Back on the Juicing Wagon!

Since recent events have reminded us to get back onto the path of nutritious foodage, I was compelled to resume my juicing hobby today after working in the garden for a few hours.  No, I didn't grow these veggies, but they are the next best thing: from my local farmer's market and Goodwin's Organics market! :)

Cleaned veggies before juicing

I juiced almost all of this, the only thing different is I only used half that beet at the northwest corner of the shot, as you really have to be careful when starting out with beets.  Some folks get sick to their stomachs from too much, and although Paul and I have juiced them before, best not to risk it and only use half. 
This isn't a recipe from a website, but just what felt like the right ratio today.  I used:

• about 15 carrots
• half a beet
• 3 stalks swiss chard
• 3 leaves kale
• 5 stalks celery
• 2 apples

Yes, I omitted the ginger today because I forgot it until I was juicing, but that's OK.  It tastes fine without it, and it's not a huge batch anyway.  Before our vacation, Paul had juiced a large batch and we ended up wasting some of the liquid gold, so I'd rather start small at first to ensure none is wasted. Plus I used lots of carrot because it's delicious and again, I'm easing back into the greenish-brownish-brackish-water-looking-stuff we normally drink. :)

The end result was about 40+ ounces of delicious/nutritious juice (I drank some before photographing, sorry!), plus all this pulp.  The carrot pulp will become carrot-banana-coconut muffins later, and I'm undecided about what to do with the green pulp, maybe soup?  I juiced the carrots first so I could separate the pulp for the aforementioned muffins. :)  Off to sip some juice and have some tofu onion pepper curry I made last night. 

*Cheers: To being more healthy this year!!*

My Favorite Seahorse (Today)

Well, I shared it here when the house got burglarized two years ago, might as well share about this:  Friday at the Farmer's Market, I had my first (and hopefully last) seizure.  It was the scariest thing in recent memory, and even worse for Paul, as he thought I was dying.  (Neither of us had ever witnessed a seizure, so I guess it looks terrible the first time).  My legs have been sore since then, and I have an appointment today with the doctor.  I don't like to miss work, but I guess this was a wake-up call that we've been pushing ourselves too hard, what with limited sleep and extra caffeine and ginseng, I guess we had to learn the hard way...

I want to get back out to the studio.  I'm off today because I have to go to the doctor, but I'd really like to go and make some new glass goodies.  After having the seizure Friday, I'm just a little scared to be out there without Paul, though I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.  It was probably just the perfect storm of stress and lack of sleep compounded by too much caffeine and ginseng (which is like caffeine).  I'd just like to hear that from the doctor.  Then I'll feel better about it. :)  In the meantime, this is my favorite seahorse.  If I blew a mental fuse and never got to do glass again, I'd probably keep all my critters, and wear him the most, though I'm sure that's not the case and everything will be just fine. :)

Fire Divas January Challenge: Poll Closes TONIGHT!!!

Glass lovers pay attention: ;) This month's Fire Divas challenge is Romance, and although I'm sure you good folks have already seen this poll and voted, I'll repost it here just in case you had to re-heat your cup of tea last time before you could click your vote in, or comment and BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING FOR THE GRAND PRIZE!!! The Poll closes tonight at Midnight EST!!!

One lucky commenter will receive a 25% off Coupon for Sonja’s Artfire shop. So after you vote don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the post on the Divas Blog to win!! Poll closes at Midnight (EST) on Saturday, January 21st.



Entry 1

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Entry 3



Entry 4





Entry 5



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Entry 7



Good luck, Fire Divas!

Wednesday's Llama...

Happy Wednesday!  Today I'm basking in the completed status of a custom order.  This was a tough one, and I'm so glad my customer is happy with it, whew! Also, school is almost over for the semester, and I'm really going to be relieved after I take my final next week.  I can't believe it's almost done, my first term back after my last five-year absence from higher education... ;)

Well, this morning I wanted to share my favorite piece from the custom order, which turned out to be this llama pendant (accent beads are also in the shot):

I think he's just the cutest, and he's gotten some pretty good feedback from those who saw him prior to making the cross-country voyage via USPS, what do you think?

Along similar lines, I came across this alpaca-felted soap this morning, and wondered if anyone I know has actually used such a kind of soap?  If so, comment so I can know if it's a good gift jujee! :)
Have a great Wednesday!

Halloween Collection on ArtFire: Spooky Fun!

Happy Halloween weekend! I don't celebrate much, and when I do it's mostly because of the candy, but nevertheless: Happy Halloween :) I figured this ArtFire collection (with my goofy skull spider!) would be a good treat for you, and it's the most I can do while I take a break from my math homework (college is hard!).  Although it's a spider, I'm told that he's still pretty cute and not very threatening-looking, so if you like cute spooky, you'll like this.  Without further ado:

Spooky fun

Curated By: UnusuallyYours

ArtFire.com

First September Glass!

Birthday month, woohoo!  OK, so this is a very busy month at the Shepherd residence...
The highlights of this month's journey:

• School started for me again!  My latest foray back into college to finish my BS...  Apparently two Associate degrees don't equal one BS.. O_o  Go figure?
• The new position is finally open at work.  It's been a topic of discussion for over a year, and now it's almost interview time... Nervous about that, as I was on an interview panel a few times in the past year and know how nervous the applicants can be.  Wish me luck when the time comes, ok? :)
• My birthday is coming!  Paul and I love our birthdays, because we celebrate Birthday Week as a concentrated week of a few special meals, maybe a picnic or two, hike, botanic garden trip, etc.  My week = my choice, mwahahahaha!
• Preparation for the Holiday Season - oh yeah, you know we still make glass goodies? :)  I've made some cool new pieces recently shown below.  They are basically my last fit of freedom from last weekend before classes started on Tuesday.  The glass will have to take a backseat to these other more permanent things, but I will cling to some of it to ensure my own sanity. You know how it goes, no hobby, no hope ;)

Well those are the biggest items for me, but that's not to say Paul doesn't have his own task list to struggle with, but this is my blog, so... you know, mostly my stuff.  Below are the beads I made this weekend(and some last weekend I think) and the goodies I made as my last freedom session in the studio. :)

A young man (photographer, I think) asked us if we make anything that's "not cute", and after surveying all my trays and suggesting a few pieces that I thought might be less cute, it was determined that my style just includes "cute."  I'm happy with that, despite recalling being a young girl ages ago that wanted nothing to do with the word. ;)

My beads!!! I really still love beads, and I need to make more that I can use to make myself a bracelet or two.  The one with brownish swirl over black (see that nugget on the right at the end?) was very similar to a set I made for a friend's moving-away present last week too.  Things are changing, and not just the leaves. :)

New Implosions and an Octopus!

Each week I get to do glass is really a different skill set.  Since we went on vacation and spent 2.5 weeks mostly in Seattle, WA, I am rested and excited to make new stuff.  Unfortunately, the clock is running out.  I have put off finishing my Bachelor's degree for too many years, and now that I have firmly decided my career path (hey, Business Admin. just wasn't my dream, ok? :P), I have to get my butt back in gear.  Therefore, this fall, I will hopefully be starting back up into my first class in years.  I'm de-prioritized for registration as I have been out for so long, but I'll pick from what's left over available-seat-wise if a few good classes are still open.  Wish me luck for getting into... drumroll please... Statistics!  Yes I know you're excited for me, right?

Anyway,  with my precious days and hours ticking down, it seems more and more imperative that I make new stuff and get to share it with all of you, as our fans have become friends, friends fans, and we're all just one big happy family now, right? :)  Without further ado, here are my newest pieces:

White Flower Implosion (on ArtFire)

This is one of my newest implosions, and you may very well know this is a tough technique.  You literally have to coax the glass into blooming for you, so I hope someone loves this flower someday! ;)

Black Octopus Pendant (on ArtFire)

We all love octopi, right?  These guys always make me smile, so hopefully we shared one today!

White and Blue Small Implosion Pendant

Last but not least another implosion, but smaller and with 1/3 the petals as the first one.  This one, however, has white petals that are blue on the back - no easy feat, I tell you.  Drop me a comment, otherwise I'll be back with more new goodies to share soon, as again, time is running out!  It will be more like a guilty pleasure to blog about glass once I have homework to do again.  Have a great Friday!