New Button!

I don't know if you noticed or not, but we're getting so high-tech here at HCM that we now have two buttons on the pic of the week (TWO!!!!). If you haven't already checked out the intro video, you can now do so by clicking on the Second Button™ at our homepage.

This week's pic was brought to you by being tired at the Airport, in Texas, on the way back from my friends' wedding. The coffee was hardcore (as you can probably tell by the incredible rates at which the picture makes it look like I'm drinking it).

This is Cake Town

It was the Big Guy's B-day the Saturday before last, and therefore, cake was had! While it was a pre-made cake, Miles and I decided to ad some of our own flavor with the oh so clever clogan*.

*clogan [cloh-guhn]: cake slogan.

Our cake was no lie, it was delicious.

A Rip Roarin' Good Time

Friend of Handcrafted's Jason Miller at home on Captain Jacks trail - As seen in this months issue of Peak Region Cyclist! Woohoo!

Photo By Miles McIlhargie

Web Development Costs

Here is a nice article that cleanly breaks down the web development process and typical associated costs. Not a representation of exactly how we do business but a nice general overview non the less.

Courtesy of solosignal.com

http://www.solosignal.com/how-much-should-web-site-design-development-and-hosting-cost

Design for Quality

A nice bit here courtesy of Business Week. It is true. In this day and age of excess, consumers are ever more forced into making quick-witted decisions about the products they purchase and the services they contract. The importance of a relevant and clearly delivered brand message has never been greater; and in this melee of advertising one of the most effective ways to get through is by way of strategically well designed marketing efforts.

http://www.fastcompany.com/big-idea/design-more-quality-technology-or-top-down-strategy-%E2%80%93-one-factor-can-make-long-term-profits

Taking You To The Danger Zone

The next wave of dealership commercials? Well, you wouldn't forget it, that's for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnF6i0b9Ux8

Nature is swell.

Living out here in the vast wilderness of Monument has been like visiting a wild animal park. OK, maybe not exactly, but the number of critters that have seemingly surrounded our house is more than I am used to. So far we have encountered numerous species of birds, including 4 juvenile hawks that like to play in our yard, raccoons, snakes, coyotes that wake us up in the middle of the night and I believe a fox visited our deck last night. More nature pics to come!

More like Bald Hill.

It's really called Bald Mountain, but Miles is probably correct in calling it a "hill."

Story behind pic: I was heading home from Denver on Sunday and the clouds were creating really interesting light on the mini-mountain (not to mention I'm camera happy with my new wideangle lens), so I pulled off the side of the road and snapped a few off of my favorite hill in Monument.

BLOG THIS!
~Lee