Sneak Peek of Designs to Come

Fine Silver Wrapped Setting in the Raw

This little silver wrapped gem will be hitting the shelves of Birch Beer Boutique soon in various forms - rings, earrings, necklaces, all shapes sizes and stones. 

Hunting and Gathering: Morel Picking Part 2 Flora and Fauna

Morels are not the only lovers of recent burn sites. Hooker's Fairybells

Fairyslippers. I guess I'm not the only one who sees fairy tale imagery in these woods...

Cleverly concealed Fire Beetles

One young buck (of the mule deer variety)

And of course our haul of morels 

Please stay tuned for my "artistic interpretation" (for lack of a better term) of our forage and a giveaway.

Hunting and Gathering: Morel Picking Part 1 The Site

Above: A dozer guard at the Brookemere Fire Site. Last year I had the great pleasure to play a very, very small part in suppressing Kamloops Forest District fire #K6-1231. We visited the 6,000 - 10,000 hectare lightning strike fire site recently for a look-see, with mushroom picking on our minds.

The Site: Above a closer look. A dozer guard fire line where Danger Tree Fallers have assisted.

The outer edge of a high elevation Engelmann Spruce/Subalpine Fir site.

The inner edge. 

The forest is silver here. I wouldn't have batted an eyelash if a unicorn pranced out into the river clearing below us.

i love the way carnivals bring out the silly side

Pandora's Box

when i think of what lies beyond our attic door the phrases "be careful what you wish for" and and wiley coyote's "super-genius" spring immediately to mind.

is that a dryer hose you ask? um yes, it is dryer hose connected to my stove exhaust fan and yes...yes it is attached with duct tape. no insulation beyond what lines the floor but the good news - loads of potential for improving heating efficiency and raising the ceiling. perhaps exposing a few beams? what would you do if you discovered this many angles in your attic?

Positive Proof of the Power of Blogging: The Selby is in Your Place

The amazing blog-cum-Brick-and-Mortar-Publication "The Selby is in Your Place" launched today with life-changing effects for me. Where to start? Perhaps with a discussion centered around the difficulties I've had pitching an attic loft reno for our extremely traditional 1997 Georgian-style home? Or maybe the introduction of my amazing husband Joe, who is a fire fighter of the wildfire sort - a get-er-done kind of guy who manages ecosystems and...well...gets stuff done. He's got my back and I his, but like most couples, we view information in wildly different ways. Lets say I am the "Pitcher" and Joe is the "Fielder".

Enter Dan Martensen, Shannan Click and The Selby Is In Your Place.  Thank you...all of you, for putting into play what my words could not describe. The result in terms of impact on my life? Total success! Today we probe the attic for possibilities and scenarios. Tomorrow? Who knows...

Why Do I love The Shipping Process?

Because I love you dear client!