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My girl is 11 years old today. She spent the night at a friends house Thursday night and didn't get much sleep. She couldn't sleep last night because she was excited for her Birthday. We are all in the family room watching the Wizard of Oz and she fell asleep against her Dad. :) She hasn't done that since she was a baby. She'll always be my baby :)

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My Girls.  :)

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Well here it is. My latest acquisition. It's a used Paragon S99 electric kiln. It is currently in pieces as you can see. I'm experiencing anxiety. I don't know where we are going to put it. I don't know if it works. I don't know what it's supposed to look like. I don't even know if all the pieces are there! I've never even been near a kiln this large before.

My husband is more of a risk taker than I am. He told me to just buy it and we will figure it out. So I held my breath and bought it. All I know is a new one is $2400 and we paid $ 500 for this one.

Time for dear daughter to start cranking out the pottery so we can justify this thing!

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Along the running trail is a pond where I usually see a duck or two, and fish breaking the surface of the water sending out ripples in concentric circles. Last week I saw this Mallard and his mate too far away to capture with my phone. Yesterday he was paddling back and forth across the pond half in shadow half in the sun. I stood and marveled at the gorgeous emerald head whenever the light was just right.

In other news, I bought a larger kiln off an online auction. I don't even know if it works. We pick it up tomorrow. I'm expecting that it will need some work to get it up and running. It is a paragon and is considered a mid fire kiln as it only goes up to 2300 degrees, but I'll take it. I had dreams of a high fire kiln but that is out of reach right now. I'll share more details tomorrow!

And, I have finished our taxes! Whoo hoo! Taking everything to the accountant tomorrow.

This weekend my big girl turns 11 the day before Easter. She was born on the day before Easter 11 years ago. We called her our little Easter bunny. I can't believe how the time has flown.

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My daughter has had this loose front tooth for what seemed like forever, luckily Uncle Shane came to the rescue. He just pushed the tooth and it popped right out! Her Dad, Aunt and Uncle had all promised her $5.00 each if she pulled it, and somehow ended up making $30 on that tooth after the tooth fairy came. Not a bad day's work for an almost 8 year old!

RIP google reader

I've been trying not to admit to myself just how much I'm going to miss google reader. I can't believe it's going away and I'm really bummed about it.

So, a new reader is in order and I am currently trying bloglovin and feedly. Sigh......BIG sigh........ I think they're ok. Of the two I prefer Feedly. Which I'm a little surprised by because I've seen a couple bloggers say they're going with Bloglovin and I'm now noticing other bloggers who already do advertise to follow them via bloglovin that I didn't notice before.

What feeder do you love? Is anyone one else hoping there will be a big outcry and google will keep google reader going? 🙏

It's just that when I compare gr to either feedly or bloglovin, sometimes the feeds aren't current. Sometimes posts seem to disappear only to reappear later. Maybe it's just me and I just haven't figured it out yet. I suppose there's no use in fighting it.

If you are following me via google reader be sure to add me to your new feeder! I'll see you on the flip side. 😊

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Beautiful color!

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I took hundreds of pictures at the Dallas Arboretum a few weeks ago.  Expect to see a lot of flowers for my photo a day project as I wade through and edit them.

I grew up in Northeast Nevada.  At this time of year the snow has barely melted and everything is only thinking about sprouting a little green let alone giving a full on floral display like I captured above.  When I dreamt of Spring during those long ago cold March months, this is what I saw in my mind's eye.  It is a glory to behold. 

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A couple of weeks ago, our Carolina Jasmine that blankets our mailbox was in full bloom.  The bees were drunk with pollen and nectar. 

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Sorry I have nothing more exciting to share, but this is what I've been up to the past couple of days. Taxes. No more need be said.

After procrastinating until the last minute I am racing through this paperwork trying to get finished as quickly as possible. I've promised myself that I can create some new stuff as soon as I'm done. I do have a few orders that I have to do tomorrow, but that's work. Enjoyable work. But still work. I'm itching to make something new!

Hopefully tomorrow I can manage to share a better and more exciting photo. :)

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The salvia is in bloom in our yard. Hubby says the blue bonnets are blooming south of here, so that means they will be blooming here soon! I can't wait to photograph them.

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Enigma

I am an Enigma.  I have felt this way since high school, but feel it more acutely at certain times.  I have trouble defining myself because I don't fit the "definition" of any one thing.

My views are to Protestant to truly be Catholic, and yet I am too Catholic to be Protestant.

I am too liberal to be conservative, but too conservative to be liberal.

I've not been to an institution of higher learning, and yet I don't consider myself "uneducated".

I love to be alone, but being alone isn't good for me.

I have trouble calling myself an artist, but what else would you call someone who has made things all their life?

I do my best not to judge others, but I feel judged. 

I sometimes wish there were a place on this earth to go where I wasn't required to define myself for the sake of someone else.  Where I wasn't judged for a stance I chose to take.  Most of all I wish I wasn't afraid to take a stance for my beliefs. 

I am an Enigma.....

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The red and yellow together are my favorites :)

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I'm afraid a photo a day has become a substitute for actual blogging. I haven't really written anything interesting for ages!

Tonight I am watching the tube and working on a special order sterling beaded chain. I really love these chains! I think I'll take photos of the finished one and offer it as a MTO in the shop. Right now it's shiny silver, but once it's oxidized it is so beautiful! If my fingers aren't too sore I may just keep on wire wrapping and make myself one.

Several times today my big girl lamented that spring break is very nearly over. Monday is going to be a great shock to the system having to get up early. But really it is good. I haven't worked out all week and I can really feel it in my mood. I quit the gym I'd belonged to for the past 6 years a couple of weeks ago. It is the biggest, nicest gym with the most amenities in the area. I've been feeling for a long time now that it was all wasted on me since I never took advantage of most of it. I was there for the master step classes, and even those had been losing my interest for about a year.

There is another gym very close to the house that I need to go check out. I'll have to do it out if necessity soon because I hate exercising outdoors in the Texas heat. The winters are perfect for outdoor exercise but I'm afraid winter is officially behind us. I always feel a bit guilty for wishing winter would last longer when I see friends posting pics of snow and wondering if winter will ever end.

Today was a gorgeous day and perfect in the shade. We had a lunch picnic in the back yard. It was lovely. We must do it again tomorrow as well.

I've put off taxes until the last possible moment and will have to finish them next week. After that I hope to have a little time to make something new.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

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We went to the Ft. worth nature and science museum to watch 3 IMAX movies. We saw Butterflies, Titanica, and the one about the Sea. I can't remember the exact title now and I don't feel like looking it up. :) I can recommend Butterflies and the Sea one, but Titanica was not that great. After sitting through all three my gluteus had a cramp. But I did feel very inspired by the butterflies. I'd have to say Butterflies was my favorite. The seating is very cramped with zero leg room. And I myself still feel cramped. Ouchie

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The little one had a birthday party to go to today so my big girl and I went and treated ourselves to breakfast and dessert at the French bakery.

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We took the girls to the Dallas Arboretum today. The tulips are just gorgeous. They claim to have the largest display of tulips outside of Holland. I took hundreds of pictures of flowers. I hope to share some soon.....

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Today. Happily tired....

70/365 Custom Remembrance Ring

I had a request to make a ring for someone whose Mom had passed 4 years ago. The heart is made from a copy of one her Mom had drawn for her on a card. She wanted angel wings because she believes her Mom is an angel. The inside is stamped with a saying her Mom always said to her when she was little. It was an honor to make this piece.

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The girls are officially on spring break. We went to the ceramic store this morning so the girls could get some pre made ceramic pieces they could glaze here at home. My little one chose cupcake, ice cream cone, and a dog mug. My big girl got a mug with a peace sign, some weird dog bank, and an owl. The only choice that surprised me was the weird dog bank. I'll have to show you guys when she's finished with it!

I treated myself to three new glazes. I bought them just because I like their names because they didn't have color samples. I hope the gamble pays off. :)

I took today off. Read a lot. Made a lasagna and peanut butter cookies. I'm reading all of The Anne of Green Gables books. I love them. The books are completely G rated. The most risqué they get is a kiss. When any character is pregnant they never actually say the word. They just hint at it. Like "Anne had reason to be hopeful in the Spring" So demure. It is amazing how much expression has changed. The degree to which that what is socially acceptable has changed. It has given me food for thought.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

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My ring was featured in the Jewelry Browsing section on Etsy!  I noticed yesterday that the listing had a lot of views and finally figured out where it had been featured.  This is the first time something of mine has been featured by Etsy!  It only took me 3 1/2 years!  :)

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The girls had open house at school tonight. My big girl had a lesson in symmetry. They had to draw in the other half of their faces. I was impressed with her attention to detail. Of course I may be prejudiced ;)

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Carolina Jasmine in bloom. I wish you could smell how sweet this flower is!

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WIP copper. Earrings. Tribal. Long.

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Succulent

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Glaze before firing

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Making tags for Clay Owl

60/365 Strawberry Butterfly

Strawberry Butterfly

Can be found 

Here

:)