Random Friday Thoughts & Eye Candy!

It has been the weirdest week of my life. I'm not even kidding when I write that. It's almost spooky. Not even Halloween yet. Full moon? I don't think so. Planets out of line? Possibly. Monday was a lost day. Ever have one of those? You know you had it, but ya don't know where it went. You tried to live it, you know you did, but you don't remember it. That was my Monday. No worries, Tuesday's another day, right? My Tuesday was great!! Got started on some fused glass mitten Christmas ornaments...loaded the kiln, fired the first load, worked perfect, now I gotta string 'em. (blech!) 3rd load is in the kiln firing now...2nd load, done, needs stringing yet (blech) of course, but I'll get to that this aft. Wednesday started out so perfect! Cold, but I love working when it's cold. Must be that hot flash time of my life or something (another blech), so peaceful out early in the morning, brilliant sunshine, good internet connection (rare in the shop!) and then things took a turn for the bizzare. 4 phone calls, all with freaky and/or bad news. They aren't kidding when they say, "When it rains it pours". I couldn't wait to go to bed that nite just so I could get up, have a new day, hopefully better! And I did. :) But it was also freaky in itself. How many days do I wake up only to get 5 new students, none of which are related to eachother or want the same class? Never. Or at least not until now. Wow! 5 new bodies to introduce to the wonderful world of glass art. Sweet. I bet you can almost hear me laughing...mwahahahaaahaaaaaaa! IT's gonna be FUN! Monday nite is the first class, I'm combining 2 students for stained glass. The other 3 will be in the coming weeks. Join me if you can. I teach great classes. Very laid back, chock full of info, and you can even bring a bottle of wine if you want. Just wear shoes. That's pretty much my only rule.
Ok, on with today's finds... Normally, I try to blog every Thursday. Well, as you have just read, my week has been a wee bit different so I'm a day late. I found good eye candy though and with Christmas coming up, we have to start shopping now. I think these hair bands will be a fun stocking stuffer for the young ladies on my list! They're also made from recycled goodies so I'll be saving the earth at the same time. Can't get much better than that!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=36140&op=new&body=1 I really like this shop, she has some very cool earrings, hearts that are made out of some kind of wire wrapped wire I am guessing. They're fun and spunky. Right up my alley! Check it out if you can, fun stuff! She's JillsJewels on Artfire!

Since it's getting to be Halloweenie Time....for those of you that scrapbook, these are very cute! I had a hard time picking my favorite so I had to go seasonal. I may just have to take up a new hobby.... :) http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=22045&op=new&body=1 Syrena's Scrapbooking...way too cute, way too much fun. I don't know what she's doing to come up with all these designs, but I dig 'em all!

And then I found these....I absoluetly adore the slippers and covet the bag!! http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=16398&op=new&body=1 HookYarnInker is riding Artfire's Crazy Train today. I might just have to buy a ticket for this ride!!

So since I started this at 10 this morning and it's now 2....what can I say? I'm having way too much fun poking about on Artfire! LOL I better get moving on with the (blech) stringing work. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It's Horse & Buggy Days this weekend in Weyauwega so I'm closing the shop and heading up town for the festivities tomorrow. Be well, count your blessings, and don't have any freaky days. Until Halloween, and then steal all the kids' chocolate. Send me the extras if you have any. ;)

Thursday nite!

Ok, so I just signed up to blog....everyone says, "You have to blog to increase traffic to your site!" Ok. I'll bite. :)
And I have no clue what to write about. Or should I say *blog*?

A bit about me...married for going on 27 years, 2 stepsons, a daughter, a son, a fake d-i-l, a real d-i-l, and 3 grandbabies. I come from a wacky family, and over the years I've learned distance is a good thing. Love them all dearly, but they're all just goofy. Or maybe I'm the one that's goofy and am best keeping to myself. 6 of one, half dozen of the other...either way, it doesn't really matter. I'm terribly happy with my life. Granted I have troubles and turmoil just like everyone else, but for the most part, I'm happy. The best advice my dad ever gave me was this... "Nothing is so terrible you can't laugh about it." He was right. So laugh, I do. Every day. And a lot of it. My husband is down to working only 2 weeks out of every month (thank you economy), our son the same thing. I work 14 hour days in the shop, but sure don't get paid enough so I will soon be looking for a "real" job. That's gonna be a hoot!

The shop? What's that? Hmmmm, 10 years ago, I started a hobby, or so I thought. I had quit a job, the kids were young but in school. I had to find something to do or risk losing what was left of my pea brain. Something that had always interested me was stained glass. And thus the madness began...mwahahahahaaaaa! It soon became a business, I moved from working in the utility room to our "little house", and when the dh realized I was never home, we sold that place and built a shop behind the garage at our house. Now I basically live out here, going in for meals and sleep. Speaking of sleep, I could use some of that. ;)

My life is more like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride but I love it. The ups and downs, the ins and outs, the constant changes, there's always something going on here. My kids and husband keep me on my toes. As do my friends. Seldom does a day go by w/o having company of some sort, whether it be a friend over for coffee or kids visiting, or customers coming to the shop. The emails never end, and the phone rings too, and let's not forget to check all the glass forums, do my research, come up with Today's Plan, and help the other glassers as much as I can. There's always a stray to save too. No, not a critter, but some lost soul who needs some cheering up or a place to crash, or a letter or good long talk to help get them back on track. It's an interesting life. And I wouldn't change it for the world. As far as critters go, we do have 3 cats. Actually we only have 2 but when Boy and my fake daughter moved back in w/us so he could go back to school, their little girl has a cat. meow. So now we have 3. Oh boy! They're good cats and the kids are good too, and I love that little granddaughter to distraction! She is the light in my day. I'm so blessed by having the opportunity to have them live with us. Yup, I've got an interesting life. And a blessed one at that.

For now I shall post what I have, hopefully get back on tomorrow and blog some more. I hope everyone reading this takes a moment, sit back, and count your blessings. Even if you can only come up with one....that's more than some have. Be well. Til next time.... M