This post goes out to Ed a dear friend of mine.  I am lucky to be able to call Ed my mentor, my inspiration and my friend.
I met Ed several years ago when I was just getting into lapidary work through the Rock and Gem society here in Las Vegas. He has a full shop at his house and my very first experience with rock cutting and polishing was with him. Ed is the most generous, patience teacher I have ever had. He has more than 50 years experience in the  lapidary field and shares it all unconditionally.
Ed recently took a fall at his house and broke a hip and is now recovering in The Henderson Heathcare Center and making progress every day. I went for a visit and to my surprise he grew a beard and his hair long, the story goes his daughter wanted to see how he would look with a beard ... but Ed went all out for her, I almost didn't recognize him. I had a nice visit with him and he said he was anxious to get out of bed and home where he belongs. Take care of yourself Ed, work hard in therapy and try not to flirt with the nurses too much.

Oh Mandy....

 I know I am going to date myself but do you remember Barry Manilow back in the 70's? he looked looked like such a geeky kid didn't he? I was in high school  and at that time I remember him being on the radio constantly.  I guess there were alot of Manilow fans since five of his albums were on the best selling charts simultaneously in 1978, I think I might still have one of his albums. I am sure I must have danced to some of his music at Prom or surely at the Valentines dance at school.


Well that was him then and this is him now. I recently was out with a friend who had told me she would really love to see Barry Manilow if I was ever able to get tickets via my House Seats membership.
I was able to get tickets for last Saturday night and followed up on that promise. We had really great seats ... 5th row center to be exact. I was surprised at the sold out show and the participation of the audience. I really wasn't expecting much but the show was to my surprise really pretty good. Of course he did all the popular tunes but also threw in some new ones from a new CD he just released called 15 minutes. What I really liked about the show is how generous he was with his personal life, he even played a crackly recording of him singing when he was 4 years old.
His stage was beautiful and at times it was down right elegant.
I wouldn't have considered seeing this show if my friends Nancy and Julie hadn't told me that it was a good show to see even if you were never a Manilow fan. So ....go see it if you get a chance it was a fun evening will remind you of younger days.

Have a safe and Happy 4th

You meet the nicest People at Art and Soul

How cute are these little cupcake salt and pepper shakers?
Yesterday I was relaxing after my Silver Art Clay class when my husband brought in the mail and in it was this surprise gift from one of my very creative friends. I first met Ellen last year in Portland Oregon at Art And Soul, she was signed up for the same class that my sister and I were taking. We got to talking and I gave her my business card. It turns out Ellen has a home in Mesquite and spends some of the Winter months there and now comes to visit me when she is in Nevada. This year Ellen and I took the same class at the Art And Soul here in Las Vegas at The Green Valley Ranch.
You really must go to Art And Soul...you meet the nicest people there. I have already signed up for Portland in September and can hardly wait. What a small world the creative community is, yesterday in class I was talking about how excited I am and can't wait to take this class from this amazing artist I found on line and it turns out that one of my ladies in class is very good friends with her...who knew?

Thanks again Ellen for being so sweet and thinking of me, I love these little cupcakes!!

An Evening in Paris

Thursday night I took my dear friend Ardith to the Paris Hotel for dinner and the Magic of Paris show staring Stephane Vanel for her birthday celebration. I met Ardith years ago when
I was teaching and managing the Bead Buffet bead store in Henderson (it has since closed). We became friends then and have always kept in touch by going to breakfast every couple of months to catch up on all the goings on in our lives. Some of you may know her and those of you don't are missing out on a very special person. Happy Birthday Ardith, here is to many many more years of friendship.

10 years ago today

Ten years ago today I lost my mother to cancer, it's hard to believe that it has been 10 years already maybe because I still think about her so much and feel her around me so much to this day. My mother was a smoker for my entire life and died of lung cancer...so to my daughter and all of my friends who smoke...please stop! My mother was a talented published poet and artist, she was a perfectionist to say the least. I asked her once to write me a poem, and for my 25th birthday she presented me with the following gift of this poem.

You,
burrowed in my heart and nested there like some small snuggled swallow
My little one
I watched you spread your winds and soar...
you made me proud.
I gave you all I had to give;
A love of books, and beauty from my mother,
The spirit of adventure from your dad,
the luxury of solitude to be yourself,
the gift of tears, a curiosity for the truth,
the talent to forgive ...and to forget.
And I look at you and see the girl I never was,
the woman I had hoped to be
the mother that I should have been
Could this dead tree have brought forth such a lovely bloom?
I thank you for your gifts to me.
You are the keeper of the flame.
and like the swallow, you come back
to warm the branches of my heart.


Joan Pratt Finneran
December 26, 1925 - June 17 2001