Family

I was just catching up on reading family/friends' blogs and got "homesick" reading my stepmom's blog (www.jacksonwanderings.blogspot.com).  I didn't realize how much I missed them, and how much I can't wait to see them in May! (& Jeff & Ade :)  God is good isn't he?  I'm so thankful tonight for the love & fun of friends & family, and the added sweetness of sharing truth & reality in Him.  Thursday I get to spend some time with Lori, my "adopted mom", as she flies out of Indy to Cali to see Jeff & Ade & the kids.  I'd normally work during the time she will be here, but by the blessing of God, I have 3 1/2 hrs for an early lunch to catch up and be blessed by her sweet fellowship!  I miss my friends & family so far away, but that makes the time together that much sweeter...5 weeks to California & Dad & Becky & Marshall!!!

My only birthday on Easter, ever...

Carl & Lori sent me a very sweet card for my birthday, along with an explanation of why we will never in our lifetimes see another Easter this early, and therefore, I will never have another birthday on Easter!

My 34th was very special, not only because of Easter, but also because I went to Michigan to see Dawn at Camp Michindoh!  It was very fun getting her out of the camp and to Battle Creek for some shopping for her new apartment in the health center (she is now officially the camp's health officer - if you need your blood pressure checked, she's your girl :).  Also for dinner Saturday night at Rosalie's, a local public house that reminded me strongly of Yesterday's in Granger in decor, if not in food. 

Mostly very good bar food, but we had sandwiches & wings & enjoyed ourselves thoroughly :).  Then to church on Sunday, one that Dawn had never been to that turned out to be charismatic! :)  But still a very special time to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  Then back to camp to fix dinner (pork chops, fresh asparagus, gemstone potatoes, deviled eggs, birthday cake & strawberries), and to wander around camp...Michindoh is beautiful, with stone & timber buildings, rocky streams & hillsides, and the lake - especially with 8" of snow on the ground & blue skies & sunshine.  Plus they have the largest water slide I have ever seen outside of an amusement park! (for use in summer of course :)

Then goodbye and back home to do homework and start another week of work & school - tomorrow, a "field trip" to my metalsmithing prof's studio to check out the fun tools :).  It's a beautiful week here, tho' chilly, with blue skies & sunshine, a welcome change from the dull winter grays - spring is on the way!

Hope you have a blessed week, and continue to live in the awareness of Resurrection Day.

First project...

This is a photo of my first official project for metalsmithing...a copper necklace for my chain project - individual leaf forms riveted together, with varied size rivets and soldered wire on the surface for texture.  I think I got a B on it - kind of bit off more than I could chew in the time I had, so there are some things I wish I had spent more time on.  But overall, I like it! :)

Soon to come...the LiteBrite ring! (for my toy-inspired project...)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Belated...)

I tried to post this last week and had trouble w/ my internet...

Right now I'm wishing I were with my friends at Fiddler's Hearth in South Bend, crammed wall to wall, listening to one of the best Irish bands I've heard, Millish!  And eating fish & chips from yesterday's SB Tribune, having a Woodchuck or Irish coffee... :)

But as a close second, I'm thankful to be home, listening to the rain and thunderstorm outside, one of my favorite things, and contemplating my next project for metalsmithing class, a wearable toy or toy-inspired adornment.

So far my favorites are a Lite-Brite ring (from one of my sister's favorite toys), a pick-up stix bracelet (kind of dangerous, but oh so useful in a dark alley), or the one I think I'm going to go with...you remember those little square plastic looms that you used stretchy cloth bands to make potholders with??  I think I want to do a smaller, curved version of that in silver, as a hinged  bracelet, that uses rubber bands, with the hook as the closure - that way you can actually play with it :)  I'll keep you posted, and hopefully soon, post photos of my first completed, original project, due Wednesday - yipes! :)

It's been fun to go back & remember some of my favorite toys in researching this project - Etch-A-Sketch, Operation, Mr. Potato Head (I'd LOVE to do this one, but I don't think I have enough time...), Tinker Toys, Scrabble, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Dominoes, Slinky, a ducky pull toy, Cranium, Sorry, Chutes & Ladders, Springbok puzzles, that bouncy ball thing we used for transportation, also my Big Wheel! :)

What was your favorite childhood toy?

My Amazing Sister

Sorry to leave everyone hanging earlier this week :)  Dawn just finished her EMT training and while on ride-a-long in the ambulance (I think I have this right) they ended up in the emergency room and the nurse/doctor on duty had Dawn perform chest compressions on a man who had had a heart attack.  I think she said they worked on him for 15 minutes, but got him back and he is recovering!  I hope she doesn't have to use this training  at camp, but I feel safer knowing she can (except I'm not sure how I feel about my sister being able to break my ribs if necessary :)