Thick silver foil combined with glass and frits makes the nicest organic effects. These are some of my pre-power outage beads. I haven't been to the torch for almost three weeks now and I am anxious to get out there. Matt brought me a new space heater for my studio for Christmas. I will be toasty warm out there :) We had a great Christmas with our extended family and we are looking forward to a nice quiet New Years Eve.
Lately this has felt a bit like "Kris's weather blog" So I may as well update you all while I am here. We've had snow twice in the last week ~not your regular south sound winter event. It has been very cold and icy the last two days. Yesterday my car door was frozen shut I couldn't get the lock to turn and when I finally did the door wouldn't open! But of course it finally did and off I went to my day job. I can hardly wait for spring to arrive.

Honey, Tacoma Tent and Awning called, They want their canopy back.
What an amazing series of storms we have had in the Pacific Northwest. Record rainfall followed by record flooding. Then came the winds. First one storm then another then the third and strongest. I am not sure how high the wind speeds were, at the storms peak most power was lost and no measurements were recorded. I belive 70mph plus is what has been reported by the local news. Over a million people were without power from Canada down to Southern Oregon including us. We also lost our internet service it just came back this morning. I work in the local hardware store and we fired up the generator a few lights and the cash registers, Passed flashlights amongst ourselves and and helped wherever we could. We ran out of generators, propane and D batteries right away. People are generally good natured and helpful to each other and it really is heartwarming to see and hear. Our local radio station has made it easy for the needy and the helpful to get together. They are broadcasting when people offer help and what and where it is, if you call they give phone numbers out. We shared our generator with our neighbor. Matt hooked up her heat and fridge as well as ours. Our power went out on Thursday night before I got home from work. I thought I would have a little time because the worst of the storm wasn't supposed to come until after midnight. When the weather started to change we had weird violent weather squalls, mad rushes of wind, torrential rain and lightning in unexpected areas. Sammy went to stay with her cousin who never lost power because they are so close to the substation. I worked friday and most of Saturday with no lights. Saturday night we had power back at home and celebrated by watching a movie! Some of the people I work with still don't have power and it is Tuesday the 19th. WE are expecting another storm only 30 mph winds though that doesn't seem like much after last week. Matt and I also became grandparents on Wednsday~ Woohoo!!! Alena was born by emegency c-section when her heart rate dropped too low. T.J. and Kendra are such proud parents and I am so proud of the two of them. What a little beauty! Yes I am biased... so? Lifes a blur!
I am so glad to have my internet service back,and thankful for heat and light. It has been one long eventful week.
Merry Christmas!!!!

Ahh we contininue to wait for the birth of our first grandchild. She was due to arrive on the 5th but they are never right on time are they? The kids were over tonight and Kendra will be induced early wednsday morning if she hasnt given birth by then. So Matt and I will be Grand by next weekend one way or another~ And some will be Great :) It is all about waiting and wondering. You wonder when... You wait to see.
Sammy has developed her own unique personality. She is really a study in contrasts. Just today Matt pointed out that she was carrying a hot pink purse in one hand and Godzilla in the other lol . She said to me the other night "Mom I don't feel any older, I still feel eight not nine." my advice to her was to concentrate on staying in that eight year old frame of mind and not to worry about feeling any older until she is about 45 or so.
Christmas preparations I always think I have more time and energy than I do. I just run out of both way too soon. Matt has put decorations and lights up outside, it is really pretty at night. Our whole neighborhood looks so festive :)
It is great to be right here right now.
still waiting...

I meet the nicest people! Sometimes we are unexpectedly blessed with a new friend, sometimes it is just someone passing through your life. It is always a joyful thing for me. I am delighted and surprised by the kindness of others. Easy to please, just be nice... hehe thats me. Doesn't get much simpler than that I suppose. Just a short happy thought from me today~ I will post more this weekend.

Another Grey Day in the Pacific Northwest. I managed to get a lot of those things on my chore list done yesterday. Woohoo! I listed a lot of new items and loose beads in my Etsy shop. The Christmas tree is decorated. Now if I could just get someone to fetch some groceries while I go out to the studio and get busy. I have a couple of special orders I should be working on today so one more cup of coffee and I am off to glass~land :) I have to admit sometimes posting here feels like I am talking to myself hehe... Does anybody read my blog? Chime in, speak up, helloooo??? Is anybody out there...

Help has arrived! Finally the new hire is in place. Poor guy, his first day we had so much snow that 3/4 of the staff called in. He showed up though :) I was sick the day after that and I am still fighting the remnants of the worst head cold so far this season. Ugh... The snow washed away when it got up to a sweltering 40 degrees on Thursday and things seem more normal weatherwise here than they have for a while. I think we had a years worth of weather all in one month. Life marches on.
Our first Grandchild is due any day!!!! Doc says she's a girl A girl. I can hardly wait for her to be born.
Today we are putting up the rest of our Christmas decorations and hopefully I will be able to get the rest of my etsy shop done. I have still got a lot to add and some tweaking of words here and there. Who am I kidding? Done? Maybe I will get a good start on whats left though.
Meanwhile I am enjoying the most delicious coffee thanks to our next door neighbor. She is so incredibly generous and shares things with us often like this yummy coffee. Matt and I are very blessed with wonderul neighbors ~The bad one moved away~ hehe :)
Here are some Pix cause every story needs eye candy!