Bench Notes: August 2026 | When the Raccoons Take Over…

 

Bench Notes 📓

August 2026

Every season has its own kind of magic… August just happened to bring raccoons.🦝✨

Every good business needs quality control. Ours just happens to have a mask, a tail, and questionable opinions about trash cans. 😂🦝

August — Chaos & Beauty

Apparently, we live in a raccoon daycare now.

I’m not really sure how we got here, but somewhere between two tiny raccoon criminals stealing butter, toddler-proofing the house for animals who are somehow more determined than the actual toddler, and trying to keep the shop moving… August happened.

And honestly?

It has been equal parts chaos and beauty.

The raccoons have officially taken over our world. We’ve spent a surprising amount of time figuring out what needs to be moved, covered, blocked, secured, or otherwise made raccoon-proof.

Not Talon-proof.

We already know how to do that.

Apparently, we needed an entirely different level of engineering for the Twin Butter Thieves. 🦝🦝

Meanwhile, Maigen has been stepping further into the social media side of Urban Carvers and learning the wonderful world of “Okay, what am I posting today?” 😂

There have been videos. Photos. Reels. Posts. A lot of me talking to my phone.

And honestly, I’m having fun with it.

I’m getting to show you more of the little things that happen around here—the products, the shop, the people behind it, and apparently the occasional raccoon.

Dustin, meanwhile, still has not bought a new four-wheeler.

We’re all very proud of him.

For now. 😂

Our humans are growing, too.

Eliza started fourth grade, and Talon is already counting down the days until he gets to ride the bus with her. Watching them grow into their own little people while everything else around us changes has been one of those quiet reminders that life doesn’t really wait for you to catch your breath.

The shop is getting its own little makeover, too.

Apparently, when you have a toddler AND raccoons, the shop needs a little more attention than it used to. So we’re rearranging, revamping, organizing, and making things work better for this weird little life we’ve built.

Somewhere in all of this, Maigen and Dustin may have experienced a minor brain crash.

Nothing serious.

Just the kind where you look at each other and say,

“What were we doing again?”

…and neither person knows. 😂

Thankfully, the weather is finally starting to cool down.

And strangely enough, so are our brains.

Coincidence?

Probably.

We’ll take it. 😂

We’re also getting more goodies in stock as we start thinking ahead to the holidays. Which feels slightly ridiculous because I swear summer just started, but apparently Christmas has already entered the chat.

And then there’s Halloween.

We have absolutely no idea what our family theme is going to be this year.

So if you have ideas…

please send help. 🤣

Through all of the chaos, though, there is something really beautiful about looking around and realizing just how much we’ve built.

A shop.

A family.

A business.

A life that doesn’t always make sense from the outside—but somehow makes perfect sense to us.

And now, apparently, a raccoon kingdom.

Thanks for being here with us through all of it.

Whether you’re buying something, sharing a post, reading these little Bench Notes, watching Maigen figure out social media, or just following along for the occasional raccoon chaos—we genuinely appreciate you being here.

Until next month,

Dustin & Maigen

Urban Carvers 🖤💚