Learning a new craft

I've been helping Peter at the store for the last couple of weeks and in our spare time, he's been teaching me how to make jewelry from a mold.

So far I've made a sapphire ring and two pendants. It's a long process and when I was working on sizing the mold for my ring (after 2.5 hours) I broke it into a bunch of pieces. The molds are made from wax, so it's a little delicate.

After lots of time and LOTS of help from "the pro," I have 3 lovely pieces of jewelry! A ring and pendant for me, and another pendant for my BFF Lauren. (Shhhhh! It's a surprise!)

Check them out!

The mold for the cross and rose pendants.

The finished product!

Lauren's pendant (it's really small, this is just a zoomed in picture)

Introducing..............Baxter!

Peter and I have been discussing getting a new kitten for months. Sally's home alone all day and we thought she'd like a friend.

Since summer time is kitten time, the Austin Humane Society lowers their fees for adoption to only $35. In fact, this is the same time of year we got Sally almost a year ago.
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So, we went to the Austin on Sunday "just to look." As soon as walked in the door, we saw a little feisty kitten named, "Nike" attacking the tag on his cage and generally keeping himself entertained.

We looked at one other kitten, but as soon as we were able to play with Nike, we knew he was the kitten for us.

We changed his name to Baxter, after Ron Burgandy's dog in Anchorman. He's a tuxedo cat, so we knew he needed a rather formal name.

So far, Sally isn't a fan of Bax, but we're hoping as time goes by, she'll at least learn to tolerate him.

For your viewing pleasure:

Baxter perching on the console on the ride home from the shelter.

He tried to make it all the way home, but zonked out about halfway.

Baxter plays in his tent while Sally looks on in disdain.

He tries desperately to attack something outside his tent.


Bax's favorite place to take a nap.

Look what Sally dragged in............again.

We got an early start yesterday when Sally came through her pet door with a BIG, LIVE bird in her mouth. It was squawking and flapping all around.

She (of course) dropped it not long after she came in and it flew around leaving feathers in its wake. It flew under the bed, and finally flew up to the dresser, where Sally sat and poked at it for a while.

Peter finally had to shew it out with a broom. It was not a fun experience at 6am, let me tell you!


Sally eyes her newest catch.

If you look closely, you can see the feathers everywhere!

Sally sniffs at her bird (this is the closest she got to eating it, which wasn't close at all).