The middle of the story.

So, on with the saga of our vacation, although I'll tell you ahead of time, there are only two mentions of polymer clay in this post, LOL.  I was just too busy with the grands.  However, the one thing I asked B to plan for was for us to visit the Charlottesville Saturday Farmer's Market to meet another polymer clay artist.  B suggested we meet somewhere and just her and Mr. C and I go, because she didn't think we could find parking for the truck down there and the whole family couldn't fit into one car.  I thought that was odd, but okay, we took her word for it.  I wish I had taken more pictures down there, as she was sooooo correct.  We met B at the Wood Grill Buffet for breakfast and then she drove us down to the Farmer's Market.  Oh my. . . the Farmer's Market is held in Downtown Charlottesville and it a very "old" town with tiny, winding, hilly streets.  I don't think our truck would have even fit down most of the streets, let alone in the parking garage or lot.  This also changed another of our plans as we had originally planned to take the grands to Winnie the Pooh movie and McD's, but it happened that Winnie the Pooh was only playing at the downtown theatre.  Due to my back injury earlier in the year, we can't just park far away and walk, as I'm still only able to walk about 12 minutes without assistance (yes, I'm extremely frustrated and discouraged by this).

Available at Amazon.com

Anyway, we finally found a parking spot in the lot right beside the market and fortunately the space I wanted to go was right next to the parking lot.  I wanted to meet the author of a polymer clay book I have:  The Polymer Clay Cookbook.
The book and authors are about miniature polymer clay food.  I  first heard about this book in an interview at Polymer Clay Central.  I also found the book and on reading it, found that the authors live in Charlottesville and have a space at the Farmer's market.  So I took my book to be autographed and got a picture with the lovely Susan Partain (Jessica wasn't there, as she had just gotten married the week before, Congratulations, Jessica).

The very tiny non edible food charms, bracelets, necklaces etc. were amazing in their very realistic detail.  It was a real treat to meet Susan and see these delectable creations.

I wish I had taken pictures of her booth and creations, but didn't think I should do that.

She did autograph my book, though, with a very nice caption.  Thanks, Susan.  



We spent the rest of the day with the family at their lovely home, just hanging out and enjoying the grands.

We read books, I got lessons in Pokemon cards and games, as well as all the funny sounds the Pokemon video creatures make.

We all shucked Illinois sweet corn for a steak and corn cook out, while B took pictures,  

and just generally had a calm time of sharing time together and fun.


The  next day we picked the grands up and took them to see the Smurfs (rather than Winnie the Pooh, due to parking and walking problems as it was only at the downtown theatre).  I hadn't really wanted to see the Smurfs, but the grands did, so that is where we went.  So we picked them up, went to McDonald's for lunch and then off to the theatre.  What a fiasco. . . first of all, we were there for the 2:30 matinee and they tried to charge us about $65.00.  When we questioned it we were told that adults were $11 plus $3.50 for the glasses.  WHAT???  $11.00 for a matinee???  To make matters even worse, their computers and credit card ability were both down.  We don't usually carry much cash and so we honestly didn't have enough cash to do this.  Plus, we (Mr. C and I) both have an eye problem that we can't see 3-D with or without the glasses, so we don't like to pay extra for that, anyway.  So we knew we would have to figure out something else.  I went closer to check the prices out and asked the "kid" again, "Your sign says adults for the matinee are only $5.50, where are you getting the $11.00?"  He said the matinee price is from 4-5????  since when????  So, since the 4:45 showing was less and not 3-D to boot, we got tickets for that.  It was really hard to convince the kids we would be back, but had to find something to do until then.  A very nice young lady behind us suggested we go to the putt putt golf place and told us how to get there, LOL.  Instead we went to Michaels, because we were looking for some glue to fix the vinyl floor in the trailer that we had accidently made a small rip in.  We were trying to find glue with a long curved tip (some glue company used to make something like that) but of course we didn't find it, so we got something else.  We also got the kids some play doh type stuff and coloring stuff that was on sale.  By the time we were done there it was time to head back to the movie.  Surprisingly it was a really cute movie and we all enjoyed it immensely, except for the youngest, J wanting drinks and popcorn, which we refuse to volunteer to be fleeced by the prices at the theatres for their food and drinks.  Then we grabbed "Pizza Pizza" (Little Caesars) from right next door and headed back to the campground where the grands spent the night with us.  We happen to like Little Caesars and don't get it very often as there isn't one at home anymore.

So we ate Pizza and bread sticks and watched 2 movies in the trailer with popcorn, which pleased them all.  Then it was bedtime and "we all went to sleep and didn't get up until the next morning" (which is from a song, bet you can't guess what song it is, LOLOL).

Then we played in the creek, K really enjoyed walking Snuffles and Snuffy enjoyed it too.

We drove around the whole campground to check it out.

The next two pictures are very special pictures, as at least one of them will make it into my "next" book I am writing.  My friend Deborah S. from FaceBook and Polymer Clay friend might know what I'm hinting at, but I haven't told anyone else yet.



So I have to say, Thanks, A, I really needed this picture!!!!

We finally decided the playground closest to us was the best, so we went there to play,

and played in the creek for awhile (again) played play doh, blew bubbles and when B and M finally came out we all went swimming and then had a cookout with wonderful giant marshmallow s'mores.

The next few days were filled with fun with the "family", although they went much too quickly and we soon had to say good bye and head for home.  We spent another day hanging out at the family's house, took them for one last meal at the Wood Grill Buffet (which obviously we thought was an excellent buffet) and said our good byes.  We went back to the trailer, packed it all up and the next morning headed west.

That's enough for one post, so I'll finish the saga in the next post.  Smiles, Sue C

Home again, home again, jiggety jog!

At least I think that's how that rhyme goes, LOL.  Anyway, I haven't just disappeared again, I've actually been on vacation (although I didn't want to announce it ahead of time, as that is a great way to tell "bad guys", "come on over and rob my house, nobody will be home from this date to this date", which we certainly didn't want to do).  We had a scary enough "casing" of our home/property this year, sure don't want to let people KNOW when we won't be home.  So, we're home again, you might be asking yourself, "yeah, but home from where"?  LOL

As stated in previous blogs, we had a fantastic vacation in the Smoky Mountains with our extended family last summer.  Then N (son) and E & L (grand daughters) were living with us for most of the school year, but we hadn't seen the other 3 grand kids; A, K, and J for the past year.  So off we went in our Big Sky, Condo on Wheels to see B (daughter) M (son-in-law) and A, K, and J in Virginia.  They've lived there for 2 years now, in 3 different houses and this is the first time we've made it out there (because last year they joined US in the Smokies).  So, we headed East on July 28.  What a wild trip it was this year, what is up with all the drivers texting and just plain being oblivious as they drive?  We always hate/dread driving through Indianapolis, but to go East from Central IL, there isn't much choice.  As usual there was lots of construction, but we made it through without too much problem and headed on towards Louisville (our second most hated place to drive through, due to extreme left to right lane changes to get to the correct highway.  It's hard to do with a 40 ft fifth wheel, LOL).  Anyway, just before we got to Louisville, there was an on ramp.  There was a smallish car in front of us, we're all going 65 mph.  3 semis are coming up the on ramp, on the right, but they have THEIR OWN LANE, they don't have to merge and the IDIOT smallish car in front of us suddenly STOPS (we think they were trying to let the trucks on, but they didn't need to, the trucks had their own lane). . . we couldn't get over, there were cars on our left, too. . .Verle put the brakes on as hard as he safely could. . .  I think we came within about 10 feet of "the idiot" before he finally got the idea that we were about to run right over him and he accelerated and we managed to avoid an accident.  With our hearts still in our throats (or is that stomachs in our throats???) we still had to make it through Louisville.  First you have to be all the way to the right going across the big bridge (and it's always crowded) to make the change from I65 to I71/65, then after making that tight spiral ramp onto 71/65 and coming in on the left, you have to cut across the I71/65 traffic (immediately, not even a half mile) to get to the I71/I64 ramp where, again, you come in on the left side and have to get across the entire freeway to make the final ramp completely onto I64 without the other combined freeways.  Of course, there is also construction going on and restricted speeds for those of us who follow the speed limits (but those who don't sure make it harder for those of us who do, LOLOL).  We had another person almost stop in front of us during all this, as well as a person pulling onto the freeway going about 10 mph in the middle of all this.  It's all tight ons and offs in very short distances across 3-4 lanes of freeway with other freeways crossing in and out, I hate it (I even hated it when we were just driving in a car, but being the size of a semi is even worse), but once you're through Louisville, the rest of the trip is great.

Being the height of summer, the scenery was gorgeous.  I didn't take many pictures this time, as we've made this trip at least once a year for the past 6 years.  This is actually the first picture I took, as we headed south towards Charlottesville, VA, our destination to visit the family.   They live just north of Charlottesville.
We've never been to the Charlottesville area, the only part of VA we've been to is in the D.C. area.

As we got to our campground, this is the first thing we saw:

It was an easy on/off the freeway experience and was a beautiful welcome.  I just love Crepe Myrtle, we live just a bit too far north to grow it, I've tried, LOL.

We went into the office to register and were told we were lucky, we "have the best campsite in the campground".   Surprisingly, they were correct, in our opinion, it was the best site there and if I could have I would have purchased it for future use.

 It was a pull-through as requested and a plenty big spot to be comfortable in our size 5th wheel (40 ft with 4 slide outs).  Much to my enjoyment, we were right beside a small creek it was shady and beautiful.  The only downside was there was a bit of a slope to get down to the creek, but there was plenty of flat area for our picnic table and fire ring.

I don't know why I have such an affinity for water, but I just love being near water, particularly running or moving water, but any water will do, a creek, a lake, the ocean, a bay, I just feel so relaxed and energized when I am near water.  I mean near enough to see, hear, touch it, a couple miles away or even on the other side of a campground doesn't do it.  We seldom manage to get this close to the water, but it was a real blessing to me.  This is the first picture I took standing in the doorway to our trailer and the scene I would see as I sat at my mini studio claying, if I had time to clay here, LOL.

So, we took some time to get settled in and then called the kids and got directions to the buffet where we were planning to have dinner.  We went to the Wood Fire Grill and Buffet (at least I think that was the name of it).  Mr. C and I happen to really appreciate Buffets, if they are good ones, as he can get unlimited salad etc. and everybody can get just what they want.  We met the family there and had lots of hugs and love all around.  It is getting interesting.  When you only get to see your grand kids once a year it makes you almost strangers.  We talk to them on the phone, but only usually see them once a year.   First picture of everybody but me, and second picture with everybody but M (son-in-law).   That's life now days, with all adults working and having limited vacation time and with both kids being military, they don't get to live near us.

The grands are growing so fast and growing up and we know the day is coming when they will no longer want to be bothered with "the old grand parents", LOL.  Fortunately that day isn't here, quite yet, although hugs from the oldest boy, A were a bit stiff (he's 10 now).  So we settled who would sit beside us this time and the extra across and promised we'd switch it up the next time.

A (10), K (8) and J (5)

After a lovely dinner the family followed us back to the campground to spend the evening.  Good thing they went with us, as the road from the restaurant happens to have a turn only lane with no warning and our GPS didn't know it, either.  The family pulled up beside us and said, you need to get in this lane, as the one you're in is a turn only lane ahead, and they held a spot for us to get in front of them.  After lots of delays, "rush hour" and an accident on the highway, we finally made it to the campground.  The kids were absolutely ecstatic over the creek accessibility, LOL.

The first thing we got to do was feed the local ducks.  These were very polite, (at least they were polite to us, but they weren't very nice to the poor baby duck with them, so the grands made a special effort to be sure baby got some bread, too) but funny looking, ducks.  At first we thought they had weird top knots on their heads, but it turned out there were just some messed up feathers.  They ate the bread the kids threw to them and even came up to the trailer looking for more, but there was no nipping, chasing, or crowding.  Once they saw we didn't have any more they went on their way.

K using the last of her carefully hoarded bread crumbs.

We had a lovely evening, just chatting while the kids played in the creek, trying to catch minnows and crawdads (more on that in the next post, A managed to get me something I can use in the second book I'm writing).

Of course Snuffy was with us and wanted to play with the ducks, too, but had to be content to just watch the action.

As it was close to bedtime by then, the family left and we finished settling in and had a lovely night listening to the "peepers" and other night sounds in this lovely secluded campground.  This post is long enough, I'll write another to continue the saga, LOL.

A and J looking for "things to catch"

Snuffles with B and M

Lazy Summer, 2011

Oh my, what a lazy summer I'm having.  Partially due to my back, of course, but still, I just don't seem to have much motivation to do anything.

I had a lovely visit with the full moon 2 nights ago.  I sat out on our deck by the pool and watched the sun set in the West and waited for the Moon to rise in the East.  I watched the stars pop into view one by one and waited some more. I began to think I had made a mistake and it must be the new moon instead of the full moon.  I sat with myself and my thoughts and suddenly made a dash into the house for pencil and paper.  I sat there in the deepening twilight and wrote the first spontaneous poems I have ever written in my life.  It was an interesting quiet introspective time for me.  Finally, finally, the moon peeked over the horizon, bright orange, like a child's ball or a big orange eye.  It ever so slowly rose peeking through the spruce trees that line our property as if playing hide and seek with me as it changed from orange to gold to white.  Mr. C finally came out to see if I was ever coming in to go to bed, LOL (we're normally pretty early sleepers, LOL) but that big round moon was really moving slowly that night.  Mr. C stood there watching with me until Mr. Moon finally made it to the top of the trees and we could see him in all his radiant glory with a hazy halo 'round his head.

The next morning I got out those poems I had written in the dark and laughed and laughed, as I transcribed my scribbles into "Word".  Since most of the time I was writing in the dark, some lines were on top of others and some scribbled down the page diagonally and a few words I had to try to recall what in the world I must have written there.  I still like what I wrote and feel good about that time alone, just me and the moon.

Otherwise, this past week or so has been kind of wild.  As you may or may not know, this spring we got some chickens.  They were day old chicks when we got them  (little hands in the photo, we got them while 2 of our 5 grandchildren were living with us and they thought baby chicks were wonderful).  We have carefully brooded them and raised them until they were finally able to be let outside the chicken coop.  We were hoping to have "free range" chickens this time, just because I like fresh eggs and hearing chickens clucking around the yard and roosters crowing (and because I am so very loved and spoiled by my dear Mr. C).

 Last week, though, while taking outside pictures for the slide show on the blog, I suddenly realized we were missing some chickens.  Well, we live in the country and there are foxes, coyotes, and wolves in the area (although some people claim there aren't any wolves in central IL, I know 3 of the animals I've seen were NOT coyotes, they were beautiful wolves).  I don't regret these animals being here, and we knew we might lose one or two chickens to them.  I don't begrudge the fact that they have to eat, too, but they don't have to be pigs.  Anyway, we've also had a huge beautiful red tailed hawk lazily circling our property the past couple of days, but of course I can't seem to get a picture of her.  You see, I'm really torn, I recognize the beauty of these wild beasts and also recognize their right to be here and to eat, yet I want to protect my flock (and tiny puppy).

So, where was I, Oh Yeah, I suddenly realized we were missing some chickens and it was enough of a difference to really stand out.  So I called them over to the coop for some special scratch food (a treat for them) and started counting heads.  Hmmm, only 12, this is odd.  That afternoon, after Mr. C got home from work I told him and we went to look for the chickens and they were all out front (they have never gone to the front of the house!!!)  We went around and herded them back to the back yard and decided to wait until they went to bed (dark) to take a final head count.  We went out to do the head count and three of the pullets and one of the cockerels were roosting on the gate by our house (which is really odd, as they ALWAYS go back to their "safe" coop for the night).  We picked them up and carried them back to the coop.  Headcount showed  now there were eleven.  The next day they were in the front yard again and I spent about an hour and a half trying to herd them back to their coop (by myself it was probably a comedy of errors, LOL).  It was early evening, but with wild "who knows whats" running around my house I wasn't going to be out there after dark by myself in the chicken coop.  Doing a moving head count, there were only 8, now, and they were terrified to go near their coop (even with the enticement of scratch).   I got about half into the coop and shut it up, then went after the last couple.  They went to the gate by our back door again.   One of the cockerels made a jump into a bush by the gate and I managed to grab his legs before he got out of reach and swung him down and under my arm.  Then managed to snag one of the hens off the gate (again grabbing her legs at the last moment).  By this time only the red cockerel was still outside.  I opened the chicken door and he hurried inside, so I locked them up.   Once Mr. C got home, at midnight, we made the decision to fence an area in for them, as obviously something is stealing our chickens.  I found 2 places where they had obviously been "caught" and 2 other places where some were dragged into the corn field behind the house, but I can't for the life of me figure out how something could have taken 14 FOURTEEN at one time (the only 2 scenarios I can come up with are a pack of wolves--probably with pups or a pack of wild dogs.  Foxes and coyotes are usually solitary from my understanding.  The pack of wolves with pups seems most likely, because as scared of the coop as the chickens had become and as many loose feathers as we found in the coop there was something small enough to get through the "chicken door", which was about 18" high by 12" wide.)  So, we spent the rest of the week building a fenced area for them.

We even fenced off the top in case the beautiful hawk has helped herself to one or two (some were smaller than others and could have been taken by the hawk, she's really big).  Since we were now down to only 8 chickens (6 pullets and 2 cockerels) we decided to try to get a couple more to fill the flock out.  We found a lovely lady about an hour and a half away that had some older hens available.

We have Americauna chickens which lay blue to blue/green eggs, but they don't usually become broody or want to hatch eggs and we know next year we will need to replace these older hens we got.


The gal with the older hens also had some Brahma hens which have feathery feet and they are usually really broody, good setting hens, so we got a couple of those, too.  These older gals have really helped our youngsters to settle down, which is good.  I have to laugh, though.


They have bright red combs and wattles and they are chubby old gals, LOL, Mr. C saw them sitting on the ground (they can't get onto the roosts, they're too tubby, LOL) and he promptly labeled them the "Red Hat Hens".

Then he laughed like crazy as he reminded me to tell my Mom about the "Red Hat Hens" as she's involved with a Red Hat Ladies group.  Of course I can't get them to all hold still for a group portrait, LOL and my camera doesn't take good night pictures, which is when they are still.  But here are two of the Brahma, Red Hat Hens, see the feathered feet?

Here is one of our remaining cockerels (on the right) with 2 of the Americauna Red Hat Hens.

Here is a better picture of my prettiest cockerel and below that is the red cockerel.

Our young pullets aren't laying eggs yet, but these Red Hat Hens are laying some.  Not too many, because they are older hens, they are stressed from moving, and from the heat.  But, they WERE giving us 2-3 a day.  Then suddenly it was only one and then the past 2 days NONE.  Today when I went out to take these pictures, I found out why. . . it's not that they aren't laying eggs, but apparently they don't like their nest boxes on the floor (we'll raise them tonight, LOL) so they were laying them on top of a rabbit/chicken carrier in an open bag of pine shavings, and one of the hens has been hiding them from us and setting on them.

 Sad thing is, our cockerels aren't old enough yet, so none of them will be fertile, but since they've been there more than 12 hours I threw them all out (the egg picture above is of the eggs she was hiding).  Here's the culprit on top of the carrier, I already removed the open bag of shavings, poor old gal, LOL.  She's half Americauna and half Brahma and has a few feathers on her legs, but lays blue/green eggs.  

There hasn't been much else happening this week, although my back is now enough better I was able to help with the mowing again.

We had our first 2 handgun classes last week; between the wild animals and the 2 legged varmints casing our house this summer, I guess it's about time for some safety intervention/preparation.  We still have our home security classes to take and we hope we never need to use them, but I'm out here alone enough that we'll both feel better knowing I'm able to protect myself.

My garden is growing fantastically (I haven't had a garden in years, but wanted to have one this year).  Mr. C and son, N, made boxes for me to do some square foot gardening, as that seemed to make sense to me.  My peas were fantastic, although I only was able to cook one batch (I ate about 2 batches raw, straight off the plants, LOL).  The carrots and onions are getting bigger every day.  My spinach did rotten.  The strawberries are ok, but not great.  I think we got a bad batch of bean seeds, so I got another package and am trying for more of those, as I love fresh green beans.  We've had lots of lettuce too, although Mr. C. says, "Next year, no lettuce, it's not worth the bother."  My broccoli did great, EXCEPT, I didn't know if it was ripe or not and the next day it had all flowered out :-( , so I didn't actually get to eat any of it.

 I've got a bunch of baby watermelons and other melons coming along.

The cucumbers didn't seem to be doing anything and then suddenly sprouted up and started climbing their fence and then from somewhere a HUGE cucumber showed up, in fact two of them, about 16" long and bigger around than my fist can reach, LOL.  We don't know why we never saw them until they were that big, but we got a big laugh out of them.








The tomatoes are taking over everything else though, which is good as Mr. C loves tomatoes (I don't, and I'm slightly allergic to them).  Next year the asparagus should be big enough to actually harvest and since I love fresh asparagus and creamed asparagus, I'm looking forward to that.

I just went out to take some pictures of the garden and look, look, at this picture I got for you as I returned to the house.  Yes, I know they're pests, and they have dug tons of holes in our yard (at least now we know what the culprit probably is), but isn't he/she cute???  Shhhh, don't tell anybody, but I just threw some puppy food out for him/her, LOL.

So, that's enough blather for today, I guess, just didn't want anybody to think I fell off the edge of the earth, again.  I'm still here, just having a "lazy summer"!!!  Hope you're having a good one, too.  Smiles  Sue C

Whew, sigh of relief

After spending the past couple of days tweaking my website (even writing my own poem on the About Me page, which is kind of corny, but expresses my sentiments exactly).  Then realizing that the redirect I had to get back here to my blog wasn't right, I changed it all up again.  I couldn't figure out how to get my blogger blog to appear as if it was part of my website, so I decided to just make my blogger DESIGN appear to match my website, and even managed to put matching "buttons" to take you to the different pages of my website (which was a real challenge for me).  A real computer whiz probably still won't think they go together, but it works for me.  I just hope all the pictures are still showing up in the right places, LOL.   One thing I just don't get, though, I wanted a slide show to show up on my blogger (like what is on the Home Page of the website, at the bottom).  I went to my Picasa web pictures and moved some pictures out of an album and moved some other pictures into the same album and then chose it for my slide show.  But the pictures I had removed showed up anyway.  So I tried to start all over and Blogger wouldn't show all my Picasa Web albums, so that didn't work.  Anyway, I think it's working now (and I don't have a clue how I finally did it, LMAO), but if there are some odd pictures (not clay related) in my slideshow, don't be surprised.  How can I be so exhausted just sitting here fighting with the computer.  Sometimes I truly think there's a little person in there just trying to confuse and mess me up, LOL (can't you just picture it, a little monstery kind of guy blowing raspberries and saying, "HA, got her again" with a very evil laugh???).  Sorry, no pictures, you'll just have to enjoy the website and blog changes for today.  If there had been pictures, they would have been of a lobster red person with a white mask pulling her hair out.

Actually, the sunburn is much better, my face looks almost normal, except for my burned, swollen, cracking and peeling lips (ouch).  My back is starting to itch, but doesn't hurt anymore.  My shoulders and chest are still pretty painful, but I'll live.  On another good note, my back is feeling a bit better, so hopefully, it's finally on the way to recovery and I can get started claying again.

So, with that, please let me know if any links on either the website or blog don't work.  I think I checked them all out, but I could have missed something in trying to get it all in place.  Thanks for your patience with this work in progress (me AND the blog and website, LOL).  Oh, gotta run, want to catch the chat gals on PCC. Smiles, Sue C

Whew, made it to chat and what a great bunch of clayers and photos were shared.  Smiles

Not much happening

Good morning, blogger friends.  As the title suggests, not much has been happening here.   I still can't do much physically, because of my back injury.  Since I have to sit around doing nothing so much, (which I don't deal at all well with) I decided it was time for me to finally make a web site for my polymer clay and personal use.  I actually uploaded it yesterday, and although it still needs more work, it isn't too bad.  If you'd like to take a look at it, I'd love your input:  www.chasinrainbows2.com  (It doesn't look like it, but there is a dot between the 2 and the com in that address).

It's finally turned into summer, here in Illinois, so we've been spending time in the pool and I got fried yesterday, after spending several hours enjoying my Mom's company in the pool.  I look a bit like a lobster, but with a white mask where my sunglasses were.

Haven't gotten much claying done, although I'm still working on my book.  I finally got my computer desk papers sorted and kind of put away.  I've been practicing making Zentangles and have done a bit of watercolor flowers from an on-line class.  That was a lot of fun.

Hope you all had a great Fourth of July weekend.  My Dad turned 83 yesterday, yep, he's a Firecracker with a 4th of July birthday.  We actually celebrated on Saturday, as he's been wanting to go try out Golden Corral Buffet  (which is our personal favorite), but the closest Golden Corral to us is an hour away, in Springfield, so we loaded my Dad, Mom, and Sister up and took a road trip.  A good time was had by all, and we just wish there was a Golden Corral in Bloomington, but maybe that wouldn't be a good idea, as we'd eat there all the time and would gain a million pounds.

So, I'll close for now, as there isn't much to say when a person isn't doing anything.  I've got lots planned to do today, so maybe I'll actually have some pictures to post later this week.  Have a great week.  Sue C

I just wanted to drop a line in here, so you don't think I've disappeared again.

A bit is accomplished!!!

Lately I seem to be at "sixes and sevens" (not sure where that saying came from, but it fits, somehow, LOL).  I seem to flit from thing to thing and don't get a darn thing accomplished, let alone finished.  However, yesterday finally broke the  mold (unfortunately, I was up until 2:30 a.m. breaking that mold, but I had fun).

So, you might ask, what IS on my "list of things to do" and what DID I actually get accomplished?  My list of things to do is too long to post, just know it's very long and intimidating!!!  But, what I got accomplished yesterday, is easy to post.

1.  I got my kitchen cleaned up, dishes caught up, laundry done, and scrap book area put back together after replacing the power strip that caught fire the other day (yep, never a dull moment around here, LOL).  I also got dinner started; lasagna.

2.  I stopped in and participated in Discussions from the ClayPen, a chat through Polymer Clay Central.  If you're interested in Polymer Clay, you need to check out Polymer Clay Central.  http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/  They have a message board, tutorials, challenges, chat rooms, and more.  It's a wonderful resource.

3.  I worked a bit more on my book and publishing options.  Hmmm, people might ask, what kind of book are you writing.  Although I read "adventurous smut" (as Mr. C calls it) I wouldn't be any good at writing it.  No, this is a book I have been asked to write many, many times, and it concerns polymer clay (of course, what else).  But that's all I'm willing to share at the moment.  I have it 2/3 of the way written, now have to do the actual step out photos to go with it, (I also have a great idea for another book, but one at a time, LOL) which led to #4.

4.  I got my clay desk pretty well cleaned off (still need to do both ends, but got distracted, as usual), which led to #5.

5.  As I was attempting to put away my clay cutters and Kemper cutters I remembered that at Clay Carnival last year we were all borrowing one another's Kemper cutters and having trouble remembering who got which one from whom.  I saw that one instructor had dots of red (nail polish?) on the ends of hers and I thought that was a great idea.

At Clay Carnival, during our last night pizza party, one of the "game prizes" (don't ask, it was too silly to believe, but tons of fun, if you ever have the chance be sure to go) was nail polish (and the color choices weren't the greatest, but since I don't wear nail polish anyway, I decided I would use it to mark my Kemper cutters).  So I was hemming and hawing over what color and mentioned what I was going to do with it to the instructor at that "station".  She said, "Get the Black."  I said, "Black, who would want black", and she wisely said, "Exactly!"  Hmmm, she's right, most people will mark thing with bright or interesting colors, who would want the black.  So I took the black nail polish as my prize, LOL.  I said, if you ever get the chance to attend Clay Carnival, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clay-Carnival-Las-Vegas/143330999067954 do so, it's great, as is Cabin Fever Clay Festival, which I don't have the url for, just google it, LOL.

Now, here I am 6 months later, with all these cutters mixed up in front of me, so I sat there and painted the top of each Kemper Cutter with black nail polish.  Just as an aside, I forgot how much  nail polish stinks, LOL.

6.  We happened to need to go to town to get Mr. C's Mustang's oil changed, so while we were in town we went to WalMart (as usual, sure wish we had purchased stock in WalMart when it first started up like I wanted to. . . oops, better not go there, LOL).  While at WalMart, at my request, we visited the fishing tackle aisle, as I had  another bright idea of possibly using one of the Plano tackle boxes to hold my clay cutters.

I already use the wonderful large 3" deep ones for storing the canes I make that I choose to keep (I keep at least one sample of each size of cane I make, I have 5 of the silly things filled already, LOL).  Anyway, I wanted something a bit smaller, but still tall enough to hold the Kemper Cutters (with their little plunger thingies on top).  I finally found one I thought would work and it even had a little handle.  So we got it and brought it home.

7.  I started planning my attack on the clay cutter holders to keep them from rolling around and getting mixed up.  My first idea was to just make blocks of clay, stick the cutter in them, cure them, and then glue them into the box.  But getting the squares the right size and not having them distort when I stuck the cutters into them etc. proved to be an exercise in futility.  So, what if I just stick the clay in the sections and bake it there?  Can you heat a Plano tackle box to 275* F?  Have I ever seen anybody talk about doing this?  I asked Mr. C what he thought and he said, go for it.  I asked him if he'd be peeved if I melted the box we just bought, he asked me how much it cost (which of course I didn't have the faintest idea of ;-p ) and said to try it.  So I carefully stuffed polymer clay into the spaces I was going to use and carefully cut out the shape of the cutters and then stuck them back in and wiggled them a bit in hopes of not having stuck cutters when I got done.

Then, I asked Mr. C if there was any way to take the lid off (hoping to at least salvage the lid if nothing else--again, don't ask me what good having a lid without a box would do, because I don't have the slightest idea, but it seemed the right thing to do).  So, Mr. C patiently applied enough force to take the lid and handle off and I removed any dividers I didn't need.  I then put it in the oven and hoped for the best, and Mr. C made a quick escape to his job (he's working nights this and next week, he rotates shifts week to week).  When the timer went off I carefully peeked in and all looked alright so far.  So I turned off the oven and left it to cool over night.

8.  While it was curing, however, I needed something else to do, so I started cleaning up my clay desk and putting more stuff away and suddenly thought of a way to make a cane I've been trying to imagine for quite awhile now.  You see, my Dad's birthday is on the Fourth of July, he's a Fire Cracker and I've tried several times, unsuccessfully to make a fire works cane.  I suddenly thought of how it could be done and set to work.

3 hours later  I finished it and found that although my idea was good and even sound, my execution of it left something to be desired, LOL.  It's ok, but the "explosion" is really too fine, I should have started with larger pieces, but here it is anyway, and it's still interesting, just not quite what I had planned for (and darn it I used new clay rather than recycled remnants, which I usually use for a new design so I don't waste money on a new design).  Oh well, live and learn.

Question now, is. . . what am I going to do with about 6 ft of this cane, LMAO.   Anybody want some fireworks cane?

So, before going to bed, I decided to check my email and blog reader once more, which led to #9.  I got distracted again, LOL

9.  I got distracted by the most wonderful magical blog post by one of the blogs I follow about a real live Fairy named Twig.  Of course I had to follow all the links etc. to find out all about Twig the Fairy.  She's so personable and made me smile and feel wonderful happy thoughts.  You can go to Twig's FaceBook and even find out what your own Fairy Name is as well as Moodify yourself.  It was so uplifting.


As I continued checking out my blog reader, I happened upon #10.


10.  I was reading LuAnn Udell's blog, http://luannudell.wordpress.com/ at the end of which she states, "With apologies the the delightful blog Hyperbole and a Half by Allie, whose post about her simple-minded dog made me laugh til I cried, and inspired the title of this post.)"  So of course, out of curiousity, I just had to go check out the Hyperbole and a Half blog.  


First I read the post mentioned, http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html and then checked out a link to an earlier blog post and just kept going "older post and older post" until I was laughing so hard that tears ran down my face and my stomach hurt, at which time I decided since it was now something like 2:00 a.m. I should probably go to bed.  


11.  Finally, this afternoon I got the Kemper Cutter Container out of the oven to check it out.  It worked perfectly.  The cutters are in there a bit tightly right now, but will come out and go back in.  The lid and handle are replaced and as I put the extra dividers back in place, I realized I had room for my Makin's Clay Cutters, too.  So this is what it looks like complete and I am really pleased.  
A close up of one compartment:

Half Closed:













Closed:
Upright, ready to travel and everything stays right in place, as designed.  I am so PLEASED!!!

12.  Oh, and I almost forgot, somewhere in here, I went to Craft Edu and got Leslie Blackford's class on making the cutest Chubby Little Bird Lamps.  I watched the video and can't wait to make a couple of those. This photo isn't very good, so go see it yourself at:
http://www.craftedu.com/leslie-blackford39s-chubby-little-bird-lamps/play-MzA3ODExNDY2OA


So, that's what I've been doing clay wise the past couple of days. You can now see, though, just how my mind and day work (or don't work for that matter).  My brain goes round in these circles 24 hours a day, which leads to very poor sleep which leads to more and round and round we go.


I've also been having fun researching Zentangles and Tangling, I believe is the correct terminology.  I've cut about a zillion little 3 1/2 X 3 1/2" squares of paper with my Deckle blade on my paper cutter. I still need to get some of the "permanent ink pens" they recommend.  Just what I need, something else to distract myself with.  But then again, maybe that is just what I'm needing to do right now, is distract myself, from my back pain, from my inability to do much of anything physical, from my, once again, empty nest.  Yes, I think distraction is JUST what I need.  Sheesh, no wonder my back was feeling worse last night and today, I got a LOT accomplished, LOL.


Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Smiles Sue http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2011/06/happy-fairy-day.html