Playing with Copper and Other Nonsense

 So, this last weekend after trying to come up with a good idea for a custom item for a good friend, I opened up my box of copper and brass scraps and started playing around and came up with the piece above.  I like how it turned out and I'm thinking that I want to utilize this type of work in some of my collars and cuffs as well as make a few pendants and such for my shop.  I forgot how much fun it is to play with copper and brass, I miss it so much!

While I was playing in my studio, lucky Abner got to go for a ride in the Tonka dump truck with Ciaran and Edolie.  I'm not sure if he had fun or not.  I thought it was great that Ciaran put a small piece of wood over the opening in the back of the truck so Abner didn't have an accident and fall out.  It's nice to see the kiddos getting over their fear of the tortoises and wanting to spend time with them.  I'm not sure how anyone could be afraid of, or creeped out by a tortoise, they are to damn cute!

So that's it for now, I have to go organize the lab so I can make it messy all over again!

Ah Bummer!

I am feeling particularly restless on this fine evening. I had my tacos, my beer, my evening walk, and I still can't calm down. I want to work, but I don't want to clean my table off. I want to sleep too, but I just can't get comfortable. Therefore, I just don't know what to do with myself. Ciaran is asleep, Mark went out to run errands, and our 3 minus 1 cats are snoozing on the couch with no intention of getting up and keeping me company. The tortoises could care less about my dilemma, they both have full tummys and a nice rock to bask on. So I guess I will just keep watching useless t.v. and staring at my work table hoping it will clean itself.

Tortoises with Hangovers

They have a huge lettuce leaf hangover. After our cold weather spell where they both dug down and slept for a few days, Abner and Imogene came out to eat for the first time in almost a week. I piled a plate full of some spring mix and set it down for them. Afterwards, they looked like this-->

I think I need a lettuce feast too. All the rich food that the holidays bring has given me super huge food burn-out. I am actually craving salad! I wanted salad this morning when I woke up and I am now anxiously awaiting lunchtime so I can make one for myself. I think it will have cucumber, tomato, carrot, a little onion, and some cheese on top. Yummy! can't wait. Then off to the post office to mail off a few orders and over to the fabric shop for a few supplies. Then home for more salad!

Tortoise Eggs Are Cool!

I never really thought that Imogene would lay an egg. I was so surprised when I found she had laid one yesterday in their enclosure. I had done some reading in the past about breeding tortoises but I kind of gave up since both of my little shelled wonders didn't seem very interested in even becoming friends for a long time. So yesterday when I found the egg I started up my reading again to make sure I am doing things right for the little thing. I can't wait to post a picture or two of the egg so everyone can see. Right now it is translucent white and when held up to the light I see a little dark patch on the bottom inside the egg. That patch will darken over the next couple weeks if the egg is in fact fertilized. So we are holding our breath and crossing our fingers for the little guy/gal until then.

The picture above is actually of a gopher tortoise hatching, I love that picture!

After All These Years!

I thought it would never happen! My lovely little Imogene laid an egg for the first time today. I was taken by surprise. I went to dig out their old food from the previous day and found a little(or not so little) egg buried in their bedding. So far everything looks good. It should be a while before we find out if it is fertile or not. I am just so excited for my little tortoises. Such a happy little event! For celebration, Abner and Imogene dined on some spring mix salad and had a nice long soak in the sink. Wish them luck everyone:)

Gluing the Day Away

So in order to save time for the next few days while I await my other sewing machine I get to glue! I don't mind the gluing part, it is actually really easy to do when Ciaran is up and around. It is just that I want to sew!!!! I want to get all my pieces done for these upcoming shows and to stock up my shop for the holidays. I ate glue by accident the other day, it was horrible. I must have had some on my hands while I was having my snack of peanut butter and apples. Blahh! I don't recommend it.

So today I spend the day gluing various pieces of colorful leather together, cutting out my little devil's devil costume, and watching my tortoise rampage! Their light and heat source for their enclosure burnt out yesterday and in order for them to get a few hours of sunshine, they are free in my living room. Chasing one another and scaring the cats. I came out the shower yesterday morning to find Abner perched on top of a backpack by the door and Imogene trying to dig herself a burrow through one of the kitchen cabinets. Oh well, as long as they are having fun, I am happy.

Abner and Imogene Need a New Home

They really do. Not a new family, but a new enclosure, one with a little bit more crawling room. The trouble is finding a new home that Ciaran can't get in to. Their present enclosure is now torn on one side from Abner trying to escape and their almost new uvb/heat bulb just blew out. So I figure I will either invest in a new reptarium( a very cool screen covered enclosure) for them or a huge water tub, like the kind they have on farms for cattle, in the next month or so. I think the reptarium is the best bet because it is fully enclosed in screen so my little investigative darling can't open it up. The first necessity is a new uvb/heat bulb for them. They need that when they are inside and especially since we have so much grey and foggy weather it helps to keep their little bodies in check. I worry about them having enough room to get much needed exercise and enough heat to bask in.

I really wanted to build them an outside enclosure this year since we have the perfect space for it. I just don't think it would be wise with all the raccoons and other critters that hang out in our yard. Someday, I hope to have them outside in their own space with lots of plants to eat and things to climb and places to dig and tunnel in to. That would be the best!

Well hopefully my little shelled wonders will forgive me until then. For now it is a magical inside terrarium, a bit bigger and in better shape than the one they are in now, and a brand new sunshine.