Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Black Friday ~ Cyber Monday Sale

Black Friday ~ Cyber Monday sale going on in my Etsy jewelry shop. 25% off all instock items. Sale ends Tuesday morning at 5:00 AM CST.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Until next time.....

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Crystal Lake Never Looked So Good


We finally made it up to Crystal Lake this past weekend. We hadn't been up since May. Between our schedules and the HEAT this past summer, we were unable to travel up the mountain.
This is what a man made lake or pond looks like when someone (the previous owner) lets trees grow on the dam. The roots caused the dam to leak. In the winter, the water covers the rock, which is to the right of the picture. The dam is in the background. Basically, the entire picture should be water. One day it will be.
We found a dam man that will fix the leak. It will take a lot of destruction and replanting, but hopefully we can get Crystal Lake back to it's glory.

It's really difficult for me to come back down. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll be able to go up more this fall and winter.
Oh, the bottom photo is a sandstone rock.
Until next time.....





Friday, September 2, 2011

Labor Day 2011 Sale



I'm having a Labor Day weekend sale in my jewelry shop beginning today, September 2, at 9:00 AM CST and ending on Monday night, September 5, at 11:00 PM CST. Everything is 20% off. Prices have already been changed. Many items will not be back in the shop after this, so if you've had your eye on something, now's the time to shop.

Hope y'all have a big weekend planned to usher out Summer. We'll be grilling up a storm. Considering that they're calling for rain, that may be exactly what we'll be doing!

Until next time.....

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Farewell Chippy Paint



Happy September! The summer garden is winding down and I'm beginning to plan the fall garden. I'm looking forward to all of those fresh greens. And turnips.

On another note, there will be a big change in my jewelry shop this fall. I am retiring my chippy bead board that I use for my jewelry photo background. I just feel that I'm ready for a change. And the bead board has lost most of it's chip! Slowly but surely, I will be replacing all 200+ photos. I think I'll start with replacing only the first thumbnail. I'm planning on using handmade paper that I purchased on Etsy. Thank you dear bead board for the years of service. I will miss you. xo

Until next time.....

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Wish I Were Here

sitting here




on a sunny day




or a stormy one.

it doesn't really matter what the weather does. i just need to hear the sound of the sea.

until next time.....




Friday, July 15, 2011

CIJ ~ Christmas in July Sale



My CIJ sale began this morning in my jewelry shop and will run until Sunday, July 24th. Everything has been marked down 15%. I need to take some time this weekend and do some shopping myself.

Enjoy the weekend.

Until next time.....

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Saturday Afternoon Cat Nap



While John is busy cutting grass and I'm busy taking jewelry photos, someone is taking a Saturday afternoon cat nap. Must be nice to be able to root under the covers and take a snooze. Oh well, I'll never know. It's time to put up peaches. Have a great weekend.



Until next time.....

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

They Grow Up So Fast!


Here's a bird's eye view of Mrs B feeding her babes.
Below: Two of the three eggs hatched. This photo was taken on June 24.








Above: July 1 and feathering out beautifully.

Below: Mother Nature rocks!




I hope I'm home with the camera when the babes leave the nest!

Until next time.....






Monday, June 27, 2011

How Does Your Garden Grow?


We've had a week of rainy days mixed with sunshine. Our gardens are growing like crazy!
Above: Broccoli
Below: Corn and tomatoes with a layer of mulch. I started staking tomatoes. The lima beans and purple podded green beans are beginning to climb up the trellis.







Above: Squash is starting to come in. Yellow squash pictured. We also have zukes and white patty pans.
Below: Basil. Time to head to the grocery and stock up on vinegar for basil garlic vinegar. Pine nuts and Parmesan are also on the list. We freeze our pesto in ice cube trays, pop them out and store in freezer bags. Then we take out however many we need when we're ready to cook.







Above: Dill. We freeze fresh dill weed and dried dill seed.

Have a great week.

Until next time.....








Friday, June 24, 2011

Happy Bird-day




I was outside taking garden photos, so I decided to look inside the bluebird box to see what was happening. Much to my surprise, two of the three eggs hatched. Newly hatched baby birds! I quickly closed the lid, so as not to disturb them. At this point, Mr and Mrs B are used to me poking around. Bluebirds are one of the few nesting birds that don't mind if you take a picture or ten. I'll try to take more photos as the babies grow. This shot was taken on June 20.

Enjoy the weekend.

Until next time.....

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Ruby




Vintage ruby red vintage glass prisms and beads are front and center on the workbench. July's birthstone is the ruby, so I'm designing a few pieces with these vintage beauties. They're either in the shop or will be there soon.
Enjoy the first day of summer. Our's is a HOT one!
Until next time.....



Friday, June 17, 2011

How Does Your Garden Grow?










We finally got a REAL rain! Two hours worth. That makes for one happy garden and gardener.

I hope you're getting the weather that your garden needs. Now to lay some mulch down.


Pictured from top to bottom are:

1. Garlic blossoms with bumble bee

2. Fried green tomatoes anyone?

3. Clematis

4. Tomatillo starting to climb

5. Lavender, astillbe and hydrangea


Until next time.....








Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wordless Wednesday



Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Settling Into The Summer Work Schedule



Although I've never been one for schedules or lists, in the summer I have what is the closest thing to a schedule. Early mornings, check Etsy. Then head outside to tend the gardens.


When the sun starts to bake my brain, I head indoors, shower and get to work in the studio. In the air conditioned studio. I have quite a few new pieces either in the shop or waiting in line.

Enjoy the lazy (who wrote that song?!) hazy crazy days of summer.

Until next time.....

Sunday, June 12, 2011

How Does Your Garden Grow?











These pictures were from this past week. The gardens are growing like crazy, despite the fact that we've had zero rain. I've been watering and mulching like a mad woman. I think we're in for a long, hot summer. Again.

From top to bottom we have:

Lavender

Parsley seedling with oyster shell marking. I use oyster shells to mark all of our plants in the garden.

Squash hill.

Dill and green onions.

Garlic blossom opening up.


Here's to a fantabulous week, hopefully with a splash of rain.

Until next time.....







Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Rabbit Crossing


As cute as they are, rabbits are not welcome in my garden. The food that I grow feeds us for a year. I'm learning how to rabbit proof the garden and have been pretty successful with it, so far.
Below is a photo of the chicken wire that stands between the cute little bunnies and our beans. It worked last year. Here's hoping it works this year.
The earrings will be available in my Etsy shop some time this week.
Until then.....







Friday, June 3, 2011

How Does Your Garden Grow?


Above: Eggplant with a cap.
Below: Garlic beginning to flower









Above: Looking through the trellis of the half moon garden. You can see garlic, onions and eggpants. There are also a few early tomatoes, tomatillos, cukes, beets, morning glories and thyme.

Below: The blue rose continues to bloom like crazy! White rose growing in the background on the trellis.







And finally, some of the tomatoes right before they got transplanted into the garden.

I need to get out there and work before it starts to get hot. We've been having unseasonably hot temps in the high 90s.

Until next time.....








Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Moving Day



We have a couple of bluebird boxes in the back. We also have a bluebird feeder that I bought several years ago, thinking it would be cool to feed bluebirds since they don't eat at regular bird feeders. That's it, in the foreground. We bought the feed and put it out but the bluebirds never came to eat. But they do seem to like to use it as a house. Why not? Great view with an awesome fixed glass window.
Yesterday, a couple decided to move in. I tried to get a few shots of them without freaking them out too much. I didn't want them to leave.
Today I had to till the round bed and transplant peppers. The nest sits in the middle of the round bed.
Below: Mr B staking his claim.








Above: Mr B checking out the progress from the south door.

Below: Mrs B with a mouthful of pine needles. They both build the nest.




Below: I think that's Mr B inside the box, adding to the nest. They finished the nest. I finished transplanting peppers. I'm heading outdoors to water them in. Bluebirds are not shy birds and tolerate being around humans. Hope they get used to me fast because I'll be knocking on the door when the eggs are laid and again when they hatch.

Until next time.....















Saturday, May 28, 2011

Memorial Day Sale




15% in my Etsy jewelry shop this weekend until Monday night. See shop for details. For those of you with a long weekend, have fun.

Until next time.....

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Going Fishin'



John's got fishing on the brain. He's been talking about it for weeks now. He even went shopping for new gear. Note: this guy hates to shop. So now he's got a pile of new colored things with odd names.

He got out his two tackle boxes from when he was a kid. I almost died! All of those beautiful vintage lures were staring me in the face and all I could think of was getting my hands on them to repurpose those beauties into jewelry.

There's a whole new school of fish in my Etsy shop. Hopefully soon, I'll be adding some vintage lure jewelry.

Until next time.....