Doodle Sun Love Pendant~~a bit of bench time!

Had a bit of selfish and lovely bench time last Friday.  How fun!  Bent over, sawing, hammering, the hands remembering the skills to take sheet brass and copper and fashion a funny little pendant for myself.  It's been forever.

This year has been a life-changer. We now have five grandchildren: age 8, 2, 20 months, 18 months and 5 months with another baby boy in a few weeks.  What an overwhelming blessing!  Every minute with them, in person or on Skype or Facebook, is a privilege of joy covering my "mature person" tiredness.  

My Dad passed away suddenly July 5.  He was 80 and blessedly didn't have to suffer for a long  time.   We never had a good relationship, but I am grateful to him for the example of hard work and duty.  

We are left with Mom.  Mom is fading mentally and still lives by herself for now.  It is so very hard for me to  witness her diminishment.  Since I am the child who  lives the closest, I see her frequently and my husband and I help her in every way we can. My wonderful siblings travel here when they can.  For that I am so grateful!

 My husband and I both still have our "day jobs" and do not want to give up grandchildren time.  So we balance it all as best we can, which frequently leaves us so burnt out we must fall into each other's arms with exhausted chuckles. We pray.  We thank God for what we have and ask for strength for what we must do.  Sometimes I just cry, then wipe my eyes and get over it.

I don't know if I will get back to the bench this year.  I don't know what the future will allow.  I do know that I will do my best to follow Christ, loving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind.  And I will strive to love others as I love myself.

So I send love and the wish of Shalom to you all~~my precious readers.  

Working on Christmas Ornaments

Every year I make ornaments for my family.  Just finished the prototype for this year's model.  Kinda like a steampunk angel, y'think?  I have to make at least 20 of these...I'd better get moving!

Earthquake!

Earthquake this morning!  A town near us, American Canyon, was hit by a 6.1 quake this morning at 3:20 AM.  

I almost slept through it!  I was deep, super deep asleep and I woke to my husband shaking me awake.  Then I noticed that the bed was shaking wildly.  It went on for a while, and when it was done, the dogs were barking and the kitty wanted me to feed her.  Stress, y'know.

Vallejo was pretty lucky. Windows smashed in businesses, and chimneys falling in the old houses, but no major tragedies.  

I fell back asleep after an hour.  Just an earthquake.  No big.  :-)

On a happier note: here's a pic of the finished cross earrings: 

Spoken for and on their way to a good home this week. 

Hoping for a bit less excitement this week.

Hope for the same for you~

WIP Cross earrings

I kept busy this weekend.  Bit by bit at the bench.  Measure, cut, smooth, hole punch, stamp, rivet, make earwires.  I will still add dangles and play a bit more.  It does feel satisfying to create!

August 17th!!! What!!!  This summer is flying past.  Kids are starting school.  The Pleasanton, CA Scottish Games are ramping up.  My DH volunteers a whole week to set up and take down.  A big family deal every year.  In 1996, when we were dating, he took me to my first one.  The kilts, clothes, music, vendor booths are a fun tradition.  Labor Day weekend.  Come by, OK?

I am still alive!

Just inundated with grands~~What a blessing to enjoy our little ones.  Here we are at a wedding for one of the girls.  See how dashing my hubby looks?  Kilts, gotta love 'em.

We are so busy with family, work and life....I must try to stop by here and post more often.  Where can I purchase more energy?  lol~

Bless you all, my friends.

Charm Cross Earrings

New listing in my Etsy shop!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178774944/garnet-and-cross-charm-earrings?

Spent a couple of my hours at my bench~~so lovely to get lost in creating!  

Bless you all.  I've got to get to cleaning and bed. :-)

Playdate with Catherine!

Last Wednesday, I had the funnest best day!  I got to spend the day with Catherine Witherell at her beeeeaaaautiful studio.  I forgot to take any pictures because I was having too much fun looking at all of her treasures, her projects, books, tools, amazingly organized areas, her dogs AND her "rock and roll bathroom"!  ( very cool)

It was kinda like soul vitamins for the artist in me....SO FUN!  

Catherine is kind, smart and generous.  She made an amazing lunch of yummy lentil stew, some deelish carrots basted with honey & herbs & balsamic vinegar and blueberries and raspberries.  Sooooo good!

Her dogs are sweet.  I think that Cookie and I are pretty good friends now.  

I made her a present, and she said she'd treasure them always.  I told you she's kind!

Thank you, Catherine.  It was the best day.