SLOCUM CABIN, CHATFIELD STATE PARK

This wonderful old cabin sits atop a grassy knoll, not far from where the blue herons roost. My understanding is that this cabin was moved here at some point in time, perhaps when the park was created. The old wagon sits nearby, and wildflowers and birds of all sorts abound!! Enjoy the shots!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!

And the caption is...."Come on, children!! There's a crazy lady over there with a camera!! HURRRY!!"

SIGNS OF SPRING.....

Sharing some signs of Spring at Chatfield State Park, a wonderful sanctuary that we see from our home!! These shots were taken today just before and at dusk, as the sun began to disappear and the temperatures were dropping. Yes....I was wrong. We did have SNOW today.....you read that right.....SNOW today at 6,000 feet and above...and apparently even down below in Denver, too!! Nothing stayed here at our elevation, melted as it hit the ground, but I understand that the Arapahoe Basin ski area has 7" of fresh powder!! Whooooo!! Whooooo!!! Ski 'til June!!

Wonderful Finds in the Countryside.....

Along with a love for old trucks, I really love finding old cabins, homes, churches, schools, mining operations, etc. when out exploring the countryside. Colorado has an abundance of wonderful ones in many stages of decay/repair, and whenever I have a chance I take pictures of my favorites!! I am sooo lucky to have a great "driver" for my outings, which makes the whole adventure far more enjoyable and easier on the photographer!! Thank you, dear Mike!! :) I hope you will enjoy seeing a bit of Colorado history!! ~~Trudy~~

DRUM ROLL PLEASE..................

AND THE WINNER IS.............

Rondell of Tomatoe Creek Prims!!!!!!!! Way to go, Rondell!!

You obviously had your lucky winning shoes on this morning, as I reached into the lucky pot and drew ONE LUCKY WINNER!!!! WHOOOOOO!!!!! WHOOOOOOOO!!!!! WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Make sure you stop by and give Rondell your best wishes, and take a look at the great things she has posted on her blog!!

Thank you so much to all of you that entered the drawing, and especially to those that posted about my give-away on your blogs!! This was great fun!! We'll have to do it again!!! It was great fun to get sooo much mail, and to hear the excitement in your "voices"!! Thank you also to those that have now linked my blog from yours!! Have a wonderful day, everyone!! Hugs to all, Trudy

THE SNOW ON MAY 1ST!!!

Before it gets to be any later, I want to share the pictures of our beautiful snowfall on May 1st!! Yes, that's true.....and it barely snowed here at 6,000 feet, compared to what fell up above us!! Enjoy!!

PEAR GIVE-AWAY!! DON'T FORGET!!!

Don't forget to sign up for the 1ooth post Americana pear give-away!!! Tomorrow morning I will be drawing the name of the lucky winner!! See below, my post of May 1st, for all the details on how to sign up...the rules....etc!!! Good luck to all those many, many folks that have signed up, posted on their blogs, and left wonderful comments!! ~Trudy~

ANOTHER OLD BEAUTY!!!!

Hi!! I wanted to share another of my favorite old trucks....one that I have admired for some time now, as we drive through the small settlement of Sedalia, and either turn left onto Perry Park Road, or head straight to go up into the Pike National Forest!! This great old Chevrolet and some wonderful cows reside on the property that sits on the banks of Plum Creek, another of my favorite things!! There are several spots along Plum Creek that I love to visit and watch the wildlife. I hope you enjoy these pictures of this grand ole vehicle!!

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS.......OLD TRUCKS!!!!!

I have sooo many things that are dear to my heart, and among those things: OLD TRUCKS!! We came upon another one this morning on a quick drive before the NBA playoff games began again. (Yes, I am an NBA addict!!....another of my favorite things!!) This prize was sitting alongside the road, on one of my favorite roads, Perry Park Road, south of us here in Douglas Country, CO. My dream is to have one of these old beauties some day, when I live on my farm, with all my animals (that take care of themselves!! hahahha!!!), and I'll drive the old lady down the windy dirt road to get the mail each day!! Enjoy the pics!!

100TH POST CELEBRATION!!!! YEA!!! YEA!!!!

Hello my dear blog friends!!! Are you ready to party???!!!!! This is my 100th post, and I understand that such an event calls for a celebration!! After much deliberating and fussing and thinking and wondering......I have decided that the best way to celebrate is to have a GIVE AWAY!!!! YES!!!! Something that someone will receive without alot of effort on their part!!! Quite the deal for this day and time, huh??!!!!!

Since I have been in this pear creating mode for some weeks now, I decided it was time to make some Americana style pears, too!! So......here they are!! These wonderful pears are made from various Americana print fabrics, all in somewhat of a golden background tone. They are grubbied and stained and sanded for the primitive look, have little stick stems, and stained cheesecloth "leaves". Should you be the lucky winner, and you are not a "prim decor" person, I would be happy to make up a set that are NOT primitively stained, just for you!! These pears are a Crows in the Attic Primitives design.

Now...here are the rules!! To be entered into the drawing for these pears, you must accomplish one simple task: send me an email with Pear Give-away in the Subject Line. THAT IS IT!!!! You don't even have to write anything if you don't want to!! BUT......if you want to be entered into the drawing TWICE, then post a message on your blog about my give-away, and send me the link so I know you need to have your name tossed into the hat twice!! I will be drawing the winning name from the hat on MAY 7TH.....Wednesday May 7th.......so please get your name entered by 8:00 am MST on the 7th. I will post the winner here on my blog, and email the lucky person, too!!

Thank you to all of you for helping me celebrate!!! Sincerely, Trudy

Email me at: theheadcrow@aol.com

FAMILY, FOOD, FRIENDS, AND FUN IN AUSTIN!!!!

Just returned from a week in Austin, TX.....Music Capitol of the World....and our home for many, many years!! As always it was a whirlwind....too much to do, too many friends to catch up with, and many missed.....way too much great music to hear and good food to eat...and then of course, the granddaughter to play with!! I was being cautious and didn't take my great new camera gear with me, so don't have alot to share in the way of photos. I'll share just a couple here.......the granddaughter, and a shot or two from Mike's Annual Hat Party gig. Enjoy!!

FEASTING FEATHERED FRIENDS!!!

Well, well, well......the last three predicted BIG SNOWS have not produced much.....so perhaps Spring is actually near!! Thought today I would share some recent shots of the feathered friends at the front yard feeders...filling up before and after the not-so-big snows!! Enjoy!!

FLOWERS IN THE SNOW....AWAITING THE BIG ONE!!!

We had snow on Monday........just a few inches that melted almost immediately...but we are now preparing for what might be THE BIG ONE this winter/spring!! April is our 3rd snowiest month....and I do remember the year we moved here.....when it snowed more than a foot on the last day of April/first day of May...and I could NOT believe my eyes!!! Colorado, up above us here at 6,000 feet, has had plenty of snow, making the skiers and boards super happy!! We've had very little, making me less than happy! I love the snow....but maybe not at this time of year, when the flowers are trying to shine for us!!!!

TALE OF THE RED-TAIL.........

I have been wanting some good shots of this wonderful bird that lives nearby........and I believe that I am correct in saying that it is a red-tailed hawk. Today was my day!! However, it appears that I caught both Mr. and Mrs. at home, and not just the Mrs. that I have watched tending the nest. There also seemed to be another visitor in the tree, too, seen just below the nest. Enjoy!!

REFLECTIONS..........................

I love reflecting....and reflections....and got some neat shots down by Plum Creek that I thought would be fun to share!! All sorts of wildlife enjoy visiting this particular spot, including many types of birds, both long and short legged ones, as well as the occasional fox. At this particular visit for me, I saw only the short legged birds...but caught some awesome reflections!! Enjoy!!

APRIL UPDATES ON GLITTER AND GRUNGE AND LEMON POPPY SEEDS!!!!!

As the first of the month is upon us, and we have recovered from all the deadlines and the April Fool's pranks, I want to remind everyone that two sites that are special to me have had their updates!! Which means....there are all kinds of cool things and shopping opportunities to browse through.....and purchase, of course!!! Someday I will learn to JUST WINDOW SHOP....perhaps!!! I have a new little angel that I dearly love amongst my listings on Glitter and Grunge , and am in the midst of making those up in several different colors!! They are terribly cute, and just the thing for Mother's Day, too!! I will be happy to take orders on the angel, shown in the pictures, color of your choice!! Each angel is just $18 which includes the shipping!! Can't go wrong there!! On Lemon Poppy Seeds I have a few new things, including some cool cats...and 4 empty spaces, since DJ just decided to increase from 6 spots to 10 spots for product listings!!! YEA!!! I must get busy and fill those empties!! I have more raggedy style dolls on Lemon Poppy Seeds in my Annabelle's Attic shoppe, as well as EVEN MORE raggedies on the new site, Dandelion Darlings, in my Annabelle's Attic shoppe!! Yes....I am VERY busy!!! Please visit my raggedy blog to keep up on all the raggedy news, too!! I hope that April has arrived peacefully for all of you, although it seems that some parts of our country are seeing tornadoes and other stormy situations........and we are having some snow in the morning, and now 58 degrees!!!

NOT AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE!!!!

***PEARS ALL SOLD!! THANK YOU!!***

In celebration of bringing in the month of April, and April Fool's Day......this is NOT an April Fool's joke!!! It's the REAL DEAL!!!! I am offering a set of my three primitive pears that I featured in an earlier post, shown here in the photo. BUT...I am also adding two more pears to the batch...one red, and one green, for a total of 5 cool prim pears!!!! That's right!!! A set of FIVE (5) of my cool prim pear bowl fillers for your primitive pleasure!! The pears featured here were made with my own design, and are painted a bit with a primitive yellow, and have been grunged, baked, and sanded, of course!! They have a couple good coats of my really grungy sauce, with lots of cinnamon, making it is nice and thick!! The pear stems are pieces of hardwood twigs, imported from the East, and the "leaves" are stained and baked strips of cheesecloth. These pears are about 7" tall, not including the stems, and 4" or so wide at the broadest point. These are fun to prop on a shelf, or display in a crock, bowl, or basket...either alone, or in addition to some other prim goodies!! These pears can be ordered from here on my blog....A SPECIAL APRIL FOOL'S DEAL.....with only a few sets available at this SPECIAL PRICE of $25 for 5 pears, including PRIORITY shipping with Delivery Confirmation for US buyers. Paypal payments only, please!! If you want to NOT BE A FOOL, and wish to take advantage of this super pear special deal, just email me with PEARS in the subject line, and I will send you an invoice thru Paypal!! Thanks so much to all of my wonderful blog friends that stop by to visit my blog, too!! I am getting near my 100th post, so watch for something special to celebrate that milestone in blogland for me!! Happy April Fool's Day!! Don't be a fool and miss out on this special purchase!!! Hugs, Trudy

MARCH OFF INTO APRIL......

I hope that the month of March brought much goodness to all....as we see bits of Spring in parts of our planet, and reminders of winter in others!! We have it all here in Colorado, at the 6,000 foot level. Today will bring up to TWO FEET of new snow for some here in The Great State of COLORADO, but not here for me!! I love the snow, though, and have been disappointed in the little that we have had this year. It's not over yet, though.....I remember April 30th, 2005......sad day in the castle as I gazed out at the giant snowflakes, still not adjusted to the changes in climate after so many years in Austin, TX. This shot is my fav old backyard bike, with a frosting of snow from during the night last night. No sun yet today, so the snow might last awhile...but it is only 1/2" or so.....and the current temp is 38.2. Happy Last Day of March to all, as we rush with the listing deadlines, to welcome in April 2008!!

CROWS IN THE ATTIC ETSY SHOP IS OPEN!!!

Happy nearly the end of March, everyone!! I feel GREAT accomplishments this week!! I have my CROWS IN THE ATTIC Etsy shop open!! Yes!! I did it!! In fact, I did it twice!!! My ANNABELLE'S ATTIC Etsy shop is also open!!! Whew!! Two big tasks crossed off my loooong "TO DO" list!!!

Now to get all the other immediate deadlines met, with the listings at Glitter and Grunge and Lemon Poppy Seeds and another new site that I will have my raggedies on.....Dandelion Darlings!! Double whew!!! Never a moment with nothing to do...thank goodness!! I do love being busy, but take plenty of time for bird watching, reading, stitching, and all kinds of other "ME" things!!

I hope you will take a moment to stop by and visit my new Etsy shops!! Thank you so much, and have a wonderful weekend!! Hugs, Trudy

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!!!! HOW THE BUSINESS NAME CAME TO BE.........

I was tagged by Donna of Moonchild's Primitives to play this fun game of "How Did You Get Your Business Name"!!! How fun!! But....sorry to say.....I don't have much of an exciting story to share, but here is the story of how Crows in the Attic Primitives came to be named!!

I already had taken the business name Annabelle's Attic for my raggedies and such, supplies for doll making, etc. When I decided to begin selling my more primitive items, I thought....hmmmm.....I want something with Crows in the name. So I made a list, did an internet search to see what was already being used, and came up with two things that stuck with me....crows....and attic....and that's the story!! Pretty sad, huh??!?!!!!!

I wish it was more of an adventure....a fantasy....a really cool story....such as: Once upon a time, a very long time ago, when I was a little curious child, I came upon an old, broken down, abandoned house. I could not stay away. The house just tugged and pulled at my curiosity, until one day I gained the courage to venture in. I heard the soft call of the crow, and it seemed to be coming from the attic. Although the stairway was very decayed and unstable, something made me take the risk of venturing up the stairs to see what was going on with the crow up there. When I got to the top of the stairs, and saw the beam of sunlight shining in through the broken roof, there it was.....a HUGE nest of crows, with the elegant mother and father standing by to protect the young.......or something like that!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!! No such story!!!! Oh well!!

I now would like to pass this award on to my friends in blogland to share their stories of how they got their business name!! I award:

Tonya of Back Porch Pickins

De of Bowls-n-Annies

Cathy of Hazelruthe's

Renee of Crows Roost Prims

I can't wait to hear their stories!!! Thank you again to Donna, Moonchild's Primitives, for tagging me!!! Hugs to all, Trudy

BIRDS AND FRIEND.......

Following a couple inches of snow last night, we had a most gorgeous day today, with high temps in the 50's. After dinner we took a little drive, a hike in one of the many wonderful parks in the area, and I got a few shots of some animal friends!! Enjoy!!