Copper Leaf Earrings

I spend another evening learning all sorts of great jewelry making techniques from Melissa Muir.  On this occasion, we both made fabulous (if I say so myself) copper earrings.  We cut, folded, forged, soldered, pickled, and oxidized the metal and ended with these:

Copper Earrings

If you are anywhere near Melissa’s studio and want to learn more than you knew that you needed to know, I highly recommend taking one of her classes.  If you don’t want to learn to make the jewelry, but would still like to wear it, check out some of her work.

In addition to learning jewelry making, I create fabulous (if I say so myself) glass lamwork beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Wild Turkey Reprise

Gratuitus Bead - Phoenix

I was driving to work early this morning in Interstate 77, and something in the periphery of my vision caught my attention. It was two wild turkeys walking in the grass beside the road. Now, this was well within what I would call the city, so I was quite startled. I wish I could have had a better look, but – I was driving.

I saw a whole flock of them recently and there used to be at least one that ranged near my house, but other that that, sightings are rare. I hope that this means that they are becoming more common here.

When I am not driving to work, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

My Titles

For over a year, I had been keeping the titles of all of my blog post to two and only two words. Sometimes this was quite a challenge! I know that this was probably limiting my search hits, but I continued anyway. Last week, with my “Walking the Dog” series, I broke with this tradition.

I had a poll here, but it seems to be broken now, so I removed it.

I will probably use the longer titles from now on.

Rosemarie Hanus makes more than 2 beads at a time in her home studio. Take a look at these beads at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 6 – Heading Home

We finished our trek around Hinckley Lake, hopped into the car, and headed home.  On the way, we encountered what is really, as I have mentioned in the past,  a common occurrence here – deer crossing the road.  When driving in this area, I really have to be alert and watch out for them.  They seem to stand at the side of the road until I approach, and then dart in front of my vehicle at the last possible moment. I have had many, many (far too many) close calls.

Deer Crossing in Richfield, Ohio

This group wasn’t quite so bold.  They meandered into the road early, waited patiently until the straggler caught up, and then proceeded to the other side of the road.  The deer third from the right seems to be looking back urging number four to catch up.

The car approaching in the other direction was stopped too, so don’t worry about the safety of the deer.  It just now occurred to me that I shot a photo of the proverbial “deer in headlights”, and well, they don’t look very afraid.

Gratuitous Sunset in Richfield Ohio

When I am not dodging deer, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 5 – the Boathouse

On this particular hike, we walked the dog completely around Hinckley Lake, as I said before, it is about a 3.5 mile trail. Near the southern part of the lake is an area that we don’t usually walk past – the boathouse. This is not because I have a problem with the boathouse, but because it is usually quite busy in the summer season. This doesn’t really make sense, since I don’t mind walking around the spillway when it is busy.

Boathouse at Hinckley Lake

From the Cleveland Metroparks website:

The Hinckley Lake boathouse is open from April until mid-October. The boathouse features boat rentals, fishing tackle, bait and snacks.

Snacks? Yum! All summer long, my daughter had been asking about renting a canoe and spending some time on the lake instead of just looking at the lake. I thought that this was a good idea, but we just never got to it. On this day, we checked to see if they were open (having not read the website first), but alas it is past mid-October, isn’t it? I am wistful about our non-boating expedition.

I wonder if they rent those doggy life jackets too? I’ve seen them for sale. If I were to wager on it, I bet that they don’t allow pets to accompany us novice boaters.

When I am not not-boating, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 4 – Sign of Unwelcome Plants

I compulsively read everything that I see. I can read fast, I can read upside down, and I can read mirror image. If there is something on your desk, you’d better put it away if I shouldn’t see it, because I’ll read it whether I want to or not. How could I possibly ignore all of the compelling signs along a trail? Especially if it about the ubiquitous Poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy

“Leaves of three, let it be”.  How many times have you heard that?   I guess that the “welcomeness” of this plant depends upon your point of view, so perhaps my title is unfair. I’ve read that it is a source of food for birds, so they must welcome it. Many people however, develop contact dermatitis reaction to the oils – you know, a nasty rash. I don’t (yet), but everyone else in my family does.

This plant is rampant around the Hinckley Reservation, including one picnic area with an island of gorgeous ground cover that on closer observation, appears to be Poison Ivy. Maybe it is not and is some similar plant, but I pay careful attention to not let the dog brush against it and transfer the oils to us.

Are you getting itchy just thinking about it?  I am, and like I said, I’ve never had so much as one blister (yet) from it.

When I am not hiking or scratching, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 3 – A Welcome Sign

Previously, I was talking the walk – here and here. Continuing, there are numerous bridle trails at Hinckley Reservation so this is a very welcome sign to see when navigating a trail on foot. There are several trails that pedestrians and equestrians share, and the riders and their horses are always good citizens, but still…

A Welcome Sign - No Horses

My dog might not be as elated, since there are no, um, horse remnants, to explore… but I like it much better since there are fewer things to step in (bad citizen dog owners notwithstanding).

Gratuitous Autumn View at Hinckley Lake

When I am not hiking, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 2 – The Spillway

Continuing my saga from yesterday, Hinckley Reservation contains a reservoir named amazingly enough Hinckley Lake. Naturally (or un-naturally) at one end of the reservoir is a dam with a spillway. At the base of the spillway is a small swimming area, and beyond that is a shallow stream. Together these areas are called (wait for it…) Spillway Pool Picnic area. I’m not making this up, here is the park map. In the summertime, this is a very popular picnic spot, but it is deserted this time of the year.

Hinckley Lake Spillway

Well, not totally deserted. We were there.

Shallow Stream at Hinckley Lake Spillway Picnic Area

My dog, Spike, loves walking in the water. As promised, here she is, sloshing through the water with my daughter, looking much happier than in yesterday’s photo.

When I am not hiking, I make beads. So does my daughter, but not the dog. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Walking the Dog – Chapter 1 – The Picture Tree

One of northeast Ohio’s best kept secrets is the incredible hiking locations that are here. One of my favorite places to hike is the Cleveland Metroparks, and in particular Hinckley Reservation. This fact is no secret to anybody that has read my blog in the past year. It is a fabulous place, no matter what season, and there is hiking suitable for anyone.

Hinckley Lake Loop Trail

On this day, we hiked around the reservoir on the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail, a trail with gentle hills of about 3 and a half miles. It is my dog, Spike’s favorite place to hike, which also is no secret. Why? Because no matter what hike – that is her current favorite place ever.

The Picture Tree

Spike doesn’t look very happy in this photo, because like almost everyone that I know, when she poses for the camera she puts on “camera face”. She is also none too happy about sitting for this shot anyway, maybe it has something to do with the steep drop off behind her. Or then again, maybe it’s because she has to take time out of her trail exploration to sit. Remember, I’m talking about the dog here, not my daughter. The daughter was enthusiastic about the photo shoot.

I’ll post a picture of both of them tomorrow that shows the dog in a little more happy mood.

We almost always take a picture of someone in the hollow of this tree when we walk this particular trail. Does anybody else have a spot that is a family favorite for posing?

When I am not hiking, I make beads. Check them out at Etsy or my Spawn of Flame website.

Turkey Crossing

Turkeys Grazing In Bath Township, Ohio

I was driving early in the morning a couple of weeks ago here in Bath Township and suddenly a flock of turkeys crossed the road in front of me.  They were quite orderly and quickly crossed the road in single file.  Once gathered on the other side, they started to graze in someone’s front yard.

There were maybe 2 dozen birds; they were startlingly large.  Here in northeast Ohio, I’m quite used to deer darting in front of my car, but turkeys?  Not so much!