Rocks in My Pocket

Spent most of my youth
Out hobo cruising.
And all I got for proof...
Is rocks in my pockets and dirt in my shoes.
So goodbye nonbeliever
Don’t you know that I hate to leave here.
So long babe, I got the flashback blues.
--John Prine

I've been picking up things lately...broken pieces of glass....rocks...car reflectors. Things I would never have touched in years past. My studio sits across the street from the railroad tracks and I walk about a quarter of a mile to the bus that brings me back to son and dog and dinner needing to be made. Domicile and Domesticity. It's a journey that takes about 45 minutes and somehow lends ease to the transition.

Sterling silver, rocks, pearls, Moonstones, and steel.

The Key's to My Heart

The keys to my heart this Monday:

1)Sun dried tomato, artichoke heart, and Feta Cheese Pizza.

2) Sun Retro Cruisers.

3) Vintage Keys. (I'll be listing some next week.)

4) Fiesta Ware. (Especially Lime Green.)

5) Wool Scarves.

20 miles and I ROCK

Weekend with friend Cheryl was great. We tooled around Tahoe Thursday and Friday went for a 20 mile bike ride along the Truckee River. Yep, I RODE 20 miles on a bike. (That's like 100 miles in middle aged chubby woman world!) I won't describe the aftermath...there are parts of your anatomy that aren't supposed to HURT. But all in all the visit was really great. It's nice to know this friend as a grownup and be one (practically) my self.

I am no longer 42 and a half. 43 is my Renaissance year!

Easy Earrings #23-Washer Woman

Easy earrings #23--Simple Brass Washers (Go to East Asheville Hardware Before You Go to Lowes!) dangled with copper Bali style beads and a large fire polished donut.

Picasso

LikePicasso said in 1910

I'm gonna paint me a mandolin.

Could be cubes or could be curves,

I like to mix the paint with nerve.

I load my brush and fire away.

Paint me a hole in the light of day.

You can play it straight or play it from left field,

but you gotta play it just the way you feel.

C'mon boys, play it again.

Play it on Picasso's mandolin. Guy Clark

GuyClark. Singer/Songwriter. One of my long time favorites--a gift handed to me from an ancient relationship. I also got a dog, but that's another story. Anyway--connecting this post vaguely back to beads--all my favorite beads have Picasso finishes lately. I haven't always liked this finish on a bead. Thought it looked messy. But things change. Beads change. Kristen changes.

Pictures tomorrow of a day gallivanting in Lake Tahoe. I haven't gallivanted in a while, so I'm clearly out of practice and should document it.

A Story of Friendship and Terror

It's not likely this entry will live up to that title. (Currently a book on sale at Amazon about prisoner's of war...no I haven't read it.)

Friend Cheryl comes in tomorrow. All the way from Western NC. (A distinction made by residents of Western NC.) She lives about 3 miles from my older sons (21 and 18) and sees one of them frequently sucking down expensive caffeine in the local coffee shop. (Like mother like son.) We went to college together. (VERY small liberal arts hippie dippy--go figure.) Graduated (Both of us!) and reared Children (6 collectively...she all girls, me all boys.)

I am both THRILLED and appalled she is coming. I am not a very social person. Well, occasionally I am a social person. But I choose to not practice the art of sociality often enough. I will probably talk too much. She will be thin. I will be less thin. She will be TALL. I will be less tall. She is a nurse. The women in past generations of my family believed that nursing was the pinnacle of womanhood. Whether or not your husband left you, you could always be a nurse. (And it would connect you just a little more to Mary and Jesus.) This generation of women are slightly less crazy underachievers. Nurses scare us just a little.

I value this person beyond any quantifiable measure. She is flat out lovely. It's just the whole....10 years have gone by...will we still laugh our butts off thing. I suspect we will. I'll keep you posted.

Studio Space/Favorite Beads/A short Rant

As I mentioned yesterday, I have just rented a little studio. Very little. And hugely wonderful. It's given me a new found excitement for all facets of my work life. I listed merrily today and rediscovered two of my all time Czech glass bead favorites.

One disappointment with ebay...any thoughts on this? Ebay's new payment policy has removed the option of accepting payments via money order or personal check. I realize the benefits to ebay. They of course own Paypal. It increases their earnings...etc etc. Sure, most people do pay with Paypal. But I like options. The more you take away from me as a buyer and seller---the more squirmy I get. How about you?