Monthly Archives: May 2012

I would’ve sent it back, except for…

I would’ve sent it back, except for…
I would’ve sent it back, except for…
that big green baby in the middle!
I love ordering mixed gem parcels from Jewlery TV. I am usually thrilled to death at all the cuts and colors, but this parcel left much to be desired in the color department. Many of the stones were huge and brilliantly cut, but they were all very pale and a few were cloudy.

Then, I spotted the green thing! Here it is with a dime. It’s not a perfectly clear stone, but it makes up for that in size! I’ve been reviewing my green gemstones, and while it might be a tourmaline or a chrysoberyl, (I’m afraid to even think this,) I think it might also be a Columbian Emerald! There have been a lot of them offered on JTV recently, and while they don’t have the clarity or value of our good old NC emeralds, I like ’em! I’ll have to have it checked out by a gemologist!

Playing with My Camera

Playing with My Camera
Playing with My Camera

I don’t know if I’ll ever get the ins and outs of my camera, but I’ve been working on the macrozoom. The supermacro mode makes the lens stay in a fixed position, so you’ve got to manually adjust the camera to get the shot. I did pretty well with this shamrock blossom. Can you see the tiny ants?

Just a Stitchin’!

Just a Stitchin’!
Just a Stitchin’!

Stitchin’ on the porch this morning. My reward for going for a walk and getting a few chores done. The rest will wait until it’s to hot to sit and stitch this afternoon. I’ve been smelling cinnamon this morning, like somebody baking snickerdoodles (or cooking sopapillas? churros?) I wonder, because now I hear live music! Somebody’s having a celebracion! Thank you neighbors!

A Hand Painted Chair for the Attic Space

A Hand Painted Chair for the Attic Space
A Hand Painted Chair for the Attic Space
This handpainted chair is also a part of my daughter’s collection. It was in Mama’s room in the rental house, but I have another chair to leave there. This one belongs at my desk in the attic space.
Adrianne bought it several years ago at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. There’s also a matching window. I’ll have to look for the artist’s name.

Is Home Staging a Craft?

Is Home Staging a Craft?
Is Home Staging a Craft?

I think so, and that’s what I’ve been doing, lately. I have been trying to maintain two households for the past two years. I have lived in my son-in-law’s rental house during the week so I could babysit my grandson, PJ.  I’ll have to say, it’s been a priceless experience, but I bit off more than I can chew. Having two houses is for rich people who can afford help, and not for retired teachers!

PJ started a new preschool this week and will be transitioning to all day. I’m not abandoning him, though. I’ll still be traveling to Charlotte for a couple of days every week and staying with my daughter. I also hope PJ will  be spending more time at “Nana’s house in the mountains.”

My little house in Charlotte is going back on the rental market, and I have been getting it ready to show.