Playing Catch Up

I had planned on getting on the torch today, but the morning is already half gone and I still need to dip mandrels.  So the game plan for today is being revised.  Instead, I am spending time cleaning and straightening up the house so everything is done & set for the week.  Tomorrow will be a full day on the torch with very few breaks.

This weekend went quickly, but I enjoyed the time with my kids.  I took the boy child to a surprise birthday for a friend and we got to race in a go-kart together (poor boy child inherited his momma's midget genes and had legs about 8 inches too short for reaching the pedals, so we got a two seater and I drove).

Atlanta has been hit with clouds pouring cats and dogs over the last few weeks.  There is much grumbling about all the rain.  But I just smiling, thinking to myself "I'm so thankful this isn't snow!"  I do feel bad for my honeys, though.  It has eliminated any chance for going to the courts and hitting a tennis ball, which is a huge stress relief for him.  And good exercise.  And I love his tennis buddies and that he can spend time with them.

After months of fighting friends about joining Pinterest, I have caved.  And as I suspected, I got sucked in.  Quickly.  I created a board to showcase jewelry using my beads because I 1) love seeing my beads grown up and 2) love to showcase and support other artists.  So if you have used any of my beads and have them displayed on your blog or in your shop, please shoot me a link so I can add them to my board!

I was asked to speak at the Southern Flames Demopalooza yesterday morning about photographing beads.  For forty five minutes.  I agreed and then wondered if it was possible to talk for 45 minutes about photographing beads.  But I ended up speaking for closer to an hour.  Wow.  I shared comparisons between photographing beads and photographing people (and there are many) that help make an interesting photograph.  I should have known the time would go by fast when speaking about two of my favorite things!

New changes are coming.  I'm not sure what they are, but I can feel it.  The same anticipation and nervous/excited energy are filling my body similar to what I felt in the months prior to leaving the phone company last year.  Perhaps part of it stems from my trip to Miami a week ago and I felt my spirit just get charged up.  Part is knowing that several friends and family members will be exchanging vows this year and I couldn't be any happier for them.  And I will be there to photograph they day of a few of those.  There are other things in the works (mainly with my photography business) that are moving me towards reaching my personal goals.  And part is filling a pinboard with so many crafts that I want to try with my kids.

Like this one might just have to happen this week.

I know I've been quiet on the blogwaves over the last two weeks.  Catch me up.  What'd I miss that's happening in your world?  What are you looking forward to next?

Finding My Balance

Why am I so scattered lately?  I finished my Christmas shopping before Halloween, yet I am still rushing to get so many things done.  I feel like I'm getting next to no time with my camera or my torch.  How did I get everything done when I worked full time?  We got our Christmas tree up last week and decorations inside the house set out.  It's looking like the outside of our home may not get decorated this year.  Thankfully we have a gorgeous home across the street to gaze upon from our dining room and bedroom windows.  :)

This post really makes me smile.  I love hearing/seeing when goals are reached and dreams become reality.

Love LOVE LOVE this post and encouraging people to grow from failures.  But then, I just love encouraging people.  I think we are all capable of more than we know and having our own cheerleader helps us get closer to our goals.

This has been my week for catch up on so many fronts.  Laundry.  Cleaning out cabinets.  Family blog posts and photo/file organization.  Photography orders.  Family calendars designed & ordered (the one year I didn't do it, I was threatened within an inch of my life by multiple grandparents.  note-to-self, do NOT make the grandparents angry by failing to deliver calendars.  ever again.).  My mind is clearing as many things are crossed off my mental To Do list. 

The kids will be out of school for the next two weeks and I can't wait to spend every minute with them!  We will be taking a little roadtrip with friends to a nearby canyon in Northwest Georgia.  Baking cookies.  Christmas crafts.  Playing outside (bless the South and temps in the 50s and 60s and sometimes the 70s in the month of December!) on bikes, rollerblades, scooters and tossing around footballs, baseballs and hitting a tennis ball back and forth.  Family is flying and driving in.  Another roadtrip up the coast to visit my best friend in North Carolina may work out (fingers crossed).  We will be painting a couple of chairs and making cushions for them so the kids have their own special desk chairs.  These next few weeks are going to fly by.  I just know it.

Those beads above will all be going into the shop at 2pm EST this afternoon.

Random Tuesday

So after weeks of NOT being on the torch, this morning I am.  And working with my windows open in my studio.  I love winters in the South and that there are so few weeks spent in the 30s or below.  And that there are days in December where we are graced with temps in the 60s or above.  I'll stop gloating now.

After weeks of being away from torch (even though I carry my lighter in my pocket to feel closer to my flame, because I'm a dork like that), I am enjoying being back on it today.  I'm making discs.  And flying saucers.  And other non-traditional shapes, just because they are fun.

My eyes don't normally look like bug eyes.  But my hair is long enough to pull through the back of a ball cap, which is cool.  My hair hasn't been this long in a few years.

This past weekend, a little girl in the next town up went missing.  Highways were shut down.  Her body was found yesterday.  I won't share details, other than my stomach hasn't stopped churning.  And that I continue to shed tears for this family I don't know.  I am hugging my kids tighter and longer.

This morning, we kissed and hugged my in-laws goodbye before they started their trek back to Minnesota.  There were tears as we drove away to take the kids to school and not just from the back seat.  They stayed almost three weeks and couldn't convince them to stay longer.  It was three weeks of awesomeness.  I just LOVE having them here.

We will get our Christmas decorations up this week.  After I clean up the downstairs.  The kids were thrilled Todd pulled out one of the boxes last night to retrieve their advent calendars.

If you follow my facebook page, then you already know I gave away all of my bead inventory.  That's right.  All.  Of.  It.  I had originally thought after deactivating everything in the shop after my little Cyber Monday sale that some sets would make reappearances in a few months with new photos.  And that I would break up some matching sets and create new mixed sets.  But now that possibility is long gone.  Clean slate delivered in a jiffy.  So now I have a BIG fire under my feet to make more and quickly.  My goal is to be on the torch every day this week and next.  After that, the kids are on Christmas break and torch time will come to a halt as we break out the craft projects, hot chocolate and daytrips to see friends and family.

I'm ready for the UPS man to drive down my street.  He's not arriving quickly enough today for my liking.  He has an important package with a wedding album I designed and I don't want to wait anymore to hold it in my hands!

If there is something you want to see in the shop, leave a comment and help me plan my time at the torch for new items.  I'm not a fan of senseless obligations, so there won't be any strings attached for you to buy it just because I take up your suggestion.  :)

I believe all of my beads from the Cyber Monday sale have been delivered now, with the exception of one worry stone that took a trip across the pond to Great Britain.  She may be waiting a few more days.  I've heard from a few folks with squeals, so that's neat.

Happy Tuesday!  I'll be back soon with pics of what comes out of the kiln tonight!

Random Wednesday

Today is being spent cleaning up the house, doing laundry and playing with fire.  Headpins will be going into the kiln, in addition to beads.

I just found out my in-laws have decided to come a little earlier than previously planned, which means they will be here in time for my birthday.  Over.  The.  Moon.  Happy to know the people who mean the most to me will all be at my dining room table for my birthday.

There are already a dozen beads in the kiln and all of my new shipping boxes have been stacked neatly on my shelves.  Most of my new glass has also been put away in my glass cabinet.  My supply of boxes had severely dwindled to just a handful, so I ordered a hundred new boxes last week in three different sizes.  I think that will help with holding smaller amounts of beads better and it is also spurring a change in shipping pricing (I'm eliminating the additional $0.50 riding each extra item.  I will still waive shipping fees for purchases $40 and up).

Faith is an easier concept for my children to grasp than death.  Thank you for all of the kind comments and emails you have sent my way regarding Maggie.  The house feels empty without her, especially at meal times when she would have been the first one lined up and waiting at her food bowl.  Or her nightly ritual of making two rounds around the downstairs before heading upstairs to her crate.  Her protective presence is greatly missed.

I am getting made fun of for my love of the papyrus font.  I'm waiting to hear suggestions on alternative fonts that I would like just as much, but so far those airwaves are silent.  I am still snickering at this website that was shared with me, though.

Jezzie is still just as much of a snuggler and company keeper.  She was on the arm of my chair while I was melting glass.  By the time I got my camera app opened, she was climbing the back of the chair and giving me a kiss on the nose when the shutter closed.  And this picture freaks me out because it flipped everything from right to left like my office/studio is laid out completely different than it is.

Today, I am replacing toilet seats.  Exciting stuff.  I also cleaned the half bath from ceiling to floor.  Walls and baseboards included.  Before I left the phone company, I hated cleaning.  But now I am embracing it and finding a strange sense of accomplishment in my days.  No, this is not your opportunity to invite me over to your house to clean.

I will be photographing a wedding in a little over a week and am very excited about this.  This weekend, I will be going back to the location just before sunset to better scope out perfect spots for the bride and groom.

I love these boots, but think it may be awhile before I can save up for them.

Due to not being on the torch at the end of last week or beginning of this, I have moved my shop update from tomorrow to next Thursday.  There are reminders of the date/time at the top of this blog and my shop that show the next update, too. 

My hair is growing out and is now past my shoulders.  I've got an itch to cut it, but don't know what I would do with it.  Plus my year from the last hair cut isn't up yet (cause I typically only get my hair cut once a year).  I'm just thankful that it's not giving me headaches.  Yet.  Cause I'm a wuss with my thin hair.

That is all.

I'm Still Alive

I can't believe it has been a month since I last blogged.  Time has slipped through my fingers.  Thank you to those of you who have reached out via text, email and facebook to check on me.  Who have randomly sent me messages encouraging me, telling me you don't know how I manage to keep up with so many things in my life, asking me how I keep up with so many things (gosh, how I wish I felt I were keeping up!) and to just do the best I can do.  You don't know how much I appreciate you.  And others, I see faithfully hitting my blog to see if anything new posted that might not have shown up in your blogroll.  You all really are just the best!

We'll play a quick catch up.  The last week in March, I got a little over 31+ hours of sleep in one week.  It was miserable between nightly storms with Little Horse's panting and late work nights.  I got sick and spent six days with a 102+ fever.  That carried into our spring break, which meant I did not participate in the Taekwondo camp with my family and spent over half sleeping in our cabin.  Up until that weekend, I had refused to go to a doctor because I knew I would just be told to keep doing what I was doing....alternating advil/tylenol, sucking down fluids and getting lots of rest.  But I broke down on Monday morning because Tuesday we would be starting our roadtrip to Florida and I didn't want to be sick through our entire vacation.

The doctor in North Georgia told me I had the flu and she thought I was on the tail end of it.  If we hadn't been leaving for Florida the next day, she would have told me to suck it up and come back in 2-3 days if not better.  So she prescribed my antibiotics and steroids, which kicked my fever two days later and had me feeling back to 100% on day six when we drove home.  I lost eight pounds in the process.  Two weeks later, those pounds have not come back.

We visited a rather cold Jacksonville Beach and had the pleasure of meeting up with one of my friends from work who is just THE best.

And a crowded Disney World (note-to-self -Thanksgiving is SUCH a better time to go to Disney if we go again) where I was thankful I had long lines to rest in, which gave me breaks from walking from one ride to the next.  I loved that throughout the parades, Chloe would shriek "She KNOWS me, Momma!  Snow White KNOWS me!"  I heard that for every Disney princess we saw.  And then, "And there's the Princess and the Frog and that Princess does not know me.  But she will."  She was so matter of fact about this and would not back down when her brother insisted that the princesses did not know Chloe.

Our last day was spent at Clearwater Beach.  The kids had a blast and I had so much fun just sprawling on my beach towel photographing them playing in the waves.  Another note-to-self - if changing clothes and applying sunblock in a restaurant bathroom before hitting the beach, do NOT miss the backs of the knees with the sunblock.  At the end of the day, we drove into Tampa and met my good friend Chel.  I have known her for almost 20 years and she was my maid of honor at our wedding ten years ago.  We rarely talk on the phone and are bad at keeping up through email.  But no time has passed and we can pick up right where we left off and catch up quickly when in person.  I wish she lived closer.

We drove home on a Saturday and spent most of Sunday doing laundry, straightening the house, driving to the trainer's/kennel to pick up Little Horse.  I was so thankful my Dad had called during our vacation to offer to drive up and cook us dinner Sunday night.

The next day, I took Little Horse to the vet's to start his heartworm treatment.  He came home two days later with steroids and valium to get him through storms, along with strict orders for no exercise jumping and four weeks of crate rest.  Then he can start round two of the heartworm treatment and another four weeks of rest.  Yegads and leetle fishes.  Twenty-one more days of rest until round two starts.

This past weekend, I took the kids out for a mini-photoshoot.  I was a bit crabby because they took FOR-EVER to get several things done I had asked, so we were off to a late start.  During the middle of the photoshoot, Little Horse chewed through his leash and took off running for close to a half mile at top speed.  And I lost my cool, yelling at the kids asking why I don't have problems with other kids listening to me when being photographed.  Really not one of my finer moments.  I was thankful when Monday arrived this week.  I had planned on re-washing my fabric and ironing to prep for cutting before piecing and then quilting.....because this boy thinks it is the best nap spot in the house.

I have these beads clean right now, although I still need to photograph each set individually to go into my Etsy shop.  I have another 50+ beads hovering over my kitchen sink waiting to be cleaned.  It has been over a month since I torched and am pretty sure my torch is giving me the stink eye every day.  My goal is to have the beads ready for a Saturday shop update (as in April 23rd, the day before Easter).  But I'm not making any promises and will firm up a date/time as I get closer to having all the beads cleaned/photographed.  The eggs need to be etched.  And the buttons on the bottom mandrel are already off to a new home where some of you may see them grow up on another blog.

I promise to not let another month go by.

Awesome Blog Award

I received this from Gunilla last week.  Thanks Gunilla!

I am to post 7 things about myself that you may not know.

1.  I took piano lessons for ten years as a child.  I once played a duet in Spivey Hall at Clayton State College with Mr. Roger's wife.  I was able to teach myself most of a Bach invention, but never finished.  I got just a few measures from the end. 

2.  I was born in Chicago, moved to St. Charles (the first Capital of Missouri), then to Salt Lake City for a year and finally to Atlanta.  I have been here since 1983 and still do not consider myself a Southerner.

3.  I know how to crochet, but don't know how to knit.  I want to start crocheting again and make blankets for my kids.  Nobody got back to me the other day on sending extra hours in the day to me.  Hello?  Anyone out there?

4.  I love to travel.  Perhaps this was instilled early on as my Dad held every position on the ground with Delta Airlines.  I love the smell of jet fuel, walking through the airport, take off, flying through the clouds and over crop circles, landing, meeting friends and family outside of baggage claim.  I love that I still have flight privileges through my Dad and can fly (easily, at least by myself) at reduced rates if I fly stand by.  I also love road trips and will choose that whenever I can and it won't eat up more than 40% of the vacation time I have allotted.

5.  I used to be an avid reader, oftentimes in the middle of 10-12 books at a time.  I could pick up any one of those books and immediately start reading where I left off without scanning and remember exactly what was happening.  I'm lucky to finish two books a year now.  I think that speaks to how much time I have alone (it is impossible to read to myself when any other member of my family is around.  they all find reasons to speak to me and ask questions).

6.  I use a curling iron maybe once every five years.  It normally gets pulled out when there is a wedding to attend, but I am debating on tossing it as I am coming to the realization that if my curls fall out within the first hour it is just not worth the extra effort.  I use hair spray on an even fewer/farther between basis.

7.  My Mom instilled in me the belief that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.  I have no doubt that I can learn everything I want about photography (it was just unusual to have that little panic attack last week about meeting people and whether or not I was really qualified to be in the workshop) and become successful at it.  There isn't much that I haven't tried to build with my hands, from bookshelves to a 12 foot shed in our backyard.  I hope that I am able to pass that on to my own children.

Feel free to nominate yourself and play along.  Come back and let me know if you did!

The Week is Flying!

Suddenly, Thursday is almost here.  The day when I have to be packed up and out of the house before 6am to fly out to San Diego for five days.  I'm excited and nervous. 

Do you think geese ever get nervous about their travels?

I have fallen behind on my Project 365 on Flickr.  Maybe I can catch up while I'm out in California next week.  Or maybe I can be more realistic and say the weekend after I get home from California.

Tonight I will be testing out of my white belt for an orange in Tae Kwan Do.

Yesterday, Jezzie climbed the willow tree in the backyard.  I climbed up to get her the first time.  Two minutes later, she was back up in it so I decided she could get herself down.  She ended up dropping about 10 feet, but landed on all fours.  Jez walked away rather slowly and stayed away from the tree for much of the rest of the day.

I still need to do laundry so I can pack tomorrow.

There will be no time for the torch before I leave on Thursday.  Boo hiss.

Todd got home (late) last night after spending a long weekend in Minnesota to surprise his mom for her birthday.  They got over a foot of snow on Sunday.  The Minneapolis airport canceled 700 flights on Sunday.  I was thankful he got out yesterday.  Todd said he had to have seen at least 80 snow plows busy clearing runways and the ramp while he was on the plane.  And many, many de-icers.

Maggie is snoring on my floor with no regard for the noise she is making.  At least she isn't making stinks, so that is good.

I will be closing my shop tomorrow night.  So tomorrow will be the last day to take advantage of my little sale (there's a link on the upper right of my blog, if you didn't know).  I will re-open my shop on Tuesday, March 1st.  Still contemplating taking that day off from work so I can spend it on the torch and readjust to the Eastern time zone after having just enough time to acclimate to the Pacific time zone.  :)  This really cool focal is still in there, just waiting to find her forever home.

This girl will be testing for her orange belt on Friday night.  I will miss it.  I missed the boy child's test from white to orange before Christmas, too (I was at the girl child's Christmas concert).  I am bummed.  I will also miss out on Owen testing for his yellow belt.  Sigh.

I can't wait to see my friend Sara and her boys after I land in San Diego on Thursday morning.  This time, she won't be confined to the hospital like in November when I was out there.  When I got to hold her second baby who was 30 minutes new to our world.  She has promised a trip to the San Diego zoo (working to coordinate that so I can see Mellisa, too!) and to drive me to/from the airport and up to Oceanside where my photography workshop is on Friday/Saturday.  I'm so excited!

My boy child is gradually becoming more and more helpful around the house.  If he sees the recycling basket overflowing, he grabs it on his way out to the car in the mornings before we drive to school (without being asked).  I really like eight.  And the girl child helped me clean out all the cat boxes and the laundry room this weekend.  She even washed the walls (without being asked).  I think I also really like six.  :)  

We have had exceptionally warm weather over the last week and a half.  This time last year, we had snow on the ground.  This weekend, we ate out on the back porch.  In short sleeves.  And it was good.

Peter, Paul and Mary is in the back of my head.  All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.  Except they aren't and I'm not.

I am really hoping for a lunch at Jack in the Box on Thursday.  It has been a good eight months since I have had one of their tacos and I think I am over due.

I think I have watched less than five hours of tv since the start of the year.  The sad reality of no 24 this year or Jack Bauer to watch.  Instead, I try to keep up with my photo editing, family blog, laundry and scrabble duties.  I'm behind on all of those, too.

If anyone has any extra time in the day, please send it to me.  Kthxbye.

It's the Simple Things

That make me happy.

Warm silverware and plates as I unload the dishwasher

The last sweet kiss from my kids before they get out of the car to walk into school

Even when I get ocular migraines (where my vision gets all pixelated and screwy), I don't feel any pain and the residual headache after my vision returns to normal is just a little, dull one that a couple of ibuprofen ends quickly

The last words I hear every night are "Sweet dreams, honey.  I love you."

My hounds and my cats like to keep me company in my office while I work every day

Jezzie perched on my shoulder like a little bird as I walk around the house

My heated mattress pad cranked up to high a good nine months out of the year

Shadows of the leaves blowing on the tree outside my window.  I see the shadows on the grass and in my office on the floor and my desk

These two buttons will be in my shop update this Saturday afternoon.

I'm not sure what else will be going into the shop, but I'm on the torch tonight (hooray!) and plan on making as many beads as I can before I pass out from exhaustion and hit my head on the torch.  ;)

And in honor of this being the month where I begin my third year with Etsy, I'm taking 30% off everything in both shops if you use the coupon code THREEYEARS during checkout.  Through the end of the month!

Looking Back

This week, I am finding myself looking back.  These things have been on my mind, running in circles that just won't stop.  Good and bad, but I'll alternate so hopefully the bad won't be too overwhelming.  I just need to get them off my chest and feel better after writing.  I promise to have cheerier topics next time.  :)

My cousin's Mom died last week.  Between divorces and geographic distances, it had been years since I saw her Mom Nancy.  Nancy was an incredibly crafty woman and made some of the most beautifully smocked dresses I have ever seen.  She battled breast cancer two decades ago and had a slew of other health issues, but was always quick to laugh.  And I'm doubly sad for my cousin because both of her parents are now gone and she is too young to be without parents.  I took Chloe on her first plane ride when she was barely two weeks old when we flew back to St. Louis to see my Uncle Phil shortly before he died six years ago.  Sigh.  I know both are in a better place and free of cancer and so many other ailments that plagued them for years.  But I am still sad.

Nancy posted a youtube video here re-capping our trip to NYC two weekends ago.  I had so much fun with these girlfriends and wish we all lived closer.  Preferably in a warmer climate.  Like mine.  Where we had mid 70s this past weekend and opened up doors and windows in the house!  I even took a short nap outside in the front yard after the kids had a picnic with friends.  It was such a wonderful reprieve to see the sun again after weeks of snow, rain and downright dreariness.  I want the sun to come back soon!

I spent two hours on the torch last night.  I didn't make as many beads as I would have liked, but I did make my way through a custom order and that feels good.  Maybe I can make more beads tonight.

My friend Beck's dad died recently.  And for her, I am happy.  She never knew a life without abuse and fear because of how horribly he treated her.  Now she is sleeping through the night and finding some semblance of normalcy in her daily life without a nagging horror in the back of her mind wondering if/when he will show up again.  I couldn't be any happier for her knowing that she is able to have more than fleeting moments of happiness and calm.

I have been waiting since Thanksgiving and counting down the days for my photography class with Karen Russell to begin.  Yesterday, it began.  I couldn't be more excited about this 9 week course and everything I expect to learn.  Karen is super organized and even has audio and mp3 files to listen or download in addition to the written PDF files!  So.  Very.  Excited.  Her website for the class also makes it very easy to see what has been added (by herself or other students) since the last time I viewed it.  Woo hoo!

The girl child's Kindergarten teacher emailed me today about her wearing her older brother's boots and leaving marks on the floor throughout the school.  Chloe helped clean them up during recess, but isn't allowed to wear the boots to school anymore.  I replied, apologizing for her being a nuisance and promised the boots will not make any more appearances at school.  Her teacher wrote back, saying Chloe had not been a nuisance and how much she loves having Chloe in her classroom.  That she has matured incredibly over the last five months and is a complete joy to have in class.  Such nice reinforcement to hear when it is easy to question our parenting methods and wonder if we're on the right track at times.

Little Horse is now half way through his first month of treatment for heartworms.  He gets six horse pills of antibiotics daily and a decreasing dose of steroids throughout the whole first month.  He is enjoying the peanut butter that covers the pills and drooling even more on my kitchen floor while waiting on meals to be set down in the mornings/evenings.  I didn't think more drooling was possible, but it is.  I'm just happy he isn't in any pain and is so far not showing any side effects to the meds, other than increased panting.  But then, we're used to his panting after having had him as part of our family for the past year.

Since the kids are both signed up for Tae Kwon Do, lessons are free for Todd and me.  Tonight is our third lesson and we will receive our white belts.  Thursday night will hopefully be our third lesson when we can earn our white belts.  Todd is feeling really crummy and not up to going tonight.  :(  It is excellent exercise (I'm still sore from our class on Saturday morning), even if I am getting schooled by a bunch of teenagers.  At least they are gracious and kind, which helps lesson the sting.  ;)

Twenty three more days until I fly out to San Diego for a two day photography workshop with Blue Lily Photography.  Meg is in the same workshop, so what a treat that will be to meet her in person!  Not sure what I'm looking forward to the most, but seeing my friend Sara and being with her family is right there with the photography workshop.  And the warm temps!

My company made this documentary video and it sends a solid message on not texting while driving.  Texting while driving became illegal in Georgia just last year.  It is still legal in many of our states.  The consequences are sobering.

Thank you to the wonderful people who came to my jewelry and bead shops this weekend.  I hit 670 sales in my bead shop.  A number which sounded completely unattainable to me when I opened my shop two weeks shy of three years ago (hmmm, perhaps a three year celebration sale should go into effect this month?).  I am so very grateful for those of you who support my glass addiction by buying my creations and those of you who just stop by and leave encouraging words about my work.  You all rock!  My family thanks you, too...this has allowed me to buy a wonderful camera and take pictures better than I thought I would ever be capable of capturing.

I hope the pictures helped lighten the mood somewhat.  I hope I sleep better tonight for having put my thoughts into written words.  If you're still reading, thank you for sticking with me :)

Wednesday Randomness

We are getting back into the normal routine after not hearing alarm clocks for over a week of snow days. 

My headpins got included in this cool treasury!

Monday night, Tabitha drove down and joined Cassie and me for dinner before the Roswell Photographic Society meeting.  We had a wonderful time together, enjoyed some good Mexican food and talked about our cameras/photography.  I had submitted this photo of the girl child and was thrilled I received an honorable mention at the end of the evening!

I cleaned up the kitchen counters by the end of last week and am feeling so much better about walking into that room.  Next step is to re-arrange some of the cabinets.  I can do this.

My girl child is doing well in karate and is receiving commendations for being loud (when she yells Yes Sir!).  Finally.  A place that is pleased with her volume.

I took Little Horse out last night and ran more than walked the 1.2 miles.  Hopefully it won't be much longer before I can run all of it.  And then run longer.

I need to do laundry.  So I can pack.  So I can take advantage of that free frequent flier mile ticket and fly up to New York City on Saturday morning.  I can.  not.  wait.  I'm meeting Erin, Lorelei and Nancy for a girls weekend away.  I also need to make a Mississippi Mud Cake to pack up and bring with me.  I'm worried about the smackdown that Nancy might deliver if I show up empty handed.

I am looking forward to next Tuesday and taking the day off from work to take a lampworking class from Sara Sally LaGrand on using silver glasses.

And I'm also looking forward to the end of the month when my photography class with Karen Russell begins.  I am so loving my camera and am excited about where it may be taking me!

After bringing Little Horse back home, I hopped on the torch for an hour and a half and made two new sets of beads.  I also worked on cleaning up my torch table a bit more.  And after setting the self timer on my camera and getting a couple of pics, I remembered to put my safety goggles back on.  Please don't try that at home, folks.  Safety goggles are a must at the torch!

Nothing sold after my last shop update, which left me wondering if my beads seemed too pricey or if folks are just caught in the post-Christmas budget slump.  I know my beads were a little higher this time, but that just reflected the cost of the glass for more specialer colors.  Yes, specialer is a word.  

So.  This week (and next) I am focusing on making some of my more popular beads.  Some with raku.  Some etched.  And some eggs.  Since I'll be gone this weekend, I won't be doing a shop update.  I had contemplated listing new beads on Friday, but I didn't think that would be fair since I won't be around on Saturday to pack and ship them out.  So I think I'll just wait until the following weekend and hopefully have more to throw into the shop.

I made a video that I plan on sharing later this week.  I need to finish editing it and then get it uploaded to youtube.

My pile of clear shorts is being whittled down in size and my torch table is slowly getting cleaner!

My girl child is now cooking dinner for us once a week.  The boy child has been doing this since September.  While I am helping a TON, I am enjoying the fact that I am technically only cooking five nights a week now.  :)

It's never too late to be who you might have been ~ George Elliot

And on that note, I'm planning another trip to San Diego for next month to take a two day photography workshop.  I am simultaneously thrilled and nervous as I'm finding that chasing my dreams is a bit scary....I am in awe of how things are falling into place and happening for me.  I am so thankful for my friends who have encouraged and supported me.  Who tell me life is short and to take the necessary steps to improve my skills so I can get to where I want to be in my life.  Who cross their fingers and say prayers right along with me that I'm on the right path.  

And for my husband, who has supported me and my heart unfailingly.  Unwaveringly.  One hundred percent.

Thursday Randomness

These little guys made by Ms. Pearl and Pebble watch over my work laptop every day.  They make me happy.

Here is my To Do list that starts off this year.  I have been on a slow and steady roll of simplifying, tossing and organizing.  I still can't believe that I filled up 7 garbage bags with recycling/shredding from my file cabinets last month!

I have been intrigued by the Project 365 in the past, but never participated. This year, I am participating here.  It is my first real attempt at actively using Flickr and it was a rough start with some gnashing teeth.  I am slowly starting to navigate through the options and menus more easily, but not as comfortable as I would like.  Yet.

Courtney made these cool earrings with my beads.

I am contemplating doing the 52 in 2011 self-portrait project, which is one self-portrait each week. I think this would be a bigger challenge for me in that I would have to constantly find new/different ways of photographing myself. I would also have to use the self-timer and figure out focusing issues since my new camera does not have a wireless remote like my last one. I admire Julie Kittredge's photography and think her go at this project in 2010 looks pretty fantastic here.

I saw this truck and it made me smile, remembering how the teasing of classmates was slow to register when I was younger.  My maiden name is Ford.  It took weeks, if not months, before it registered that when they were saying "Fix or repair daily" or "Found on road dead" that they were using acronyms for my name.  I am still somewhat slow on the uptake for some jokes.

My friend ThyHand blogged about comments and how much they mean here.  These thoughts echo my own in how much your comments mean to me.  It seems like I never have as much time as I would like to do the things I want to do.  Responding to all comments (at least those of you who have been so kind as to allow your email address to pass through for comments for replies) is something I would very much like to do and I feel guilty when I don't respond back.  Email is one of my downfalls in communication.  I find my inboxes (yes, there are multiple inboxes between beads, personal and then my work inbox) extremely overwhelming.  So just know that all of you majorly cool people who do comment bring a smile to my face when your comment comes in and I apologize for not always responding back to you.  I am thankful for you.

I can't seem to find any before pics of our family room, but it was filled with a blue sofa and love seat that I loved.  And a tall entertainment center that had doors to shut in front of the tv (yay!) and many cabinets that housed the kids toys (another yay!).  We gave away the blue furniture to a friend starting a new life and the entertainment center to another friend in a similar situation.  After a few weeks of emptiness, we moved the furniture from our living room into our family room.  And then for months, the wall behind the tv was empty.  I didn't want to be in the room.  It didn't feel like home.  But over Thanksgiving, I finally got my act together and uploaded pics and ordered prints.  And by the first week in December, I had everything framed and matted and hung up (I had been hoarding frames for months and months as I found great deals at the outlet mall or IKEA, which consequently freed up quite a bit of space in my office!).  So here is what our family room looks like now.

The rocker/recliner feels a little out of place, but it has always been up in Chloe's room ever since she was a baby and I have missed sitting in it.  And since I'm rarely the one watching tv, the spot is just fine by me because this is one of THE most comfortable chairs ever!

I love my wall of photos.  I took all of them but just a few of the black and whites and that makes me proud.  I never thought I would take pictures good enough to blow up to 8x10s or larger.

Now I love spending time in this room or just walking through it.  No longer having an empty wall, but one filled with pictures of special moments makes me feel like this is home.  And it is.  :)

Tonight I will be sewing patches on the boy child's karate uniform.  And reading one of my photography books.  And walking Little Horse, since there won't be rain tonight.

So.  Very.  Happy.  Tomorrow is Friday.