My Flock

 This is my flock of chickens. I have grown up with chickens my whole life.
After receiving a 55 to 250mm zoom lens, taking pictures of uninterested chickens from behind the nectarine tree while they scratched at bird seed in the drive way was much easier.
Getting them to face the way of the camera, was an entirely different challenge.





James Durbin (who is really a hen...) however, preferred the lone wolf tactic. Scratching alone below the shelter of the dormant lilac bush.

 The Bennet sisters always catch my eye. They're so loyal to one another, even now that they are all grown up. The closer one is just known as Mrs. Bennet, the one further away is Doily. They are both White Laced Wyandotte hens. They lost a brother a few years ago, by the name of White Lace.

 

  This is Biscuit. A Buff Orpington. She has always been a good listener, and a special friend to me. The name, curiously enough, came from a dream that I had.
Buff Orptingtons are one of the breeds I remember most from when I was a kid. They were so sweet and tame. I used to play with them for hours in a big cedar tree behind the house. They would be princesses, I would be a maiden in waiting and the Top Hat roosters would be the three evil kings from another land.






Here is Colonel Mustard, the rooster, showing Lucky the Black Orpington hen exactly where to scratch for something tasty. While also keeping watch for hawks, dogs, cats, or anything that could cause harm to his lovely hens.

The thing I love about chickens is that they never worry about the future, they live for the present and react when something comes.

Ice Covered Hills

 There was an ice storm just a few days from now. The morning after, everything was covered in a sheet of ice. The fences were what drew me. It flows along the wire, dips, drops, but never moves. It's one of the most amazing sights that I have ever seen. Then, I tend to find interest in the things that others might pass as nothing.

This is not a sturdy fence, but it made for a beautiful picture with last Spring's morning glory vines, still holding their seeds as they wait for warmer weather to bring back the pink, purple and white trumpet shaped flowers.








I found that the neighbor's barbed wire fence was most intriguing. The dark against the shimmering clear, the sharp emerging from the slick as well as the twisted wire, stretching across the field.

The oak leaves appear as a frozen waterfall, while the glass cover the leaves and drip down the tips. Just imagine a creature so small as a sprite sliding down the leaves, jumping from one to the other, until reaching the ground.

 Even the elderberry bush behind the chicken coop was dripping with glass.

 Find beauty, interest, amusement and even hope, in places that others walk away from.. Suddenly, reading this in black and white, I realize this is as much for people as objects. I stand by my statement.

Snow Has Fallen

 Snow has fallen in the elderberry forest! The fairies have blessed us with pure white flakes spread out through the trees. Eight to nine inches. There was an epic snow ball war, then sledding the day after the snow fell. During the war, one of my nieces hit me with a snow ball, then as I lay dramatically in the snow, started grabbing handfuls of snow and throwing it on top of me.
Luckily, I got plenty of pictures before it was trampled on by tiny foot prints.
This picture was taken from the inside of a tomato cage, that appears as a portal to the imaginative eye.









The snow fairies must have a sense of humor, to pack the snow so tightly against the bark of the trees. Like dark patches on a leopard.

 This picture is my favorite. The wind was blowing excess snow off the tops of the trees just as the photo was taken. I would like more than anything to step between those two trees, to see a glimpse of Narnia.

 The snow packed itself well on the branches of dormant trees, as well as the dried sumac berries.

Here is the trail through the woods, before anyone has taken that special first step.

May the snow fairies bring purity to your forest as well!

Fajitas For A Crowd

Work lunch for November 29th was a fajita bar.
I started off by slicing chicken breast, peppers, and onions with desired seasonings the morning of.
When I got to work, I let them bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, while I cooked tortillas in butter in a frying pan.
The only other thing needed were the toppings of choice. Salsa, cheese, sour cream and such. 
It was a nice touch to have warm tortillas, but did not give me the chance to eat for a while, because I wanted to make sure there were enough for everyone before I turned off the burner.
I'm still learning how to use the "cursed alien oven", but luckily I have good help from the full time chef.
This worked great as an easy after Thanksgiving lunch, seeing as everyone was sick of turkey the day I cooked!

Stamped Bangles

Bangles have become very popular in the past year or so. I have been making this style of bangle base for UnkamenSupplies for three months now. The ends overlap half way around, then are connected with a jump ring.

After designing bangles to sell as kits, I finally got around to make my own. I decided to do something a little different than anything I had made before.

Each bangle has a different charm. I tried to choose charms that fit with my personality. The wing charm shows freedom, the anchor is adventure, and the sea horse is unexplored mysteries.
The letters are three millimeters on twelve millimeter silver plated stamping blanks.






Then there are my personal fall style bangles. These are done in a thinner gauge, and an extra wrap. It is all antique copper. I have been making this style for UnkamenSupplies as well.

There is one charm on each bangle, a leap frog, mum and starfish.
Because they are thinner, it makes them slightly more vulnerable to getting bent, which is why I only put one charm on each. If they should get caught and bend out of shape however, it can be easily fixed by pulling the ends until it wraps tightly around something like a bottle.

And here is a silver bangle with a mood bead starfish. The design of each bangle is made to allow you to adjust the diameter for a moment. By grabbing each end where a jump ring is, and squeezing together, it will enlarge it, then spring back to shape when you are finished.

Stay shiny!

Doctor Who 50th Jewelry

 The Doctor Who 50th anniversary was just last week, I had a great time watching it with friends. These are some of the jewelery pieces that I wore to celebrate.
This is made up of an enamel uk flag charm from Etsy, and leather cord. I chose leather for a more rough looking necklace.
 

Then there is my polymer clay TARDIS necklace. Basically made by making a rectangle with blue clay, then using a straight edge to press lines in, with a small piece of white clay pressed on the back with a hole.





A blue tie charm from Hobby lobby, and a stainless steel stamped charm. Allons-y, being the tenth doctor's catch phrase. French for, "let's go!"

The big BAD WOLF earrings.

A sonic screwdriver made by coiling wire then threading a green crystal through one end hangs between crystals all the colors of the galaxy. Jump rings that hold them have been pressed tight to hold each one in place along the flat leather.

Normally I would wear it as a choker, but instead, for the party, I double wrapped it for a bracelet.

 

May you someday see the stars! From a closer point of view...

Autumn Inspired Jewelry

 Fall is my favorite time of the year. Things are so peaceful and colorful. And a sweater held close gives the best comfort.
Starting off I did not have that much fall inspired jewelry. Now I at least have enough to get to winter. Gold and brown were an excellent start.
 Here is a multi wrap bracelet with brown leather cord and gold plate tube beads.

 A gold plate horse charm on black leather. Very simple, yet shows a free spirit.









A bracelet made with three glass leaf beads, leather cord and flat braided leather. The leaves each have a hand wrapped bail, where the wire crosses to make a double loop at the top.








A little something for Halloween. A 14mm swarovski heart and silver plate pinch bail. Simple, and could be worn on any occasion, but put with black clothing and hanging from a choker, rather intimidating.

 

These earrings are antique copper oak leaf charms and gold plate ear wire and cuff.
I have found that I enjoy working with copper. I dreaded it for many years of my life, thinking that I could never wear copper, even rarely do anything with gold. I preferred to work with silver. This coming fall challenged me to create with copper, as well as gold. These earrings were just the start.

10th Doctor Cosplay

 My first cosplay. It just happened that there was a costume contest at work for Halloween, which encouraged me to finish it in time.
It started with the coat, which was found with a box of other clothes. The minute I saw it, I knew what I wanted to to do. The rest of the costume consists of a women's collared shirt from my mom's closet, a skirt cut from an old dress, a v-neck shirt from my closet, a child's tie, red high-top converse and glasses that I bought online.
One small problem with wearing the costume to work, was that I found myself mumbling to myself things like, "blimey" while working. It took five minutes to realize what I was doing.

 My mom and I drove to the cemetery to get pictures next to an angel statue. I did not see until I had uploaded the pictures, that the name below the angel was, Wanda Rose Lloyd. Rose, being a very important character in the 10th Doctor's life.

 Every great Doctor who episode questions the villain. The Doctor is prepared, but wants to know what drove his enemy. This photo shows my monologue, with sonic screwdriver in hand. "No second chances. That's the kind of man I am."

Of course, I had to try one of David Tennant's signature poses as being The Doctor. I am not sure if I pulled it off quite as well.

The Call, Between The Lines

Frost Flower From 2012

It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope. Maybe, time would reveal truth.
Which then turned into a quiet thought. I couldn't tell anyone. Which then turned into a quiet word, you whispered in my ear that you felt it too. Then that word grew louder and louder, 'til it was a battle cry. 'Til we couldn't hide it anymore. They could all see it on our faces.
I'll come back when you call me. There's no need to say goodbye. Just because everything's changing, doesn't mean it's never been this way before. Now it's before our eyes. All you can do is try to know who you're friends are, as you head off to the war. I know it's hard, masks can fool. But when the time comes, I'll be fighting by you're side. Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light, I promise it will lead you home. You'll come back when it's over. When you have grown stronger.
No need to say goodbye. You'll see my face once again. You'll come back when it's over. When they need you. There's no need to say goodbye.
Now we're back to the beginning. we've forgotten history. It's just a feeling and no one knows yet.
They wouldn't understand. But just because they can't feel it too, doesn't mean that you have to forget, the times we had together. Let you're memories grow stronger and stronger, 'til they're before you're eyes. 'Til we live them again.
You'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye. I'll see you again, sooner then you think. Stronger than before.
You'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye.
The Call, Regina Spektor

Apple Picking At Thierbach

 My family and I went to Thierbach Orchard on Saturday.

We all had fun, though I would have finished picking faster if I was not taking pictures. Each of us picked 30lbs of apples.
We were picking Blushing Golds, my mother's favorite apple.
I found myself instinctively climbing up to the top of the tree to get the apples that had been most kissed by the sun, bringing the rose red blush to the coloring. I managed to bring down six apples at a time, with two stuffed in my pockets.
When we got back from the orchard to the building, where they have animals, a play set, and already picked apples and squash, I walked around taking pictures.

The squash are one of my favorite things to look at, because of all the colorful skins.
Especially the Jack Be Little Pumpkins. I used to grow them, along with Spookies, but the pests became to much to bear.








There were also chickens, goats and turkeys. I fell in love with the white Brahma, a breed of chicken that I have been wanting to raise. They are beautiful birds. Pure white, while laced with black pen strokes.

The one eyed goat. 

I am not sure why, but this particular goat would not look at the camera with both eyes open.

It was a perfect day to be outside with a sweater held close, while taking pictures and picking apples.