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Posted on May 23, 2011 by claytonhill

‘Crabby Sue’ … Weekend Wrap Up

crabbyThat was me this weekend … I need to apologize (again) to my co-workers.  A week of too little sleep had me too short-tempered to be around.  The bad news … I don’t see any additional sleep coming this week – as we are still on pup-watch with Sienna, supplemental feeding Mattie’s pups and keeping a close eye on Mattie’s caloric intake.  The good news is – they say identifying the problem is half the battle … ???

Meanwhile, in the studio … my coffin has been busy.  Had my slump-run: Some nice things, some things that have potential and some things that will be re-worked.  Photo of projects I like below.  The coffin is cooling down from a bottle slump now – as I purchased a new wine bottle bowl mold and flat mold I was eager to try (photos to come later …).  Once the coffin cools, I’ll be reloading it to do a flattening/de-bubble run. 

new-glass

Now that we’ve entered warmer weather, I’m finding I am selective about the time of day I run the coffin.  It’s no fun to work in the studio when it’s 100 degrees … with frequent insomnia while trying to maintain some semblance of day-shift hours – that timing thing is tricky!

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Posted on May 21, 2011 by claytonhill

What a difference a day makes …

Mattie is doing much better … I finally got a decent block of sleep … life is settling into a nice routine.  We’re still supplementing the pups, but it’s totally do-able.  Sienna is nesting … looks like DH may have called this one right – she’ll probably deliver while I’m working … Sad smile

I had some good productive time … answered emails, updated our Neo site, did some research on a new toy (hobby) I’m interested in (heat press/dye-sublimation … very cool stuff!) … I even have my coffin running with a slump run … I’ll have new bowls, spoon rests, a lamp shade, and a night light in the morning … Smile

latest-slumping

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Posted on May 20, 2011 by claytonhill

Puppy News …

The puppies are here … and so begins my next-level-watch.  I take the night shift (big surprise – I put that insomnia to good use) … The pups are doing great.  Momma Mattie is having a hard time of it.  So I’m private-duty-(dog-)nursing.  She had complications with delivery, was bleeding into herDSC02993 uterus, and is working to come back from that huge insult.  She is now (re-)defining a ‘finicky eater’ for me … if the moon is in the right place, she may eat hotdogs (but usually not …), same for liver … so she’s being ‘encouraged’ to sip at canine power-shakes … It’s not a lot of fun right now, but she is getting better.  With all of this going on with Mom, we’ve taken the pups off of her for now, which means we’re feeding the babies every 2-3 hours.  It’s a good thing they are incredibly cute!  Smile

As I watch over pups and Mattie, I tinker with some glass, but … they need me close.  So, I’ve started knitting what will hopefully become a pair of socks – someday.  A simple pattern, but enough to keep my hands busy.

DSC03008

Meanwhile, Sienna is still eating like a champ (thank goodness!) and growing by the day as we start to enter her ‘watch-zone’ …

I think I’ve managed to get 16 hours of sleep since Saturday … I’m glad it’s a little cooler, temperature wise, as it makes the coffee more palatable … Disappointed smile

giantcoffee

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Posted on May 16, 2011 by claytonhill

Weekend Wrap-Up, Pup watch – and glass

A strange weekend … Volume wasn’t out of control, but the cases were complex, along with some strange non-emergency complaints (“Can’t sleep” … does that qualify for an ER visit?  Then I should live in the ER!), and the ever-present flu.  Also had some crummy diagnoses made in the ED this weekend:  I hate being involved with nice people being told they have cancer … (reason number 86 that I am not nice – this way I can live forever …)  Oh – and I got my CAP Diary back … seems I get to be an advanced-level-nurse for another few months … Might just have to use that ‘glamour shot’ after-all.  Disappointed smile

Neo News=Pup Watch:  So it begins … my poor horse of a Neo, Mattie – is getting close!  She can’t make a move without one of us asking, “Is it time?” … DH made it through the weekend without having to assist delivery …

mattie

In the meantime, Mattie is hanging out in the studio with me today.  I’m working on more blanks and played with some basic painting – time to see what the kiln does with it …

    orange-blank      paint-trial

*PS – If anyone else doesn’t know … DH refers to Dear Husband.  I had to explain to him (the spousal unit) what it meant, as his first assumption was D*#k Head … LOL!  Which I [almost] NEVER say [out loud] … Smile

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Posted on May 14, 2011 by claytonhill

Kids …

The two-legged kind … Are they supposed to do more than give you grief? 

There are things that I accept … 1) I came from a crummy childhood – my birth mother is FAR from June Cleaver (more like Joan Crawford);  2) I’m an ER nurse and a SANE nurse, so I get to see a LOT of the worst of the worst;  3) My progeny are ‘fortunate’ enough to have two parents that are home most of the time (86%) …

With that out of the way … my kids still never cease to amaze me.  I’ve shared some in the past … but the latest – text messages that would put Nora Roberts to shame … Combined with the ever-present ‘messy bedrooms, not doing what you were (JUST) told, and constant sibling-bickering’ … I’m really starting to feel that I would have flunked ‘mandatory parental testing’ that I’m in favor of …

What I know … no one is pregnant yet; no one is using drugs; no one has committed any felonies; … AND – no one is living up to my hopes at this time.

My co-workers have heard me say – “God save us when the 20-somethings take over” … but I’m starting to worry about my off-spring as adults … Where did I miss the ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ that took over my children ??? … Oh – and summer hasn’t EVEN started yet …

alien_eggs

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Posted on May 12, 2011 by claytonhill

Spockula … and glass

Poor, poor Zeus … DH was ‘intrigued’ with the idea of having a Neo with cropped ears … so, we had it done.  I’m feeling so bad for my little guy right now … He’s still an absolute sweetheart, but he looks ridiculous!  And the part that’s killing me – I love to grab hold of my Neo’s ears … He still has stitches in – so I’m hopeful that when the swelling goes down and the stitches come out, he doesn’t look so pathetic!  Such a silly thing to do to a poor little puppy!  And the thing I never realized … cropped ears means he’s going to have major issues with swimming or being outside in the rain!  He can’t hold an umbrella … my poor, poor Spockula!

spockula

I had it all planned out … I was going to spend yesterday ‘evening’ (about 10pm on …) playing with painting glass on glass.  But it was not meant to be … Instead, I spent my time on a rape case.  Got home just after 3am, too wired up – but not in a creative way – to sleep.

The great news … my large Decadence blank came out looking like peacock feathers … I love it!  Of course, I have to re-flow it, as it’s about an inch thick right now … but here’s what this stage looks like:

DSC02966

Meanwhile, my large Planet Earth II blank is in round 2 of re-flow … and my spoon rests came out great.  Time for a large slumping program …

It’s been a few months – so it must be time … I have a mandatory in-service for work  (ER) later today … I can’t wait to see what new procedure makes my job even harder to do … Disappointed smile

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Posted on May 11, 2011 by claytonhill

Bun(s) in the Oven … and glass too!

Had a special request for some larger bowls … so, my kiln is kicking into over-drive as I put together what will be 14 inch blanks … each one takes over 5 pounds of glass, and with our particular technique … you never know what you’ll end up with … so, I feel like an expecting mom … patiently (yeah, cuz I’m SOOO good at being patient!) waiting to see what ‘comes out of the oven’ … Smile

I’m doing two ‘color schemes’ … the Planet Earth bowl and the Decadence bowl – but on a larger scale:

 DSC04394   DSC07938 

Meanwhile, I’ve re-cut, scrubbed and sanded more blanks for (yet another) de-bubble run in the coffin … here’s hoping they de-bubble and come out the right size this time …

DSC02950

I was going to try to be good.  Really, I was … But the darn glass companies keep sending me emails on ‘specials’ they’ve got going … so, we’ll be getting a glass package soon!  New molds, more enamels, and some special glass for another project I have in mind … DH went shopping at his favorite store (Harbor Freight) on Mother’s Day … so, I’m just getting an early Father’s Day present … Angel  (It’s scary – how easy I can justify …)

Speaking of expecting … we are!  My Mattie and Sienna are both pregnant.  We’ll be knee-deep in Neapolitan newborns soon.  The girls are entering the ‘big as a whale’ stage right now … I feel bad for them, which has me cooking up Neo-goodies in the kitchen (fat balls, cheesy eggs, liver, etc.) … God save my two-legged children if/when I become an expectant grandmother!  (No time soon, please!)

mattie      sienna3

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Posted on May 9, 2011 by claytonhill

Weekend Wrap-Up … There’s no place like home

Brutal weekend … high census, high acuity, lots of seniors [and their mandatory assessments], as well as kids and adults – and news flash:  flu season has struck AGAIN!!dshoes  It’s a personal thing I know, but … I will never understand people that prefer to have diarrhea in a public place (the ER), in front of strangers vs. suffering in the privacy of their own home.  So – a wonderful (and fitting) way for a nurse to celebrate Mother’s Day … cleaning up grown adults after stool incontinence … Fortunately, none of these folks gave me a gift (their flu) … Smile  But it’s over for another 5 days … and my aching back and tired feet are happy to be home.

mother's day

Speaking of Mother’s day … I came home to feel loved and special, as DH and the kids gave me a great coffee mug (that I’m considering having tattooed on my forehead), beautiful flowers and dark chocolate (my favorite!). 


I made candles last week – in light, summer scents (Summer Punch, Lime Cooler, Coconut Lime, etc.) … The studio smells wonderful!  (Please disregard the mess & dust – the maid and I need to have a long talk …)  And, I’ve kept plugging away with my blanks, and threw in a future marble bowl – just for fun … Should have a coffin slump soon!

summer soy candles        pansy blankskyblue marble bowl blank        marble bowl

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Posted on May 5, 2011 by claytonhill

Totally Psyched …

I had a great day yesterday … Started with getting a decent nights sleep (and I say ‘night’ lightly – I finally beat the battle with insomnia at 3am); SANE training for a new nurse in our program (LOVE that – as for too long, I was the only SANE nurse practicing in the county!); dinner with the Fam; my chicken books came …

Small side here:  Have I mentioned I love learning … it’s a whole new world – being a ‘chicken-keeper’ (- ‘Chicken-Mom’?) … DSC02904Not only do I get to plan/build their housing – complete with furniture(!), but there’s a lot of new terminology (pullets, cockerels, caponizing, bumblefoot … WOW!), diseases (different than human or canine), diets … And some unusual facts: weasels kill chickens to ‘drink their blood’; chickens actually love to eat (chicken) meat and eggs (it’s not good for them, but they like it!); you can (accidentally) SQUEEZE organs out of a chick when/if trying to determine their sex – and it won’t necessarily kill them (??? … I won’t be trying that, but – WOW!).  Anyway … very cool stuff!

Back to my great day:  Made some progress with learning/manipulating the coding (php/MySQL stuff) of my new website and Facebook account; had some productive studio time and ended the night with a new product idea.  I’m so excited, I can’t wait to work on it!

I’ll be hitting some stores later today for supplies to work on this new idea (Michaels, Lowe’s and a ceramic store in the area) and then I’m meeting with some old(!) and dear friends from high school for dinner …  Smile

I’ll leave you with a few pieces that came out of the last de-bubble run: (future) nite-lite, bowl and bowl:

night lite    Bowl blank    Bowl Blank II

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Posted on May 3, 2011 by claytonhill

My back, my SVU and my studio …

Spent the last several days working through my messed up back (not so much an old football injury, but something along those lines …).  So – maybe I’m not the domestic goddess I thought I was.  Better to plan things out and execute them SLOWLY … Smile

Feeling (physically) better now though – which I am thankful for.  Since I had so much couch-time, I am thoroughly caught up with all crime scene shows … which brings me to today’s story:  Had the DARN SANE meeting today.  I wonder if it will ever cease to shock me (and while I hope it never does, I also don’t like feeling this way) … I live in a little podunk-farming-rural area.  svuI grew up here, moved away for a bit, and came back to raise my family here – not knowing …  Take the worst ‘Law & Order: SVU’ episode – and that is so very similar to what is/has actually happened in my community:  Parents, parental-authoritative figures, siblings, grandparents, neighbors, strangers … all preying on kids/young adults – in heinous, ‘Sybil’ ways … It takes me a bit when I walk out of those meetings to shake it off and accept that not all people are evil and in immediate need of arresting (or worse) … I don’t know how our local prosecutors, social workers and cops (with tasers and guns!) can handle it!

I was eventually able to turn my mood around by visiting my favorite glass-supply store.  We’ll call it early Mother’s day presents – all the new stuff I got.  More glass paints, molds, dichro, supplies – and of course, glass.  I have my eye on a lap grinder, but … since it’s the equivalent of a major house payment or two – I’m just drooling from afar … and saving my pennies.

I have my coffin-kiln running another de-bubble program for the spoon rests, night lights and recent blanks.  And, here’s my completed Nurse Plaque – just in time for Nurse’s Week.  Smile

DSC02893

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