June 06, 2015

Spring in the garden


 Those photos were taken in late April...how the garden has changed already...
And I apologize to all the arachnophobes reading the blog ;)
Cute little spider weaving her web

Snail tree


A tortutous hazelnut tree.

Bumblebee

Another little spider

Neighbours' cherry tree

Blurry pretty bicolor leaf

Kitten

and another sort of kitten


And another little spider
Pepita's got things to do...

May 28, 2015

THE CAPTAIN COSMOS SHOP IS OPENED FOR BUSINESS


After thinking it through for several weeks I have finally decided to open a new shop where to sell my plugs/gauges and cufflinks.
I seldom have combined orders with my kawaii jewelry for those items, and I have been wanting to use that retro sci-fi theme for a long time too.
And in case you wonder, the Capatin Cosmos is my late cat Marvin. As you can see Marvin was a pretty laid back cat, letting me put a tin foil space hat on his cute little head and kindly posing for a photo.
You can use the discount code OPENING15 until June30,2015 for 15% off your order.

Of course, I'll combine shipping if you decide to purchase items from my 2 shops (I'll refund shipping after purchase).
I am still busy adding new items and moving my stock from the other shop every day.

The Captain Cosmos on Etsy 



May 19, 2015

The kittens' birthday

PARTY TIME!!!!!


Well, turning 6 today means they're not really kittens anymore...but they'll always be my babies ;)
Happy birthday Frank and Bob!



I don't like parties

I don't like crowds

I'll hide here until it's over

Pepita: Where there's a party, there's tuna.


More kittens' birthday : They're born, 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th birthday.

May 07, 2015

Bruno the cat


 If you follow me on Instagram, you have already met Bruno, the lastest addition to the family.
Bruno is a fairly large and older cat that regularly visited the garden (and ate some food left for my cats...). At the end of winter, I noticed he was hardly leaving the garden, spending the night in the outdoor cathouse. Extremely shy he was. It took me several weeks to gain his trust...but eventually I brought him inside.
Bruno is very endearing, he loves cuddles and attention (and treats). He is extremely well-behaved at the vet and uses the cat boxes like a pro. I wonder if he had a house once?
I call him my pink cat, he is diluted red...or cream and he has a big boopable nose.
He really doesn't want to miss out  on anything...he sees what the other cats do and he has to try it at least once.
Pepita is less than impressed.



I'm trying to nap here!


April 26, 2015

Reassessing the situation

2 weeks ago I snapped. The weather was beautiful...and I just couldn't handle the pressure of handling 4 shops any longer. So much work, it was/is always on my mind...feeling guilty about not being more successful despite all the stupid hours I put into it. I felt stuck, I wanted something to work just for once. And I just snapped.
I put my gardening clothes on and I mowed the lawn...and enjoyed it. I painted planters, I cut branches, fixed some borders. Then, when the garden was all clean and pretty, I got the garden swing cushions out...and spent pretty much the next 2 weeks in the garden. It was nice, restful. I didn't think of the shops. Oh I still shipped orders if something sold...but that was about it. And I was unusually happy and at peace.
And then when I was done doing ...well...nothing...I reassessed my situation. Do I keep working on those shops that are simply not working? Do I just give up? I  couldn't possibly do more hours. I need to change something but what? I have not reached any final decisions yet but I know I am not letting that eat my life away again.
I am closing my Storenvy shop. It'll be easier to look after 3 shops than 4.
I may lower my prices too. I know some of you will be horrified reading that...as it is poor business practice in general...but all my competitors are either cheaper or more expensive, being in the middle range does nothing for me...and I am not comfortable raising my prices.
I may also separate my plugs and kawaii jewelry. I know it's harder to look after several shops (duh...I just said I was closing one LOL) but I no longer feel those 2 ranges fit together. And maybe it'll just give me a new outlook on things.
Or I may just rob and bank and move to a warm places with the cats.
Oh and the lawn needs mowing again now...
Gardening done!

This went to the recycling park (2 trips)
Pepita helped.


I also painted the new planters

This garden is too big

You can see the garden swing where I spent most of my time

April 03, 2015