The Narrows Bridges New and Old~

Happy Birthday Dad!!!
The Fireman~ :)

Sunday was my Dads' 64th birthday. We took the drive out and had some great family time. We got to spend time with family members we don't see very often. I also took some pictures of the Narrows Bridge as we passed over it. The new bridge is supposed to be ready in August sometime. Samantha has possibly inherited my fear of heights as she doesn't ever look forward to crossing over the Narrows when we go out there.

Well quite possibly you've heard the rumours? Matt caught himself on fire yesterday, yes you read that correctly. He has second degree burns on his knee but he is in a good humour as usual. Here's the scoop: He was out doing some landscaping (his business is landscape and irrigation) using a weedburner. (huge torch! big flame! burns weeds right up!!!) So he is pretty focused on what he is doing and doesn't realize he caught the loose fringe on his knee on fire until he feels some stinging on his knee. He had two layers of clothing on and didn't feel the heat. He looked down and had flames halfway up his right thigh by then. He immediately tried to pat the flames out with his bare hands, getting some of the inner layer flaming melting, unnatural, fabric (read polyester) stuck on them in the process so his hands were flaming too. He said three things went through his mind:

1. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

2. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

3. RUN!!!!

The hardest thing was not running. He threw himself into some wet grass and rolled around until the flames were out. Then he came home and convinced himself not to go into shock. He did not tell me any of this until I returned home from work. I probably would have come home and insisted on medical care or something... He went to work today as usual and I have ordered him a flame proof suit (just kidding :) I was hysterical with laughter when he mentioned he took off the flame bead I made for him. I told him he was lucky it didn't have a lightning bolt on it.

Turquoise and Chocolate~
Pink and Chocolate~

Toldja I was gonna play with the Green a bit :)
Pretty in Pink~
Simple Lines~

I did play with the green earlier this week. The resulting bead is at the top of the page. It is creamy green over dark transparent forest green. Yumm! Not being a big fan of "girly things" it is always a challenge for me to pick up the pink. But I did it anyway and some of the resulting beads are up above.
Matt has been working in the back yard extending our patio and putting up a small rock wall. He has also re-done our sprinkler system and put some fabulous wrought iron pieces along the fence. I can't wait to see the final results! I will post some pictures when it is finished.

We have a small yard and neighbors right over the fence on all sides. Not my idea of private :)

The trees we have planted help make it feel more secluded as they have grown fairly tall. Of course we have to also keep the dogs in mind as we plan. Less grass and more rock makes it easier for clean up.

Have a great day!

Kris

Layered Greens~ Bullseye metallic green left un-reduced is creamy green I wonder what I can really do with this glass, might be time for some glass play :) More greens~
Magical Kronos
And some more Magic :)
It does not cease to amaze me that all of these creamy blue green beiges are from one rod of glass. Kronos is magical without a doubt.
My persimmon beads made the front page of etsy the other day and got over 700 hits!!! I just couldn't believe it. How fun! I sure appreciate all of the exposure that gave my shop :)
Why have I been so quiet lately? I am busy as heck thats why! Spring is coming and life just seems to rush forward this time of year. Sammy had a program at school last week, it was great. The third and fourth grades sang together. Matt has been working long hours so my time gets focused elsewhere :) I got to see our sweet grandbaby last week, she is growing so quickly!
Sunday morning and again I have so much to do today~ I will sip my coffee for a few more minutes before I jump up and continue on. It was 62 degrees here on Friday a record for us this time of year. It is wonderful to have weather like that it kind of reminds us all that winter won't last forever and spring is coming :) It is raining again today but we did see our first hummingbird this morning. Matt put the feeder out a couple of days ago because they usually start showing up about now.
Have a great day everyone~

Teresa is in the center we were camping during the August 2006 Frantz Glass Bash Metallic~

Tangerine Dream~
Persimmon~ Have I told you lately how much I love melting glass? The color combinations are limitless and then you throw in a bit of silver or copper and it changes the result entirely.

Glass is surely "my thing" I have to thank Gary, Teresa and Matt.

Gary who mentioned it at work one day and Teresa for for hanging around at the glass places with me and coming to my house every Monday. I remember looking at the beads that Gary brought in to work so I could see. I can tell you now that I wasn't as impressed as I would be now. Just because I really didn't get it yet. Gary had told me about a video they had seen that I could get at the Library. I looked diligently once or twice... Glass really hadn't really caught my interest yet. I used to go to the Library on a fairly regular basis :) One day in late May seven years ago I saw the video lying on top of the return cart as I passed by, as if it was waiting for me. I picked it up and figured I'd have a look, what the heck why not? So I brought it home to watch. Matt and I watched it together. I made a birthday purchase for myself a few days later. I ordered a starter kit complete with a Hothead torch. I opened it and looked everything over when it arrived. I was so intimidated by the torch and the gas and again I sort of put everything aside. I got a phone call from Matt at work telling me I needed to pick up a canister of Mapp gas and bring it home. He had set up my glass and torch, everything was ready to go. I was afraid and if he hadn't given me that final big nudge I may not have gotten around to lighting my torch.

I don't remember exactly how many beads I made before my mind went up in flames with all the possibilities. I was sleepless and obsessed I considered getting "help" I had all these ideas. Then I found an online forum were people were talking about feeling the exact same way! I was so relieved~ I started writing and drawing my ideas out and now I sleep much better.

The whole point of my telling this story is just to thank the people that pushed and encouraged me along the way~ Gary, Teresa and most of all Matt who continues to encourage me.