My Happy Birthday

It's been an extremely busy and wonderful week. Had my daughter stay last weekend for Easter and to celebrate my birthday.

Saturday night my husband made me a wonderful birthday dinner of grilled steaks, mushrooms, fresh asparagus w/holondaise sauce, and a classic cheesecake factory sampler. We all sat around and talked while I opened presents. My husband and youngest daughter gave me sort of an IOU for a new camera ( now I just need to decide which one I want ) and my oldest daughter gave me a mp3 player ...the size of a matchbook that holds over 150 hrs. of music....just amazing! I will think of them and thank them every time I use them....especially when I'm taking photo's for my web sites and listening to music while I'm working.... instead of sitting in a quiet room :-)

Easter morning we hung out and talked while the girls opened their baskets. We all worked on putting our meal together. Dinner turned out great, my ham came out perfectly...just like the day and weekend. Then my daughter had to go back to her house :-( ....I wish she was closer...I miss her a lot.

I also got a very exciting letter from the fashion editor of a international magazine....I don't want to say any more than that right now ...cause I'm still not entirely sure what is all going to happen...cross your fingers and wish me luck!!..... I will keep you posted.

Thursday was my actual birthday and what luck UPS came that day with the metal working tools (minus my doming resin on back order ) I had ordered... also I was so pleasantly surprised by how many friends took the time to contact me to wish me a Happy Birthday.....everyone made it a great day!!

Was A Good "Good Friday"

Had a pretty nice week as well. My daughter was here all week for spring break...was nice to have her here and it makes me look forward to spending summer vacation with her. Although I think we watched 20 episodes of Zena The Warrior Princes ;-) ...one of her and my hubby's new favorites on Netflix.

I also placed a nice order for some metalsmithing tools, resin, and a gross of much needed practice blades for my hand saw...for my upcoming B-Day. I'm especially excited to be getting a draw plate....now I can keep my wire gauge inventory to a minimum...and draw down some of all the 12 gauge copper I have. Check out the link if you would like to see how this is done.

I tried a couple new recipes, low fat Chicken Cordon-blue and Malaysian Mango Chicken Curry (pictured). The Curry dish was especially good sort of like Sweet and Sour with a hint of Licorish and a kick. You can find the recipe at.... Allrecipes.com

Hubby Keeps Me Happy

My wonderful hubby Know's what it takes to make me happy...flowers..no. Tool's hell yeah!!

He surprized me with a wonderful heavy duty pair of metal shears...they are huge about 13" in length. Now I won't have to wrestle with that well loved but really old pair I have been using. They will cut up to a 16 gauge ...tried them on 24 gauge ..they cut like butta!!!

Spring is finally here although we have a bit of a cold snap going on now. My flowers are all comming up and I'm curious to see what's all there.

I have been busy with custom orders and getting the shops and galleries stocked for Mothers Day.

I'm still playing with glass powders and inclusions. And been working on designs made with heavy gauge wire. Also been working on jewelry made from recycled computer parts and plan to post some soon.

Spring....I want you now!!

This winter has been extremly cold and snowy. We had a few warm day's that took care of a majority of the snow that had built up....and made me even more anxious for Spring. We are in our second day of a winter storm lot's of cold winds and ice coating everything. I have been dreaming of Spring and planning my gardens and working on some things to decorate them.

Thought I would share a picture of concrete and stained glass stepping stones I made....maybe they will help some of you dream of warmer weather.

Now I'm off to fire some parts for some fused glass wind chimes....I will be sitting next to my kiln enjoying the extra heat and patiently waiting for Spring!!

January in Wisconsin

It's been a little cold and snowy...great weather for staying in and working on projects. Although a did get a few pictures of the snow the other day.

My thoughts have been on spring and warmer weather. I am starting to think bird baths and wind chimes.

I continue to play with powders and inclusions after a trip to the Science and Surplus store. I found different sheets of mica and a textured one I really like...creates lot's of bubbles though.

My husband is really getting into e-cycling and I am finding all sorts of neat little do dad's for jewelry, stuff for great tools, and stainless steel rods for making large hole beads. I think I am going to take them to a shop, get them cut into small sections and welded on regular bead mandrels. They are rather heavy as they are now. Also to buy them it's about $10.00 a piece, so hopefully I will save myself some money.

I am still working on healthier living and my healthier version of my favorite enchillada casserole was a hit :) Thought I would share the recipe...very easy and inexpensive.

ENCHILLADA CASSEROLE-LITE

1 lb. ground turkey

1 Lg. onion

1/2 c. chopped green pepper or mix of chilli peppers.

2 - 15 oz cans tomato sauce.

1 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar.

2- 15 oz can black beans, or other pinto and kidney work well.

1 -15 oz. can whole corn

1 sm. can sliced black olives.

1-2 Tbl. chilli powder

1- 2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic powder.

med size pkg. corn tortillas

2 tsp. olive oil... or any light oil

salt/ pepper

In a large skillet over medium high heat brown turkey with onion, salt, and pepper. Add spices, tomato sauce, corn, beans, and black olives. Cook on medium low heat till heated through, set aside. * mixture should be the consistency of chilli .

Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray then layer a thin layer of sauce mixture, 3 layers of tortillas another layer of sauce, then a thin layer of cheese, another layer of tortillas, repeat layers. Cover with tin foil.

Bake at 350 degrees 45 min to 1 hr.

Great served with lettuce, tomato, avacado slices, and reduced fat sour cream.

The kids and hubby are good.. and so is the dog...life goes on...as I patiently wait for spring!

Into the New Year

Well here we are well into the New Year. The holidays and my daughters birthday were really nice. Just us, no big hub bub...Although I did do alot of baking and cooking, we just hung around in comfy clothes, had a great meal, some game playing, and we watched a couple movies together. Very relaxing.

On the glass side: I have finally been doing a little fusing in my new, fairly well organised studio!

I made a bunch of different ornaments for gifts.....think I might put some out for sale next year.

I have also been playing with mica's and inclusions....and worked up a bunch of ideas for tiles...sorry not the greatest picture.

Tonight I am making my favorite enchillada casserole. I adjusted it to be lighter and healthier...we will see what the family thinks. I am also trying to prepare myself mentally for my 15 yr old's sleep over this weekend ;-) and patiently waiting for spring.

Doggy Rescue Update

Well Ruby has had her surgery and is healing nicely....It is so nice to see her feeling better.

She is just the sweetest dog and such a good girl. I can't wait to see what she will look like when her grows out...she just gets cuter everyday.

On the glass and jewelry end: I made a trip to the recycling center...what a great place. I found lot's of small cool metal pieces. A whole bunch of different metal wire in heavy and thin gauges. I also found some items that I think will make great tools for my lampworking.

On the home front: We had a wonderful thanksgiving...very quiet and relaxed. Just the four of us and my daughters boyfriend.

We have had the tree up for a couple weeks and me and my youngest have been working on the menu's.

The 24th we are having a birthday party for our oldest who will be 20... (omg how did that happen so fast.) We make her favorite meal and a special cake and put up balloons and streamers in front of the Christmas tree. lol. This year we are going to do something with red velvet cake...could be scary with Michelle in charge..lol.

On the 25th we will celebrate Christmas. I am hoping to talk the family into duck instead of our usual ham...we will see.