during the fire
after the fire
Before the fire

I loaded the pictures out of order ~

Thank you to everyone who donated to http://almosthomeforhounds.org/ Heather is very appreciative. I am overwhelmed and happily surprised by your generosity. It is truly inspiring and wonderful to see people helping each other out. Thank You~

http://almosthomeforhounds.org/
Many of you aren't aware that I am involved in greyhound rescue. If you click the link above you can see who is directly affected by my involvement. Heather has singlehandedly done more for the greyhound breed than any other human I know. She has a bottomless heart for giving to these dogs. Right now she is in desperate need of a little extra help. There was a fire on January 12th that burned the volunteer quarters to the ground.
Now heather typically has about 60 greyhounds on hand and she does most of the work by herself. Can you imagine feeding and turning out 60 dogs all by yourself? So volunteers and a place for them to stay is really a necessity. She is working with the insurance company but it doesn't sound like things are going very smoothly. So any added help would be greatly appreciated. At the bottom of the page that opens here: http://almosthomeforhounds.org/
there is a link to donate if you like. If you donate please put a note in the comment section that you read it in Kris' post so she can track it.
We could all use a little good karma right?
I will keep you all updated~

Another beautiful forecast for the Pacific Northwest. I feel like we all deserve it after the craziness of Autumns end and Winters beginning. It is cold and frosty clear out right now but we are expecting low 50's by this afternoon. I will be out in the shop as soon as it warms up as I have big plans for my glass :)
Right now I will just enjoy my morning coffee. Matt is watching some old rerun with Arnold in it bleh... I'd like a little morning news but ah well I am entertained right here. Sammy just came down and she's going to be looking for some breakfast I'm sure.

I think I have to make more of these^
It was a wonderful day! I had a productive day at the torch and got some housework done. It actually seemed warmish outside today that was such a relief from our cold temps.
I am delighted, my kiln is piled high with get me out of bed in the morning goodness~ I'll post some pix when they are all cleaned up later in the week.

Ahh finally some normal winter weather~ It is cloudy and grey out with some blue sky showing through in patches. I am pretty sure the weather heads told me it is going to be in the 40's today and I am happy that is warm enough to brave my garage studio and cook up some beads. I have an order for custom work so I'll show ya later~
I am really excited Bullseye just added more colors to their glass rod line and I love them all. Three are rich earthy red browns, there is a fabulous golden green color and a shade of ivory and then cyan blue. I can hardly wait to get my hands on some of the stuff. I am color obsessed it's true :) Color inspires and motivates me.
I got my hands on a truly delish cup of coffee this morning it is perfectly strong and dark and the organic creamer I splashed into it just takes enough of the edge off~ Bliss

It is still dark out and snowing like mad, again. I got up around 5:00 am this morning and looked out to see a skiff of snow and medium to tiny flakes coming down steadily. It is now a little after 6:00 am and the flakes have increased in size to those big clumpy fluffy ones we all loved to catch on our tongues as children. It is snowing like crazy now and accumulating quickly. The news crews are reporting Pierce County as the worst place to be driving this morning. We seem to have the most accidents :) compared to the rest .
I'll be back to say more later...
So now it is much later~ 11:30 and the snow turned to light freezing rain for a couple of hours but now I hear dripping melting noises outside~ Yay! Maybe tomorrow there will be school and we can all return to our normal daily routines here. If it gets warm enough maybe I can sneak out and melt some glass today. Matt got a heater for my studio but alas the breaker isn't big enough to run the heater and all my other "stuff" too. I will bundle up like I usually do :)

The setting sun~

Making Snickerdoodles and Time in the afternoon sunshine. I spent a bit of special time with Samantha this afternoon making snickerdoodles, an old childhood favorite of mine. They just don't taste like I remember them.
Time ~fleeting, intangible yet dragging its timeles feet toward the end of time.
My Fathers older sister passed away over the weekend. She had been suffering from alzheimers and her family suffered right along with her. She was a very special woman capable of brightening a room with her presence alone. I will miss her, my Auntie Karen.
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Making snickerdoodles and Time ;)

Migraines and January sunshine~ I had a migraine start this morning. I have to admit I have been having warning signs all week. Tuesday I had a hard time finding the right words, Wednsday and Thursday I was fine. I was even fine on Friday except in the night when I had a sudden pounding headache that was fleeting thankfully and then yesterday I noticed some things going on with my vision and I had numbness in my right hand. All signs I would have picked up on quickly in the past when I had migraines more often. Mine usually come from stress and hormone fluctuations (could it be the start of menopause?) and I have noticed bright January sunshine seems to also be a trigger for me. So first came the "missing spot" I look at things and can't quite see the whole thing. I used to run to the bathroom to see if part of my face was gone from the image in the mirror and that was how I could tell one was coming on. The next phase for me is the "element" I get the whole looked at a light bulb too long visual effect this is usually when I start to have some pain starting in my head as well as lose my ability to make much sense speaking :) Then for the grand finale' I may have numbness in my face, tongue or hands and or vomit. How fun :( I am always glad when they go away quickly I usually have to sleep them off and I think the worst one I had I slept for 14 hours solid, it was awful. I still have enough of a headache and brain fog to be useless and I hope I am making sense here forgive me if I have punctuation or spelling errors today hehehe...
I'll have more to say later maybe

All puffed up trying to stay warm!!
Part of a huge flock of Geese going over the house yesterday.
The trees across the way

Its a chilly seventeen degrees this morning. The world outside is icy and cold. I may make an attempt to get to work today I haven't decided yet. Ugh I really hate this, the decision making part. I would be there in a heartbeat if the weather was different or if someone could tell me about the roads between here and there. I guess we'll see :)

Slediquette~ Our morning started with some surprise snow. What we had yesterday actually had melted away and pretty much dried up. I was hopeful that I could return to work today. lol... Matt woke me up at some point in the night to tell me it was snowing again. I really couldn't believe it, as the weather heads said we would be done with snow by 8:00 pm last night. I really know better than to believe everything they say, really I do. So I hustled out to get some photos in my jammies big coat and boots ( a lovely sight for the neighbors I am sure :) Then we had a hearty breakfast. After that we all bundled up for a walk and some sledding. The sled hill is about a 70 degree rock strewn hill a block long. Steep and scary. I secretly think of it as Deathwish Hill. The bottom of the hill ends where the road cuts across it. We started our walk over and were joined by about 7-10 kids as we walked along. A man coming back with his two children met us on the way over. He said "Great sledding over there, nice paths, they fly right out in the road though, thats quite a crowd you got there." as he walked by. Thats a pretty big blurt for a stranger~ I'd say he had his morning coffee :) We continued over to the hill. There were about three different paths you could sled on so we sent Sammy up the one with the fewest kids. She came flying down. First words out of her mouth were "Daddy its your turn" Of course Matt (we had to pretty much drag him along) Didn't want a turn. What no turn? So she went a couple more times then I went couple times too. We headed back to the house with Matt pulling Sam in her sled.
We got home and Sammy and I had a little snowball fight then Matt wanted to get in on that so we all had a snowball fight she was helping him (no fair :) All in all it has been a nice morning for the three of us. I am glad we were able to make the best of the unexpected day off.

The pond at the back of the community we live in gets kind of pretty with snow around it~
The real reason I wouldn't leave the house this morning :)
Taking a walk in the cold fresh air with Samantha was fun! We took lots of pictures.
~ Angels are everywhere~
Fickle weather~ The forecast is ever changing. The snow and cold arrived as predicted. thankfully with a lot less drama than I expected. Knocking on wood cause it ain't over yet :)
I base my decision to stay home or make the drive to work on a couple of things, one of them is if school is closed or not. I was really surprised that my daughters school district was closed today. They are normally 2 hrs late when everyone else is closed or they are last to report. There isn't a lot of snow this morning but it is supposed get very cold by this afternoon and the drive home could become treachorous. I woke up around 4:30 and looked outside and there wasn't any snow so back to my cozy bed. When I woke up again a little after 5:30 the windows looked brighter so I checked outside again and lo and behold everything was covered and it looked like a blizzard outside. I was a little surprised because it happened so quickly. So here we are tucked away in our home for a bit. Matt will brave it and go in to Tacoma to work today. Why don't I have him drop me off? I am terrified of driving and riding in the snow and ice. I had a really traumatic experience about 23 years ago. I was in a rollover accident and then run over later the same day~ Not so fun, then two weeks later ... yeah, so I try and try to get over it but the fear just roars back to life no matter what I tell it :) It is pretty frustrating for me.
I just talked to Matt he got to Tacoma allright and swears it is 65 and sunny there phhh... He is selling me a bridge later too ;)

Have I mentioned that I don't want to play "Wind" anymore? The smaller storm that went through Friday night had sustained winds of 30 -45 mph with gusts up to 50ish. The rain was absolutely torrential. Now they are telling us to expect another storm Tuesday evening with strong winds again and then snow from about 5:00 pm on. It isn't very often the weather heads talk about snow with even a note of promise in their voices. Last night they sounded like "Its gonna snow and I mean it" Ugh... Let the preperations begin again. We haven't even been able to get the 6 volt batteries restocked at the store since the December storm ;)
Today I will sip my coffee and enjoy the quiet for a while, maybe catch up on my laundry and the other things I can before I go out and melt some glass. I have orders to fill!

The New Year is off to a nice start. School is back in and we are slipping back into our regular routine here. The weather is still kind of wild though and we are expecting some cold winds again. Only 30mph this time, so not too bad I suppose when you take a look at the BLIZZARDS south of here. Amazing! I have friends living out in the middle of that, they are doing allright but it sure isn't easy for anybody. Preperation is really everything.
I am sipping some coffee and gearing up to go off to work. Sue and I finished up a custom spoon bracelet this week~ I absolutely love how it turned out!

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!