Happy Birthday, Little Gem!

My little princess turned three years old today. We celebrated at home with a “My Little Pony” cake and barbeque meatballs, Gem’s favorite meal. We also had veggie and fruit trays and cheese dip and chips (Daddy’s request). As she was getting ready to go to sleep, she told me “Thank you for my birthday!”

	Gem’s Favorite Things Favorite color: purple Favorite movies: Snow White, Wizard of Oz Favorite food: birthday cake Favorite toy: My Little Pony Favorite Songs: Old MacDonald, Funkytown, Hot Chocolate

And of course, a trip down memory lane…

I love you so much, my princess!

Making Rosaries and Other Jewelry

I really admire my friends who can sew and knit and take wonderful pictures and design vinyl wall art and do other talented things. I wish I could do all these things; I love being creative and making things with my hands! I remember going into the doctors' office when I was pregnant with some of my children and watching the ladies knit and crochet while they waited, and my empty hands itched to be doing something, too. Since I could neither knit nor crochet, I thought of something else I could do: make rosaries. I began taking my pliers, wire, and beads, and I started working on rosaries as I waited. It was a good conversation starter.
I used to really enjoy making rosaries and other jewelry, and I think I’m ready to dust off my beads and creativity and get back at it. The other day, I took inventory of my supplies and discovered that I have lots beautiful beads just begging to be made into a present for someone! I plan to make a few items with what I have on hand, maybe try to sell them so that I can order some supplies to make more, and maybe even take some orders for Christmas (or baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, etc.) if anyone is interested. I'll post pictures as I go.

In the meantime, I would like to share some pictures of things I have made in the past (click to see more detail)...

I made this “Noah’s Ark” themed rosary for my goddaughter for her baptism. The ave beads are different shades of aventurine. The sterling silver pater beads are imprinted with images of a dove, moon, star, ladybug, and cat. The crucifix and center are also sterling silver. This was one of my all-time favorites.	This mother-of-pearl and cloisonne rosary was a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law a few years ago.
Here is the one that I currently carry in my purse. It is made of glass pearl beads and pewter crucifix, center, and bead caps. (I usually try to carry pretty but inexpensive rosaries with me. In the past when someone has shown an interest in having a rosary, I have handed them mine and then made myself another one later.)	Made similar to the previous one, except that I used black dyed fossil beads. This is the one that Sunshine carries.
This is one that I had originally made to sell, but Mojo took a liking to it. The beads are glass, and the center and crucifix are base metal. Some that I’ve sold:	One of the ones I used to carry in my purse. This “Our Lady of Guadalupe” rosary was made with tiger-skin jasper ave beads, silver-plated rose pater beads, and an enameled crucifix and center.

I have also made other jewelry, including baby/children’s bracelets, mothers’ bracelets, birthstone bracelets, and necklaces.

This “remembrance” bracelet was for a friend who had lost her baby girl through miscarriage.	Gemstone flowers necklace, a birthday gift for a friend.
Gemstone nursing necklaces give easily-distracted babies something to fiddle with while they are breastfeeding. It also keeps toddlers busy in church.	I wore this nursing necklace when Caveman was a baby. It was long enough to slip over my head, but had a magnetic clasp in case he pulled on it too hard.
Sterling silver and swarovski crystal.	Glass beads and pewter.

Thanks for looking. I am hoping to post newer creations soon!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

One of the things we look forward to every year is visiting the pumpkin patch with our homeschool group. We didn’t get to go last year, and we were afraid we weren’t going to get to this year. The rains caused us to reschedule twice, but yesterday was a beautiful day for a trip to the farm!

The farm we went to this year was the best yet and closer to where we live than any of the others we’ve visited. Activities included a  carousel, a hay-bale area with a slide where little pumpkins were hid for a game of “find the pumpkin”, a tee-pee where the children sat and listened to a story about the first Thanksgiving, a hayride,

a petting farm,

a train ride,

a puppet show, and fishing. Of course, the best part is always getting to visit with our friends! I forgot my “real” camera, so these were taken with my iphone. Of course my friend Catherine had her camera, and she will probably be posting some fabulous pictures soon.

All Souls' Day

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

The children are praying a decade of the rosary at the grave of their beloved Papaw. When I suggested that we pray, I did not suggest that they kneel--the ground was still damp from recent rains. But it was so touching to see them all kneel without prompting and pray so devoutly that I wanted to capture the moment.

I wish I would have had a real camera. The iPhone didn't do justice to this beautiful moonrise.



~Bloggin' from my iPhone. Pardon the typos.~