Do you feel lucky?

It's definitely been a soggy summer so far. 
 
 

However, this means there have been numerous opportunities for rainbow viewing! I caught this bad boy wrapped around our entire little town a few weeks back. 
 
 

 
 
At one point, as I was walking, the rainbow looked to be shooting directly out of the church spire in the distance. Talk about inSPIREing ;)
 
 

 
 How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

   

My mother was right, I am picky.

  It's June! Do you know what that means?  

 Strawberry season! We're lucky enough to have an organic farm down the road that offers pick-your-own each day until the season is over. 

 
We're nearly out of our first 6 lbs (mmmm smoothies)!
What have you been up to?

Baxter Binx

There's something about having animals in the office that makes it feel less like... you're in the office :)

 

 

On a normal work day, there will be anywhere from 1 to 4 dogs in our open floor work space. Occasionally the mood will strike them just right that they'll start an all out sprint/stampede around the perimeter of the room. There's something gleefully exciting about the tiniest dog chasing the largest dog, giving not a moment's pause over what he'll do if he catches her. 

Late last year, my podmate and good friend Crystal and I set off to find ourselves some desk flare in the form of baby beta fish. Having never had one before, I was in awe of my little Baxter Binx's ability to recognize me, dance for her food and even take pellets from my finger. Sitting hours at my desk, I would forget about her and then catch her, flitting up and down in her mason jar, out of the corner of my eye, to get my attention. 

Fast forward to February 28th when I arrive at work to find her jar empty. She'd gotten herself so excited (or smitten with her neighboring male fish companion, Dexter, in the next bowl) that she'd thrown herself out nearly 3 feet! I cried, no, I kind of sobbed, at my desk. To some, they're just pets, fish, animals, but to me, she was my companion. Someone that could take me out of myself for even a moment. 

 

She's now buried in the rosebush that sits on my desk. Reminding me to breathe and smile. 

 

Up until now.

Hey everyone! 

I wanted to do a little "since we last met" update to catch you up on the happenings here at The Peach Tree. It's been less Peach and more Tree here lately, setting our roots in our new home in the Hudson Valley. 

I'm hoping to get back to a more even balance between my day job at Etsy and my jewelry shop on Etsy (and beyond).

 

The cats have been prepping for a new event in the winter olympics.

We took a frigid stroll across the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Embracing my wonderful new Etsy family.

J took me skiing.. and forgot to start me off on my bunny slope.

We're discovering the joy of New York State Microbrews.

How do you deal with the balance between 9-5 and your passion for entrepreneurship and/or home life? Since moving out of NYC last April, I haven't listed a single new piece in The Peach Tree. 

While I continue to work at sustaining what I've already built, I feel parts of what I loved about growing and learning from my customers, slipping away. I don't see this as forever :) But being aware of the shift definitely has me fired up to get back to basics. Back to the true roots of handmade living. 

 I'd love to hear what you've been up to and how your 2013 is starting off differently than 2012! 

Talk to you soon! 

Amy 

Happy Holidays!

Hey there! 

We're settling into our new life in the country. Instead of celebrating the Holidays with our families (which we weren't able to do this year), we watched over a friend's farmhouse! 

  6 goats, 4 chickens, 3 cats, 2 dogs and 4 chinchillas kept us busy and busting with laughter at every turn.    I hope you had a wonderful holiday!     Here's to a happy and healthy New Year!    Amy

It's October...

   

  ...do you know where your Macouns are?     

City vs. Country

  Graffiti.