Logarithmic Spirals in Nature

--The approach of a hawk to it's prey.

--The Chambered Nautilus Shell.

--The approach of an insect to a light source.

--The nerves of the cornea.

--Sunflower Heads.

--The Milky Way.

--Romanesco Broccoli. (Cool looking, but I've never eaten it.)

Growth is a spiral process, doubling back on itself, reassessing and regrouping. --Julia Margaret Cameron

Fire Polished Czech Glass

10 things I know about Czech Fire Polished Beads:

1) They're lead free.
2) They've been made for over 200 years in the Czech Republic.
3) They're machine faceted and then "polished" in the fire.
4) They're produced by a company called Jablonex.
5) Until 1989 Jablonex was criticized for using prison laborers in their factory.
6) They're cheap!
7) They sparkle. (Ooh, Ah)
8) Originally they were part of a cottage industry--and were made in people's homes.
9) Size intensifies color. Therefor a 4mm bead will not seem the same color as a 10mm fire polished bead.
10) The shades of color (like in yarn) may vary from dye lot to dye lot.

12 Days Later

12 days later I'm finally blogging. In the interim I have:

1) Ridden over 2000 miles on a train.
2) Met an author and read his book. Michael Graham's "The Snow Angel."
3) Met my nephew. (He is now 4lbs and 7 ounces.)
4) Eaten Jaeger Schnitzel and red cabbage.
5) Slept very little.
6) Stayed in a Ronald Mcdonald House. (My nephew will be having heart surgery this week.)
7) Washed my hands 9000 times.
8) Shopped for baby clothes.
9) Paid tuition. (Mine. Intro to Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology.)
10) Spoken gently but firmly to teenagers who I'd never met but felt the need to explicitly discuss their sex lives 3 inches from my ear.
11) Bought a 75 year old woman on her way to Hawaii a Budweiser.
12) Marveled.

What have you been up to?

Wednesday--The Garden of My Life

In Winnie the Pooh, the dis-agreeable nature of the weather is attributed to its being

"Winds Day." Hump day reminds us that we are still climbing arduously towards the weekend. Wednesday's Child is full of Woe. In Richard Brautigan's In Watermelon Sugar, "Wednesday is the day that the sun shines gray." And it would be sad to forget that poor Solomon Grundy was married on Wednesday.

Pish Posh Apple Sauce.

This day rocked!

First, friend Mindy and ebay seller Haveonhand sent me a picture of a key she's been working on. The garden of my life sparkles nearly as much as Mindy. (Thank you!)

Second, son Samuel was REALLY REALLY brave and auditioned for the citywide children's choir. That he is much bolder than I was is marvelous enough. That he was accepted is Cake.

Third, it was warm. In Reno, in January, this is a pure grace.

And last: I found something I'd lost. Enthusiasm. While it ebbs and flows. It is always Chinook--a warm breath of Spring.

Just another Manic Monday

It's just another manic Monday. I wish it were Sunday; 'Cause that's my funday. My I don't have to runday It's just another manic Monday --The Bangles

Monday was made slightly tolerable with a gift jar of pebbles. Even more beautiful than you may have realized, because they're actually chocolate that friend Charles brought back from Chinatown.

I ride the bus (gasp) a lot in Reno. It's cheap and easy to navigate between home, work, and son's school. Today I tried to do some bead work on the bus. (Scitter, Scatter.) Tomorrow I may try chainmaille. (Clink, clink.) For a long time I've wanted to take photographs of bus passengers. (The Deity you fear and long for is here in the face of the person standing next to you on the bus. More than that, I can't offer.)--Etsy Seller Fancifuldevices What have you been wanting to photograph?

Fun Friday

I lived in Japan for several years as a little girl. My mother's house-keeper was my universe. Not only did she make me miso soup with quail eggs, but she also took me downtown to the "Hello Kitty" store. I love this BirdieBird. Etsy seller Loriola has some super fun lampwork!

Anyone else found something fun today? Send pics, would love to post a few!

Hang Ups

Nailing up doo-dads and gew-gaws in the studio today, I used twice as many nails as picture hangers. The leftover brass hangers were flattened, hammered and drilled to make earrings. A good reminder to "hang in there?"