Review: Georgian Wood Toys

WHY IS MY NEW HEADER BLURRY?!?!?!? ANYONE?

*

After deciding to start Lo a collection of wood figures, I was torn between those that I found made by Buntspechte and those made by Georgian Wood Toys. I like these manufacturers better then Ostheimer and Holztiger mainly for the reasons stated in my Buntspechte post -they are less "boxy" or "squared" and have more endearing expressions. The wood figures that I make myself are made in the same vain as Ostheimer-mainly for lack of better woodworking tools- so I no longer see a need to purchase any from them.

Georgian Wood Toys are made by a group of people connected with the Waldorf School movement in the Republic of Georgia on the Black Sea and are distributed in North America by a small bookstore in Seattle. The Georgian figures that were designed before 2008 are quite colorful, expressive and are much more rounded then the Ostheimer ilk. While I prefer those aspects in wood figures, once I saw the animals that were designed after 2008, I lost interest in most of the older Georgian figures(despite their greatness)! These unique, simple, new figures are even more rounded than their predecessors and are devoid of detail. They are so gorgeously sculpted and buttery smooth, leaving everything up to the child's imagination. I only purchased 2 of the newer figures as I couldn't resist the monkeys and that whimsical snail! You have got to visit the site to see more of these wonderful post 2008 pieces. I think you'll also enjoy reading the very interesting history of Georgian Wood Toys.

I have to admit that Lo was at first perplexed by the lack of detail in the giraffe and unicorn- I found her poised with a marker in hand to add her own! AAAAAAACK!!!!!! I told her there would be no decorating the wood toys! I hasn't taken her long at all to get used to them. I often find the unicorn in her bed in the morning! I still stand behind the theory that simple toys without manufactured expression are catalysts to unbound imagination...


*Photo courtesy Georgian wood toys

Soldiers remembered and a fabulous Memorial Day was had by all!

The weather is still most GLORIOUS!!!! Our Memorial Day was so full and spent reveling in the warmth and sunshine. This family is SO blessed to have each other and so fortunate to be living together embraced in this incredible place.

We chopped and stacked some fresh cut wood given to us by friends, planted strawberries and "Croc pots", Huz and I went for a 1 1/2 hr run on the South Fork trail-phenomenal, and I finished my new additions to the polar bear family. Dea and her best friend, K, with Lo in tow, decided to capitalize on the heavy holiday traffic at the trail head and ran a lemonade/baked goods stand. Our rockin' dinner consisted of skirt steak and veggies on the grill. Root beer floats for dessert-hey, we earned it! And after Lo went to bed, Boyz in the Hood.

Someone didn't like her seating arrangement!

But all was well after a root beer float

To our soldiers past and present, THANK YOU for your bravery and service....

Please point me to the nearest padded room.....

More schizo Alaskan Spring weather!!!!

THIS was last Thursday:

70 degrees and clear blue skies!

Playing on the deck

Planting the flowers I got for Mother's Day

Makin' sun tea
Fresh sheets drying in the breeze

And this was the next day, Friday:

First, rain. Hey, I asked for it, right?!?! But then, 30 degrees, COLD, WHITE, HUGE, FLAKES OF SNOW.

We got about a half an inch. Picture me racing outside in my PJs to pull all my flowers over to the side of the house out of the snow!

And then came Saturday:

65 and blue skies!

At the Anchorage farmer's market

More laundry and lounging on the deck

Makin' mud soup while the parents plant the potatoes.

COO-COO!!!!

And the amazing sunny weather continues! What a difference from last year! ~knocking MADLY on wood...

Back from The Dead!

OK!!! SECOND time around!!!! I had just about finished this post when I hit some friggin' key that erased everything...... I finally get to sit down at the box to post, after a busy week, and....gggggrrrrrrr! WASTE of time!!!!

It's been just too nice out with the boomin' sun warming our souls to be inside at the box or catching up on chores. After the solar deprivation of last year, I'm taking it when I can, dammit. Mainlining that stuff. I have my new friend, Exceedingly Long Extension Cord, and I'm not beyond doing my woodworking, ironing, sewing, etc. OUTSIDE. However, I draw the line at dragging the computer outside. I was secretly hoping for a rainy day today(wouldn't want to offend the sun gods) so that I would have the excuse to be inside, do some posting and catch up reading, and get this house in order.

Whatev. On to the The Dead show at the Forum. The show was sick! SICK, I tell ye!!!! First, we had a friggin' blast with our friends Chantel and Rob who moved from Alaska to Cali a few months ago. We're feeling bummed about the distance. I don't know too many people who can make waiting at midnight in a parking lot outside the Santa Anna airport with a flat tire sans jack wrench for the repair guy to come fix it, a ripping story and laugh fest! The next morning we lounged, talked, swam in the pool , and dipped in the hot tub in their paradisical back yard before the temps hit 100 degrees +.

Did I mention they have awesome kids?

Then is was off for the 2 hour ride to the Forum. We got there about an hour early so that we could peruse Shakedown Street-the vending section of the parking lot-for unique t-shirts for the fam, beer, and handmade goodies.

I was hoping to end my search for a wicked hand blown glass pendant but there wasn't much there. I don't know if the "pro" vendors from years past are holding out for bigger venues or multi-day festivals, or if lot vending is just a dying thing. I'm glad I got to have a taste of it, though.

As I said, the show was phenomenal. Origionally up in the nosebleeds again, Huz managed to sneak us past security into the lower teir and better "seats"-a spot on the stairs next to some seats, actually. The sets included a 50 min. long jazzy, bluesy, rockin' improv, their older songs- some rarely played in the past, and a mindblowing soulpounding Drums set. They were just hot, tight, and jumpin'. Warren Haynes did a fantastic job stepping into Jerry's Garcia's shoes.

Huz , feeling skeptical about how the band would do after so many years and without Jerry, thought it was one of the best shows he's seen. And he has seen tons over the years. I am SO grateful(no pun intended) to have finally seen a show before they all go onto different journeys in life, and to have been able to experience it all with my Huz, my bestest friend. No better person to see a show with. Or anything, for that matter.

And a huge shout of Gratefulness to the folks next door and to the Nature Lady clan for taking on our kids while we were gone!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!