Heron

Dean saw a heron at the marsh in Middleton today while
we were biking.
Luckily I had brought my Canon and was able to wade
into the marsh to capture the bird digitally.
He then photographed me emerging from the expedition.
Jasmine enjoyed her bike outing from the comfort of her
padded basket and looks forward to many more adventures.

Busy Week

I made a multi~strand bracelet for my girlfriend
Linda's birthday that was on Monday.
I made another bracelet this week.
I fixed my girlfriend Georgia's beaded purse. A few
of the beads came off and threads were frayed.
Dean's birthday was on Wednesday. Jenni and Bill
brought pizza and cheese bread.
Shawn came home from Milwaukee for supper on
Friday and we all went for a neighborhood bike ride.

Sunday with Shawn

Our son Shawn came for a home cooked breakfast of
sausage and fried potatoes. Then we went for a five
and a half mile ride to the Old Missouri tavern.
Dean was the official trip photographer and chase crew.
Shawn was skeptical of track bikes but now is a devotee
after the ride and said he would like one for himself.

More Spring Flowers/Family outdoor portrait

Weekend Bike Rides

We rode around Lake Monona today. I photographed
spring flowers, a blue unicorn, totem poles, and a
confirmation. Yesterday we rode the trail from
Middleton to Springfield Corners that follows
Highway 12.

"April Evening "

The " April Evening " bracelet is finished just in time for
May flowers.

Jean's Weight Loss Profile

This is the latest photograph of me. I am finished with
my weight loss program. I have lost 65 pounds and 43
inches. I bought some new clothes as now I am a size
6. Kerry took the pictures of me at Healthy Inspiration.

Pussy Willows

Last weekend we had rainy weather. I rode my bike to
church. When I got home I was soaked. Now it is getting
cold ! I finished my business taxes this week. We did not
ride but for Monday as this is not good biking weather.
The Pussy Willows are in blossom. I took pictures last week.
I thought it was a nice shot with the white picket fence !

City Geese

I photographed for over a half hour to get the best
pictures.

Two Geese

I have been pretty busy. I haven't had time to make
jewelry. I have been in training for over a month and
am starting to work next week for a part-time job. I
am Synergie Technician. It is vaccum massage
technology. It is an easy and effective non-surgical
alternative for body sculping and effective in reducing
the appearance of cellulite.
Yesterday afternoon for one hour I was in training.
Dean bought a new bike like mine. I think it is cool to
match our bikes when we go biking together.
I took alot of pictures of two geese at Stricker Pond
when I was biking.

Saturday Morning Ride

We rode to the University with Jasmine this morning.
We came back along the side of Lake Mendota. Jasmine
rode on the Schwinn. Jasmine was crazy when she found
out that we were getting ready to go biking. She followed
us everywhere so that we would not leave without her. I
am in good shape because I work-out 3-4 times a week.
I did not bring my camera along. Maybe next time.
Dean gave me his new track bike after we rode bicycles
this morning. It is a little too small for him and it is
perfect for me. He is going to buy a larger frame bike
like mine. It is very light and I love it!

Bianchi Pista

Dean bought a one speed track bike. It is a Bianchi
Pista. The color is gang green. I made the inaugural
ride home on the Monroe St. bike path as dusk settled
in. It was smooth pedaling.

Early Spring Blooms

It is almost spring. Here is the flower necklace
that took me about 3 days to finish.
I have been so busy for the last two weeks. I
started training at Healthy Inspirations.

Jean and Dean's beads

Top picture : Jean's beads
Bottom picture : Dean's beads
We made beads with poked/dots and frit beads. Frit beads
are formed by rolling a hot bead in sparkling glass and then
combining in flame.

Poking Eye Beads

Cindy is our teacher. Last week she showed us how
to make Poking Eye beads. She made a bunch of dots.
She pushed the dots closer to the core of the bead.
This entraps air and then the entrapment is filled
with more glass.

Unakite Beaded Cabochons

This is Unakite cabochons and they were button covers
before. I did not like them so I removed 4 button covers.
Two cabochons came off.
Thought you would like to see what I am doing this
morning. I worked the first cabochon so it is secured.
It is unfinished project and right now I am going to
use 4mm unakite beads and 10 x 20mm Faceted
Octagon-2 spacer beads. I think I am going to make
a bracelet.

" Autumn Grape Leaves "

We have so much snow from the last two days and we are
going to have more, more snow tonite. Wisconsin Union
called yesterday that our glass beadmaking class was
canceled for tonite. They will call back later to reschedule.
Last week I went to the library to get books for some ideas
for glass beadmaking " Beads of Glass- The Art and the
Artists" by Cindy Jenkins and " the Complete Book of Glass
Beadmaking " by Kimberley Adams. Both of the books have
good instructions with alot of photos.
Yesterday I was reading my new Bead and Button magazine
that came last Friday. Jasmine was on my lap.
I watched " Cocoon " the other night on tv. I enjoyed watching
it again.
The unfinished " Autumn Grape Leaves " bracelet was left at
the table for a couple of months and I finished it this morning.

Shawn's birthday

Bill, Jenni and Shawn
Jenni and Shawn
Dean and Jean
Jenni and Jean

We celebrated Shawn's 20th birthday last Thursday night
at the Nitty Gritty downtown. I walked there with him from
Shawn's downtown apartment. I wore Kim Mile's floral large
bead necklace that came on Shawn's birthday.

Glass Beadmaking Class

Jean's beads
Dean's beads. Dean and I are taking a 3 session
glass beadmaking. We have one more left next
Sunday night. Dean likes making glass beads.
His beads are simple and he is good for the first
time. You rotate a non stick pencil stainless rod
as you wrap hot licorice like glass onto the rod.
It is very difficult to form a perfect sphere
between heat and gravity.Last night Dean made 8 beads and I made 2 beads.
One of my bead cracked when I tried to make dots
for the flower petals. We learned how to twist 2
colors of glass rods.
This morning my large green/purple transparent
bead cracked. It was due to cooling too fast. Oh,
well ! Next week we will learn to use enamel
powder.

Simone

When we came home, we watched the
movie "Simone" with Al Pacino. Simone
was a simulated actor that people claimed
to have met.

"Living Glass"

Begonia

Angraecum

Dean's parents told us to go "Living Glass" at Bolz
Conservatory at Olbrich Botanical Gardens so we
went today. Beautiful blown glass sculptures of
flowers, plants, and fishes by Grant Zukowski
where on display. I also took some orchid flower
pictures. We went to the library at the east side
to get movies and books.

Lobsterclaws

Blown Glass Flowers

Waterfall

Koi fishes

Blown Glass fishes

Blown Glass Fish


Cattleya
Phragmipedium

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis