Pumpkin Face in the Dark

My pumpkin all lit up in the dark night!

The children were excited and puzzled to see him, wondered how I did it...

Little Red Fox

Late this afternoon while I  was prepping for dinner I noticed a movement out in the garden. A fox had  come for a visit. Mark was out with the dogs. Just as I was heading out with my camera a neighbour called to tell he he was watching the fox on the garden, I told him I was heading out to see if I could photograph it. 

To my surprise and a little horror, the fox was not at all afraid of me, in fact maybe the opposite, he kept coming towards me, I scared him off when he got about five feet from me. He then just sat on the garden watching my neighbour on his deck.

red fox with black boots

gorgeous healthy red fox

Charcoal

I was quite delighted this morning when one of my Etsy treasuries made the front page! It had been a while... and it sure perked up my day!

charcoal

five pieces from this collection sold!

Happy Halloween!!

Whoohoo it is Halloween!! All the ghosts and goblins will soon be upon us! I do love seeing all the children in their costumes. I started to carve my pumpkin last night, and finished it this morning. A little harder to carve this year with my sore elbow. He is still pretty cool though!

pumpkin face, closeup

a blast from the past, me as a ghost, a long time ago!

pumpkin on the new rock patio

I will take a photo tonight when it is dark and post it too!

Petals of Pearls

My new listing this morning, pretty copper earrings. Copper findings paired with a pretty chocolate brown freshwater pearl.

petals of pearls

Edgy couple of days. Our local mill, where Mark works, announced two days ago that due to tough economic times, they are going to close the mill for one month, starting next weekend. Very early this morning, there was an explosion at the mill, in the old co-gen plant.  My terminology of exactly what it is is probably not correct. The mill is down now.. we will see if they close it earlier, or if it will be closed for a longer period of time. No time is a good time to close a mill or plant, but it just seems worse before Christmas. 

This has been a very crappy year. 

Silver in Copper & Lime Green Copper

I have been playing, creating with metal and pearls again. It would be easy to become obsessed with it. I do love both of them, and together they are fabulous.  To me they are.

silver in copper

mixed metal, gorgeous sterling silver and pretty copper, lovely combination!

lime green copper

Wowee beautiful bright lime green Keishi pearls and gorgeous bright copper chain and wire. I love the flow of the pearls and the chain! Such a pretty necklace!

Lake Freighters and Mountain Ash berries

Yesterday I went for my daily walk uptown to check the mail. As I came down the hill home, as our town is built on terraces, hence the name Terrace Bay..., I spied a lake freighter out between the Slate Islands and the mainland. Always a treat, I get excited.. I ran in the house grabbed my camera and took a few photos. I had to zoom, as it was about 5 miles away, and would have looked quite small. The fall is the season when we see the most lake freighters, as we get big winds. They come in closer depending on the direction of the wind.

lake freighter, Terrace Bay

mountain ash berries

I have also been wanting to go out and take a photo of the mountain ash berries. the tree are just hanging with berries, so pretty now that the leaves have fallen. The birds will have a feast! The berries are gorgeous, the ends look as though they have been stitches into a star. So pretty.

Silver Pearls

I  have been experimenting with chain, silver and copper. It is very new to me, and I am liking it very much. Well most of me is liking it, it however is not really a good thing for tennis elbow. Little bits, I work in little bits at a time.

I am very , very pleased with how this necklace worked out. I love the silver chain with the peacock silver pearls. It moves me, I love the feel of the necklace in my fingers, wowee. Funny maybe, but it is true.

silver pearls

Gorgeous sterling silver chain with peacock silver freshwater pearls!

Sidebars and templates

I am not really a computer kind of girl. I am learning but slowly..

I am trying to figure out how to change the size of my sidebar items.. such as my blog links, I would like the font smaller, and I can't figure out how to do it.

I am a copy and paste person, I do not know html.

If anyone out there reads this and would like to help please, please do! Thanks!

Red Hot Swirls

Luscious rich ruby red, gorgeous gun metal grey! Pretty earrings!

Love these pretty hollow glass beads! They are bringing me enjoyment, fun to play with. 

red hot swirls

I also love the findings I just bought from Metamorph's shop! Gorgeous work, love her oxidized silver! Check her out, you won't be disappointed.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Yummy!

Cookie recipe:

11.5 oz. dark chocolate chips, I used Whisper Chocolates brand

6 tbsp. butter

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

12 oz. dark chocolate chips, I used Whisper Chocolates brand

1 1/4 cup, chopped walnuts

Melt the 11.5 oz. chocolate chips and butter together in a small saucepan over very low heat, watch closely so it doesn't burn.

In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar together until very thick; stir in chocolate mixture. In a small bowl stir together the flour and the baking soda; stir into chocolate mixture. Gently mix in the remaining chocolate chips and the walnuts.

This will be a very soft dough. Refrigerate for about an hour, or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Drop heaped teaspoons of dough, 2" apart, onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, turning the pan halfway through the baking time, until a shiny crust forms on top but the insides are still soft. 

Cool on baking sheet until the cookies are firm enough to move onto a cooling rack, enjoy!

Lilac Swirls

Pale, delicate and oh, so very pretty! Lilac and dark black brown swirled transparent glass beads mixed with pale pink rose quartz and shiny sterling silver  chain.

lilac swirls

Soft Silver Gold & Blue Baubles

My listings from yesterday, I was too tired to post, I have been having some 

sleepless nights. Dreadful day here, wet and windy and miserable. Blech..

I love copper, as I have said before, I love most metal, I also have a thing for glass as well as pearls...

Soft Silver Gold

Gorgeous peacock silver and warm gold freshwater pearl necklace!

Blue Baubles

Copper chain with gorgeous blue green glass earrings!

Coffee Butterscotch Swirls & Copper Wheels

Two new listings for me today... I will admit, I am obsessed with copper, just a little.. I love its earthiness!

I am also obsessed with blown glass beads, hollow swirlies... so pretty!

Something new to play with.

coffee butterscotch swirls

caramel brown swirly hand blown glass rondelles with hammered copper ear wires and freshwater pearls

copper wheels

black ebony wood with shiny copper

Dog Leash and Grey Lapis Skies

Early this morning around 4, Mark solved our leash and dog collar mystery. He caught the fox in action, he was about to steal the cut leash away again when Mark startled him. As he was running off the back step he grabbed one of Marks work gloves, and proceeded to attack it, as it is were alive. He slunk back before Mark left for work and took the other one. What a little brat. Mark says he is a little red beauty! I am glad it is a fox who cut the leash, not someone...

I had the pleasure of making this necklace, as a custom order for a friend, for her mom's birthday present. I am very pleased with it! I hope her mom will be too!

 

Dog Leashes & Snow Drops

Generally we tend to keep our dogs leashes on the back step, unless it is raining out. This morning when Mark went to walk the dogs, the leashes were missing. He found them down the back lawn, well one was past the garden, and the other was way down on the hospital lawn. The one furthest away, was cut in two places, right through, cut off... and the loopy leash handle is gone...

Later I found a dog collar, that was also on the back step, on the hospital grounds, cut through, so strange, and creepy. Mark thinks a fox did it, cut through heavy webbing. I hope so, as it is really quite creepy to think maybe someone was in out year and on our back step last night.   

dog leash cut in two places, handle missing

New listing for today, popcorn shaped vintage German glass beads, black leather cord and gorgeous copper French ear wires!

Vision in the Driftwood?

The other day, Mark was moving our odds and ends around the yard while he was doing rock work. He leaned this piece of driftwood up on the old dog house. We noticed this face in the wood the other day through the kitchen window...

Mark and I see a man's face, my mom sees a dog...

Maybe it is our overactive imaginations.... what do you see?? Tell me please!

 

Rosy Rings of Silver

New earrings of the day! Gorgeous sterling silver mixed with rosy copper! Love the mix of metal!

rosy rings of silver

The Dark of the Year

I discovered when I got up this morning that one of my treasuries was on the front page of Etsy during the night. Gorgeous collection celebrating the dark of the year. Each piece has the word "dark" in their title.

the dark of the year

Coffee, Orange and Lemon Peel

Gorgeous earthy earrings, Gillianbeads fantastic lampwork beads paired with pearls and copper. Browns, orange,  yellow, and copper!

coffee, orange, and lemon peel

Spicy Ginger Molasses Cookies

My sister Marcy was just here for a visit. Yesterday she baked soft chewy molasses cookies, but they were not quite what she was looking for. She was trying to figure out how to bake a cookie like Starbucks sells.

Here is the version I baked this morning, after we doctored a recipe...

I have never had a Starbucks soft molasses cookie, so I was not sure what I was comparing to, it is getting closer but not quite.. our very hot spicy version, not meant for children, definitely an adult cookie.

Spicy Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. ground ginger

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 tbsp. ground cloves

1/2 tbsp. allspice

3/4 tbsp. white pepper

1 tbsp. cardamom

3/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tbsp, instant coffee powder

2 tbsp. cool brewed strong coffee

2/3 cup molasses

1/4 cup grated fresh ginger

3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling

12 tbsp. softened butter

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Stir together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, white pepper, cardamom, cayenne pepper, salt and cocoa powder in a medium bowl and set aside.

Whisk together in a small bowl coffee powder, coffee, molasses and grated ginger. Set aside.

In a large bowl beat together the 3/4 cup of sugar with the butter, until well combined. Add the flour mixture with the wet mixture in thirds, beating well in between additions. Scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Put remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Using a tablespoon, scoop out dough in rough balls, and roll in sugar, and place 2" apart on the baking sheets.

Bake for 14 minutes, and rotate pan halfway through baking. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing cookies to a cooling rack.

Copper Disks

Two pairs of earrings listed in one day! Pretty copper, simple earthiness!

copper disks

Blue Drops

It has been a few days since I last posted. Busy days...

My sister has been here visiting, it has been so nice having her here.

New listing for me.... pretty blue glass, black leather and gorgeous copper ear wires.

blue drops

Copper Black Wood

I am here early today. It will be a busy day for me. My mom and sister will be here early this evening. I have to clean... yuck ... I am not a natural born house cleaner. I am also going to bake a cake to bring over to our friends whose father passed away on the weekend. They have requested a chocolate cake, so I will bake the Rebar cake that I made for Marks birthday in March.

The sun is shining, I have bedding in the washer ready to hang out on the line. I hope it isn't too windy.

My listing for today! Copper cable chain with gorgeous smooth dark, black and brown ebony wood coins. Earthy elegance.... in a necklace...

copper black wood

Oval Stacks of Orange

The weather has turned back into chilly fall weather, brrr. The winds are blowing chilliness! The weekend weather was such a treat.

My elbow is not healing, so I continue with my one listing a day. I so want to weave again. I do love working with the colour of the stones, the glass, the metal...

oval stacks of orange

carnelian and copper

I went to vote earlier today and discovered that I do not have proof of address. My drivers permit has our old house address from before 911. I had to get someone from our street to vouch for me. Very irritating... ridiculous rules, everyone in the room knew me... phhh....

Red... Balls of Blue

Weird name for a pair of earrings maybe... it fit at the time.

My listing of the day....

...the day, deafening quiet here today. I miss Lu's funny breathing he developed from his tumors. The house was too quiet for my liking. I miss him so much.

red.... balls of blue

We heard this morning that an old family friend passed away yesterday. It feels like never ending sadness.

Littlebit aka Lu

I am really sad to write that we lost our beloved Lu this morning.

He fought a tough battle with cancer, he was a strong cat.

We will miss him dearly.

Littlebit

 (Lu, Bitty, Luce, Bub Bub, Bubby Joe, and countless others..)

1993 - 2008 

Rock Walls in the Backyard

Ten or so years ago, Mark built rock walls and and a rock patio in our back  yard. It started when he built the dog kennels, and put a wall around one of our gardens. He is now changing things up. We want a shed/workshop, so he will have to rotate one of the kennels to make space for it. He has moved all of the rocks, sidewalk and flower bed from in front of one kennel. He moved part of the raspberry patch as well. He is now in the process of redesigning and building his new wall. He says the rocks are heavier now than they were when he first built it....

I think it is looking good, Mark is very critical of his own work.

Strawberry Points and Pale Blue Pods

This week I got a box of supplies that I had ordered from the Etsy shop, frill.

I bought 5 linen busts from her, to display and photograph my necklaces. I also bought some very pretty glass beads.

pale blue pods

Pretty pale blue vintage glass beads, paired with  sterling silver findings and chain.

strawberry points

Gorgeous vintage German mottled glass beads, paired with  sterling silver findings and chain.

I tried to photograph both pairs of earrings on my copper boxes, but was not happy with the results. I remembered how pretty Moosewood cookbook's recipes are, and voila... my earrings are displayed on the Moosewood Fudge Brownie recipe!! I am very pleased with how the photos turned out.

Lu is not having a good day. He is still eating and drinking but has taken to sleeping under our bed. Good days and bad days... he still likes lots of attention when he is awake.

Thanksgiving weekend. Mark and I are home alone. Whoo! Holidays aren't quite the same when there is not other family around. Hopefully we will get some yard and garden chores done this weekend.

Chocolate Speckles on Copper

I received a new order of supplies today. In it was some copper ball chain. I will admit to being a little obsessed with ball chain since I have been a little girl. I had to order it when I saw some made of copper. Such fun stuff to play with!!

one of Gillianbeads gorgeous lampwork glass lentils...it sure makes a gorgeous pendant!!

Olive Chocolate Blueberries

My earrings for today, my little sanity....

I do love pearls! 

"olive chocolate blueberries"

Busy day for me today! How unusual...

I met with a friend for a hurried lunch before I had a chiro appointment. On to a financial seminar, then home for a quick dinner with Mark before he headed off to work a night shift. I went to check out a local enviro group who have asked me to become a board member, interesting group, I will consider it. Met my friend again and we watched a chick flick together, a treat.

The cat has had a couple of "good days". We all get so excited when he eats. All he chooses to eat are cat treats. Sunday he ate one, yesterday and today he ate almost 60 each day, whoohoo for Lu!! He is of course still sick, but he has life in him yet!

I am stalking a treasury on Etsy, so off I go so I don't miss it. Oh and to top off my evening I sold these earrings plus another pair of pearls!! Thank  you Maria!

Lilac Buds of Blue

Pretty little lucite, wood and copper earrings!

"Lilac Buds of Blue"

I started to take an anti inflammatory last week for the tennis elbow, but have had a reaction to the medication, so I stopped taking it. I will go back to Traumeel Cream and Traumeel tablets. A kind friend has suggested castor oil packs, so I am going to try it out. I did forget to buy some castor oil when I walked uptown. I will buy some tomorrow.

I had a convo on Etsy this morning, one of my rugs has been featured in this gorgeous blog, Peppermags! It is an honour and a huge thrill to be featured here!

Organic Lime and Blue Denim Sky

I have had what I think is a tough week or so. I have been on a poor me kick...

I have had tennis elbow for 3 weeks, and the doctor said to rest it for another 4 weeks. No cutting, no weaving, I have sales coming up, and not much stock. I   have all my felted sweaters here just waiting, teasing me...

My cat Lu is very very sick, he has cancer and is dying. We live 2 1/2 hours from the nearest vet. We had him there 2 weeks ago and were told to bring him home and love him. We are doing that, he loves to snuggle. He goes outside once a day, not for long. He is drinking but not eating very much. He is painfully thin, painful for us watching him fading away. He doesn't appear to be in discomfort, sleeping a lot. He purrs very loud when we pet him, and when he comes to sleep with us at night. He is not a good traveler so we promised him 2 weeks ago that we would not bring him back. We do not put humans down when they get sick, so we have decided to give him the same grace.. respect. Obviously if he gets worse we may have to change our minds. It is tough to lose an old friend, furry or otherwise. 

 I have become a sort of anti social hermit, I am not tolerating other peoples judgement of our decision of Littlebit's last days, very well. He is our cat, and we know him best.

To keep myself somewhat sane, I am allowing myself to make 1 piece of jewelry a day. It has been mostly earrings, though I do have other plans. One at a time.

"Organic Lime" 

Gorgeous yellowy lime green amazonite paired with light olive green freshwater pearls and a pretty copper leverback.

"Blue Denim Sky"

Beautiful sky blue lampwork Gillian beads, paired with denim blue glass donuts and an elongated copper kidney wire. I love blue with copper!

60 Years of Marriage!!

Mark and I traveled to Manitoulin Island late last week, for our summer vacation in autumn. We had the two dogs in tow, and went to help celebrate Marks parents 60th wedding anniversary. As each of their children came to camp over the summer Jay and Lawrence took them and their families out for dinner. We took our turn on their actual anniversary. Easier on the dogs to be at camp in the spring or fall. The Islands summer heat would be unbearable for our furry dogs.

Out for a celebratory dinner at the Anchor Inn, downtown Little Current. Imagine 60 years!!

"Jay"

"Lawrence"

I must say I was very surprised at how yummy our dinner was. Fresh whitefish with a roasted red pepper and feta sauce. Wow it was delicious!!