ECO-FRIENDLY FURNITURE

I absolutely love furniture that has been made with reclaimed wood. Call it the tree-hugger in me, but I'd hate to see perfectly good materials go to waste.

Here are a few examples I am currently in love with...

image from http://www.bravenewleaf.com/

I think I could sit in this chair all day long!

image from http://www.woodlandcreekfurniture.com/

images from http://www.importexporthelp.com/

I can't decide which I like more, but I think I might be leaning towards the cluster stool!

image from http://www.daxstores.com/

I need this in my life RIGHT NOW!! I think I'm in LOVE!!!

NEW ONLINE SHOP AT

www.ShakedownStudios.etsy.com

I cannot believe it took me this long to get an online shop on etsy.com!! I have to thank my good friend, Julie, who introduced me to this unique online "store" recently, where you can sell your handmade artwork and you don't have to compete with china-made CRAP like you do on ebay!! I could spend hours browsing through all the different handmade or vintage items for sale. So, if you get a chance, check out the new online store and tell EVERYONE you know!! I will continue to add items, I just need to re-photograph some of the pieces before I can post them!

DOG'S BEST FRIENDIf Chopper could speak, I'm pretty sure he'd thank me for bringing home Kesey...that is, until he wants to sleep and the puppy still wants to play!! Payback!!

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A WARM, SUNNY DAY

When the weather in Ohio nears the 70's at the beginning of March, you are sure to see all sorts of people taking advantage of the warm weather. Some prematurely break out their shorts and sandals, while others are just thankful to ditch their jackets for the day!

We decided to take advantage of this beautiful day by spending most of it outdoors. First, we went to finally check out the interesting metal animal sculptures that seem to be multiplying each month. There is a carpool parking area with a large field next to it right off of Rt. 33. First, the enormous Bald Eagle showed up a few years ago. Then, a short time

after that, the first deer appeared and slowly but surely his heard has come to join him. Then, this past fall, the turkeys, one by one, popped up in the field as well. No where is there an explanation about WHO made these metal sculptures or what exactly they represent, but I guess they look cool as you drive by one the freeway or wait for your carpool to pick you up! I think the artist(s) should definitely be given some credit, though. They are actually pretty cool!

Upon doing a little research online, I found out that the artist, Ric Leichliter, lives in the tiny town of Sugar Grove, which is where this Sculpture Park is located just outside of. He is a metal and stone sculptor and the hawk he created first soars more than 42 feet from the ground with a wing span of over fourteen feet! It weighs over 2,500 lbs and is impossible to miss from the 33 by-pass. Apparently, this mysterious sculpture park is one of the many, not-so-ordinary parks that is a part of the Fairfield County Parks System. It is dedicated to the Ohio Woodland animals (apparently ducks or geese are to eventually follow) and you can even memorialize a loved one by purchasing a sculpture for the park. It seems really odd to me that there aren't ANY signs there or ANY information about the park or the artist posted at the site!

Next, we went to the Firehouse Park which is located directly next to one of the firehouses in Lancaster. Ben loves it because, not only does he get to climb all over the pretend fire truck equipment, but he also gets the chance to see the REAL firetrucks and firemen. (Mom doesn't mind this bonus either ;) We played for over an hour, going down the slides and chasing each other around the park. His bravery both impresses and scares the hell out of me! We called it quits when Ben started rubbing his sleepy little eyes. I promised I would drive the long way home past the farm with the horses, but he was already passed out in the back before we even got down the street!

I decided to take the more scenic route anyways, and randomly stopped at this cemetery down the street from my house that I always drive by. Something about the day made me feel adventurous, and since Ben was asleep, I thought I'd get out and explore for a minute or two. The cemetery is over 150 years old and there is an alter in the center of it which looks kind of eery. After reading it, I had a strange appreciation for all of those who had stood in this same place before me. Many of the engravings on the headstones are illegible, but some of them are still very visible. It was sad to see so many gravestones of young children, many just one or two years old. Thankfully, we've come along way with science and pediatric medicine in the last 150 years!

After my interesting history lesson, I headed home, put Ben to sleep and headed back outdoors. I decided to take a little walk around the yard and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather before it goes back to cold rain or snow!! It was such a beautiful day, with highs near the 70's...I wish every day in March could be so nice!!

WEEKLY RANDOM PHOTO
This photo was taken several weeks ago, at the top of a parking garage downtown. Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded how small we really are...

LOVE THE LANDSCAPING

These pictures must have been taken last spring, before everything was really in full bloom, so they don't quite give it justice, but I LOVE my mom's landscaping in her backyard!

It's pretty much a part-time, seasonal job keeping the pond running and the weeds in check, but somehow she manages to do it...and work two jobs! She is amazing!!!

I have to give my dad some credit, he did build the deck, dig out the pond and also built the bridge before he left...at least she got that out of him!

The lilac bushes that line the back fence make the entire yard smell so wonderful when they are in bloom... I can't wait until spring!!!

NEVER BEFORE SEEN ZOO PICS

I don't know how I missed these adorable pictures from our zoo trip last summer, but I swear my mom never showed me these from her camera!!

No lie, they actually held hands throughout most of the day!

Maybe I'm (slightly) bias, but aren't these the two cutest kids on the planet?

First ever merry-go-round experience...I'd say he enjoyed it!!!

And, of course, no trip to the zoo would be complete without messy ice cream treats in the hot sun!!