a series of firsts

This weekend was one of many firsts.

On Saturday I prepared bezels, and poured resin ~ ALL DAY! 

Worked on cuffs and pendants.

Poured and poured, watched for bubbles and poured some more.

Part of the "family tree" became a bezel, which is a piece of a future class proposal.

But, the best part of the weekend happened yesterday,

as our grandson (and his parents =) came over to eat barbecue and watch fireworks.  

Later in the evening we took our lawn chairs over to our 

church grounds to watch the fireworks across the freeway.

But, first Alton had to visit our church's 

playground where giant bugs reside.

And, a wonderful world of slides exist.

 

 At first he thought the best way to go down the slide was backwards!  Why not, that's the way 

he successfully scales the stairs at home.

 

There was climbing walls waiting to be conquered.

 Yes, we did have ice cream before we left to see the fireworks.  

Would the Fourth of July be complete without it? 

I actually used our small Cuisinart ice cream maker

and made ice cream!  Hadn't done that in awhile.

Let me say, there is nothing like homemade vanilla bean ice cream.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

2 cups heavy cream

2 cups whole milk

1 2" piece of vanilla bean, split lengthwise

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Combine cream and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add vanilla bean and heat until mixture almost boils, about 5-8 minutes.  Reduce heat to low.  Meanwhile beat yolks, sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl until light yellow and smooth, about 1-2 minutes.  Add 4 tablespoons hot cream/milk mixture and stir until combined.  Gradually add egg yolk mixture to warm cream mixture, stirring continuously to prevent the eggs from curdling.  Cook over low heat until slightly thickened and mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 3-4 minutes.  Cool completely.  When cool, scrape seeds from vanilla bean and add to ice cream mixture.  Discard bean shell.  Stir until well combined.  Pour into freezer bowl, turn the machine ON and let mix until mixture thickens, about 20-30 minutes.  If desired, transfer ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer until firm, about 2 hours.  

*****

So, now I want to share the winner of the giveaway.  

Alton drew the name for me right away.

Here is what I did with the metal lens rings I found last weekend.  

Yes, more resin work from Saturday!

BTW...no butterflies lost their lives by me, 

as I gathered these off my husband's truck grill after he returned home 

from South Texas one weekend!

Janet Bernasconi please contact me.  

If you do, you will have something coming in the mail!

You will likey =)

A Vintage Word~Integrity

Today vintage seems to be the buzz word we are all using. May I propose a new one? One that meant everything to our parents and grandparents.....Integrity.

My good friend, Diana Frey, as well as another inspiring artist, Nina Bagley, prompted this post. However, I have been dealing with this word since the end of last year. And, maybe even before then. It seems appropriate to write about it now, in the wake of all that is happening around us.

What exactly is integrity?

Wikepedia defines it as such.....Integrity comprises perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles. A value system's abstraction depth and range of applicable interaction are also significant factors in determining integrity due to their congruence with empirical observation. A value system may evolve over time while retaining integrity if those who espouse the values account for and resolve inconsistencies.
Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions.

How do we test integrity?
One can test a value system's accountability either:
1. subjectively~by a person's individual measures or
2. objectively~via the scientific method or via a standardized mathematical measure.

I suggest we start today, myself included.

We make art using vintage pieces. Perhaps as an artist, this is our way to reach back to where we truly felt happy, and belonged. A space in time where we valued integrity. Perhaps we can use all of our creative energy to bring integrity back into our hearts and minds; and into our world. It is time. It is right. And, most of all it is the best legacy we can leave for our children.

The picture above was taken of my daughter and I at The Cove in San Antonio. She brought us to this resturant because of what they, and she, believes. They operate as a good example of accountability and thoughfulness we all need today. They know that healthy eating results in healthy living. They feel a responsiblity to our earth and the people who are living around us.

My daughter is a constant reminder of what I know is right and beautiful about this world. She is my hope. She holds all my dreams. A load like this is heavy to carry. I pray she will know it is not her strength that will carry her through this world, but the proven integrity of the Spirit; and the One she believes in.

it was great

After being on holiday for eleven days it was tough to return to the real world. We always host a fun and food-filled Christmas Eve party at our home for our children. We usually leave on Christmas Day headed west to San Antonio, and then turn south towards the Mexican border. It is there we love to play. We drive around in my husband's lease jeep, my hair blowing with little or no make-up on; looking at beautiful wildlife that can only be seen in this part of Texas. My husband and I are part of a 6,000 acre deer lease; where all we see is the wide open blue skies of Texas~known as South Texas. We see large whitetail deer, javalina, coyotes, bobcats, quail, rabbits, hogs, armadillos, roadrunners and birds of all kinds. There is one in particular I am always trying to capture~the Green Jay. I actually got a shot close enough to post. They are the most illusive birds!
The beginning of the week, we always take a day to play golf with my brother and sister-in-law. The golf course in nearby Carizzo Springs, is quite unique; as it winds around a very small airport. One of the signs on the course says, "Do not hit golf balls when planes are taking off or landing." We always get a huge laugh out of reading that sign, even after 12 years of reading it.
This is one of the huge palm trees on the course. I find it unusual standing among the mesquite trees that are so common in this part of Texas. And, it is huge!

Each morning, the guys take their turn cooking breakfast! We have an outside quad area that includes a free standing stove with oven, a prep area consisting of a butcher block (non-working) dishwasher; and a most recently added microwave. There is also a long table where we all sit down to eat together~which usually totals about 10 people or more on any given weekend. This quad area is covered by a large tin roof, which keeps our heads dry when it rains; and cool from the normally very hot sun. My husband usually cooks the most often, and on this particular morning his menu included eggs over-easy, bacon, sausage and sweet potato pancakes. I am not the biggest pancake fan, but these were~YUMMY! His brother had given him a new tilt griddle for Christmas, and he was trying it out this particular morning; in anticipation of our summer RV trips.

You must know, these were made from a mix called Bruce's Sweet Potato Pancake Mix. Very easy and delicious. Trust me~they are wonderful!

This year we returned home one day earlier than usual, coming home on Saturday instead of Sunday. We stopped in San Antonio to eat lunch with my daughter. My husband had heard of a resturant that Guy Fieri had visited on one of the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Shows. The resturant is called The Cove. One word describes it perfectly~FRESH.

I had the Veggie Burger with Organic Sweet Pototo Fries.

Melanie had the lunch special of Spicy Chicken Poblano Soup and her choice of sandwich~she chose the Grilled Cheese with Spinach.

Allen had the Seafood Sampler~look a salad with heart!

Oh, yes, I did work on some jewelry while away~

I was so excited to see Deryn's wrapped links in the Winter 2009 Belle Armoire Jewlery issue. So, while "resting" in South Texas, I decided to try making a few of my own. The article is called Wrap it Up, and is wonderfully illustrated (as always by BAJ).

I used vintage Italian ribbon, bought at the International Quilt Festival, for a couple; and vintage sheet music, for the others. Fun!

I made the pendant before Christmas for a friend~shhhhh.....I don't want her to know about it!

Deryn also so graciously has posted a tutorial on how to make these beautiful wire wrapped links on her blog, Something Sublime. Go here to see it!

photo swap

One of my passions is photography. At the beginning of the year I joined two photo swap groups. One is the scent of water and the other is nectar & light: the sweet life through a poloroid. The photo I am sending off today to my swap partner in Omaha, NE, is the above "da pot 'ah gumbo" (without the gone on vacation message~of course). The swap theme for August was : eat well-live well. I knew I had a jump on this one, lol, as I love to eat...and my dh loves to cook. This particular photo was taken on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels this past July. Prepared on a 2-burner camp stove in our large outdoor cooking tent. My dh was teaching our nephew how to cook a GREAT pot of sausage & chicken gumbo. Needless to say~IT WAS DELICIOUS! I added a little enhancing from picnik, and words for the rest of next week~

gOnE oN hOLiDaY.