Deer Mountain Wood Art

Well I finally got to see Dr. 90210 (you remember, I mentioned in on the BlockHead talk radio program last Monday night?) and am just delighted that they are going to work through their problems! See, divorce, not always the answer!! =D
I was thinking about my oldest being gone in college and I realized that that is what has me down lately. Everything, except for financially (you know about that too, eh?!), is going really well right now - but I'm overwhelmed by a very dark shadow anyway!?
But I realize now that, even though he's not far away and comes home often, not having Ryan here has been like having a death in the family! He's not here and I cannot talk to him when I want, hold him when I need a hug, or be subject to his long heavy legs lying on my lap while we watch a movie. I have told myself many times to put it out of my mind, and I've lost many that I loved and remember telling myself the same thing during those times. It was a cold and lonely air of recognition; my old 'friend', grief, that washed over me at that moment.

So how do I change it? I still have Tyler and Austin here, and they are still very dependent on me, so why this hole in my soul?? and how do I fix it so I can get back to my old self and be there for my other two boys as well as my husband, friends, and clients?? Something I guess I'll have to try to put some extra effort into to change...
Roger got to work with Jim today and said it was the best day the two have had in a long while. Jim was cheerful, fun, and a pleasure to be around. All that said, as soon as their work was done, Jim was flying down the road to see Mary.
I haven't heard from him yet tonight, but I sure hope it will be a good visit for them!
I got to tell him this afternoon, before they quit work, about all of your well wishes and prayers and I'm quite touched by the tears that welled up in his eyes. He really is a sweet person and I know that he would be amazed at all of the emails, comments, and convos I've received for him! I intend to print them all out for him to see =D and I'll let you know what he says!
Well, in between all of the homey interruptions, it's only taken me 3 hours to get this written!lol So I will close with a fond adieu' for now and send wishes of peace and happiness your way - until next time;

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

I know this is probably the oldest saying in the world, but it's true!! Even my almost grown sons are finding it out - there's just not enough time in a day, week, month, year.... It has me frustrated to no end!

I just joined Entrecard and need desperately to find out how to use it, and what it's for exactly - I join these sites and then I'm lost! It's not like I have a mountain of time to spare learning either!! I think I've been dumbed down by senility(yes, I'm still on that kick!!) and it's starting to affect everything around me - aghhh!

Friday I shaved Tyler's head for his charity fund raising and was so surprised that he didn't look like a terrible monster!lol He just might be one of those guys that can pull off a bald head!! =D He managed to go over his $200 goal and I'm very, very proud of him!

To all that donated and sent kind notes, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to make this a memorable event in Tyler's life - I'll never forget it! =) and I know he won't either!

Friday afternoon we farmed Austin out to his friend's house, dropped Tyler at his buddy's house, loaded up Ryan's girlfriend and headed to Adams State College in Alamosa for Ryan's first college concert (well, there were some other kids in it too!). It's really kind of silly as the college is only 2.5 hours from here, but for me and my back it was an epic journey! I'm terribly sore but we made it there and back and I'm glad we got to go :)

Last night, around 11 or 12 I sold a custom puzzle so I need to get to work on that and finish up on several other orders and misc projects I have going.

Greg received his Dragon Box and enclosed
this picture and kind words,

"Freida,
Received the box today!
All I can say is "WOW"!
It will be cherished for many years..
Thank you soooo much!
Greg




humm, what else... oh, we had no power for most of the day which helped me get a few things done and get off of this silly machine! Always glad when it comes back on though!!! =]

Our bottle baby calf died today after being mauled by a bear about 5 days ago - we took him to the vet but couldn't afford any real tests so he gave us antibiotics and we just had to take him home and hope for the best. He gave up today and after examining him I'm sorry that we didn't know how bad he was suffering, I would've rather had put him down so he could rest. This is the second calf we've lost to this bear and the first one was a baby of mine, bottle fed too. You just can't imagine what a bear can do to an animal without it ever showing! Makes me worry when I go out to the shop and such. He killed my other one while I was sanding in the shop not 100 feet away and I never heard or saw anything!
We lost a baby earlier this summer to a bear, but the bear was inevitably destroyed for being an 'abuser' and tagged for previous bad behavior. On that day he killed our brand new baby pygmy goats and a 4 day old calf. When he came back later that day he was not interested in the food left for him but instead tried to get into the calf pen and kill another!? It was so horrible watching him stalk the babies!
ANYWAY, enough sadness - too much in the world already!
I guess I better 'get back at it'... my day never really ends and as I lay on my arm at 3:30 this morning, apparently typing "k"s and "l"s across the screen while trying to write a note to a customer, I realized, there's just not enough time in the day!!!
Thanks as always for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Well the girl accepted his words, to my utter surprise he came home that night with a muttered, "everything's fine, why?" Maybe I don't know the heart, like I thought I knew the heart?!?lol I'm glad though - she makes him so happy, and what mother wouldn't want her boy to be happy?
It's been a while since I've written - my toes are so cold from sitting here at the computer for the last 3 hours that I don't know if it's worth trying to write a decent blog post right now or not! lol
The length of time has been well-spent though, trying to catch up on all of the EFA things I needed to do but haven't had the chance to yet; I wrote in about the Treasury I curated - though it's not getting much in the way of views. It was planned a long time ago and though I started to change my mind on the theme, but I didn't. So "Birds of a Feather" it is - when it expires I will put a screen shot up - I think I'll plan another for a little further in the future.
In regards to the folks that seem to have a treasury up all of the time I used to think, "Dang, they must think they've got the corner on believing they have such great taste that we all just want to see what they pick..." but I know better now, it's ADDICTING darn it! and I know my taste is not to everyone's liking, but I've been exposed to so many talents that I would've never known about had I not done a few of these, and besides promoting my fellow EFA members, I just want to share what I've found! =D
Also, I'm in another Treasury and it's a really beautifully rendered collection - it's soon to expire so I will post the screen shot that includes the current listing, but after today it will not be clickable... enjoy! I'm hoping it make front page as it's 3rd from the top in activity, so who knows!?!
I'm also working on my new website - the old deermountainwoodart.com has been moved to a new domain host as well as a new website host, so it's been keeping me a little busy - new systems are so hard to learn as I grow older!lol and I have been trying to finish the Intarsia book, but my contributors have not gotten in all of their items, so we're kind of 'on hold' - doesn't look like a Aug 31st publishing date anymore :( but it really doesn't matter as long as we get it done before September is over!
I went to the little yardsale/art sale at the firestation this last weekend and it was just a mess - but I did manage to get to know a little about a couple that wants quite a bit of pieces done, so all was not lost. I did go home early as it just didn't look like much was going to happen. But I didn't expect much, just wanted my neighbors to know that I am still here and still working the wood. They were duely impressed I think?lol =D
So, in the title I wrote "Orders and Order" - I will sum that up here;
"Orders" - have a few orders from this last couple of weeks that I'm working on:

• Dolphin Helmet - for Kay
• Bronco's Helmet - for Kay
• Keepsake Pet Portrait Box - for Leanne
• Dragon Treasure Box - for eBay buyer, Greg
• City Scape - for lady at firestation
• Timberwolf on Burl - for guy at firestation
• "Art Block" - Wolves, number 3, using a painting done by a fellow Etsian
• and finally, a 'game cock' Intarsia piece for Nathan

So I've gotten busy, but I need to get these orders out before the Xmas orders get really started!

"Order" - working on getting my life, websites, blogs, and home in order. Through the summer, things have gotten quite out of control - my wood is everywhere as well as 'pieces in progress', so I'm trying to spend a share of my time getting my life, in general, in order.
I'll also be catching up my personal blog, "Three boys and a dog", and writing all of my 'personal' things there instead of letting them sneak over to here and vice' versa! So if you are interested at all, click on the link and prepare to be astounded by the chaos that is my real life! lol
Well, that's it for now - I was planning on getting busy at 9am but I see it's crept to 9:18 and I really have to get going! It's been so much more fruitful with the boys in school. I miss them, but it's so quiet right now that I would be remiss to not get a lot done while they're gone!!
Thanks for stopping by the shop! I always hope you enjoy, even just a little, my ramblings :0) and will come back often!
Freida

Well, my son didn't want to hear it, so I thought I'd tell you! lol Sometimes a mother's advice can be received with less enthusiasm than a snowstorm, but I was compelled to tell my son what he was doing wrong in his relationship... I know this is supposed to be about business, but my passion for wood is no greater than my passion for my children, there's just no separation between 'church and state', even in my blog.
My oldest told me this morning that he was going down to talk to his gf about the problems that were brewing.
1. he told her that she could have all of the male friends she wants as long as he gets to meet them before she is allowed to hang out with them - OUCH!! Doesn't that sound a little possessive???
First of all, never, and I mean NEVER! tell anyone who they can hang around with!! If I were her, I would've ran screaming from him... he says, "she tells me who I can hang out with, so I can do the same..." NO, you can't!
It's wrong, but normal, for her to tell you that, but you'll never get anywhere telling a woman that! lol It may be double standard, but heck, guys hang out with chicks because they want to do something with them - it's not usually the case for the female sex. I just happen to get along better with guys, but I don't want to sleep with them!?!
Secondly, he snuck into her MySpace account and found out she wasn't talking so nicely about him - well, do I have to say this? lol If you're looking, then you already know what's going on, but that's like looking in her diary! If he goes down and tells her, "I hacked into your MySpace account..." then he will surely come home a single guy once more! I don't know why girls complain about their men to others, and make things up, but they do :0( Shame on her, but SHAME on YOU for looking!!!
My poor baby is about to head to college in a few days and already the fort is crumbling - we told him so, but you can't tell the young anything - they know it all! How can a long distance relationship like this survive a school full of college girls?!? He's only human. My thought is that they are in this shape now because they know that it's not going to work out and for some reason we all need to be mad at each other to separate - it just unfortunately normal and I hate to see him hurt. He always gets hurt and he's such a good man. He never speaks ill of her about anything, but it's not in a woman's nature to be the same loyal companion... Sorry guys.
Anyway, just had to get that off my chest - he's going to his love pyre and I feel like he's earned it for his 'attempt at ownership' of a cat-like creature. Men are dogs, but women are cats... you get where I'm going on that! lol
Thanks for "stopping by the shop" uh, I mean "as the stomach churns"
Freida