Friday morning

The snow has receded enough that I can turn around in the driveway, instead of going to the next neighbors turn-around and backing up my drive. It's so exciting. Then I backed up a friends iced-over drive, narrowly missing a tree or two. This is not a typical Virginia winter-but in general the driving is becoming routine instead of thrilling, and I am back to the usual routine:driving Della to community college classes, Esther to youth group, Classical Conversations and ortho appointments, and the dozen weekly local errands.
This morning, between trips, I am catching up on paperwork. Have a turkey tortilla casserole all made up in the fridge (very freeing to have dinner done), and so Della and I are going to visit a couple thrift stores on the way to pick up Esther.
No new jewelry to report. I am playing around with coral beads right now. Bright colors are calling to me-all I see outside are brown trees and fences,surrounded by white and grey snow. I did buy The History of Beads (Lois Sherr Dubin)which was $100 in B&N, but I got this copy off Ebay for $27 shipping included. Which shows how bored I was while snowed in-normally I don't have the patience for auctions.
Off to Culpeper!

Valentine's Day Jewelry

This pendant is a (dyed) blister pearl, with some beautifully matched Czech glass and rose quartz beads. And a heart clasp, since I was in a Valentine's Day mood!

Ancient Roman Glass Jewelry

Last anniversary I asked for beads-these are made of Roman Empire era glass. I have been trying to find more info on these beads: supposedly they come from the Nimroz province of Afghanistan, and most if not all are made from the old glass, found as shards, and melted down and remade into beads. However, the strand I found on ebay shows surface oxidation (I think?) and I wonder how that could have survived remelting.
As someone who always enjoyed the Romans and their history I love these beads even if I can't absolutely prove their provenance. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.

The Improvised Bird Feeder

We've had so much snow that I've felt that feeding the songbirds is a necessity, like feeding the chickens.

Sarge and Mochi

Sarge is older and likes to sleep near the fire in this cold weather. Mochi, on the other hand, is quite young and active. She just likes the company. Sooner or later Sarge will sigh resignedly and move off the pillow. Then I come and take Mochi away, he moves back into his spot,and a few hours later we do it again.

5 PM Wednesday, 2/10/10

We only got about 5 inches of snow and we are very relieved it wasn't more. Larry's been shoveling and tomorrow he'll be tackling the iced over gutters. Even though the government might open tomorrow, he's not going to go in till Friday.
I'm hoping to get out, though, and make my monthly tea at Panera's. My contact with the outer world has been limited to one trip to Walmart within the last 10 days!

In the Midst of Snow, remembering last May (2009)

This was last week:
Saturday 16 May-Larry drives down to see Ansil graduate
Sunday -girls and I move furniture out of living and office rooms after church.
Monday-CJ tears up carpet (YUCKY)
Tuesday-Ansil is home and helps CJ put down laminate flooring. Wonderful.
Wednesday-last classes for girls. I will never darken GPCs doors again. Hurrah! Rush home and start tilling.
Thursday-last school related activity, a field trip and picnic. We are done except for independent studies that they can finish on their own. Back home, start planting.
Friday- all day in garden, press Ansil and Esther into helping. House doesn't have furniture back in place, but Ansil's party is the next day. Della keeps working on that.
Saturday 23rd-Ansil's going away party. Fortunately, weather is great and so people are mostly outside, since we still haven't put all the furniture back. Belle adds excitement by having 2 babies (now our total is four)
Sunday-church, home to pull the oxen out of the ditch...finish putting house back together, continue with garden since rain clouds are looming. Doesn't rain, but we fall into bed exhausted (or, besausted, as Morgan the 4 year old says).
Monday-Since it didn't rain, we rush into phase two with the garden. I make sure that things are mulched so the rain doesn't repeat the Nile Delta scenario of last year, when half my garden soil went south after torrential rains. Daughter Laura and husband CJ stop on their way home from Ohio, and as they arrive with their two tired children, Victoria the goat has three babies in the dirt in the pigpen. Filthy little goats, colostrum, and grandkids all over the place. We fall into bed exhausted (wait, did I already say use that line?)
Tuesday-the girls all want to do their delayed birthday outing. CJ agrees to stay with grandkids, Larry leaves to take Ansil off to join the Army, and I take Della, Esther, Laura, Hannah, and a friend to Unique, a big thrift store in Fairfax. We make it home before rush hour and start doing chores while grabbing bites of pizza; I have bought fresh fruit and baby carrots to go with it, since otherwise we will have all had nothing but donuts, coffee, bagels, and pizza today. Surprise! Another baby goat. That makes eight bottle babies. I lose it and announce that I am GOING TO TAKE MY BATH AND THE KITCHEN HAD BETTER BE CLEANED UP BEFORE I COME DOWN.

The only picture I can find of myself

This is a necklace I made last month, that I was very pleased with. Granma gave me the pendant and the long green stones were some I bought when I had just started beading. I bought all shapes of green stones for $2 a strand, but then I wondered if I would ever use them...well, having a good bead stash shows results. The metal spacers were Granma's leftovers too.

Total cost of this necklace (and earrings to match) was $17, and I hope to sell it for double that. I'd like to fund future purchases with an occasional sale. I looked through a upscale art and jewelry store in Fairfax back in December and their necklaces started at $65 and went up from there, and most of them were well within my expertise.

If I end up consigning my necklaces, that adds to the cost, so I'd rather sell them directly. But you know how much of a businessperson I am!

Snowed In, AGAIN

As a Virginian, I would wave a white flag. Except it wouldn't show up against all the snow, anyway.

What a winter. Extra wood had to be bought after the cold came early, and now we are having to pay for a second plowing of our mutual drive. Three of the four houses on our road will split the cost this time.

Meanwhile, I made a resolution to try and create something every day this year. I did pretty well through January then got stuck on a labradorite necklace on Jan 21. But 2 days ago I conquered it and completed the set (earrings and necklace). Labradorite is a grey stone will inner blues and greens, subtle, and I had to find other elements that didn't overwhelm it. I used 3 sterling silver beads that are my particular favorites. Della says she'll help me put a picture on later.

Then the last two days I've been working on some Valentines Day jewelry for gifts. Tomorrow (last snow day I hope!) I'll tackle some other project that's been in my 'works in progress' drawer.