1-11-18


Today I've been trying to photograph and list a few LEGO minifigs in my Ebay shop.
It's slow going... but I will get it done eventually.

I've also been trying to take care of some things for my mom. 
Last night I fixed up a bookshelf for her that was in my grandparent's home when I was little. 
The shelves had split, so I glued them and braced them a bit better. I also brought up some of her favorite books, so she has them all in one spot in her room. I've also been working on selling her car. There is always so much that needs to get done... but as they say, a little bit at a time.
See you all tomorrow.


1-10-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Maddie Miller loved to eat.
From sun-up to sun-down, all she thought about was food.
As a little girl, she had elaborate tea parties for her dolls, complete with courses and desserts,
so it was no surprise that she decided to be a chef.
She worked her way through culinary school, and graduated with honors.
By the time she was 30, she had worked in over a dozen restaurants, refining her skills.
But what she really wanted.... was to own her own diner.
yes, diner.

It was the summer of 1984, and Maddie found the perfect place.
She had taken a spontaneous vacation to Denver Colorado, and as she was walking the downtown area,
she spotted a fabulous old gas station... now empty, and up for sale.
It took her a full year to remodel.
She was working full-time at a local hotel/ restaurant, and working at night to help fix up her dream place..
but every day brought her closer to making it all a reality.
Her opening day was spectacular... but it was the joy in serving her community that made her happy.
Taking natural ingredients, and making them into tasty foods made her smile.
Her tag line was "real food for real folks!"
And everyone loved her.

(and it didn't hurt any that she had over 30 kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches on her menu -- YUM!)

1-9-18


I know I've shown this photograph before... 
which I took at the VLA in New Mexico several years ago.
I am including it today, however, because to me it speaks of HOPE in the future...
something I desperately need today.
I hope you all have a great night... see you all tomorrow.

1-8-18


...am feeling quite discouraged today, and am not sure what to do about it...
.see you all tomorrow.

for the weekend


Most all of last year, I would include a haiku for my weekend posts. 
Lately though, I just haven't had the time or energy for writing much... something I need to fix.

But for now.... I hope you are all doing well.
It's bitter cold, and I am (thankfully) enjoying a nice fire in our fireplace... pup at my feet.
It doesn't get much better than this.

1-5-18


It's cold. Like... really cold.
Like... -30 wind chill, cold.
I must be getting old... LOL.

It's been an odd week... and frankly, I haven't gotten a whole lot accomplished.
I mean, the dishes are done... the laundry is caught up.
The floors are swept, carpet vacuumed... beds are made.
Everyone's been fed and taken care of.
But as far as doing fun things, or creative endeavors, or items to sell...
not so much.

I am sure it's just because with the weather being what it is, 
all I want to do is curl up with a book and hide in bed.
Normal, I would guess.

As soon as my energy returns, I hope to get busy in the studio.
I've got some lovely beads that are screaming to be made into something 💙
See you all tomorrow.

(below: Baltic Amber, Campitos Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli.
Further below: Beryl, Muscovite, Burmese Jade and Amazonite rondelles)



1-4-18


It's cold. 
Even the deer look a bit miffed about it.... not that I blame them.

Today my mom and I went through a box of photos, and I was able to label names on the backs of most of them. ... which is good.
I've been trying to post several a day for extended friends/ family on facebook. .. and it's been interesting to see the response
 and to be contacted by family I haven't even met.
Of the photos I posted today... this is one of my favorites. 
It shows my mom and her younger brother Lynn, her cousin Elwin, and her older sister Adeline. 
It had to be taken not long after they moved from Philadelphia to live near my mom's mother's sister's farm in Mina, PA.
City kids... meet the country folk.


1-3-18



Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Lots of times I make up interesting stories about the photos I post on Wednesdays.
Honestly, I can't imagine anything bad or strange... or even sad... happening at this house.
It looks like all it's seen are happy days...
Tupperware and Avon parties...
Cub Scout meetings...
younger sister sleep-overs...
perhaps even a garden wedding years later...

Plus... the car is cool.
What would your story be?
See you all next week.

1-2-18


well, it's a New Year!... welcome 2018.

If you've been following along on my facebook page, you will know that I had been doing daily photos for the  month of December that all featured Lego minifigs that I have. I am not sure I will continue doing them every day... but I did one yesterday, and I did one today (above). 
Who knows what this year will bring....

I do know that with mom now living with us (since early November)... things are a bit more problematic at times... in regards to finding time for creative endeavors... but I also know that if I don't keep living a creative life, and continue to make time for making jewelry and such
... I will go slowly but surely mad. It is what it is. 
So...

For now, I wish you all peace and love... 
and encourage you to make sure you carve time out in your busy schedules to take care of yourself.
Make art. Take a walk. Eat well. breathe. Snuggle your pup.

See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend & New Year


To all my friends and family .....
May your life be filled with joy and happiness and may each new day bring you moments to cherish.
May your days be filled with an abundance of love.

May your heart be filled with the joy of giving, as it is the expression of the love in your heart and the kindness in your soul. 
May this new year bring you peace and tranquility, and as you walk your path may it bring you contentment.
Much love, and the most blessed of seasons to you all.

12-29-17


... tonight is a good night for a fire in the fireplace... 
and for (perhaps) sitting down with a good book...
It has been brutally cold the past few days,
 with the trees moaning and cracking with the freezing wind whenever I take the pup out. 
I've filled the bird-feeder... and hope that all the wild woodland beasts are fairing well. 
It is these quiet lulls of winter that I love so much...

12-28-17


...yesterday we had a family dinner at our house, and a good time was had by all...
Today it is still a bitter cold temp outside, and I am grateful to be able to stay inside where it is warmer.
There are days when I get lots of things accomplished, and days when I don't...
today is a 'don't' kind of day... and that is alright. 
I have swept, vacuumed, done dishes and laundry... but am thankful that I made a huge pot of soup
 last night from some of the leftovers in the fridge, as that is what we are eating today.

If you follow along on my facebook page, you know I have also been trying to post old photos of family (mostly my mom's side at the moment).
As she is living with us all the time, I try to find things I hope she finds interesting and enjoyable... so we've been going through a few photos. 
But for tonight.. I am hoping for a large cuppa tea and a book.
See you all tomorrow.

12-27-17


Did you know that on Dec 26th 2008... I started my blog? 
And I have posted most every day since.
9 years. Hard to believe.

This morning it is about 10 below zero here on the hill...
the trees are cracking and moaning with the cold.
But we've a gorgeous view of the town courthouse, bathed in the dawning light.
See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend


Since I have a bunch of really cool people of so many faiths on my friends list, I want to wish everyone a Happy Festivus, Happy Hanukkah, a Kickin' Kwanza!...Blessed Yule, and Merry Christmas...and for the Atheists, have a great weekend -- may you all be merry and blessed.

12-22-17


Several years ago, the hubby and I went to Tuscon for a brief vacation... and stopped at the San Xavier Mission. I love it.
This is just a portion of the altar space in the sanctuary... and I thought it would be appropriate to share it today as it is so close to Christmas.
Hope you are all doing well. Today I am hoping to finish up a couple more custom pieces that need completed.

But here are a few I finished up this week (you can click on the photos to enlarge them):
--These are Antler and stone/glass pieces... and a walking stick that I carved, embellished and added a doorknob to as a handle.


-- and these are some pieces that I restrung for a friend, who sent me some bags of beads of broken jewelry.


-- and here is a sterling and crystal rosary that I finished as well. It is super tiny! with tons of teeny, meticulous wire wrapping on each bead.
I love the center and crucifix, which are hand-cast replicas of antique Catholic pieces.



12-20-17


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Phineas Phipps was a man of particularities.
Commonly referred to as Master Phipps, he was the headmaster at the local boys school, and had been for several decades.
He was well loved, and a joy to be around. Everyone adored him.
A single man, he was known to have dated Penelope Andrews for years; although no one knew if he actually loved Penelope, or if he was just fond of helping her do her inventory at the local ladies' lingerie shop. On the first Tuesday he would carefully help her unpack the boxes of silky underthings, delighting in the fineness of the stitching.... the clasps... and the many mother of pearl buttons on pieces she imported from Paris. You see, it was the details that stirred him deeply.
Whether is was a particular font in a book he was reading, the edging on an old coin, or even the manner in which his cat Gertrude groomed herself in the morning light... it was the details of a thing that mattered to him. He gloried in perfection.
He always shined his shoes.
He consistently dressed the table for dinner, even if he was only having a cucumber sandwich and tea. His rose bushes were trimmed to perfection, and his irises traditionally won first prize at the county fair. It was with great sadness that he passed away, having bent over to gaze at something on the ground in front of him as he walked to the baker's one day. Some think it was a button or coin, others think perhaps he saw flashes of sparks from the tracks... regardless, poor Phineas was too absorbed in whatever he was looking at to notice the oncoming trolley as is pummeled down Main Street. He passed away quickly, and quite neatly ... some thought... in spite of the horror of the event.
A few years later, when the trolley was taken out to make way for more 'modern transportation',
the Ladies Garden Club honored him with a spectacular rose bush... planted in the very place he died.
Some say it is blooming still... and of course, it's perfect in every way.

12-19-17


Another cool photograph. This one is small! but awesome.
It shows my mom on the left, with her next older sister Adeline. 
In the middle, is a friend of older brother Rays's named Rudy.
I love the casualness of it all... and I love the way the living room looks...
certainly a neat peek back in time.

Today is kinda crazy. 
I've been working on some necklaces that I am repairing for a friend... 
4 little baggies of beads that somehow need put back together. 
But we will get there. See you all tomorrow....

12-18-17



Last night I was going through some old family photos of my mom's... 
and my daughter was kind enough to scan a couple of them for me.
For today.... I have shared pics of my mother's parents... Viola and Allen. 
Aren't they wonderful?
See you all tomorrow.