Etta Meerkat's tour in Texas

hosted, photographed and written by Linden Leaf Studio / Lindesigns

Etta has arrived! I met the lovely MaryAnn of Linden Avenue Designs for an Etta drop off!

As soon as we arrived home, Etta demanded a pair of cowboy boots. We couldn’t find any small enough for her, so she settled for a photo and playing with a pair of my husband’s boots. She couldn’t believe how large and pointy they were. She had fun climbing around in them and then sliding down the front like a penguin!



Etta helped me tend to my garden – watering the carrots, spinach and admiring the small orange tree.



Yes, we eat more than just meat here in Texas! :-)



Being from the UK we figured Etta knew her beer ;) so we introduced her to the famous Shiner Bock beer, made right here in Central Texas. She said it was “OK” – hmm, she’s tough!



However, after a few Shiner Bocks and some Barbeque, she settled down and spent the evening regaling us with her traveling stories.

The next day was workshop day! Etta has a new love! – Silver, Silver, Silver!!



She couldn’t quit draping herself in it. I showed her how to fuse silver together and she helped me make headpins. And no, we didn’t set Etta or anything else on fire!



She helped me make one of her gifts – a little hammered heart. We also put red rhinestones on a brass cowboy hat for her. She’s a true Texan now!



Our plans had been to take Etta for a drive in our 1965 classic convertible in the Hill Country, but unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. We had rain and a cold front which does not make for fun “topless” (no not that kind) driving! So we showed her the car – she’d never seen such a large “boat” before!



We have a smaller version in our home and decided to teach her to drive and let her drive around the house. Luckily we didn’t have to worry about which side of the road to drive on!



Well, she’s used to taking public transportation all over the UK so she wasn’t the best driver – she was a bit crazy and wild – Although she did have a gleam in her eye while cruising down the staircase, so I think she has a bit of the race car driver in her! Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Weekend - I spent the weekend teaching her how to speak Texan and making the Hook ‘em Horns sign. She didn’t care much for some of the twangs and drawls and thinks we just need to learn proper “English”.



However, she did learn to say “Ya’ll” properly and now puts it at the end of every sentence. Sorry to the next person who has to listen to that! :-)



I think I corrupted Etta enough, she drank, set things on fire, ate barbeque and cookies and learned to drive!



Time for Etta to head up north to Illinois to see Laura of Lamaworks! Etta helped pack her box and I gave her a final snack – a famous Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie! I think I’m missing some, so if you see a few crumbs in her traveling box, I’m pretty sure those are Etta’s! I had a great time with Etta, she’s quite entertaining and I hope she had fun in Texas with me and MaryAnn!

Niftyknits says: WOW - looks like Etta has had fun! If, like Etta, you are besotted by silver, check out Linden Leaf Studio / Lindesigns ...and of course, keep track of the meerkats on their facebook page.