Is anybody out there?

It's been a slow week. Where is everyone?

Not just a slow sales week, but I haven't gotten many emails or heard from anyone out there, either.
Is it me?
Is it something I said?
It's probably my boring life. I wish I could say I've been traveling extensively, teaching and lecturing, helping those lest lampwork fortunate.
But no. I haven't. Not at all, not even close, not even a little bit.

Well, I hope anyone along the Gulf Coast is prepared or preaparing for Gustav. He looks big and scary. We're all holding our breaths, I think.

Kids are back in school. They love it. Well, they're adjusting to it anyway.
Connor got a 100% on his first spelling test ever. I'm so proud!
He starts soccer on Tuesday. Well, actually he started last week but practice was cancelled because the fields were flooded.

Anna starts swimming on Tuesday, also. This is the first time that their sports have practiced on the same nights and I will have to miss something. Robert has always coached their softball and baseball teams, so we had them on staggered nights. No more ball, for now, so we have to take what we can get.

I'm putting up a new discount code for this week:
Code 8742
15% off your purchase
As always, email me BEFORE making payment and I will invoice you through PayPal.

Here's some pics of what I've been up to. Everything is either listed or will be listed in the next day or so.

So much for that!

So, the storm did pan out, so to speak. We had some pretty high winds and tons and tons and inches and feet of rain. Had some flooding, but nothing we didn't expect. It did rain for 3 days straight, which was a little depressing.

Not as depressing as the fact that the kids were out of school for almost the entire week. We all got so excited about 'back to school' and then it was 'back to home'! Robert didn't work, either. The Space Center was completely flooded and they had some nasty wind damage, but they're recovering this week.

Also, my beautiful banana plants blew over! So sad. No Finger Sweets for us this season.

The worst thing about all the rain is that it brings the fire ants to the surface. Fire ants which I am allergic to. Fire ants which, of course, I stepped into and am now covered in bites from. Ouch!!!

I hope all my fellow Floridians reading this made it through with as little damage.

But, I've been working. I have new items on Etsy and I'll be listing on eBay tomorrow.

The discount code, which will be good through August 30th is:

10% discount Code #0841.

As always, if purchasing, send me an email BEFORE paying and I will invoice through PayPal accordingly.

I've been doing jewelry, if you can believe that! Here's some things that are listed or will be listed. I also have a bunch of new focals that I'll post pictures of tonight.

Have a great day, everyone!

It's raining sunshine!

So, I'm sitting down here in Florida - 'hunkered' down, we like to say - waiting patiently for the doom and gloom that the weather guys seem so desperate for. They all huddle in their slickers, standing in the shallow surf and praying for a giant, rogue wave to wash over them, justifying all their dire predictions.

Guess what. Ain't happenin'. (That's another thing we like to say down here.)

Oh, it is raining. But it's a lovely, misty rain like you might get out in Olympia. A refreshing breath of green-bringing, heat-reducing loveliness.

I'm not saying that bad weather might not come.

I've been through hurricanes. I've made my preparations. Like everyone else down here, I went to the Publix and the Home Depot yesterday. I have my water, bread, peanut butter and gas for my generator.

I've stowed all of the patio furniture and dug out my weather radio.

I've done all of my laundry, dishes and cleaned the entire house so that if I have to live in it with 98 degree temperatures and no power, at least it's tidy and comfortable.

I know what it's like to be without power or water in Florida in August. For 2 weeks. Not pretty.

Would you like to see some pics of my place the last time a big storm blew through? Just a few, none of the roof damage, broken windows, downed power lines across my driveway. Just downed trees in my yard and on my street.

When this tree, a beautiful triple-trunk Laurel Oak that shaded my back yard and incomplete patio, I cried. Literally, I stood at the doors, looking out at the storm and this huge wall of roots and I cried. Maybe I'm lame to cry over a tree, but it hurt and it still makes me a little sad.

But I have a pool their now, so I guess I've moved on. Sort of.

Oh yeah, good times.

Olympic Fever

Hi. I'm sort of on vacation and sort of on sick leave and sort of just lying on my couch watching the Olympics.

I love the Olympics so, it's convenient that I have a sinus infection that's making my head feel like I want to cut it off and bury it in the back yard. That way, I don't have to feel bad about lounging around yesterday and (maybe) today, watching all the sports.

Have you watched anything yet?

The big moment here was when Latvia beat the US men's beach volleyball team. My husband is Latvian but I was the one cheering for them. I always cheer the underdog and the US, like, totally owns beach volleyball so it was a interesting to see little Latvia whoop up on them.

Also, my kids have just one week of summer vacation left and I am taking it off to spend with them. Yes, we're all sick the sight of each other and can't wait to get back to 'real life', but I still want to take these last few days and go to the beach, Folk Art Museum, rock climbing, Sea World, bowling, the movies, the Aquarium, beach again, Disney, golfing, and Lake Eola to take a swan paddleboat out.

Did I wait too late to do all this stuff? Well, I'll fit in what I can. When I'm not watching gymnastics, swimming, diving, track and field.........

Lots of little bits

I have jewelry!

Later for that.

Long time, no talk to.

Sorry about that. I've been sick.

Sniff, sniff.

See. Sick.

I don't have a huge amount of new information but I did want to pop in with this weeks discount and code.

Free shipping off any Mermaid Glass item purchased either from my website, Etsy or eBay.

The discount code is: 2121

Same rules as always. If you win an auction or add an Etsy or website item to your cart, email me BEFORE you make payment and let me know that you have the code. I will then invoice you with the discount applied.

Before I show you what I have, I just have to show you what someone else has. I've 'discovered' the most talented artist(s). They make beautiful silver and pewter beads and findings and their prices are incredibly reasonable.

This is just a sample ( bought it for myself), but they have so many beautiful, whimsical designs, you just have to see them to believe them. Seriously, go check them out at http://www.greengirlstudios.com

Now, my stuff this week, which is a little bit eclectic. This set is on eBay. I'm not listing much there because it doesn't seem to be the best venue for me lately. But I will continue to put things there weekly, on a limited basis.

~Mediterranean~

On Etsy. I've got lots of miniature food, Pandora charms and I've also started carrying some jewelry.

Jewelry. I would totally love to know what y'all think of these. I was itching to do something with stained glass again, but didn't want to take on any big commissions so I thought I'd give jewelry a try. Let me know what you think.

~Breakfast Bunch~

Pandora/Biagi/Troll charms