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Posted on January 8, 2013 by claytonhill

It’s the little things …

I’m so excited.  We have spent the last 10 days without our (clothes) dryer.  Some electronic part shorted out, and try as he did, DH couldn’t fix it.  To and from the repair shop it went … THREE TIMES!  It’s back today, AND FULLY OPERATIONAL!  This means – my loving Fred Sanford (DH) can remove the 40 feet of clothesline that he has strung all over my living room, dining room and stairway!!!  (Although – my formal rooms have been smelling ‘spring garden’ fresh …)  While I couldn’t capture the whole, two story image – you get the idea …

redneck-living-room

I’ve been tinkering and putzing in the studio.  Can’t seem to shake the ornament thing:

fused-glass-reindeer-orname fused-glass-spiderman fused-glass-valentine-ornam

But I am slowly switching gears … I have a new night light idea cooking right now and something spring-ish planned for these.  I’m also gathering supplies to try some freeze-n-fuse projects.

new-project-pieces

Had another epic-fail with my latest boiling glass attempt.  It’s now permanently fused in the broken pot … Hmmm, a stepping stone for my garden, maybe?  I learned a few things with this failure, though.

boiling-glass-pre-fire  boiling-glass-failure

No WWU this week.  I’m so tired of talking about the cold and flu season, I refuse to do it here.  The ‘countdown-to-paradise’ has begun (thank goodness) … so I’m preparing by gathering ‘travel books’ (to read on vacation).  Time to go turn my dryer on …

new-fiction-reads

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Posted on December 31, 2012 by claytonhill

WWU = The pain that wasn’t

big-but not full-moonI knew it would be a strange weekend, based on the too-big-moon (NOT full, but still TOO large for my county), but – WOW!  It was busy volume-wise, (Cold and Flu!) but I have NEVER taken care of so many ‘non-existent’ chief complaints: 

  • “I HAD a migraine, but it’s gone now”;
  • “I had abdominal pain and currently my pain is 0/10”;
  • “I woke up (16 hours ago) with bleeding, but no – I’m not bleeding now”;
  • “I had [elective] surgery three years ago, and I’m having post-surgical pain” [No you’re not … you may have pain, but it is not from your ‘surgery’!]. 

Craziness!  At one point, one of my coworkers tried to explain that it had something to do with end of year deductibles … What?!?  Someone WANTS to spend HOURS in an ER for a non-existent complaint to aid in their tax season?  I don’t get it, but – hey, sounds like a fun Saturday night to me …???

It’s over for another 5 days, Thank Goodness!  Should I spend some time this week working out the non-existent New Year Resolutions  … that I won’t keep?  Winking smile

Hmm, no.  What I will do is try to organize and ’triage’ the glass projects I plan to focus on this year … in between trips to Metro, shopping (with the twins), daily dinner menus, and finding my house again under all the post-Christmas-dash and rubble, while still planning for the Christmas-in-January celebration with my dad.  Whew – I know it’s Monday morning (which means I haven’t slept yet), but I’m exhausted just thinking about it!  Maybe I need to go to the ER … ?

Nawww … I’ll putz in the studio, soak in the hot tub and crash for a few hours instead.  I have a glass package to ship out (the last of 2012).  I’m re-running my reindeer ornaments (they didn’t fuse to the ‘just right’ level on the first round) and, DH has been thinking about doing some wire-wrapping again … I like these potential pendants we have here.

reindeer-ornaments wire-wrapping-pendant new-pendants

Happy New Year … Time to start thinking about Valentines projects … Smile

valentines-experiment

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Posted on December 26, 2012 by claytonhill

Christmas 2012 …

Christmas-ZeusWe all had a great day!  And, I’m loving the fact that DH and I are now old enough we don’t have to do the Crazy Christmas Circuit – where you drive your cranky little ones all over the state and back again to make the ‘Christmas rounds’.  This is much better!  A relaxed family day, with good food, good memories … all while spending the whole day in comfy clothes (pajama pants – OH YEAH!!)!  Here’s a Christmas picture of the Mighty Zeus … And, we ended the day watching “White Christmas” as my youngest daughter had been wanting to for over a week!  Smile

But, it would appear I’m not done with Christmas yet (… ok, I know I’m not since we have our celebration with my dad’s side of the family in January) … I’m working on a couple more ornaments before I shift (glass) gears:

Reindeer-ornament    Fused-glass-Santa-ornaments

My mind is starting to spin with other ideas too.  I’ve ordered a few things, am preparing shopping lists for my next visit to our local glass store, and sketching ideas like crazy in my ‘to do’ book.  In the meantime, I have this mini-tray of experiments cookin’ as I type:

new-experiments

And, here’s my Amish(-esque) Quilt squares:  One came out nicely, the other one has some wonky-spots on it.  I tried to get fancy and put an anti-devit/aid-in-glossy-surface prep on it … now I know I won’t be doing that again. (So, I have another studio-bowl to add to my collection …)

patches-trial   amish-quilt-bowls

And the snow is here(!) … We’ve got some flights scheduled for this week.  Fingers crossed we don’t get “grounded”!

snow-falling

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Posted on December 20, 2012 by claytonhill

It’s crunch time …

The next 8 days are gonna be so crazy/busy … good thing I love stress! I have adorable kids to get me through!

DSC04918a

The babies will start moving on to their new homes starting next week … but, we are keeping one.  Since the twins are learning Spanish (so I am too – a little) … her name will be Clayton Hill Fea Gorda BlondE el-GrandE … or Blondie for short [she’s the tawny pup with her back end pointed at the camera, while casually gracing us with her profile –  in the photo above] … Loosely translates to Fat Ugly Big Blonde … Winking smile  I love my babies!

Christmas shopping is done … just waiting for those elves to come wrap!  And, I’ve been working on a few things in the studio:  Shipped out some special request spoon rests; Made some Christmas ornaments for the family; sold out of my ‘Psychedelic Nite-Lites’, so I’m cooking up a new batch.

Colorful-spoon-rests  glass-ornaments  more-psychedelic-night-ligh

And, I’m playing with some chunky, ‘Amish-esque’ (bright, bold colors on black) designs … Here’s the trial piece (4×4 inch) waiting for it’s turn in the kiln … fingers crossed!

patches-trial

BTW – not so much for the office or kids, but … if you want a chuckle – check out this link for the ‘25 Best Autocorrects of 2012’ … DH and I were dyin’ (I laughed till I cried and he had to take ‘breathing breaks’)!  Smile 

And, we made a batch of Cinnamon Sugar Almonds … it’s a crock pot recipe:  Here’s the link from Detrimentalbeauty’s blog (her recipe).  It fills the house up with that wonderful winter/Christmas smell!  I ended up overcooking mine – but they’re still yummy, even while being a little extra caramelized and super crunchy!

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Posted on December 15, 2012 by claytonhill

Prayers & 3 kilns running …

And while I continue to take moments throughout the day to offer up prayers to the families and community in Connecticut, I go on about my business.  Did I give my kids extra hugs?  You bet!  We had our family time at the dinner table over home cooked Shrimp Alfredo and finished with our nightly evening round of cards (Euchre is the current favorite).  Another hug for them and off I went to the studio …

floating lanterns

I took pictures for listings in the shops;  Here’s our etched slumped wine bottles – I really like them!  And some badge reels (one goes to the twins’ favorite teacher) …

 rum-bottle          DSC06338    red-baroque-badge-reel  ER-nurse-badge-reel  teacher-badge-reel

I’ve been making more ornaments to keep the stock up; I have another wine bottle experiment in the large kiln … fingers crossed!  And, I’ve got spoon rests (special order) firing up in the production kiln.

   more-glass-ornaments     DSC06323          maggie-wine-bottle-experime     spoon-rest-blanks-12-14-12    

And then DH sent me a picture … He’s rebuilding a Ford Expedition – Eddie Bauer edition (he’s a mechanic and automotive body technician, among his other titles).  The driver’s seat needed to be replaced, so that’s what he did.  Meanwhile, you need to know that he and I have talked about getting a ‘really comfy’ creeper-type seat in the studio, for when I’m hunkered down over the kiln placing small pieces of glass.  Anyway – DH sends me this picture from his phone … calling it my ‘new work chair’ … only MY Fred Sanford!  Smile

fred-sanford-studio-chair

Hope to get a few more things wrapped up before I head off to work – uhh, later today.  We’ll see … I’ve got a houseful of puppies and kids that need to be hugged!

Ella- 6 wk Neo

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Posted on December 12, 2012 by claytonhill

12-12-12 …

Pretty cool!

And – I’m in my studio, with my insomnia being soothed by the rhythmic sound of snoring studio-pooches (Maggie and Kat) while the kilns click in the background.  Doesn’t get much better …

Spent some time with the plotter tonight … working through some additional ideas for recycled wine/liquor bottles (more to come, but – weeding 18mil resist is a learned skill!  Just sayin’) … And I’m beading/wire-wrapping again.  Which makes me grateful for all of my new mega-lighting and the fact that my hands are arthritis-free (for now, anyway).

snowflake-beads

Still doing the Christmas ornament/gift mad-dash and assembling badge reels, but I’m also getting back to a few spoon-rests and bowls, which I’ve been ignoring lately.  So packages are going out daily (LOVE THAT!) …

snowmen-12-11       colors-of-my-heart

The twins are home safe and sound.  They had a good time – got to see a gator ‘zoo’ and lay out on the beach (I’m jealous!).  So now we’re back to “normal” – which means constant reminders to shut the fridge door, pick their coat up off the floor, put their stuff away,  etc.  Oh my BABIES!*

teenage slob

*No – it’s not THAT bad … but it feels like it!

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Posted on December 9, 2012 by claytonhill

Update, soak, sleep – and THEN …

[The Twins will be HOME!]  But first, update:  DH and I survived our Empty Nester time.  We spent quality time doing our own thing, quality time together – and had nightly phone calls from the twins … For a trial run, I think we did well!

I have a few new ornaments and the Zeus plaque to show off.  I think ‘Zeus’ requires more work, but I’m letting it ruminate for the moment … :

 DSC06260     DSC06229   DSC06225          Fritography-Zeus

My studio is a disaster zone.  I’ll spend some time cleaning later this week as I decide which (glass) project calls my name the loudest.

But for now, I’ll spend a bit of time in the hot tub, as I managed to ‘tweak’ when I should have ‘turned’ at work, and am currently very much aware of the right branch sciatic nerve in my sacrum/right buttock and posterior thigh.  It’s all good … This nerve and I have been ‘dancing’ and ‘sparring’ for the last 20+ years (NEVER sneeze mid-step while climbing stairs in advanced [read: very FAT] pregnancy … just sayin’).  I’m an expert at self-treating this temperamental nerve. 

Once ‘treated’ … time to crash sleep.  When I wake up – my babies will be HOME!  Oh, Aunty Em, HURRY!

Ruby_red_slippers

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Posted on December 5, 2012 by claytonhill

It’s a start …

Gotta start somewhere.  Time to see what the kiln does with him … FINGERS CROSSED!!!

Zeus-fritography

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Posted on December 4, 2012 by claytonhill

Long, long ago …

One tough day and then – a week of … holding my breath!  The twins are going to be ‘on vacation’ – across state lines (! … HELP ME!!!) later this week.  I hope they have fun … I hope I can relax enough to think about having some fun myself… I hope I can make it ‘til they’re back home, safe and sound WITH ME – without breaking down!

But first, I have DARN SANE to get through … in just a few short hours [another emotional Uuggghh!].  Then the mad dash to make sure the twins are thoroughly, yet conscientiously packed.  Then hours of despair maternal worry while I wait to hear they’ve landed safely.  And then, DH and I are – EMPTY NESTERS, for a bit.  WTH! … What am I supposed to do with that???

long,-long-ago-...

Oh wait – I seem to remember something from long, long ago – in a galaxy far, far away … we (DH and I) had a life that didn’t include children.  Hmmm – should be interesting, anyway.  [‘Course I have my four-legged kids to keep me company … but it’s not the same.  THEY (the dogs) don’t sass back, need last minute shopping trips, spending money, permission slips, help with homework … THEIR hormonal ‘phases’ are only twice a year; keeping THEM happy and well fed doesn’t really involve much kitchen work or planned-out menus … THEY don’t need LONG talks to work through whatever inspired/discouraged/irritated/worried/or any other INSTANT thought – as it occurs!] … Oh, I miss my (two-legged) babies already …

But before we get there – I have to finish what I have going on in the studio, so I can catch a bit of sleep … I’m working on a few custom orders (that include a couple dozen ornaments, the next stage of cabs processing and a few more slumped bottles), and some just-for-fun dichro jewelry cabs.  This means all three kilns are running … Oh, how I love THAT! 

fused-glass-ornaments custom-dichro-jewelry fun-dichro-cab

WWU – Cold and Flu Season is upon us, in case you didn’t hear!  (I do believe I have administered GALLONS of ibuprofen … just sayin’)   And, I was a good customer service agent this weekend (a good nurse, too, but … whatever).  My patients/families had all the warm blankets, coffee, treatment plan updates and personal escorts to their car they could handle.  Then, I learned about some ER systems that are offering ‘call-ahead service’ … Are you kidding me???  I choose NOT to work in a doctor’s office FOR A REASON!  Lord, help me … [Smile In Place!]

CustomerServiceNurse

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Posted on November 30, 2012 by claytonhill

Tried and …

True TIRED!  It’s been a trying and tiring week.  I knew it would be, but YUCK!  From a never-ending list of chores, to a mandatory A.M. work in-service, in between a surplus of amazingly annoying emails [that my editor – DH – won’t let me vent about here … even though I said I would post ANONYMOUSLY!!! Winking smile].   My day started at 0630 (yeah, that’s MORNING) today, and I’m not done yet.   WTH???  I’m too old for this sh!t …

As if the AM in-service wasn’t punishment enough – my ‘Big Boss’ casually strolled in 30 minutes after we were assembled (we were all just sitting there, waiting for something to happen) to announce it really wasn’t supposed to start for another hour … WHAT?!?  I COULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE SLEEP?  And, you have a SMILE on your face when you say that?  AND – this ‘educational opportunity’ has a segment dedicated to how I’M supposed to improve MY customer service skills???!!!  If I have a smile on my face when I say ‘you suck’ – does that count as customer service?  Hmm, probably not …  Moving on, I am (also) yet again current on my training for how to ‘catch a newborn’ … Thank goodness!*

The good news – we’re having company tomorrow (umm – later today), so my house will be spiffy clean.  And, now that I’m done whining … I did catch a little stolen studio time.  My latest cab run after the first round; round 1 of a new dichro jewelry technique; working up a couple custom orders for ornaments (fresh from grinding, but not yet cleaned); AND (I know, right?) … DH installed an 8 foot work light over my main table.  These old eyes can see EVERYTHING now – including my messy studio … DOH!  But I love the light!

dichroic-cabs         new-dichro-technique

custom-fused-glass-ornament        penguin-ornaments-cut-and-gstudio-work-light

And, I do get to play with puppies … a lot!  So, at the end of my day (week?), it’s all good!  Smile

     cute and sexy

*While it’s not WWU – it’s what I’m ‘ER nurse’-sharing this week … Fingers crossed that the ‘still-too-full-moon-for-my-county” doesn’t mess with my new [customer service] mad-skillz  this weekend …

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