I'm totally obsessed with Etsy!

Have you seen Etsy? It's an online store selling all kinds of handmade, artistic things. I love seeing all the creative things people are making, and I really like being able to buy directly from the artists. It's also cool that the artists are from all over the world. Here are some things I've bought over the last few months.

This cheery painting is hanging in my office. It has lots of things I especially like - sailboats, quilts, trees, flowers and Bruno!
These funny ones are going to go in Katie's room but I haven't figured out where to hang them yet.

This swirly bird I got specifically to go with this cool lamp from Ikea.

Some buttons to add to my collection, which I started with this jar from an antique store in Oakland, Maine. Now it's almost full. I'll have to be thinking of button projects.A beautiful copper bracelet - can you tell I like swirly spirals?

Two pairs of earrings that are on the way from Montana.

What next? I have a few ideas. :)

Some miscellaneous cute pictures

A very eventful weekend with lots of cute photo opportunities... Here's Dee Dee in her cat tent. Isn't she a sweetie?Sarah and Nathan are seriously studying the menu at Newick's. They found some exotic drinks.

I was having a camera war with Susie. (Her camera was bigger.)Raf is finding lots of interesting things to do with his cane. This is progress - no more crutches. Maybe there's some kind of restorative power in milk shakes.

Pretty Katie making ghost meringues. Doesn't her arm look tired? They took forever!

Election day is coming soon

New Hampshire is so political. It's cool to live in a place like this. It's the first-in-the-nation primary, so all the candidates come here. It's such a small state that you can meet all of them if you want. Even though NH only has 4 electoral votes, it gets a lot of national attention. There are signs everywhere lately. This has been a really long campaign season. I'm glad it's almost over!

A beautiful October day

Katie and I took a vacation day and we were lucky to get a beautiful day. We did some errands, had a nice lunch, went around Portsmouth for awhile and went to Nubble Point in York, Maine. The ocean was looking particularly nice - very blue with clear views. I think someone actually lives at this lighthouse - wow!

Here's how they get their food delivered. Can you see the little white cart near the telephone poles? Things get sent back and forth using these wires.
Another view - the Maine coast is so beautiful. I don't think anyplace else looks like it. I decided I should post pictures of houses I like. Here are a couple to start. They both look so cozy.Portsmouth has a lot of Halloween spirit.

A big stack of granny squares!

Who will be king of the mountain? This is going to be a wild afghan someday soon. Go Sarah!

All crafts - all the time!

Sarah and I made a motto. We love to make things.

I got this new plate at Crate and Barrel. I love deviled eggs so I thought it would be a good investment. I haven't made deviled eggs yet but I found another use for it. : )

Ta-daa! Here's the quilt I've been making for Sarah and Nathan. It's supposed to be a wedding present so it would be nice if I could give it to them at least in the year they got married. Well maybe... I finished the top yesterday - now lots of quilting to do. Sarah picked these bright colors - so happy.

A River of Leaves

The driveway has disappeared. So many leaves ... lots of raking to come. The weather is so beautiful - clear and crisp. I love fall!

I love podcasts!

Bruno always helps - he's a real computer geek.

Here we are with one of my favorite podcasts - Car Talk. It's really funny.

I like this one too. Of course - it's all about food!

I also like the New Yorker fiction one.

Here are some more I sometimes listen to:

This American Life

Hidden Kitchens

Radio Lab

Driveway Moments

StoryCorps

Fresh Air

Sunday Puzzle

Kitchen Window

I think I might try to find more about books. I need more ideas!

More projects to come soon...

Getting started

Well I've been having fun reading other people's blogs for awhile but pretty much procrastinating about starting one of my own. Here goes though. I'm probably going to be an infrequent blogger.

I've been really into all sorts of crafts lately, and I just tried a new thing tonight - needle-felting. I think it's going to be really fun. Here's how it looks so far. Not the best photo but I think you can see it's a pumpkin! I'm so excited. I have lots of colors to play with and lots of ideas.

If I can figure out how I'll add some more photos :)