Thursday, June 28, 2012

Happy 4th of July!

Hello!  Since next week is the 4th of July I thought I would share some cool patriotic items that you can find on Etsy.  It may be a bit late to actually order any of these for the 4th of July but then again, maybe not.  Let's have some fun and do some online shopping- it's too hot to leave the house anyway!

Here are some really cute earrings that would be perfect to show your patriotic spirit!  Check out these star earrings from onlymadeonce:


Star earrings from onlymadeonce
"Star earrings. Perfect for the 4th of July. Red, white and blue,.
These earrings are made with beautiful one inch filigree brass stars. A small cobalt blue bead is used as an accent to the pretty, ornate pattern of the stars. They are feminine and elegant.


The total length is about two inches."  So pretty!


I love scarves so this one caught my eye- it looks really beautiful paired with the crisp white shirt it is pictured with here!  This American Flag Scarf is from ThreeBirdNest:

American Flag Scarf from ThreeBirdNest
"Patriotic Infinity scarf silky chiffon printed American flag. OH BEAUTIFUL, wide and completely a fun statement to show your American pride. Red, white, and blue patterned, All-American style scarf. Semi-sheer and lightweight."  Isn't that cool?


Do you know someone who likes to go all out for the holidays?  How about someone who was a true flower child of the '60's- or just a wanna-be hippie of today?  Here you go!  A very trippy USA Flag Tie Dye Tee from Four20moon!

USA Flag Tie Dye Tee from Four20moon
 "We Will Remember!


The bottom half of this Large (42-44 in) Fruit of the Loom cotton undershirt was dyed with red & white stripes, while the top half was crinkle hand tied and dyed blue. White stars outlined in red are on both sleeves making this one patriotic tie dye. Great tee for a 4th of July gathering! One of a kind."  Now that's a great way to show your true colors!

Ok, so now you've got your ideas for what to wear, but how about what to decorate your home with?  I think this Freedom banner by bekahjennings would be just the thing:

4th of July decoration FREEDOM banner by bekahjennings
"The most precious gift, FREEDOM.

FREEDOM is a completely handmade banner/sign/garland. Each 4x4 inch chipboard card is hand-stamped in acrylic paint with a white background flourish and red letter, then antiqued around the edges for a worn-leather, vintage appeal. Strung on over 40 inches of red, white and blue patriotic ribbon, FREEDOM can be adjusted to fit your unique space.

Sturdy enough to stand up to years of use, this banner is also light enough to be hung up with just scotch tape."  Such a great message- and isn't that what the 4th of July is really all about?


I hope you all enjoy your holiday, no matter where you are or what you are doing.  Happy 4th of July!

Jennifer

Friday, June 15, 2012

Alex

Being a lover of all things avian, but especially African greys, I had to share this with my blog readers today. 
I first fell in love with African greys when as a young girl I read a newspaper article about an African grey parrot named Alex who could talk.  It wasn't just repeating words back at someone though, he was extensively trained and studied and he had a vast vocabulary and could answer rather complex questions- when he was in the mood.  He had a sense of humor and a little bit onery grey personality.  Anytime I heard he was going to be featured on a television show or in a book or radio show I had to tune in.  I was hooked. 

Today was Alex's birthday.  He passed away a few years ago (2007) and I cried when I heard the news.  Just writing about it actually brings tears to my eyes.  He was such a special bird and did so much to advance the study of these fascinating and intelligent fellow creatures.  There is a foundation in his honor that is dedicated to improving the lives of all parrots worldwide.  This is their goal and mission, "The goal of The Alex Foundation is to support research that will expand the base of knowledge establishing the cognitive and communicative abilities of parrots as intelligent beings. These findings will be used to encourage the responsible ownership of parrots, conservation and preservation of parrots in the wild, and veterinary research into the psychological diseases and care of these birds. Through these efforts The Alex Foundation, and the memory of Alex, will live on and will accomplish its mission to improve the lives of all parrots worldwide." 

I made a donation to The Alex Foundation in memory of Alex.  If you would like to help or just read more about Alex and The Alex Foundation, you can find them on the web here:  http://alexfoundation.org/

Photo – Jenny Pegg

Alex “The” African Grey
1976 to 2007

Image above from The Alex Foundation website at http://alexfoundation.org/alex/