Winter Adventure!

Jesse and I.

Sean and Jake.

Amanda.

I swear there are good looking girls under all those layers!

Katie and Cory...and the Artic Cat!

The way into Ninko Cabin...

10 mile snowmobile access in the wintertime.

We had decided not to bring our ski gear...the avalanche danger in the backcountry this year is very high. Montana has lost 17 this winter, all due to this "hoar-frost", a very unstable snow layer underneath 2 feet of cement snow. SO it was snowmobile access in, and party at the cabin!

This guy. Loves. His. Snowmobile.

The deep first track into the cabin was ridiculous....

so lucky we made it up that hill!

A few jumps off the front porch in celebration of our arrival...

delicious backcountry breakfast....

(everything tastes better in the woods)

And these mountains to escort us.

not a bad adventure.

not bad at all.

out and about in february is like a gift.

It's the dead of winter here,

and gray days are the name of the game.

Northwest Montana can be bleak this time of year.

but one thing is for sure,

There's nothing like a winter outing.

Spirit refreshed.

We are taking snowmobiles up to this Forest service cabin for a good friends birthday. It's out in the middle of nowhere. Literally. We've been up a few times before, and this trek is always an adventure.

There will be plenty of snow and skiing (hopefully)

The backcountry right now is very dangerous,

avalanche conditions are high.

So It might be just a walk-about in the woods.

but that's okay.

It's still an outing!

Have yourself a great winter weekend ya'll.

hearts, E

moved.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ~G.B. Shaw

and I am in.

moved.

hooked up.

plugged in.

ready.

ok.

go.

tonight....

I am finally.... pulling what's left of a very messy and disorganized space....

through the snow and in the dark....

to the BUNGALITO!

And Dammit, I am Moving in.

Damsonite...

Damsonite Swinging Seasons Necklace.

.......

It's only February,

but there are birds chirping in the snow-dusted trees

and the sound of drip-drip outside my window.

Mild winter drags on and

I long for sprouting seeds. the smell of dirt.

My pale skin wants to soak up the sunshine

that won't be around for another few months.

It's all big sweaters and thick pants,

mittens and hat.

Bundled up and warm,

wishing for some color in this grey landscape.

Slop slop slop.

boots go slopping through the slush.

to a cold icy layer underneath.

a layer I'm afraid will linger longer than I'd like.

My flannel-lined Carhartt's are feeling frumpy,

but they are thick and warm.

I feel like a boy when I wear them.

Today some brown mascara will have to do

to make this girl feel a little more like a girl.

So inside it is....comforting fire and good company.

Hot tea in some pink pomegranate and tahitian vanilla.

Traveling somewhere far away with every sip.

Somewhere feminine.

Somewhere warm with sun.

....

A necklace for the swinging change of seasons.

For the winter girl

still in those thick work-pants.

~hand pierced and hand fabricated~

~Purple Arizona Damsonite~

~in the etsy shop today~

Floor!

Bungalito's floor!

Today I learned how to install laminate flooring.

piece of cake.

Except for the big saw.

it scares me.

Coming along nicely, this little studio.

spinners and tribulations....

Spinner Ring!

new in the shop today.

...............

...and If I can learn to leave well enough alone with these buggers, i'd like to make a few more. They are full of surprises, spinner rings. Especially this style, with rails... One minute you thing you've got it, and you're on top of your metalsmithing bench beating your chest in pride and satisfaction. The next, you've slopped solder in the wrong place, or hammered something just a touch too much, and there you are....humbly defeated, ring frozen in-between your rails. No spin, no spinner ring. Tears well up...and tossing something hard and heavy across the room sounds like a good idea.

Bi-polar little projects. They make me crazy. But they make me better too.

I do love making them. And so I will just hope for the best, every time.

also....

question for the metal people.

(Does Stop-Flo...the green stuff....freeze? or loose it's potency?

Mine is a considerably different consistency than I remember, and I don't know if it froze, or went bad, or if it just is like that. Maybe that's part of my spinner-ring dilemma.)

.......

Off to the studio. I may throw something, just to get that part out of the way : )

...........

*so excited* eek*

new silver,

big ol' fat sheet of it.

For any Jeweler, this is just about the best feeling ever.

6 inches by 6 inches of FREEDOM!

and some 18 gauge for a fatty bracelet.

all in my head. of course.

nothing real yet, but that'll change soon!

droooooooooooooool.

.....

New rolling mill, found it on Ebay for really cheap!

drooooooooooool.

So excited I can't even stand it,

but I have to go to school.

You bet your butt I will be playing with this stuff TONIGHT~!