The Closest I Come to Resolutions

We survived Christmas! Thanks to all who helped make this holiday season a fabulous one for Gretchen's Creations! I will be posting new items again soon in my Etsy store so check in every once and awhile if you get a chance.
2010 is stacking up to be one amazing year for my family and I. I am not a big one for New Year's resolutions but I am looking forward to a lot of big changes and learning lots of new and exciting things. My son turns 5 this spring and heads to Kindergarten in the fall, I will be returning to the garden in just a couple of months (winter permitting) and I am starting to mull the idea around of playing my folk music live again. It has been over 4 years now since I have set foot on a stage with my guitar! Here is my myspace music page if you want to hear the 1 song I have floating around in the ether. I did find a picture of me playing at Adam's Mountain Cafe for your viewing pleasure. I was a new mommy when this was taken. You can see how big my little guy has gotten.














I will also be able to post more in the next couple of months on hikes and snowshoeing expeditions, gardening articles and information and overall fun. Thanks so much for a great year!

There is Still Time!

Just an update: there is still time to buy items from my Etsy Shop and get them by Christmas! The shipping deadlines for USPS for both 1st class and Priority Mail are Dec 21st which is next Monday. And with that note I want to share my newest Acorn Bowl with you:


















Thanks for Looking!

Extraordinary Ingredients!

I don't often have blog posts like this, but I am a huge proponent of supporting local businesses and I really want to get the word out about a fabulous new local shop here in Colorado Springs! Extraordinary Ingredients Gourmet Pantry is located at 612 N. Tejon Street (just North of Panino's). The store is warm and inviting and the selection of high quality spices, salts, chiles and dried herbs is fabulous. I was especially impressed by the wide selection of rices and beans to choose from. I bought some Green Bamboo rice (mostly for Seamus because his favorite color is green and he loves rice) and Chana Dal (on recommendation of the purveyor Kerri) and last night the Dal Bhat I made from them WAS truly extraordinary! The Chana Dal was incredibly buttery and had flavors that the Dal I usually make with red lentils has never had and I kept sneaking bites of the rice before the Dal was done.
What most amazes me is that for the high quality of her ingredients her prices are fabulous. I will be back there soon to stock up on herbs and spices now that I have gone through my kitchen and taken stock of what I need. So I highly recommend this great new local shop. Stop by and check it out. Have a chat with the knowledgeable Kerri purveyor of deliciousness: she obviously has a passion for cooking and is excited to share it. I can honestly say that I left Extraordinary Ingredients excited about the culinary possibilities open to me.

New Listings

I have not been posting about my listings in my Etsy store but believe you me I have been updating quite a bit and trying to make not only holiday styles available but also some of my favorites. There are still lots of wonderful items available and there is still a week left for custom orders to be made and delivered by Christmas (U.S. only). Here are a couple of new items but be sure and drop by often to see what is new and don't forget a free ring sized bowl comes with every purchase of $30 or more!

I also just found out that my Christmas Rose Bowl is included in a pretty Etsy treasury called Yes It Is stop by and check it out before it expires~ As Always, thanks for looking!

Hi and So Sorry For Not Being Around!

I had such big intentions. My Birthday was Saturday November 28th. It might have well been one of the best Birthdays I have had in awhile. Matt found a great hike off of Gold Camp Road we climbed Mt. Conejos and then dropped down into Jones Park and came out on the 7 Bridges trail (which was a skating rink) It was gorgeous and clear, a little breezy and cool but we didn't need our snowshoes for this one. We saw bear tracks - luckily at least a day old and I will try and get those pics from Matt to share. Afterward we went to Bristol Brewing for a couple of delicious local Birthday Pints. The icing on the cake was the Micah Schnabel ( of 2 Cow Garage fame) solo show at The Triple Nickel Tavern that evening. In all of the pictures I have seen of me from that night I am wearing a silly grin from ear to ear and although I cringe at how unattractive those pictures are, I remind myself that I had a wonderful time with wonderful friends and super music~ I was able to give myself a pat on the back as well for only drinking 2 beers and NOT waking up with a hang over. I also want to thank Jimmy again for being super rad and giving us the biggest birthday gift of all by driving~
I have hit the big 32 my hair is turning silver and I am starting to complain about "kids these days" :-) Life is good! Thanks to everyone for helping to make my 31st year a great one and I am looking forward to the one to come.