a ring around no mandrel

From the same book I wrote about in the previous post, there were instructions on how to make a wire ring. I'm not much of a ring person, and the ring they had in the book wasn't my style, but I decided to try it anyway. This was on Wednesday night. I made one and thought it turned out kinda neat. The next day I made seven more. On Friday when we went to town I decided to buy some more wire (I was almost out). I got blue and copper wire, and this board that's called a Thing-A-Ma-Jig. Last night I was playing with it and made a pair of earrings.

So, here are my attempts at wire wrapping. I didn't have a ring mandrel so I tried to find something that was the same size of my finger. It turned out my finger is the exact same size of a chap stick bottle.For a first attempt I think they turned out pretty well. I didn't have any silver left, so I used gold. Not quite my first choice in color, but it worked.

Getting all wired up for summer

Yesterday I was in a creative mood, so....

I've been wanting to make this sign for a while now, so I finally got around to it. I found my old wood burning kit and decided it would look nicer than painting it. I hadn't tried burning in so long I forgot how hard it is on your hands, and how easy it is to mess up. Afterwards I felt like I had been crocheting a hundred mph all day. These are not weeds, but it is my garden. I know they look small for this time of year, but it was just too cold to plant ant earlier.

The plants in the foreground are radishes.I got a jewelry making book from the library and it had instruction on making a wire bird nest necklace. I had everything to make it so I decided to give it a try. It went really quick and I like how it turned out. All I need now is a pair of bird earrings. Remember so long ago wen I planted some forgotten seeds in a old pot? Well it has been blooming really gorgeous flowers. Actually three different kinds.

A penny for your thoughts

I recently heard this song Goodbye, Goodnight, by Jars of Clay and it really intrigued me. I know if any of you are like me, posts that have song lyrics are, well, to be honest really boring. But not to fear like always my blogger won't let me copy and paste and I'm to lazy to do it manually. So I have it on my playlist on the bottom for you to listen to.

Besides just really liking the sound of the song (I love accordions) the words interested me. I had my idea of what they might mean, but I wanted to find out more. When I googled the meaning I found some very conflicting results.

The first one I found said that it was a song about the Titanic sinking from the perspective of the band.
"Strike up the band and play a song, and try hard not to cry, and fake a smile as we all say goodbye"

I hadn't expected that at all. Rereading the lyrics, it fit, and now seemed like a really sad song. I've always admired the band on the Titanic, how they stayed.

The second one said that it was about the saved leaving the unsaved. How sad it was that they don't know the truth, and are heading for hell, and the need for Christians to preach the gospel. This one fit very well too. Being by Jars of Clay I thought this one is more likely.

But reading more I came to think that it might be both. Using the story of the Titanic as an allegory about how Christians can be. It's sad but we do tend to be that way. Going about our lives, not caring about the unsaved unless they directly influence us. We can be so busy worrying about ourselves, or problems with other believers we forget about our true mission. I believe we can be missionaries just by going through our daily lives. But are we going through are daily lives trying to be a good example for Christ? I know I fall short of that more often than not, living to live, not living for God.

What do you think?

2010 the end of my high school education

On Saturday Hannah and I had our graduation party. It was so much fun! We couldn't have asked for a better day. The sun was shinning, a little breeze was blowing and it was the perfect temp for an outdoor party.Hannah and I made almost 200 cupcakes. All of which got eaten

(they were really yummy)Our fathers gave each of us our diplomas.Ridge, Hannah, Raydeemie, and RachelBeing our favorite outdoor game, we played lots of Badminton.I think the kids really enjoyed playing on our swing setThe guys played horseshoes. Hannah and I made a movie of our lifes and put together huge scapbooks of our schooling.

It was so much fun and I wish I could do it again, but for now I'm off to take the compass test (yuck)

I got my beach fix

Well, we got back from camping a few hours ago. I'm wrapped up in my fuzzy robe, my wet hair up in a clip, my legs smooth from a good, way over due shave, and my eyes tired from smoke burn.

We left for camping on Thursday. After a two hour drive to Lake Koocanusa and we finished setting up camp, we, actually I don't really remember what we did, but it most likely involved sitting around a fire, talking, maybe a bike ride to the lake, and roasting marshmallows.

Friday was the really fun. Because Koocanusa is so close to Eureka we have a girls day. Hannah, Mrs. Vestal, Rachel, my mom and I first went to a little thrift store. I got a really cute yellow summer dress (it will need modifications). Next we went to this woman's resale clothing store, and then to The Sunflower Moose. Lastly we went to the same wonderful place we went to last year for lunch. I think I had the best sandwich I've ever had, but then I think I said that last time.

Saturday was long. We drove a hour away to go to the Amish auction. For lack of seating reasons I was in Eric's truck with Mitch, Tara, and Eric. Like most trucks it really is only supposed to be for two, maybe three people. So needless to say we were very squished. The auction was smaller that usual, so we didn't stay long. On the way back we stopped at the swinging rope bridge. That is so much fun! If you know me I have a thing for heights. Most people are afraid of heights, I'm afraid of lowness. So of course I love rope bridges. Rachel and I climbed on rocks and even my 89 year old grandpa made it to the bridge, and it is a little bit of a hike. Christian, Lucy, Luke, and ShelbyMeRidge and HannahMrs. Vestal, my Grandpa, and Mom

Later that night Rachel and I rode our bikes down to the lake. Lake koocanusa's beach is so wonderful. It has fine sand so it's more like a beach than a lake. We did cartwheels, built sand castles, basically got our beach fix for the next year.

Even later we went canoeing across the lake, and even later than that went on a walk around the beach bare foot. Well, Rachel and I were barefoot. It felt so good to walk in the mud. Oh, that's another fact about me I love mud, if you didn't already know.

Eric, Tara, me, and Rachel

Today we picked up camp and came home. So wer'e back where I started, except my hair is a little dryer now.