Soldering Projects

I don't know why I like to solder. Maybe part of the reason is that I taught myself, which is nothing unusual. That's how I've learned to do most things. My soldering gun, for silver solder, is heated to about 700 degrees. I think it's the process. First I create the design on my computer, then print off and cut out. I cut two pieces glass the exact same size and sandwich the picture between. The edges of glass are wrapped with copper tape and the tape is burnished with a bone folder.  Flux is applied (the best advise I ever received: "Remember, flux is your friend.") Then I solder in steps. My least favorite action is soldering the jump ring to the top. It usually takes me a couple of tries to get it centered. After soldering, I use 0000 steel wool, water and Dawn Dishwashing Detergent to clean the item. The last step is again cleaning and polishing with a special compound. The pendant is ready to add a chain, charms and beads, adding a price tag and taking it into the shop. My work area is ALWAYS messy!

Garden Tomatoes

Finally...my tomatoes are beginning to ripen. Here's my first tomato (other than cherry tomatoes) from my garden. The grandkids picked a few on Saturday. It's about the only thing that's growing. Tomatoes and ONE zuchinni squash. Didn't get any radishes (does one tiny one count??)...no beets...ONE bean...no crookneck...I thought a square garden with all that expensive DIRT was supposed to help me be more successful! Is there anything more delicious than a warm garden tomato?

Grandkids and the Garden and the Photos on 25th

Dave called earlier today and asked if we could watch the kids tonight. At first it was just to watch Hazel. They were taking the boys to see their cousin, who was performing in a play. But...when Jonah and Ez found out that Hazel was going to Grams....well...they quickly insisted they had to come to!  Makes a grandma's heart swell!

They love to pick the cherry tomatoes, and found the first large tomatoes of the season.

This was the end of the three-day photography class on "Understanding Light." I learned a lot. The above photo was taken above Jon's house on a dead end lot.

We took some flower pictures from the home of a master gardener.

We then went to 25th Street in Ogden. Wonderful old brick and hallways/tunnel-like areas make for wonderful light.  Carley Brimhall Braithwaite was our "model" for the morning.

Matt's New Phone

Matt came over and hooked up his new "Vibrant" Droid phone to the TV and showed me all the new features -amazing. 

Thursday's Photo class

We took a little photo excursion to Beus Trailhead just before the sunset.

We tried to get the right light on one of the students.

A photo I took of Beth, the "youngster" in the class.

Jon took this photo of me, but I'm not liking it too much...

Photography Class

I'm taking a three-day photography class on "Understanding Light" from an old high school classmate who is a professional photographer, Jon Williams.

We went outside and took some pictures in Jon's backyard, trying to catch the light before the sun set.

Moon on a Post

Elaine and I saw the huge moon this morning on our way home from the gym. It really looked a lot larger in person. I pulled over when I could and snapped a couple of pictures. This one looks like the moon is sitting on the light post:)

Back in Time

I followed this old car on my way home from work. Cute old couple inside. I wonder if they've always had this car.  Has it been parked in their garage all these years? Do they take it out only in good weather?

Picking my Orange Tomatoes

So happy to finally pick my little orange tomatoes. They are so much sweeter than the reds.

Spiral Jetty

Look what attached itself to Cathy's car on our drive to the Spiral Jetty! This grasshopper hitched a ride from Brigham City to the Golden Spike Visitors Center. We should have charged him car fare. Really, with the price of gas, he should have chipped in.

The Spiral Jetty was created by sculptor, Robert Smithson in 1970. It is made of mud, salt crystals, basalt rocks, earth and water. I hiked about half-way up the hill to be able to view the Spiral Jetty better. Looking back, I wish I would have hiked to the top.

Is this remnants of an old pier? Makes one wonder about the history of this area.

The weather was so odd. We worried about rain, but didn't get any until the drive back, after dark. These are mammatus clouds.

The sky looked like this while Cathy and I were wandering around - half clear and half clouds.

Lacie Kay's 2nd Birthday

Lacie turned two today. Where has the time gone?  She's such a cutie.

Weston looks as excited as Lacie.

Lacie loves books, and seemed enthralled with the two we gave her.

Jared, Lacie and her new Cabbage Patch doll.

Lacie's first camera. Will she take after her Grandma??

My Nikon D90

I've been wanting to upgrade my D40X for some time and finally did it today. I did a lot of research and talked to some friends who have the D90. I'm pretty excited to try it out and learn all the new features.

The Light Meter

A couple of months ago I bought a light meter to help me get the correct settings on my camera. The trouble is, the instruction manual was written in Japanese. Not really, but it might as well have been.  I'm hoping when I attend another of Jon William's photography seminars, he'll be able to "dumb it down" for me.

Evening Bike Ride

I took an evening bike ride on the trail. Such a pretty evening.

I usually ride around Holt Elementary's trail behind the school four or five times. This time of year there is a property where Cana Lillies bloom every year. I feel it is a gift, because these grow behind the garage and shed of a house, and the owners can't see their flowers from their back yard. But those at the park, and on the trail, can enjoy.

Pollyanna and the Crystals

I have some chandelier crystals in my studio, and every so often I will see rainbows dance around me in the sunlight. It reminds me of the movie, Pollyanna (1960), which reminds me of the "Glad Game" she played in the movie. Looking at life with a glass half-full instead of half-empty is not a bad way to live.

Hazel and the Scriptures

We went over the Dave and Shaury's this afternoon. Hazel (2 1/2 years old) took my hand, pulled me off the couch, into the kitchen and opened her mother's church bag. She pulled out Shaury's set of scriptures. She took my hand again, pulling me into her bedroom and had me sit on her little bed. She knelt beside me and pulled open the fastener and opened the scriptures. Funny - she opened them to Nephi. She then proceeded to "read" me the scriptures, saying words like "Nephi...scripture"s, then turning a few pages..."Nephi...scriptures....candy" and, with a little coaxing, she'd nod her head and say "Yeah...Lehi...Lamen...Lemuel...". Apparently after Hazel and her family read every day, they can have a piece of candy:)  Her favorite phrase is "It came to pass." It was a very sweet experience for Hazel and her Gram.

Boutique...Then the Jack Johnson Concert

Carrie held a boutique in the front yard in conjunction with the Weber County Fair. We thought it would be more successful than it was with all the people driving by going to the fair. But we had a good time. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze both days. I bought a few things and sold enough to cover my purchases:)  Wendy and I set up a booth together. We always have fun together :)

We left the boutique in a hurry to get down to the Usana Amphitheatre. We had front row tickets to the Jack Johnson concert. We made it just in time and had great seats. However, there was a "mosh" pit in front of us so part of the entertainment was watching all the people getting drunk.

Yes, this is a GUY...and yers, he IS wearing a skirt. He was part of the set up crew.

As usual, I was just as interested in how things are put together as I was in listening to the music. I loved the video effects on the large screen.

We were told to bring ear plugs. I didn't know Wendy had taken this picture with my little camera. Obviously the plugs didn't stay in very well:)

The parking at the Usana is, by far, the worst I have ever encountered. And after 1and 1/2 hours, we finally made it out of there. People were making their own lanes right next to our "official" one, like bullies in line at the drinking fountain back when I was in school. Try getting FIVE lanes of traffic out of ONE opening, and there is only one road out...it was a nightmare!