Beady Friends

My friend from Washington just sent me these pictures of her and her hubby Thom. They both work hot glass. Mona has been to stay with me in our new home, right after it was built. She took a glass class with me in Omaha, then she, Sandy and I all went to a class in Depoe Bay, Oregon together. We had so much fun! I count her as one of my most treasured buddies.

Mona on Thom's bike, which her father built for them:



Thom on her bike:


Mona is an incredible bead maker, she is innovative, creative, sharing of her knowledge, encouraging and downright one of the greatest folks I know. My life has been richer by knowing her. Here is her website

So, You CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

I just attended an MS Project 2003 class yesterday. I was amazed at how much easier an application is to run if you know all the little shortcuts. Just goes to show you, time and money spent on educating yourself on these little things really makes a difference. I loved the place where the class was held, New Horizons in Omaha on 120th. They send you a link to use after the class, it's good for 6 months. You can repeat the material over and over. I think that is phenomenal. Studies show that your retention after a class can be/are as low as 7-10%, after a good night's sleep, it can increase exponentially to 50% or as high as 80-90%. But, if there is a span of time between the class and your application of the knowledge, retention will decline. I think it is impressive this company is doing something about that lack of retention. We have known this information for years, it is innovative to finally do something to allow that knowledge to be retained. I have already signed into the link they gave us to 'study' the materials.

This weekend proves to be a long one, thank God for the Labor Day holiday. I have warned Steve I plan to shop at least one day. I still have gift certificates from my birthday in April I haven't used. Steve and I are taking a little trip in January, so I'll need new clothes. There is a killer shoe sale at Younkers. They put coupons in the paper to get an additional 20% off, I am so there. I am not one to buy a lot of shoes, so mine get beat up pretty bad, I need a couple new pair to replace some that are showing wear.

Shoes are lacking in my closet, but you can't get a slip of paper between all the stuff hanging in there. It is crazy, I have to thin again. I love to buy blouses, I have a ton of them in call colors. Such a wide range of taste, too. I haven't really decided what my personal taste is, I don't think. I can go from flowery to tiger prints in the span of an afternoon. Keeps life interesting, don't you think?

Only thing that could make my weekend better is to see my grandbabies.

Department Photo gone astray

Matt, the guy in front of me moved his head just as we got ready to take the photo. All of us got together for a photo op (required annually). These photos go into the hospital directory. This is the very last one, they just had to get it all out of their systems before we could break up.

The photo has to be redone, the gal taking the picture got so tickled at some of the comments and 'behavior' that she took very blurry pictures! HA, and to think they are all very professional in their jobs!

The woman with her finger up in the air telling us we are all number 1 is our boss!

Halloween Party is coming SOOOOOOOON!

NOTE: I edited the last part of this today, I was too lazy to do a whole new post. I am trying to find time to download photos out of my camera to put on here. Projects are keeping me hopping, I got another area to try out the Facial Recognition software, so that will keep me moving a little faster! GOD! I love this job!

Today I got the email I waited for all year! We will start planning the party at Michelle's house. Michelle is one of my sisters. She has a twin, Michael. In her back yard is a huge outbuilding, one of those metal things farmers put their equipment in. It has electricity, a furnace and a wood burner. WE have all kinds of get togethers in that building. She does a fish fry twice a year. Her husband has an uncle from Alaska that brings back fresh halibut and salmon in huge coolers. They cut it into bite sized pieces, we cook it in a big turkey fryer. The family on both sides comes to the gathering.

Michelle and Jason also have their musical equipment all set up in this building, they sing and play music all night long. Sometimes we go into the wee hours of the morning.

Last year, we did a Halloween party for the kids in all the families. Each child invited their class. I forget how many kids came, but it was close to 100, maybe more! This year the kids are already talking about it and how much fun they had last year. We did games, had food in typical Halloween style, witches fingers, eyeballs, a brain, here is the link. I used most of this gal's ideas last year.

Michelle made this Litter Box Cake:

It looks just like kitty litter. The kids were so disgusted, but they wanted to eat it, too! The link for the recipe is here

We did a brain mold, it was realistic. The kids thought it was fun. :


We left the raspberry jello out of the center that made it look like it was bleeding when you cut it.

There were also hot dogs, maid rites, chips and drinks, but you can imagine the fun they had trying all the 'gross' stuff.

The kids all won prizes for playing games.

Michelle has a little house between her main house and the large outbuilding. We used it to house "Mesmerelda" a fortune teller that had a spooky room all set up with lights and things. The kids loved her the best. She told fortunes, stuff like: "You are going to get a boyfriend/girlfreind this year." Or, "You are going to pass this year," or "You will have a pleasant dream tonight." Pretty predicatable stuff, but the kids LOVED it. One of the girls after she told her she was going to get a boyfriend, she said, "OH, I Hope he's cute!" We laughed over that one.

Here is Mesmerelda:


Her room:






EDIT: want to try this punch!



Recipe: www.kidskuisine.com/

See why I am so excited to do it again?

Homemade Noodles galore

Today I spent the day with my sisters, Deanne, Brandy, Michelle. Three neices came to help with the noodle making. We made 35# of flour and 10 dozen eggs into noodles for the Whistle Stop days. WE had a good time, everybody was pretty even tempered, nobody got into an argument of any kind (kind of unusual for our group, everybody is so opinionated and strong minded, we survived).

It was a ton of fun to get together. Most of the work was done and all the sisters and neices left around 1:30-2:00. I hung out and finished the task of bagging noodles, cutting and bagging the beef roast, washing all the cookies sheets and re-arranging the freezer to hold the 3 Gal. buckets of broth. We did the laundry, folded it, vaccuumed the area, and then Deanne didn't have to look at any of it again until the event on Sept. 15th. Wish you could have been there. Pictures will most likely be on Tarbender Dee's blog.

HomeMade Salsa and Tomato Juice

I have spent the last two nights at my sister Deanne's canning salsa and tomato juice. The salsa is just right, not too hot, and not too sweet. I haven't canned since we were first married. I forgot how much better homemade tomato juice tastes in chili and that kind of thing.

There are more tomatoes for me if I want them, so I am thinking I am going to try to make some more juice. First I have to get a couple pieces of equipment. I can't intrude on my sis and her hubby every time I want to make something. They do have an incredible set up to do their canning, big commercial sinks, HOT WATER to get the jars ready, and a juicer that makes you salivate, it cuts the prep time by 3/4 when getting your tomatoes ready to can.

I think it is great her hubby helps her do all the canning. It would take forever if you were out there alone. He helped me last night, they have a definite routine, it goes pretty smooth, and quick. I was quite impressed!

Thanks, Deanne and Mike. I will take pictures of my jars and post, I am so proud!

TOMATOES coming out my ears, my toes, my nose.....AND a BRAG on my Dear friend, AIMEE!

Yesterday I was gifted with some tomatoes from a woman that works in our local Casey's store. She told me she had a ton of them, and to come get them. I wanted to make salsa (Something I never have ever made, but I want some anyway) I had told my little brother Ron this a week ago, he usually brings tomatoes to me, but he didn't. I put it out of my mind, but Deb asked me if I wanted some for Salsa, I jumped right on it. I went down to pick them up, I ended up with a huge rubbermaid container full, a large dishpan and a box. I got a recipe from Dianne (thanks, SIS!) I needed green peppers, jalapenos, and a few other things, incl. jars. Today I came to work, our department gardener brought in a whole box of jalapenos, and green peppers. SCORE! I don't have to buy them now.

After work I am going to get jars, and the other things I need, and start the salsa making process after I get home tonight. I understand it is quite a process. But, I am up for the challenge.

One of my dear bead making friends went to NC to tape a segment for a stained glass show last week. She has been testing some lampworking tools for a man that makes tools. He gave her name to a woman that does a stained glass show, and told her to get Aimee on her show, because he liked her creativity with his tools. Here she is on the set:



This is her with Vickie, I have not seen the show, but I plan on watching it now!



This is Aimee with them taping:


I am not sure how many of you know I do lampworking, it is an ancient art form, glass was melted over a flame to creat beads worn in adornments. They were created by melting glass over a lamp, thus the name lampworking. You can see Aimee's torch on the counter in front of her, it is a surface mix oxygen/propane torch used to make a clean flame that will melt the glass at very high (2000+F) temperatures. The glass is then wound on a metal rod coated in a clay like substance. The bead is then placed in a kiln, controlled to cool the glass very slowly. (A process much the same as 'tempering'.) This stabilizes the glass so it will not shatter. I became addicted the first time I ever saw the process. My husband built a studio on the back of our garage that serves as a studio. All of my lampworking tools/tanks/kiln, etc. are housed in that structure. It allows me a place to do my art, I literally melt away the hours in there. (Pun intended).

This hobby has taken me to ABQ, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon, Tucson, Az., Phoenix, AZ., Louisville, KY., as well as provided me with an income to support the hobby. I have enjoyed doing it, along with making many new friends along the way.