Playing with pliers

I have too many neglected interests and hobbies. One of them is making jewelry. I've been playing around with wire wrapping and beading for five-six years now. I've learned so much in that time - from that first bracelet of beads strung on flex-wire to making the above rings from "scratch" so to speak. I'm eager to learn new methods and styles, and the only thing I really draw the line at is weaving tiny seed beads. That goes beyond my limited patience. If you don't know what a seed bead is, just think tiny. The size of a nail head in some cases. I'm pretty sure I've had nightmares about spilling tubes of seed beads on a hardwood floor.



I have an Etsy store for my jewelry, and I tend to go in phases where I make a lot of things to sell and for presents. Then I just stop for a while. I haven't picked up jewelry pliers (except for repairs) for several months. Which is a pity because my boyfriend made me a tremendous work table with a peg board and shelfs and trays. It sits in the guest room, looking cluttered. I cleaned it up last night, and I got out my pliers, beads, chains, wires, and pendants to work on some Christmas presents. Then I decided I would like to work while watching a movie so I moved everything from the work table to the coffee table in the living room. Poor neglected work table.

I had a hard time making my fingers remember what they were supposed to do with pliers. I dropped a lot of chains and jump rings, but eventually my hands caught on again. I haven't photographed what I made last night, but I finished an owl necklace for my sister, a leaf necklace similar to the one below for my not-mother-in-law, and a few pairs of earrings. The coffee table looks like it was attacked by chains and wire. I hate the part that involves putting away all the beads and bits I got out but didn't use. Also, part of me thinks that I leave all the pieces out and staring at me, I will work with them more.

I need there to be more hours in the day. Can someone please work on that?

Photo Friday - Half Dome

During the slow drive out of Yosemite last winter, we pulled over a few times to get peeks of the valley below. The sunlight flickered in and out of the snow laden pines. Occasionally it would light up Half Dome in a swath of godlike brilliance. We pulled over, and I stalked the sun. I waited. Though I am impatient, it doesn't apply to photography. I will camp out and wait for the light. This time, I didn't have to wait long. Just fifteen minutes of drinking in this view while snow piled up on my hat and crashed off overloaded branches. Then the light seemed directed at Half Dome for about a minute. I fired away and this photo is my favorite. I only wish I could give you all the scent of snow and green that I remember.

Snowman in the forest

Snowman in Yosemite
I've still got snow on the brain. It doesn't help that it's being turning colder in Southern California this week. The nights have been dipping down to 36 degrees Farenheit. I actually got to use my windshield scraper earlier this week (yes, I brought it from Ohio with me). I've been turning on the heater nightly.

I've never built a very big snowman. They were usually more like snow lumps with some rocks for eyes and a baby carrot for a nose. I used twigs instead of branches for the arms. I've never dressed up a snowman either. For one thing, I don't have a huge tolerance for standing in the cold. I can walk for a long time in it, moving keeps me warm. But standing around picking up piles of snow for long enough to build a life size snowman is something different. Unless I maybe have some hot chocolate. Or hot toddies.

My version of cream sauce

Shallots, rosemary, & garlic
I know, I should learn new tricks in the kitchen. I do that occasionally, (usually with dinner parties) but I turn to old favorites regularly. One of these is a cream sauce. I can't help but love the sauces that have who knows how many thousands of calories. The rich smell, the texture, the way it seems to stick to the pasta - it's delicious. I've actually never learned to make a proper cream sauce, meaning I've never looked one up in a cookbook or online. I experimented and came up with one several years ago, and I've just sort of stuck to it since. My version of cream sauce is:

Olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh rosemary or thyme - about 1 tablespoon
Heavy cream

1 tbsp hot water
1 tsp or so cornstarch
Salt & pepper

- Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large, deep skillet. Use just enough olive oil to swish around and coat the pan.
- Add the prepared shallot, garlic, and rosemary; cook until shallot and garlic are just transparent.
- Add as much heavy cream as you need to coat your pasta. Lower the heat to low-medium. Let the cream heat through while stirring occasionally. If it doesn't thicken up, whisk a little cornstarch into a little hot water and add.
- Salt & pepper to taste (if you like garlic, garlic salt is a nice substitute)

I usually serve with fettucine or linguine, a green salad, and a baguette. A pile of freshly grated parmesan cheese at the end is pretty darn tasty too. Then again, a pile of parmesan cheese never hurts anything, does it?

Vasquez Rocks

Most people have seen Vasquez Rocks without even knowing it. This county park filled with jagged rocks is a popular filming location. Everything from television shows to movies to commercials to still photos have been shot here. For example, if you have seen the recent Star Trek movie, you have seen Vasquez Rocks. They are within a short and lovely twenty mile drive from my home, so when I am itching to get a quick outdoors fix without getting stuck in traffic on the way, Vasquez Rocks is typically my first choice.


It was overcast and cloudy when I woke up this morning, and as I have been a little crowded lately, I was eager to escape the city. I looked up the weather and saw there was a chance of snow at Vasquez Rocks and that sealed my destination. I layered on clothes and grabbed a thick pullover and some gloves. It makes me stupidly happy to get out winter gear knowing that I'm not forced to wear it everyday. The drive up to the rocks was filled with lots of oohs and aahs. The mountains ahead were painted with spotty rays of light breaking through dark gray clouds. The light would shift and light up a small grouping of houses here and a solitary tree there. I pulled off the side of the freeway as often as I could to snap photos.

The first parking lot looked a little crowded, but I didn't mind. I think a lot of people just drive there to view the spots from particular movies, enjoy a picnic, and leave. So don't be disheartened at the sight of all the cars. Drive a half mile to the far parking lot and just start wandering. You'll lose the people in less than five minutes. It was windy and I ended up needing every bit of clothing I brought with me. I set off into the scrub and just meandered along an empty stream bed. When and if the snow came, the melting waters would soon run through here. Compared to the rock formations in the main part of the park, this area may not be as visually stunning to some, but with the addition of a blue sky and actual clouds, I found it very pretty. More importantly, I found it to be quiet.



The rocks jut out of the ground at a 45 degree angle because of an earthquake that took place approximately 25 million years ago. The rocks are squished between the San Gabriel mountain range at the west and the Sierra Pelonas at the north. There is at least one defined trail by the entrance of the park. It coincides with the Pacific Crest Trail for a short stretch. Mostly though, paths just criss-cross through the 932 acre park. It's difficult to get lost. And trust me, I've tried.

Photo Friday - Wawona Hotel

Lobby of the Wawona Hotel
Snow. I moved away from it. I don't love the ice, the cold weather, the snow.

For some reason though, lately I have been craving a cozy (read: warm) cabin or room tucked away into a mountain. I want to look out the window and watch snow piling up outside while I sip a mug of warm earl grey. I want to pad around in thick socks, fuzzy slippers, and a giant sweater while I think about maybe braving outside. I'll eventually give in and put on capilenes and layer up with scarves and hats. I want to take a walk in the quiet time before dark when everyone else is hiding indoors.

I had almost this exact experience when I stayed at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite last February. If you enter the park on the south side, you'll find this gem on the right long before you drive through the valley tunnel. We booked the room on a whim for a long weekend. The snow started coming down just after we got settled in our room. We were in a building in the back of the main lodge, in the upstairs corner. It was cozy and warm. They thoughtfully put a window seat in front of a large bay window. I curled up there with a blanket and watched the snow pile up. We plodded outside for walks and even drove into the valley one day, the chains on the tires thudding the whole way.

Then we'd come back to the hotel. One evening we went to the inviting lobby and drank wine and ate desserts in front of the fireplace. Then we bundled up to walk through the falling snow to our room. We turned up the radiator and sunk into piles of blankets. It was as damn near perfect as it gets.

Just a tiny bit of Christmas

I added a little fall to my Christmas tree this year. I wrapped garlands of autumn leaves around the tree and added red and bronze colored ornaments. Though everyone might take the class light and ornaments pictures, this is one my firsts. I am learning to use the manual settings on my DSLR (finally), and I wanted to share. I have so much to learn.