My little porch frog resting on top of my front door. That door can get hot, very hot in the sun so I was worried that he would turn into cooked frog legs. I picked him up and put him back in the ivy by the door. Silly, adventurous frog!



Today I have 2 concrete goals: one, to remove all adhesive tape residue. I told them I was allergic but ....
and two, to actually call the neurologist and make the appointment for a CT scan, MRI and a follow up. I don't know which bothers me the most, knowing or not knowing. Poor Phil, now doing all my work and his plus household stuff. Jacob said though as long as I was sitting around; I could mend some of his clothes starting with his favorite sweatshirt. That boy is always thinking and planning around things and events.

A Fine Kettle of Stinking Fish!

I can't think of anything more gross than rotting, stinking fish so that is the image I am applying to the posting on my blog today. All was well at Sock Summit, a long uneventful journey home and an evening of unpacking the suitcase and catching up on things when BLAM! at 11:30 I had a stroke! A mini stroke and now life at least for now is altered. I won't post a lot today because I do not know a lot. I spent Sunday night in the PT ER and then at 2 am was transferred to Swedish Hospital in Seattle in the longest, most miserable ride of my life. The Jefferson County Fire Department guys were great but ambulances ride like they are on ball bearings on potholed roads. I came home last night after a zillion tests, and I am still not diagnosed or cured and more tests loom on the horizon. Now, I have a neurologist that I need to see in 10 days or less plus another CT scan and another MRI. All this and one crappy insurance policy leaves me a bit stressed out. No one said to avoid stress at least. I am trying to view all of this as adventure and opportunity but it is trying. I will keep you posted on my blog, the pretty, the not so pretty, the triumphs and the tribulations of my journey. Right now, I would be happy to walk without assistance again!

Sock Summit Portland! Here I am! I have decided that sock knitters are pretty cool people and I have met some very interesting yarn dyers here. I am buying TONS of yarn for my Diva yarn shop and I think everyone from the staff to the customers will be surprised and pleased! So far, what I like best about Portland is that the days have been overcast and cool and I can sleep with the air conditioner on to minus Alaska in the winter! Brrr, baby, I like it cold! I will post more pictures when I get home. I will be back next month for the Bead Fest held here in the same location and I will be staying in the same hotel. Hmmmm, sounds like deja vu!

Ah, Superman and his Lois. Sort of looks like Phil and I don't you think? Anyhow I am heading off to Sock Summit in Portland. An entire show devoted to the knitting of socks! Now that floats my boat! ( www.socksummit. com )








This is a picture of Jacob with the look we see often on his face these days. Sort of a I can not believe what you dinosaurs masquerading as parents are saying to me! He turns 13 in September and I can not believe I will have yet another teenager in this house. How can I do it again? That smart ass mouth, those cynical looks? Those big deep sighs!

Okay, so I need to update here! I have been so busy, my feet have barely touched the ground and my head has barely rested on my pillow at night! This is my tourist season and show season and it keeps me running! I will be back with pictures on another day. For tonight my thought is sleep and maybe a pedicure tomorrow after dealing with some icky issues. Sleep well, my friends!

At Andrea's house today on the bluffs above the beach; it was not nearly as hot as it was in Seattle. We could still pound away and solder, craft and learn. The weather is expected to get unbearably hot here for about the next week. I hope not! Hot, sticky days wear me out and make working in my studio and especially the heat of the shop, not fun at all! Stay cool and watch for new pieces here tomorrow. School's out after that!



The parts all laid out for the next box. Ready for another day of creativity and learning. Just wait until tomorrow when I add the bracelet we finished today!



Everyone working so intently on their projects in the class. Today's class was very physical, lots of heavy duty hammering on Andrea's anvil and my entire upper body and back is sore. I am feeling my age - dang it!



This is the etched copper side of my " box ".


This is the sterling silver side of my component that I have made. It will end up being a pendant sometime officially tomorrow.

Today I learned new jewelry techniques and remembered some skills from high school and college. My friend Steff flew in to teach four of us silversmithing techniques, something I had been looking forward to for months. We began by etching designs onto copper or silver metal plates. This was deja vu for me as I did etching in school and it is pretty much the same as before. Steff was right, it IS like riding a bicycle and many things came back to me out of the far reaches of my cobweb filled brain. This is my copper plate and it looks like a mini etching plate, ready to have a print pulled from it. Two more days of this intensive class and I might finish something and improved my skills! Great fun with wonderful people!





One of my sterling silver etched plates created in class. with a bit of luck and Steff's teaching skills; it might be a wearable art form tomorrow!




Andrea and Steff working away on our etchings in class. Steff is a terrific teacher and we are all so glad that she could come in from Chicago.






A picture from class today in Andrea's studio of Kathy and Steff working.