52 Weeks of Felting - Week 20

Oh, I'm really excited about this one! 

I can foresee a few different versions of this one in the shop, but I'm not sure if I'm letting this one go just yet...

On another note, I applied for an indie craft show in Kansas City.  It would be my first show that is a significant distance away from home.  Hopefully, I'm accepted--I'll find out at the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend!!

Birthday Giveaway Winners!!

 I have some winners to announce today! Thanks to all of you who entered my Belated Birthday Giveaway! 
 

Our winners are Stacey (who commented "I think the snail is the cutest!") and Amy Bateman (who commented "I think the koala is calling my daughter's name. I'd have to get that, and maybe the Batman character, too.)

Congrats, ladies!!  Please email me by Sunday to get your shop credit!!! (goodnaturedbydani [at] gmail [dot] com)

See you tomorrow for  my Week 20/52 Felting Project!

DNA Test Results

Back in February, I talked about having my DNA tested by this company.  I was excited to learn a bit more about my ancestry and anxious to learn more about my health. 

The technology involved is amazing, and I've always been really intrigued by genetics.  Here are some things that I learned about my DNA:

I am of 99.7% European ancestry, 0.1% Sub-Saharan African, and 0.2% unassigned. I also learned that 2.9% of my DNA is from Neanderthals.  Awesome, right!? Of course, they offer way more information than this--I haven't even combed through all of it yet.

They also offer a bit of insight into your health.  They tell you what conditions or diseases you might be at risk for developing due to your genetic composition.  One thing I learned is that I am at a higher risk for developing celiac disease. 

They also let you know some conditions or diseases that you might have a lower risk for developing.  I learned that I have a lower risk for developing breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. 

Another section included in the report is about your genetic traits.  There are things like your probable eye color (as if you didn't already know) and hair texture and earwax type (!) and tolerance to lactose.  I learned that I am likely resistant to the most common strain of the norovirus, which is news that made me do a happy dance!

If you are at all interested in your genetic history, or maybe you want to learn more about your health, check out these kits.  Of course, there is no turning back once you read your reports. Learning whether or not you have the genetic markers for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can be scary and is not for everyone. But I believe that knowing what may be in your future is empowering.

What do you think? Would you do it? What would you be most anxious to find out?   

Fur, Feathers & Scales - Guinea Pig

Meet Neville! This little cutie is a guinea pig. Guinea pigs come from South America, where they are raised for food. (Shhhh! Don't tell Neville!)

They are strictly herbivores, eating grasses, fruits and vegetables.  They are also rodents, so they have big front incisors that are always growing longer.

Guinea pigs are popular pets.  They are easy to care for and don't really require any much more than basic care. They are pretty messy though, so daily clean up is usually necessary. 

They have no tails and make the cutest little noises.  They squeal when they're excited and even purr when they're happy.  So cute!