I've got too many balls in the air right now; I know I do, but there are so many things I want to do! Luckily, I don't have any tight deadlines right now, so I'll just keep juggling.
The garden is proceeding apace; we're having a load of planting mix delivered on Wednesday, and then my son and I will attack it with our shovels and get it into the new raised beds. The weeds are taking over the rest of the yard; but I expected that. A lot of them will die when it gets hot and dry; I'll deal with them later.
On the jewelry front, I'm still working on the set of instructions for Bead and Button magazine; I'm also working on a massively huge and intricate Steampunk piece; and, as if that wasn't enough, I've also started a piece for my mom for Mother's Day. Whew. I'm not usually much of a multi-tasker, but this feels right.
Writing instructions and drawing diagrams is rather tiring; it requires a lot of concentration, and I can't do it for long periods without feeling rather frazzled. The Steampunk piece is very involved, and I don't want to rush it, either. It's one of those pieces where I need to think before I move on to the next section. My first thought is often not my best thought. Mom's present is one of those lovely relaxing things to bead; the design repeats, and I can let my mind wander a little bit while I bead.
and as for housework . . . erm, best forget about that!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
It was a nice day today. Busy; but very nice. I was still on my "interior decorating" kick when I woke up this morning, so I hung a picture in our bedroom. It's one I had been meaning to hang in there, but hadn't gotten around to actually doing it. You'll be happy to know that I am much better with a hammer than with a screwdriver; the picture went up without incident.
The windows looked so nice with their new drapes and the pretty picture on the wall next to them, that I actually washed them. I don't know why I don't wash windows more often; it really only takes a minute, but it's something I just don't usually think to do. Or if I do think of it, I make a big production of it, and wash them all, inside and out. Maybe I'd do it more often if I just did a couple, like I did this morning.
Anyway, after that, I moved outside. While I was watering the trees, I pulled some weeds, and finally put the mulch down around them. I moved two more loads of dirt to the raised bed, watered my little flower garden, and called it quits.
I did a bit of beading, and then my order of little plastic flip-top boxes arrived, so I've spent the rest of the afternoon moving beads from zip lock baggies to boxes. I'm almost done. I really like these little boxes; they fit perfectly inside my bead drawers and make it very easy to see the beads. They also take up a lot less room than a pile of baggies.
Hmm, more room to store beads . . . guess I need more beads!
The windows looked so nice with their new drapes and the pretty picture on the wall next to them, that I actually washed them. I don't know why I don't wash windows more often; it really only takes a minute, but it's something I just don't usually think to do. Or if I do think of it, I make a big production of it, and wash them all, inside and out. Maybe I'd do it more often if I just did a couple, like I did this morning.
Anyway, after that, I moved outside. While I was watering the trees, I pulled some weeds, and finally put the mulch down around them. I moved two more loads of dirt to the raised bed, watered my little flower garden, and called it quits.
I did a bit of beading, and then my order of little plastic flip-top boxes arrived, so I've spent the rest of the afternoon moving beads from zip lock baggies to boxes. I'm almost done. I really like these little boxes; they fit perfectly inside my bead drawers and make it very easy to see the beads. They also take up a lot less room than a pile of baggies.
Hmm, more room to store beads . . . guess I need more beads!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Take my screwdriver - please.
Okay, so I am NOT Bobette the Builder.
Sigh.
I decided to hang my drapes. How hard could it be? Screw the brackets into the wall. The rest is even easier.
Okay, go back to the screw the brackets into the wall part. Erm, who knew it was so easy to strip a screw? And so hard to get it out once I did? Did you know that it is possible to break a screw in half, stranding the larger part of it INSIDE the wall? I didn't! and yes, I did it.
But nevermind all that; the drapes are up. I have more stubbornness than is good for me. They look nice, actually.
Just don't look under them.
Sigh.
I decided to hang my drapes. How hard could it be? Screw the brackets into the wall. The rest is even easier.
Okay, go back to the screw the brackets into the wall part. Erm, who knew it was so easy to strip a screw? And so hard to get it out once I did? Did you know that it is possible to break a screw in half, stranding the larger part of it INSIDE the wall? I didn't! and yes, I did it.
But nevermind all that; the drapes are up. I have more stubbornness than is good for me. They look nice, actually.
Just don't look under them.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Brass bonanza
I've done it again: Fallen for a new item and bought way too much!
A local antique store has boxes and boxes and boxes of brass charms, filigree, and motifs. A few weeks ago, I went over there, carefully rummaged through the boxes, and bought forty of them; today I went back and bought 108. Let's be realistic, shall we? What are the chances of me actually using 148 brass bits? Erm, not good. Not good at all.
But they were so inexpensive, and so cool, and I couldn't bear to put any of them back. I knew I'd miss them if I did. Maybe I'll be able to use them all.
I have good genes; I might live that long.
A local antique store has boxes and boxes and boxes of brass charms, filigree, and motifs. A few weeks ago, I went over there, carefully rummaged through the boxes, and bought forty of them; today I went back and bought 108. Let's be realistic, shall we? What are the chances of me actually using 148 brass bits? Erm, not good. Not good at all.
But they were so inexpensive, and so cool, and I couldn't bear to put any of them back. I knew I'd miss them if I did. Maybe I'll be able to use them all.
I have good genes; I might live that long.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
One of my better ideas
I'm bringing dessert to the family Easter celebration, and I wanted to make something easy to serve, something light for those who are watching their desserts, and something yummy for those who aren't.
Yeah, I like tough challenges.
But I think I've pulled it off. I made two kinds of shortbread, with orange and lemon fillings, and cut them into small squares. The nibblers can have one and feel indulgent, and those who live for dessert can have several. I also made chocolate covered strawberries and kumquats (note to the health nuts: it's fruit!).
I'm sure we all know and love shortbread and chocolate covered strawberries. But it's the kumquats that are the best; and it's something I've never had or even seen before. But it's an amazing taste combo: the richness of the dark chocolate, the sweet burst of the kumquat skin, and the sourness of their centers add up to an amazing, and refreshing, dessert. I've got a few left, and yup, they're MINE!!!!
Yeah, I like tough challenges.
But I think I've pulled it off. I made two kinds of shortbread, with orange and lemon fillings, and cut them into small squares. The nibblers can have one and feel indulgent, and those who live for dessert can have several. I also made chocolate covered strawberries and kumquats (note to the health nuts: it's fruit!).
I'm sure we all know and love shortbread and chocolate covered strawberries. But it's the kumquats that are the best; and it's something I've never had or even seen before. But it's an amazing taste combo: the richness of the dark chocolate, the sweet burst of the kumquat skin, and the sourness of their centers add up to an amazing, and refreshing, dessert. I've got a few left, and yup, they're MINE!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)