I was playing with Pounce, the new Etsy browsing feature, and came across a new Etsy shop today with beautifully crafted wooden toys.

Countree toy shoppe is owned by Brian of Higgins Lake Michigan. He has been working with wood for 30 years and started making toys for his own children out of scraps from his building job. About 6 years ago, he began touring the North Eastern U.S. attending craft shows.

I picked a few toys from his shop to feature here.

This Logging Truck and Loading Dozer set are made from ash and come with little stackable logs. The dozer has a removeable operator too. What little boy wooden love to have this toy?

This adorable Dragonfly pull toy is made from Cherry, Maple, and Black Walnut wood. The wings are even hand silkscreened! Imagine my delight! The wings flop up and down as your little one pulls it along. This is too precious.

Recently I became aware of another Etsy seller, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5588252, whose husband Nicholas Francisco has been missing since Feb 13, 2008. She last spoke to him at work in the lower Queen Anne area of Seattle; he said he would be home after running a quick errand to Costco. He has not been seen or heard from since. He was driving a red 1992 Toyota Paseo hatchback with license plate number 601RHX and headed south toward the Seatac area.
Here are a few news articles with more information to pass on.
http://www.komotv.com/news/15682797.html
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_021608WAB_missing_seatac_man_KS.cbc94803.html
http://mailpen.net/
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5472516

Please keep your eyes and ears open and pass the word on.
I am keeping the family in my thoughts during this difficult time.