Thursday, May 31, 2012

Blue Nile

This is new on my website.

The longest hammered spear in the front is 3 inches.  You can wear it longer or up closer to your neck.  It's a luscious piece and has earrings to match.  I love these earrings and will probably be doing more to be sold separately, these two pieces go together.


So if you have a Queen's attitude, these are the pieces for you.

Smiles

Sunday, May 27, 2012

More trail fun

This was last week, the end of the four mile loop at the Independence Trail.

We skittered down the first part down to Jones Bar, soaked in the water there.  Next we trudged up Jones Bar Road and then cut back up to the main trail.  Finally we spent a long time playing in the water in Rush Creek with a bunch of really cute Cub Scouts and then headed back.


I can't decide which of their profile shots are better.  Is this my good side?  Wait, try this.

Today I've got another big batch of pesto to make, some strawberries and apricots to freeze and four pounds (ok, less because they are yummy) of cherries ready to try some brandied cherries.  The industrious ant hard at work.

AND, we had rain last night, with thunder, it was glorious!  Today it's clean and fresh and sunny, perfect weather.

Peace to you and yours from me and mine.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Dogs, water, mud, oh my!

I call this reconstituting a Corgi.

Dip...

Shake...


Ahhhh, ready to roll in the mud...


And because this is Bode he will be rolling in the dirt in no time.

Peace

Friday, May 25, 2012

Lion Food

Hopefully not, but this new sign makes me extra alert.

And since this area is my backyard (really) I will pay attention to the dogs barking a little more.

I would dearly love to see a mountain lion but not up close or as it's carrying off one of my boys for a small snack.

Peace

Saturday, May 19, 2012

More fun in Texas

Sorry, I'm catching up on things I missed...

So, looking for fun and funny things to do we saw that the Buda County Fair was going on and they had WIENER DOG RACES!  I had to see those so we headed a bit south of Austin.  We ate fair food, giant pickles and corn dogs and had sweet tea served by lovely ladies.  I don't eat most meat but corns dogs are not to be missed, yum!


It's really hard to see the little devils but they are in a big boxed starting gate while the handlers call and whistle and wave toys at them from behind the line at the end of the field.  Then up goes the starting gate and they scramble like crazy to get to their peeps.  It was hysterical.  The crowd was huge and many of them had brought their own wiener dogs to cheer on their little friends.  I've never seen such a hoard of Dachshunds, all sizes, all colors, some with long fur, some short.

And, while my plan to eat tacos at every meal was foiled I did manage a couple of days worth, breakfast tacos are the best.

Peace


Friday, May 18, 2012

Back with pics

Whew, that was a long 15 days without my laptop.  I was able to limp along with my Droid but still couldn't upload and tweak pics to any great degree.

But I've bought a few more days with my old laptop and will probably buy a new one soon depending on how irritated I get with this old one's sticky keys and general lack of speed.  I want it right NOW dammit, not in 30 seconds, ha!

The weather is glorious if a bit dry, my life is pretty freaking fine too.  I'm feeling sassy and ready for some summer fun.  My road trip is put on hold for now but there are satisfying travel plans in the future.

Here are a some pics of the newest earrings out of my studio using some of the huge batch of bronze pieces  made in my last bronze clay frenzy.

These are bronze and copper.


 Bronze and carnelian.


Bronze and turquoise.


Bronze and turquoise.


Most of the turquoise I use is from a Kingman mine in Arizona.  This is stabilized turquoise, as is about 97 percent of turquoise available today.  The process drives resin into the stone at high pressure and does make the color richer but no color is actually added.  A truly natural gem quality piece of turquoise will cost several hundred dollars.

Peace

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Happy Birthday Baby!

My darling baby girl is 24 today. 
I remember almost melting during the unusually hot and humid May and longing for her to be born.
Watching this child grow up has been one of the greatest things in my life.  She's filled my days with smiles and my heart with joy.  She's helped me prove that you can overcome a painful past and move on to a rich and loving future.  I've been privileged to watch her use her tenacity to succeed in many things.
I wanted to post a few baby pics but I'm limping along without my laptop so that will have to wait.
A joyful and loving life to you, my daughter.

Monday, May 14, 2012

House Firsts - Mothers Day

My first bouquet from my own garden.
The day itself was busy and I was fiercely missing my two babies.
Oh well, maybe next year. I can't be in Texas every week.
Peace

Sunday, May 06, 2012

First place

My Masters level team placed first in the winter hand gun league!
It's a lot of fun to see us improve individually and as a team.  For the first time I'm enjoying a competitive atmosphere, fostered by good natured and humorous people.
It's definitely a group of people you'd want on your side as they not only shoot straight but excell in their daily lives as dentists, painters, carpenters, nurses and real estate agents to name just a few.
Well, time to get going.  It's sunny and the boys are waiting.
Peace

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Magical cottage

I cannot believe how beautiful it is in my front yard.
Azaleas, rhododendrons and the flowering dogwoods are bursting.  I sit in my front porch rocker and enjoy the view and the birds singing and the cool mountain air.
But now I'm off to the Range for practice and then to the studio to work.
Life is good.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

New Jewelry

I love these new mixed media earrings, mostly sterling silver and hand formed bronze.  A couple have the new ear wires I'm developing, they are larger and set off the earring a bit more.

These are from my personal collection, the little pine cone medallions are sweet.


These are sterling that has been flame darkened, along with unpolished bronze.

Bright sterling and bronze.

Again, bright sterling and bronze, can you tell I used an "o" stamp to texture the silver?

Sterling and bronze.

These are the biggest, very striking earrings of sterling and bright bronze.  I think they are almost three inches long.
Enjoy, lots more coming soon.

Peace

Sweet Home California

Left Austin at 7:00 am yesterday and landed in Phoenix at 7:30 am after a two hour flight.  Flying can be so surreal, it just doesn't seem real to jump time zones like that.

But I'm home and loving every minute of it.  We're in the middle of the glorious sunny and 70's which makes my heart sing along with the birdies.  The flowering dogwoods, rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom, my front yard is a paradise.

Just doing the usual home things.

I managed to lose most of the pics I took, gone in the phone ether, but found this image of the Owl building in downtown Austin.  The legend is that this bank building was designed by a Rice University alum (their mascot is the owl) which now looks grandly over the U of T Longhorns.  I don't know if it's true but the building is spectacular.

Being with my family in Texas was heavenly, watching each of them grow up in their own particular way is so much fun.  There is nothing better than long armed hugs from my tall handsome son and having my daughter lay her head on my shoulder.

Life is good, ever changing, frequently challenging, but good nonetheless.