Smashing Glass!

Above is just a small sample of some of the items I made on a recent recycled glass workshop I attended locally in Ipswich. Anita does the most amazing work which she sells at fairs and gallery exhibitions but she also does workshops - for details of her work and the next workshops see http://www.misshoneypieglass.com/. It is a hugely creative day and really absorbing. The best bit is that all the glass is recycled using old window glass, primarily.

I met Anita at a local fair we were both exhibiting at and knew then that I would have to do one of her workshops! In fact I have been on two now and am itching to go again - next time Nicola is coming along too....Nicola lurve's glass so it will be right up her street! I've managed to frame the small hearts and my next job is to make up some wooden plinths for displaying the little houses and flower design...hopefully I'll get this done before I go again. I'm aiming to make some little glass Christmas tree ornaments for presents, and for the tree, next time I go. Gosh, I don't believe I said that word (Christmas) and it's not even June yet!

Jacqui

SUNDAY POETRY: "OCTOPUS FLOATING"

Octopus, Victor Hugo. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

OCTOPUS FLOATING

by Bill Knott 

Octopus floating

in earth’s ink-ore core

whose arms extend

up here as trees

may your branches squirt

their black across

my pages please

UPDATE: Not long after I posted this poem I heard from Bill Knott with a heads-up that all his books of poetry can be downloaded free via his blog. Awesome. Thanks, Bill.

THE SECRET OF BUOYANCY

 

Wonderfully interesting news out of science this week about the buoyancy control of the travelling octopuses known as argonauts, or paper nautiluses. Aristotle himself wondered about their talents—and no one since then has  deciphered just how these little bobbers move through the water column... Until now. Here's the abstract of the findings from a new paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B:

Argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) are a group of rarely encountered open-ocean pelagic octopuses with benthic ancestry. Female argonauts inhabit a brittle ‘paper nautilus’ shell, the role of which has puzzled naturalists for millennia. The primary role attributed to the shell has been as a receptacle for egg deposition and brooding. Our observations of wild argonauts have revealed that the thin calcareous shell also functions as a hydrostatic structure, employed by the female argonaut to precisely control buoyancy at varying depths. Female argonauts use the shell to ‘gulp’ a measured volume of air at the sea surface, seal off the captured gas using flanged arms and forcefully dive to a depth where the compressed gas buoyancy counteracts body weight. This process allows the female argonaut to attain neutral buoyancy at depth and potentially adjust buoyancy to counter the increased (and significant) weight of eggs during reproductive periods. Evolution of this air-capture strategy enables this negatively buoyant octopus to survive free of the sea floor. This major shift in life mode from benthic to pelagic shows strong evolutionary parallels with the origins of all cephalopods, which attained gas-mediated buoyancy via the closed-chambered shells of the true nautiluses and their relatives. 

Illustration from Discover.

I wrote about my own encounter with an argonaut during a magical morning in the lagoon surrounding the island of Mo'orea in French Polynesia. From The Fragile Edge, an excerpt:

From afar, she looks like one of those ubiquitous pieces of oceangoing flotsam washed from shore or ship and plying the ocean with indestructible endurance. I paddle towards her, bent on litter collection, only to discover that she is not a styrofoam cup or a plastic sandal but a living creature roaming inside her own home—an argonaut, or paper nautilus, probably of the species Argonauta argo. She is a member of a genus of octopus that long ago abandoned life on the seafloor in favor of roaming the open seas. Unlike her namesake, the chambered nautilus, her delicately coiled shell is not an external skeleton that she is attached to as we are to our fingernails, but a mobile home that she can come and go from like a hermit crab.

Illustration from here.

I have never seen an argonaut alive in the sea before, and with fumbling hands I don mask, snorkel, and fins and slip over the side, dragging the va’a canoe by the float so as not to lose it. She is a timid creature and this may be the only opportunity that ever comes my way to see her in the wild. The thought going through my mind as I waft my fins is that I must approach as softly as a ripple.

It doesn’t matter though. She is engaged in one of those acts of violence that nearly preclude thoughts of personal safety. She is half out her shell, pulsing in bright red and yellow, the colors literally tumbling through her like reflections from flashing police lights. Her colors are so strong they bleed beneath the skin of her paper-thin shell, bruising it. She is administering the coup de grâce to a pteropod, a sea butterfly. Her eight arms are flared open, an umbrella turned inside-out, exposing the parrotlike beak. The pteropod is flapping its transparent wings in hopes of escape but the argonaut is reeling it in on the sucker disks of her arms, biting it, then tucking it under her bell, and rolling herself back into her translucent shell, where the flames of her hunting colors soften to pink.

Quietly now, her big eyes innocently wide, she floats a foot below the surface, arms wrapped over her head, the tips of them tucked daintily into her shell, leaving most of her sucker discs exposed. She observes me from a safe distance, one orange eye watching as she feints towards shore, the other watching as she tacks towards her home in the open sea.

Lithograph of Argonauta nodosa, The Tuberculated Argonaut, or Paper-Nautilus, Argonauta oryzata; Artist: Arthur Bartholomew (1870s). Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

My favourite place....

You may be surprised to hear that Halfpenny Home is my second favourite place in the world. My favourite place is here, on my allotment with my chickens, ducks and compost heap. This is what I do before I get to the shop in the morning and after I close the big doors at the end of the day. Hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, Nicola.

Homemade Apple Crisp

Last week, I celebrated my 26th birthday!!!!  I had a great day just hanging out with my kids.  That is my favorite thing to do in the whole world!   

  I wanted to share my favorite dessert with you- Apple Crisp!!! I love it and this recipe was my moms that her mom gave to her and it is EXCELLENT!  Yummy!  I am pretty sure that my mom made this for me on most of my birthdays because it is my fav!!!!

 

Apple Crisp

Topping

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup softened butter

Pre Heat oven to 350 degrees

Cut up 2 pounds of apples (about 6 medium)

Place in a buttered 8x8 dish

Sprinkle the topping on the apples

Bake for about 40 minutes

*TIP* 

I LOVE to double to topping and eat my apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.  I know it is not as healthy that way but it is soooo good!

Do you have a special birthday recipe?

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Have a great day,

Bonnie

ELSEWHERE IN THE OCEAN IT'S SPRING

The phytoplankton are blooming again in the North Atlantic. These iridescent swirls—captured by NASA's Terra satellite on May 22, 2010—are arcing across hundreds of miles of ocean between Ireland and the Bay of Biscay.

Phytoplankton need nutrients to reproduce, and blooms are often tied to events that bring nutrients to the ocean surface, such as dust plumes. 

Volcanic ash can also contribute needed nutrients. The 2008 eruption of the Kasotochi Volcano in the Aleutian Islands generated a massive phytoplankton bloom in the Northeast Pacific. Iron-rich ash falling on nutrient-poor waters created conditions for phytoplankton to thrive.

This year's North Atlantic bloom may be fueled in part by the eruptions from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull Volcano. 

Thanks to the Earth Observatory.

The fruits of my labour!

I've done it! And just in time for Strawberry season too! This is my first knitting project ever - well, unless you count the skinny scarf type efforts of my very young years. It was with a lot of trepidation that I embarked on this project - eagerly encouraged by Nicola who, I have to say, is just totally inspirational and without whom I would never have attempted it! There were a couple of panic phone calls along the way, just to check that I was doing things right, but here it is....and I am so proud of myself!

From comments both in the studio and on the blog, I think there will be a lot more strawberries popping up before long - it just cheers you up doesn't it? And knowing I've made it myself just makes it so much more special! I think I may just make another one.....or two.....

I just had to include the picture of my westie, who's a bit of an attention seeker - he couldn't resist getting in on the act when I was taking these pictures - spot the tea-cosy in the background!

Jacqui

~♥Laundry Room Update ♥~

This is how my laundry tub has looked for almost five years...I felt it was time for a change!

This is how the laundry tub looks without being covered...not very pretty and I'm all about making something look pretty.

And this is how it looks after...I purchased new curtains from the Better Homes and Gardens collection at Wal-mart and used a tier to cover my laundry tub.

I bought these rods (I only needed one) ...

attached it with removable velcro.

These are my new valances (sorry the picture is so dark).

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Here are a few more pictures of the laundry room.

I want my washer to look pretty when it's not in use.

Hmmm...just realized the scarf is wrinkled...sorry about that!

This is a picture of my great grandma doing laundry...she's on the right.

It really makes me appreciate my washer and dryer.

Thank you so much for stopping by blogging friends...I always enjoy your company!

♥ Kim

p.s.  Thank you all for your wonderful and sweet comments that you left on my previous post about my screen door update!

Tips for a Safe and Happy Summer

Tips for a Safe and Happy Summer

Summer's back—and so is fun in the sun! But before you hit the beach or stage a friendly water gun fight in your backyard, keep in mind that ultraviolet rays from the sun can do a number on your skin; in fact, they are the most common cause of premature aging. Here are some simple ways you can protect yourself—and your loved ones—and still have fun in the sun.

 

Reduce Sun Eposure During Peak Hours
UV rays are strongest and most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so the less time you spend outdoors during these hours, the better. That doesn't mean you have to ditch out on all the fun. For instance, instead of heading out to the pool at 2 p.m., wait a few hours and go at 5 p.m. The sun will still be up and there'll be plenty of light out.  And don't be fooled on an overcast day—you can still get burned because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. If you can, stay in the shade.  

Cover Up
Be fashionably smart. Wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. Remember to cover your  hair and head with a wide-brimmed hat. You might even consider carrying an umbrella for shade.  The more protection you have the better off your skin will be.

Protect Your Eyes Always wear sunglasses. Not only are they great for complementing your wardrobe, they also deflect harmful UV rays that reflect off of water, sand, and other surfaces. This helps reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions. And, you won't have to squint!

 

 

Apply Sunscreen Generously 
  Don't be shy. Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen evenly on all areas of the skin—and don't forget your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and head (if necessary). Do so at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and remember to re-apply every two hours, especially after swimming. 

 

And Arm Yourself with Antioxidants!
What's the big deal? Environmental assaults such as sunlight, pollution, stress, and even normal metabolism produce free radicals in our bodies, that can damage cells, alter DNA, and cause skin to age prematurely. Phytonutrients such as carotenoids and flavonoids—antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and plants—combat these free radicals and protect your body against cellular damage. So be sure to include lots of antioxidants in your diet. Your skin—and your overall health—will thank you.    

Shaklee Products Can Help You All Summer Long
In addition to providing broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, clinically proven Enfuselle® sunscreens contain  triple-patented Vital Repair+ ® complex—a synergistic blend of seven targeted antioxidants that produces results much greater than the sum of each ingredient alone. In other words, it protects against premature older-looking skin. Plus, all Enfuselle products are paraben-free. Keep these at home and in your beach bag:

Time Repair A.M.® SPF 15
Feel good every morning with this five-in-one clinically proven formula that meets all your skin's daytime needs for renewal, recovery, moisture, nourishment, and protection.  Nonirritating and hypoallergenic, Time Repair A.M. SPF 15 also contains botanical photo-brighteners to improve skin color.   I use this everyday!

 

 

 

Enfuselle® SPF 30
This clinically proven sensitive-skin formula filters out the sun's harsh UVA and UVB rays to protect against sun damage. The triple-patented Vital Repair+ complex adds extra protection against prematurely older-looking skin by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Oil free and easy to apply.  This is the only sunscreen that I have ever used on my kids!

 

 

Lip Treatment SPF 15
Drenched with vitamins C and E, as well as calendula extract and moisturizing plant oil, this nourishing lip treatment softens vulnerable and dry lips, smoothes the appearance of vertical lines, and prevents peeling and chapping. The broad-spectrum SPF protects against UV-induced collagen breakdown.  I love this stuff!!!  I have tried some many different brands and this do not even compare!

 

Supplement Wisely—Be Sure to Get Your Daily Serving of Antioxidants

People usually consume only a fraction of the phytonutrients they should on a daily basis. Many potent phytonutrients are found in parts of the plants that we commonly discard, such as peels and seeds. Shaklee FlavoMax® and CarotoMax®;contain 12 of the most beneficial phytonutrients—six carotenoids and six flavonoids—to help promote optimal health.*

 

 

• They help support*:
• Long-term health of the eyes, heart, skin, lungs, prostate and cervix
• A strong immune system
• Proper circulatory and cardiovascular function.

CarotoMax and FlavoMax contain the phytonutrient power of more fruits and vegetables than you could possibly eat in one day – delivered in a convenient and potent supplement form. 100%guaranteed for purity, potency and efficacy

 

I hope that you will have a great, happy and safe summer!!!

Bonnie :)

Please visit my online Shaklee site.