North Beach!

These were two friends I found on the beach to play with. Their neighbors said they lay in wait on the bluff to see a sucker...oops... person on the beach and then they come charging to play! They would play until they dropped. I called one OLD DOG and the other YOUNG DOG. They were mother and child. Man, did they have fun!
I found three agates, beach glass and cool rocks. No wind, warm temps and a bit of sun plus new friends equaled a wonderful afternoon!

I am not sure if I will get much blogging done before I leave for the weekend for my Seattle show so I am posting this little picture of crows so you will know that I am far afield!

Dear Andrea, I have SO been saving this picture! Today is the perfect day for it after you told me I was lagging in updating my blog. This one's for you! Happy Spring! Happy Day! The sun is out and I am once again packing for a show. Some things remain the same!xo!

Argh - I posted the same picture twice and it is NOT of Lisa so here goes again for the third try! Three is a charm right?

Just a few pictures from the bead show here in Port Townsend this weekend. The weather on 2 of the 3 days was just too nice to be inside at a show but the other day of gray, overcast and cold was perfect weather. Unfortunately I didn't remember to take pictures of the show until breakdown time! You can see Lisa of Zizzy ZaZa in one photo, she of the orange polka dotted table coverings. There is also a shot of the ferry passing by the end of the dock that the show was located on. What a view!

Ruth Rae a fabulous jeweler stopped by the shop just after Art Fest here in PT and did a demo and book signing. We carry her book, A charming Exchange in the shop and if you are interested in working with silver and creating wonderful and unque jewelry; this is a great book to learn by. Thanks Ruth!!! I can hardly wait until next year's art fest!

Earth Day!

I remember my first Earth Day. I was in junior high school so maybe I was 13. At the time I thought a celebration in our school's auditorium ( Unami Junior High ) was a pretty cool way to get out of classes but I also remember feeling at the time that things had to change; that we could not continue on the ways things were. I had no idea that over the years our wastefulness and destruction of our planet would be getting worse, far worse. In the 1970's I remember in science class with Mr. Haines, that scientists were worried about the coming ice age. I lived in a semi conscious state of fear thinking that at any moment we would be the next great wooly mammoths and disappear in the blink of an eye. I have been no angel over the years, wasting my fair share of resources and not always recycling. And now as scientists discuss the coming global warming; I still live in a slight state of fear. I will do what I can on a daily basis however small or big to conserve,to recycle but I worry also as to what kind of place we are leaving for our children and their children and so on. Will I make a difference? Will my community? We will disappear like the Mayans and wooly mammoths into a great void of mystery? What is to become of all of us if we do not change?

We must care about each other and the planet we call home.

Remember the picture of ants that I posted on Facebook from my Tucson trip? Well these pictures are of a local monstrous size ant mound that Jacob found. It had to be 2 feet tall or more! How's that for a 1950's era horror movie. The ants that ate PT!!!! Ahhhhh

I don't know how familiar you all are with my area here but 95% of the traffic coming to PT crosses the Hood Canal Bridge which is closing for extremely needed repairs on May 1st and scheduled to reopen in mid June. Not bad if you are a hermit and like isolation but if you are a business owner, like me, it is not so good! To get here you will need to drive for hours or take 2 ferries and still drive for hours! Anyhow, I will be out doing a bunch of shows to keep myself in the loop and if you are going to place a mail order; now is the time! Mention this blog in the comment section of your order and I will give you a free" waaa - the Hood Canal Bridge is Closed" gift.

Till then, I think this is a funny poster created by the local print shop. At least we can all keep our sense of humor! And hey, it is sunny and warm and beautiful today!!!!!

The Cat House in my Yard

It is not quite finished yet and still needs its' coat of chartreuse and purple paint but here is the kitty's outdoor and indoor living area. It is a really nice place and Jacob swears the cats NEED it. Phil is thrilled they are out of his garage and I really want that sewing space. It is pretty cool though and by the end of summer should have electricity, heat and that paint job!

Way Cool Dude!

Jacob in his much too cool for his lifestyle sunglasses! He took the pics himself. Vanity, thy name is Jacob!

My Easter lights decorating the crows in my dining room window.a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YmER8XZQEuMq1zD1shLq6RCZ5iu5DuqHN2mUU4m2zPzJWK7tlhxHgb2SD_8jC_BiFM37Fw4684ZQH7mZA_3z-rCvt1ReHijG70__Ab9xaTHKlb2x6m1GsH0vhbnY-dVPX5cT_Xgad4aR/s1600-h/P1000235.JPG"> What would Easter be like without the sweet and heavy aroma of lilies in the house?
Jacob and his Easter basket. Although he thinks he may be too old for a basket; his mom knows you can never be too old!
Phil, Sally, Armand, Whit and Andrea for Easter dinner. A traditional feast of turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, baby carrots and sliced tomatoes. An incredibly good meal. Jacob ate so much he had to rest after dinner before the dessert of homemade cake and ice cream from Elevated. What a treat to have friends and family for a holiday meal together. Blessings to all!

The sweet day of sun and light that we had yesterday let me take some pictures of the flowers growing in this early spring in the backyard. I love the golden glow of the dandelion and these short stemmed daisies open only in the light of day. I know they are just labeled weeds but I think their beauty is greatly under appreciated.

This photo is of my friend and partner in Tucson adventures, Janet as she is outstanding in her field! Wish we lived closer but we will see each other at B&B in June for more on the road adventures.
On this sort of sunny day here in PT as I am preparing to head into the shop; I am thinking of how grateful I am for the little bird that sings outside my bedroom window every morning. I leave the window open at night to catch the evening breeze and there he or she is singing her heart out as early as 4 am. Even if it wakes me up briefly, I can still let him lull me to sleep. Spring is here even if snow is forecast in the rain showers for Sunday!

This handsome man ( ! ) on the left in the backwards ball cap is my son who will be 27 years old in 15 minutes, west coast time, which is where he was born so he is still 26 in this time zone. Honestly, gadzooks, how did he get to be 27!? It was yesterday that he was toddling down the hallway and telling me stories of his adventures on the beach. He ate hotdogs and sauerkraut with his dad every Saturday, loved to fish, walked hours with me on the beach, liked to comb my hair and pile jewelry on me, and other wonderful moments in his childhood. I also remember my great sadness and prayerful days as I waited to find out if he would even live after he was born. It was nearly 18 months later that I knew he would grow to adulthood. I spent so much time alone with him that in my journal I wrote that at 4 years old; he was my best friend. It has been such a pleasure, honor and challenge and journey that has not yet ended in being his mother. My most precious child, as I gush this all out for the world to see; I love you more each breath I take. May God bless you with a long and healthy life. Here's to all our children, may we grow with them and love them more every day.

This is me on the happy spring day that has finally shown up in Port Townsend! I am dancing and radiating from the sun! I managed to work part of the day in the shop and then I just HAD to go home to sit outside on the purple bench on the front porch and just enjoy the afternoon. Ah... the air was warm and there was sun!!! I tell you sun! And even for this die hard true pacific northwest soul; it felt great! Tonight I can hear the frogs outside singing their songs of love and longing and joy. Maybe boy frogs looking for girl frogs. The rites of spring, you know. Tomorrow, if I am lucky, a studio day! Happy spring to all and may you just stop, breathe deeply of the moment and enjoy!

Okay, so now I think I have a basic grasp of the photo booth function on my new lap top. What else do you do at 1:22 in the morning when you are not sleeping like you should be? I have so much I want to accomplish that sometimes it seems as if sleep gets in the way! I even talked to Andrea in Hawaii tonight through FB on this machine that is like a siren's call; keeping me up so late at night!

Finally a touch of spring arrived in Port Townsend today and I propped open the front door of the building to get at all the fresh air. The closed in-ness of winter was banished from even the darkest corners of this grand old place. The daffodils are blooming in the planter boxes and graveled tree wells. The mood of everyone I met or spoke to today seems lighter, happier, friendlier. We needed the sunshine here in PT. REALLY needed it and at last I can breathe a sigh of spring and rejoice.

Auction Time in PT

This necklace handcrafted by me, of course, is one that I donated to the Port Townsend Mainstreet Program for their on line auction. The auction will be raising funds to assist in the preservation of Mainstrreets in America and in specific Port Townsend's Mainstreet program which has had its budget virtually eliminated by the state. We need to protect our historical and victorian buildings and the way of life in small town, downtown America where giant corporate retailers have all but eliminated mom and pop stores and the places artists and craftspeople can market their work. If you can, make a bid! I won't disappoint you with this necklace and if you are the bid winner; I will throw in matching earrings and my sincerest gratitude. xo, Lois

The address is: ptmainstreet.org Click on Main Street Auction to place a bid.