitches in the spaces,

instead of in the last row of stitches.

They have a bit of an open weave --

so easy to do even without looking,

like while out and about with my kids.

The Holy Grail of yarn

For awhile now I've been hearing heroic tales

about ventures to the magical Hobby Lobby.

 Since it was from a group of crocheters,

I mainly heard about the bounty of yarn there.

Many months after the semi-local store opened

I was finally able to visit last weekend.

I wasn't too impressed when I first walked in

and all I saw were the rows upon rows

of seasonal decor and home accents.

Then I saw it -- my Holy Grail!!!

Tucked way in the back corner were

row upon row of multi-colored yarns.

I fell instantly in love, especially with

the large clearance section along one wall.

Keeping my home stash and tight budget in mind,

I narrowed my purchase to just 4 skeins of yarns.

Really yummy hues of Stitch Nation's bamboo ewe --

55% viscose from bamboo, 45% wool in

Beach Glass, Mercury, Eucalyptus and Geranium.

I'm thinking a matching hat and scarf 

if I can find any patterns I like.

Anyone with suggestions, pass them my way please.

Beauty of Saratoga

Spent a day last week in nearby Saratoga Springs, NY.

Though it is best known for horse racing and mineral spas,

the boys and I stuck to more scenic venues --

Congress Park and Yaddo Gardens.

Hats, hats and more hats

Guess what I have been making all summer??? 

Hats!!! Lots and lots of hats.

Slouchy ones. Beret styles.

With and without flowers.

For girls and women.

All of these are now available

on my Facebook page at fantastic prices.

Soon to be listed on Etsy

but you won't get as good a deal.

Budweiser isn't the only one with Clydesdales

The boys weren't too pleased with me.

At this point in our mini vacation,

they really wanted to get home.

I just had to take the opportunity to visit

the Lake Placid Clydesdales

at The Adirondack Equine Center.

The quartet existed of two blue-eyed blonds
and two brown-eyed brunettes.
They didn't move from their shady spot
under the evergreens while we were there.
So I had to move to them.

(Click any photo to see a larger view.)