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Jumpy June
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Every month this year has felt like it's flown, but June dragged in the most annoying of ways. As I type this, my family and I still have no idea if we're supposed to be packing up for moving, finding new jobs, relocating to a new state completely or just staying where we are for another month.
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Yes, that's right. Not sure if we're moving out in July. Not sure if we'll have an income in July. Work/home life is and has been quite the shit show (pardon my language) since last July and I am beyond burnt out. If anyone asked for my life advice in this moment, it would be don't get tangled up in a family business. I'm at a point where I'd rather focus on my family (my littles and hubby) over the family business. How do you get to a place where you're not worried about your family's financial well being without being stuck at a job that leaves you too exhausted to spend time with your children or too irritable to be patient with your little ones? Send cocktails - this mama is bushed.
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Regardless of the impending "We might not have a job AND have to move out" doom, we still found time to enjoy ourselves each weekend this month. Which includes today. There won't be any photographic evidence in this email, but I'm off to the Winchester Mystery House (again!) with some good company we haven't been able to connect with in a while. I have loved showing off our local historic landmark to friends both near and far and I've gotten to do so a couple times this year already. Today should be especially fun since it is Winchester's anniversary weekend!
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Not exactly what you were hoping for from this email? I bet you wanted to know what I'm weaving behind the cobwebs. Just scroll down for juicy previews of what's been on my creativity plate under the "Weaving Behind the Cobwebs" section. Until next month~
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Life Adventures & Blog Posts
June 2025
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Despite the backwards carousel of life I seem to be trapped on, fun adventure things have filled up each weekend this month. We had a rare child-free weekend that happened during Monterey Bay Aquarium's Donor morning. Lucky us! Next, we spent Father's Day weekend at the archery trail we visited back in February, where everyone got to practice their archery skills. Then, last weekend we brought home a new pair of friends from the San Jose reptile expo. Whew!
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I am still reconnecting with my blogging rhythm this month. However, I found a few evenings to finally work on those missing posts I said I had done...I'm still not "caught up". Thank you for your patience...and not calling me out on them being missing. But! I was still productive behind-the-scenes. Which includes my "Halfway to Halloween" post. Sadly, my productivity relies on me being both motivated and NOT exhausted once the kiddos are asleep. When I'm by myself at night seems to be the key moments I have to work on things. I am not a daytime blogger, but my day job keeps me from feeling my usually night owl awareness when it comes to doing creative projects and blogging.
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June Highlight: Donor Morning @ the Monterey Bay Aquarium
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This was our first donor event we've attended with our membership. Which means we got to enter the aquarium a whole hour and a half before everyone else.
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They had all kinds of presentations happening around the aquarium, including a kelp forest chat and a bat ray feeding.
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Since we were there, we also took advantage of our free behind-the-scenes tour tickets which I highly recommend doing if you've visited the aquarium before. Our tour guide, Clint, was AMAZING and full of energy. We not only got to see the backsides and topsides of several of the tanks (can you spy the angel shark?), we also got to pet a jellyfish!
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June Highlight: Reptile Realms San Jose Reptile Expo
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The family had a grand time revisiting the Reptile Realms reptile expo in San Jose. We were joined by one of Little Monster's friends who happen to have a pet snake and gecko. We explored the vendor booths together and gossiped over life dramas while the little ones pet all kinds of reptiles.
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Initially, we were planning to get a new snake friend as we miss Juju sorely, but then work news hit and we debated over the timing of a new pet. Especially one requiring more costly food supplies. So we went to the expo deciding that if an animal connected with us like Juju had, we would bring them home. We fell in love with a rescue tortoise, but decided to wait until we were ready to leave to see if he had been adopted yet. He was, and we were very happy for him, but our minor remorse was distracted by two other friends!
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Remember my BKtSW post about the Someday Spider? Well...we brought home two jumping spiders and they are the most adorable little members of our family. Both are showing such personality already! Say hello to La Muerte (left/brown) and Xibalba (right/black). In the past week, La Muerte now will turn around wherever she is in her enclosure to take a look at me when I come near. Xibalba is a lazy boy. He likes to hang out in the canopy he built at the back of his enclosure and stretch out his legs. It's like he is showing off his "buff" arms. It's so cute!
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We haven't handled them too much since getting them. On Monday, La Muerte was feeling brave and came out of her enclosure to check things out, but when she tried to jump on my hand, she kept slipping. We decided to give her and Xibalba a little more time acclimating to their new environment, but we are giving time each day with the lids to their enclosures off (one at a time and supervised) to explore and interact if they want.
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I am so thrilled to be on this journey! If you've ever kept jumpers as pets, I would appreciate any advice you would be willing to share.
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Goodies for Gossips
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I hope you enjoy all the fun things I load into these emails. However, it crossed my mind that email newcomers may have missed out on something here or there. Explore my treat page link which is exclusive to my email subscribers. It is filled with all the goodies I have tucked away in emails since 2024.
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Use the password
GossamerGossiper
to access.
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Who Else is Hanging in My Web?
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- "Out of the Woods" by Billy Polard
The Ghost In You artist/author/songwriter, Billy Polard, dropped his newest song and I am totally digging the vibes. If you are a fan of Lord Huron's "Strange Trails" album, you'll absolutely dig the vibe of this song.
- Hallow Woods in 50th Anniversary JAWS Artbook
My pal, Matthew Woods is BUSY! He has some artwork featured in a JAWS artbook, will be opening a solo art show on July 12th AND will be vending at Midsummer Scream this year! Be sure to check out his art show if you are NYC local, or swing by his booth during MSS this August in Long Beach.
- Spooky Little Magazine 2025 is Coming!
Miranda JUST dropped her 2025 magazine cover reveal on Patreon along with a preorder date. Be sure to follow her if you have been waiting for her Spooky Little Halloween - the magazine 2025 to release for preorder. She JUST announced the date!
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Mood Check
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Library Hauntings
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Boob Tube Chills
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What I'm Weaving Behind the Cobwebs
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In light of my current living situation, I know it seems a bit silly to even try decorating for the season, but even if I don't get to finish the year decorating this mantle, it brings me some joy to fill the house with fresh flowers and change up its look ever so slightly.
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My initial goal was to complete my summer mantle and share what it looked like completed by the summer solstice. However, I started decorating it ON the summer solstice, so that plan went out the window pretty quickly. My goal is to finish the look by the end of this month, but it will probably be completed in July. In the meantime, look how lovely it's coming along! The photo does not do it justice. Those orange sunflowers are bringing so much to the space, it's wild. Major bonus that the florals are all from local growers too. I've got a few more elements to add. Despite it's bright vibes, it will have a spooky vibe to it!
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For this project, both myself and the littles have taken up cross stitching. Little Monster is picking out elements from Lindsay Swearingen's "Creepy Cross Stitch" book, while I am working on a little more complicated of a piece. It is unexpectedly fun! I cannot wait to hang my finished cross stitch oover the fireplace with the littles' pieces.
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